Hebrew 11:22 "By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones."
In the faith Hall of Fame one verse each is given to Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. It reminds us that there is something in common that links these three heros of faith in the mind of the writer of Hebrew. By faith each of these three was able to face the future courage and optimism.
Genuine faith enables a person to look forward and to see the future as under the government of God and blessed with the presence of God.
Isaac pronounced his blesssing upon Jacob shortly after he had said, "Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death." (Gen 48:21)
Because of this faith that enabled him to visualize the future, Jacob blessed Joseph and his sons with the following words:
"God, before whom my father Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst fo the earth." (Gen 48:15-16)
His faith was like a telescope by which he could look into the future and see the protential of the decisions and the actions of the moment.
When Joseph, the Prime Minister of Egypt, near death, he required of the Israelites an oath that they would not leave his bones in Egypt. They promised that they would take his bones with them when they returned to the Promised Land. They were faithful to this oath, and four hundred years later took his coffin back to the land God has promised. (Exodus 24:32)
In Joshua 24:32, we find that when the children of Israel got to the promised land they took the coffin case that contains Joseph’s bones and buried it in Shechem. This was the ground that Jacob his father bought from the sons of Hamor for 100 pieces of silver.
All these men died with their face to the future. THEY TRUSTED GOD, THEY WALKED WITH GOD, THEY TALKED WITH GOD and THEY OBEYED GOD.
Even though they have these blessed experiences, they never fully entered into the inheritance that God had promised, yet their faith kept them looking to the future.
By the oath that Joseph required of the children of Israel and by the presences of his mummy case, he continued to bear witness concerning his optimistic, forward-looking faith. As Able’s life continued to speak after his death, so Joseph continue to speak to the people by means of his mummy case.
1. Joseph’s Mummy Case Reminded them that they were THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
a) Joseph could have had a splendid monument among the Egyptians.
Like no other people in the ancient world, the Egyptians believed in magnificent monuments and burial chambers for the departed great. Because of the unique contribution that Joseph had made, he could have aasumed that he would be enshrined among the greatest in Egypt.
b) Joseph desired to be identified with the people of God even in his death.
He had no desire for Egypt to be the final resting place for his bones. He wanted to accompany his people in their return to and entrance into the land that was to be their inheritance. By means of this wish he gave expression to his faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He deliberately chose to disassociate himself from Egypt, its rules, its gods, and its customs even beyond death.
With all of their faults, the Israelites were the people of God, and Joseph wanted to remind them of this relationship constantly. Joseph believed that as the people of God, they should be different from the Egyptians. For them to become a people that God wanted them to be, they would need to be reminded of their relationship with Him and for the application that accompanied that privilege.
Today as in few instances in the past, the church as the people of God is under attack. It is being criticized and maligned. While much of this criticism is deserved, it might be encouraging if we will recognize that God’s people have never been perfect. They are always journeying toward becoming God’s ideal people. By means of his mummy case, Joseph would not only have his bones returned, but he would remind the people that they are of God in a very special way.
2. Joseph’s mummy case is a constant reminder of the PROMISES OF GOD.
a) God had made some great promises to Abraham and his descendants.
Gen 12:1-3, records one of those promises that God made with Abraham. These promises had been repeated to Isaac and Jacob. The people of Israel had responded to these promises and walked by faith, though weakly at times, and expected the fulfillment of these promises.
b) Today the church constitude the children of Abraham
The New Testament teaches that those whotrusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour are the spiritual descendants of Abraham. As such we are the recipients of the promises, and we also are responsible for assuming the obligations that accompany this position of privilege.
1 Peter 2:9-10 makes this very clear; "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light: Which in the past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which has not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."
Our Lord has promised to be with us if we engage in redemptive activity even as God promised to be with Abraham (Matt 28:20).
By faith we need to respond to this promise and obey His commandment to bear and continuing witness.
God has made many precious promise to Hs children in connection with the privilege of prayer. He has promised His children the Divine power they needed for accomplishing His work in the world. He has promised us victory over death and an endless fellowship with God and His saints when this life is over.
As Joseph’s mummy case reminded the children of Israel of God’s precious promises, we should look at the Cross and allow the Bible with the help of the Holy Spirit to transformed lives of faithful believers. Only when we do so will we be encouraged to work by faith.
3. Joseph’s mummy case was a loud reminder of the PRESENCE OF GOD
a) In the house of Potiphar, Joseph had experienced the presence of his Lord.
God blessed Joseph’s efforts, and even Potiphar obsevered that the blessing of God was upon him. "And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did prosper in his hand." (Gen 39:3).
That Joseph lived in an awareness of the abiding presence of God is dramatically illustrated by his reaction to the wife of Potiphar in her effort to sedduce him into immoral relations. Joseph responded as one who was aware that his life was lived in the presence of God. He was eager to please God. and we find that in his respond to this lustful woman’s request; "How then can i do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (Gen 29:21)
b) God was with Joseph in Prison
Perhaps there is no fury like that of a woman scorned. Joseph found himself falsely accused and unjustly imprisoned. God never forsakes those who trust Him and obey Him as we read in the Bible’s record; "But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of prison." (Gen 39:21)
c) God was with Joseph in his first contact with Pharaoh.
Joseph’s faith in prison was what eventually led him by a providential course into the presence of Pharaoh, where he was requested to interpret a dream that was disturbing the ruler. At no time previous was Joseph more aware of God’s presence in his response to Pharaoh’s request for the interpretation of his dream. Joseph’s said, "It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace." (Gen 41:16)
As God had been with Joseph through his varied and exciting career, by the presence of his mummy case, Joseph wanted to bear a witness to the abiding presense of God with Israel.
Conclusion
By means of a mummy case, Joseph spoke to the people. By means of a cross and an empty tomb, the gracious God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ offers to you the gift of forgiveness, the joy of eternal life, and the fruits of a blessed fellowship if you will trust Him and follow Him as Joseph.
Robert Fa’atoia-Collins
