The
writer of Hebrews shared how Jacob “by faith, when he was
a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph”
and afterwards “worshiped, leaning upon the top of his
staff”, and in chapter
eleven and verse twenty-two of Hebrews, the writer shares
how Joseph “when he died, made mention of the departing
of the children of Israel”
where we read:
By faith
Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children
of Israel;
and gave
commandment concerning his bones.
The
verse begins, “By faith Joseph, when he died, made
mention of the departing of the children of Israel;”. The
writer began with the words, “By faith”
which means “the conviction of the truth of anything and belief
with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or
in Christ which springs from trust in the same” “Joseph”
whose name means “let him add” and was “the patriarch, the
eleventh son of Jacob”, “when he died”
or “when Joseph expired, finished, closed and came to the end of
his life”, “made mention”
which means “was mindful of, remembered, called to mind,
recollected and rehearsed” “of the departing” or
“about the exit” “of the children”
which means “the
offspring and descendants” “of Israel”
which means “he shall be a prince of God” and was “the name
given to the patriarch Jacob”. When “Joseph”
was dying, “through faith”,
he remembered the promise that Israel would not stay in Egypt
forever. (See Genesis 50)
The
verse continues, “and gave commandment concerning his
bones.”. The writer added the
words, “and gave commandment”
which means “charged, enjoined and ordered” “concerning”
or “about, on account of,
because of, around and near” “his bones”
which refers to “the skeletal parts of Joseph's body”. “Joseph”
instructed those around him not to leave “his bones” in
Egypt but to “carry his bones” with them when they left there.
When
we consider these words in Hebrews, we see how “Joseph”
exercised “faith” to believe that Israel would eventually
leave Egypt and as they did, they would carry “his bones”
with them. “Joseph” never saw Israel leave Egypt with his
physical eyes because he died before they left, but as they made
their exodus, they obeyed his desire to carry “his bones”
with them. (See Exodus 13:19) Jesus Christ promised “everlasting
life” for those who have “faith” in His sacrifice
for their sins, and even though they cannot see their destination
currently, they still have “faith” that it shall be. Let
us allow Joseph's “faith” to be an inspiration to us who
although we “have not seen”, “we still believe”.
Next
time the writer shares how “By
faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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