What does Genesis 50:14 mean?
Once the burial of Jacob was completed (Genesis 50:7–13), the large company of Joseph, his brothers, all his father's household, and the enormous delegation of Egyptians who had come along to mourn with them headed back to Egypt.This must have been a bittersweet trip for Joseph. Of course, he was mourning the loss of his father (Genesis 49:33; 50:1). This trip was also the first time he had been in the Promised Land of Canaan in 39 years—since the day his brothers sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:26–28). Though Joseph is now the second-in-command over all of Egypt (Genesis 41:44), he is still a slave to Egypt's ruler, the Pharaoh (Genesis 50:4–6). Joseph knew this was likely the last time he would see Canaan in his lifetime.
As the following passage reveals, Joseph's brothers also remembered the past. This brings anxiety. Though Joseph has been kind and gracious to them (Genesis 47:11–12), they fear this might have been entirely out of respect for their father. Now that Jacob was gone, they fear Joseph may seek revenge on them. He will put those fears to rest with a beautiful expression of faith in God's sovereign plans (Genesis 50:20).