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How do we know when our life’s work is truly finished?
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Our Torah portion starts with the meeting of Joseph and his father Jacob. Joseph was excited as he prepared his chariot immediately and went up to Goshen to meet Jacob. Like what he did to his brothers, Joseph fell on the neck of Jacob and wept. This time, instead of asking Joseph about his health, status, or anything, he told Joseph that he could already die.
Why did Jacob say this?
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He saw Joseph’s face and he was still alive (v.30) – I believe the moment Jacob saw his favorite son and realized he was still alive, he felt that his children were in good hands because of Joseph, who was in charge of everything in Egypt. Another thing, now Jacob saw that his children were complete; what more could he ask for?
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His life was hard (v.9) – Ever since Jacob was born, he suffered a lot of hardships:
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He was struggling with his brother Esau inside the womb of Rebekah.
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He was not the favorite son of Isaac.
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His father-in-law deceived him.
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His wife Rachel died while giving birth.
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His brother Esau wanted to kill him.
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He moved away from his family.
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He had wicked sons (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah).
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He was separated from Joseph for a long time.
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His daughter was raped.
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His parents died.
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Truly, Jacob’s experiences are no joke. We cannot blame him if he was ready to die. But Adonai’s will is different from Jacob’s. Despite what he said, we will see Adonai YHVH’s good plan for him:
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He blessed Pharaoh (v.8) – Here we can see that Jacob, as a servant of Adonai YHVH, is greater than the King of Egypt. He blessed Pharaoh for two things: first, for his generosity. He commanded Joseph to give his family carts and all the best goods in the land of Egypt (Gen. 45:18–21). Second, for his acceptance of Joseph’s family. Imagine, all the persons who went with Jacob to Egypt were sixty-six in all (Gen. 46:26).
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He became a living testimony to Pharaoh (v.8) – After Jacob blessed Pharaoh, he asked his age. Maybe it was the first time for Pharaoh to see a man who reached the age of one hundred and thirty years, and he saw that Jacob’s appearance did not match his age.
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He witnessed how his favorite son Joseph dealt with the famine (vv.13–26) – The famine grew severe in the land of Egypt, and even in Canaan. But because Adonai YHVH favored Joseph with wisdom, he knew what to do. He accepted animals and people’s land in exchange for grain. He also gave seed to the people so they could sow and reap for their food. All these things were witnessed by Jacob, and surely he was proud of Joseph.
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He lived for another seventeen years, and Joseph vowed to him (vv.27–31) – In spite of Jacob being ready to die, Adonai YHVH extended his life for two reasons: first, to remind Joseph that his body should be buried in Machpelah. He let Joseph swear by putting his hand under Jacob’s thigh, which Abraham and Eliezer also did in Gen. 24:9. Since Joseph was living in Egypt for a long time, maybe Jacob thought Joseph’s plan was to bury him there. Second, Jacob’s life was extended because he needed to bless not only the sons of Joseph but also give his last words to his sons as well (Gen. 48–49).
The lesson in our Torah portion is very simple. As long as Adonai YHVH has something that He wants from you, He will continue to use you according to His purpose.
Ephesians 1:11–12
“In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Yeshua should be to the praise of His glory.”
Feeling finished does not mean we are finished—Adonai alone decides when our story is complete.
Do not surrender to despair when life feels too heavy. Instead, ask: “What purpose does Adonai still have for me today?”
Jacob thought his life could end once he saw Joseph alive, yet Adonai extended his days by 17 years to bless, instruct, and finish well. How might Adonai still want to use your life—right now—even if you feel worn out or at the end?
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In the Haftarah portion, King David gave his last words to his successor Solomon, as he was about to die. David did this because he knew that the key to Solomon’s success depended on the faithful observance of the Torah. In verse 2, David used Joshua 1:8. He told Solomon to be strong, because as the next King of Israel, he would encounter many trials.
In verse 3, David encouraged his son to keep and walk in Adonai’s Torah. The word walk in Hebrew is yalak, which means “to go, walk, come.” While the word keep in Hebrew is shamar, meaning “guard, observe, preserve.” So Solomon should go and observe the Torah, just like the Great Commission that Yeshua gave to His Talmidim (Matt. 28:18–20). That’s the reason why Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes 12:1, which says, “Fear God and keep His Torah, for this is the whole duty of man.”
It’s so nice to see a father who is about to pass away give his son not a material treasure, but something worth more than gold.
Psalm 19:9–11
“The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them (Torah) there is great reward.”
The truest legacy is not wealth left behind, but faithful obedience passed forward.
If today were my last, what spiritual inheritance would I leave behind?
David’s charge to Solomon was not about riches or victories, but about keeping Torah and walking faithfully with Adonai. What are you passing on—to your children, disciples, or community—that will outlast your years?
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Also, the phrase “It is finished” in Greek is tetelestai, meaning “paid in full,” or “the debt is finished.” So, when Yeshua cried out, He was saying “paid in full,” referring to the debt of sin that was owed to God, now paid off by His death on the cross. Hebrews 9:12–14 says:
“Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Yeshua, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
Yeshua completes and finishes the work of salvation once and for all!
When Yeshua said ‘It is finished,’ He closed the debt of sin and opened the way of life.
Stop striving to earn salvation. Instead, live as one redeemed, showing obedience as the fruit of salvation, and free to serve.
Unlike Jacob and David, whose lives extended into others’ futures, Yeshua declared the ultimate completion: paid in full. How does His finished work free you from fear of death and empower you to live with confidence until your final breath?
The connection of our Parasha is about the end of a meaningful life. In the Torah, when Jacob saw his favorite son Joseph, he told him that he could die already because Joseph was alive. In the Haftarah, David was dying and gave his last words to his successor Solomon, to be strong and obey the Torah of Adonai. In the Apostolic portion, Yeshua gave up His Spirit, for He finished (paid in full) the debt of our sins.
Returning to my introduction… there are people who feel their imminent death. But only Adonai YHVH knows how long our lives will last. Just like Jacob, though he was ready to die, he lived for another seventeen years in the land of Egypt. As long as we live, let’s do our best to serve Adonai and obey His Torah.
A life well finished is not measured by years lived, but by God’s purpose fulfilled.
Our life’s work is finished not when we feel ready, but when Adonai’s purpose through us is complete. Until then, we live as the redeemed—obedient, faithful, and ready to serve. Don’t live as though time is endless. Live each day as one entrusted to you by Adonai—ready to finish well.
Psalm 119:33–34 TLB
“Just tell me what to do and I will do it, LORD. As long as I live I’ll wholeheartedly obey.”
Shabbat Shalom,
Topher
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