I find it very inspiring when someone facing death looks forward to heaven by faith. They have the assurance of things hoped for. They know that they will go to heaven when they die. They have faith in God.
At the end of life and facing death Joseph is the story of a victorious faith. Hebrews 11 is the hall of faith chapter. In the faith hall of fame are Joseph’s father Jacob, his grandfather Isaac, his great grandfather Abraham. It also has other of his ancestors, Enoch, Noah and Abel.
It is not the least bit surprising that Joseph made the Hebrews 11 Hall of faith. Joseph had one of the most inspiring faith journeys in the Bible. What may surprise you at first glance is why Joseph is in the hall of faith.
By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones. (Hebrews 11:22)
With all that we know about Joseph and has faith why is he in the fall of fame for faith for giving instructions about the burial of his bones?
We might have expected Joseph to be remembered in the Hebrews Hall of Faith because of how as a handsome young man he resisted temptation. Joseph response was how can I do this and sin against God? Joseph suffered for doing what was right because of the false accusation of Potiphar’s wife. His faith carried him through tremendous temptation.
Wouldn’t this be listed in the Hebrews 11 chapter? No, instead it is him giving instruction about his bones.
Another reason you might suspect that Joseph would be included in the Hebrews 11 list is his steadfast commitment to God in prison. He accurately interpreted the dreams of fellow prisoners, Pharoah’s cupbearer, and baker. The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. (Genesis 40:23)
Joseph walked with God. His faith was strong in prison even when he was the forgotten prisoner. He stayed faithful in prison and was strong in his faith when he stood before Pharoah.
Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” (Genesis 41:15-16)
A prisoner before the most the most powerful man in the world. He told Pharoah of the power of God. Joseph was bold. That in itself seems worthy of being included among the Hebrews 11 greats. But it was something else. Instructions about his bones.
Or what about the great faith of Joseph regarding what his brothers did to him. How Joseph forgave his brothers. They hated him, plotted to kill him and is a sudden change of plans sold him into slavery. Joseph’s attitude showed tremendous faith.
And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. (Genesis 45:5)
The faith of Joseph is one of the great stories of the Bible, but his life is boiled down to 1 verse. He gave instructions about his bones. Again, we might ask is that really a faith hall of fame incident? Is that what stands out in the life of Joseph?
Lots of people make a will and say how they are to be buried after they die. Why is Joseph so unique?
Joseph’s instructions about his bone are indeed unique in light of this verse we read about what he said at the end of his life.
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” 25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” (Genesis 50:24-25)
Hebrews 11:22 is talking about more than burial instructions. This about what he believes by faith God is going to do. God will surely come to your aid. He will take you out of this land to the land that he promised my great grandfather Abraham. He confirmed that promise to my grandfather Isaac and my father Jacob. This will happen.
This was a statement of faith. It was an assurance of things hoped for. This was believing God beyond what he could see. Joseph was trusting God for something more than what the circumstances dictated.
Joseph is taking God at his word. He knows God is able and does keep his promises. God promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that their descendants would inherit the promised land. So, Joseph knew by faith it would happen. The promise of God would be fulfilled.
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. (Genesis 15:13)
Joseph knew that his people would come out of Egypt. They would have an Exodus back to the Promise Land. This is not something you would anticipate except for faith in God.
Joseph’s people were shepherds. They lived in the area of Goshen. One of the most fertile regions of Egypt. It was suited perfectly for shepherds to graze their flocks.
Abraham had left Canaan for Egypt because of a famine. This is the same thig that Jacob had done because during the famine Egypt had food. It was faith not reason or circumstances that Joseph said, “Promise me, swear on an oath that you will carry my bones up from this place at the exodus. Take my bones to the land God promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
Joseph expressed faith. If God could take him from a prisoner to prime minister and fulfill what he said to Joseph in a dream, God could after 400 years in Egypt bring the national Israel from Egypt back to the promised land.
Joseph had faith. He had assurance of things hoped for. It happened!
Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.” (Exodus 13:19)
When the Israelites crossed the Red Sea on dry ground they brought the bones of Joseph.
And Joseph’s bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. This became the inheritance of Joseph’s descendants. (Joshua 24:32)
Joseph died at the age of 110 years old. It was 400 years later the Israelites carried Josephs bones out of Egypt. Then they wondered in the wilderness 40 years. They crossed the Jordan River on dry ground carrying Joseph’s bones.
They conquered the land. Jericho fell at a trumpet blast. Then they buried Joseph’s bones at Shechem. No wonder this is in the hall of faith. Joseph looked ahead and believed God for all of this.
So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt. (Genesis 50:26)
His end: A coffin in Egypt.
His future: Buried in the Promise Land. Eternal Life.
His Faith: The assurance of things hoped for.
Are you believing the promises of God?
