The Bones of Joseph
Today’s Verse:
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
Yesterday, we considered the bones of Jeremiah. Jeremiah described his bones as being shaken up. This morning, we are considering the bones of Joseph. With the bones of Joseph, we are considering the bones of a dead man. Joseph commanded his brethren before he died, “God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up by bones from hence.” Joseph had faith concerning the future location of his bones.
We see the fame of Joseph.
Joseph is one of the patriarchs of faith. He is a type of Christ in many ways. He is a man that, from youth until his last breath, was faithful, steadfast, and abounding in the work of the Lord. He exemplifies for us how to have true success, because God’s hand was on his life. He exemplifies how to deal with the hardships of life, including betrayal, hatred, and rejection. He becomes the most important man in Egypt, and is considered the savior of the land by helping prepare Egypt for a horrific seven-year famine. He was God’s man in the right place at the right time. He filled his place in history, and did not fail the Lord. As his name implies, he was a man who added to the lives of others.
We see the funeral of Joseph.
“So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt,” Gen. 50:26. Genesis begins with creation, but sadly ends with the body of a man that was embalmed and put in a coffin in Egypt. It is the sad reminder of the inevitable of death. It is a sad reminder that death has passed on all men, for all have sinned. Our bodies will be placed in a coffin and laid in the grave, but the most important event to plan for is the destiny of our souls. Every man must decide to accept or reject Jesus Christ as Savior. To accept Him by faith as Savior grants us forgiveness of our sins and an eternal place in Heaven. To reject Him as Savior brings the condemnation of God upon our souls to spend all of eternity separated from God in Hell. Funerals are a reminder that there is a Heaven and a Hell.
We see the faith of Joseph.
Joseph had faith in God’s plan. Like us, he could not see everything perfectly as it unfolded, but he knew that he could trust God for his outcome. In Gen. 50:20, he wonderfully describes God’s plan for each life: “God meant it unto good.” Joseph also had faith in God’s promises. He knew that, one day, the Israelites would leave Egypt and settle in the land of Canaan. He would not live to see this, but he had faith nonetheless in God’s Word. He commanded his brethren to take his bones with them when they left Egypt. By faith, we believe that Heaven is the home of the saved. We rest upon the many verses of assurance that, when we die, our souls will be forever with the Lord. His faith was so strong in the future performance of God that he told them, “Don’t leave my bones here in Egypt.” Let’s make sure our faith finishes strong.
We see the future of Joseph.
“And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph,” Josh. 24:32. Joseph’s bones were taken and buried in the land of promise. What a beautiful picture of our eternal security. First, it pictures that God will take us home to Heaven when we die (John 14:1-2). Second, it pictures our future resurrection, when our bodies are taken up either from the grave or alive at the Rapture. Our vile bodies shall be fashioned like unto His glorious body. Our bodies will be taken out of this world, and transformed into immortal and incorruptible bodies, like Jesus’.
We have the guarantee of Heaven. We have the guarantee of a future resurrection. We have the guarantee of having glorified bodies. Everything about us (soul and body) will be taken out of this world. Be prepared and ready to meet the Lord. Look ahead for that wonderful day when we will be with our Lord forever.
Have a heavenly God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Ecclesiastes 1-4