Make No Bones About It
By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. ~Hebrews 11:22
When a person says, “Make no bones about it,” what they mean is “make no mistake.” It is a statement of absolute confidence. It is a statement that is fearless and without doubt. It is a statement of assurance about a fact. The writer of Hebrews highlights one area of the faith of Joseph. He speaks about the faith of Joseph in relation to his bones. He did not want his bones to stay in Egypt. He wanted his bones to be buried where God was going to place His people. He had faith about things that would happen after he was dead. Would you consider with me the greatness of Joseph’s faith?
Joseph had faith in a faithful relationship.
Joseph was a man who knew the Lord as his Savior. Early on in life, Joseph placed his faith in the Lord to save his soul. His faith was personal. His faith was penitent. His faith was passionate. Joseph was 17 years old when he started his ministry for God. He was 30 years old when he was made the prime minister of Egypt. He was 110 years old when he died. His ministry for God spanned 93 years. One word describes his relationship to God and God’s relationship to him: faithful. It was his faith in God when he was in the pit, in the prison, in the palace, and in his prosperity that sustained him. There are many things that we will face that will try to discourage us from God. Let us have faith in a faithful relationship.
Joseph had faith in a family relocation.
Joseph told his brethren that God would visit the Hebrews and bring them out of Egypt. He was foretelling of a family relocation. Egypt would be the site of 400 years of terrible bondage and slavery. The Hebrews would cry out to God to help them. Joseph told them the day will come when God will surely visit you. He had no questions about God’s will for the nation. He would not be there when the relocation would occur, but he could see it. He could visualize the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant when God’s people would have their own land. His faith in this relocation teaches us not to get too attached to this world and its temporal glitter. "This world is not my home; I’m just a passing through."
Joseph had faith in a future resurrection.
He said, “Ye shall carry up my bones from hence.” When Jesus comes for us, the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together to be forever with the Lord. No bones of any saved believer are staying in this world. Joseph may not have understood it, but he had faith in a future resurrection. Death has no hold on a child of God! We will be changed in the twinkling of an eye. We shall be changed into the same glory of immortality that Jesus has. Joseph had such faith that he did not want his bones staying in Egypt. Just as his bones were carried up, the dead in Christ shall be carried up to be with the Lord.
Joseph had an illustrious life. However, more impressive than his worldly success is the power of his faith. He had a great faith in the living God. Do you have a faith like Joseph? Do you have a faith where it can be said, “Make no bones about it”?
Have a faith-filled God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Acts 18-20