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Joseph: A Life of Faith
February 4, 2012

Joseph, known in the Faith Chapter for giving a direction for the handling of his bones after his death, knew and believed that one day the children of Israel would leave Egypt. At the time it must have seen hard as he had not seen the Promised Land since he was sold into captivity by his brothers at a young age. He was now quite old and generations of Israelites had lived in Egypt. With a memory of the drought that had caused the older generation to flee, and the wealth of Egypt, it must have seen like foregone conclusion that that children of Israel would always live in Egypt. If Joseph would have given up on the dream, no person would have blamed him. God would not have inspired for him to be listed in the Faith Chapter. Instead, Joseph believed and had faith. Sometimes all we have is belief, and belief is the foundation of faith.

Hebrews 11:22
By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

Joseph came a long way since the day his brothers sold him into slavery. Many, if put in this situation, would probably be so angry with their brothers thatif they never forgave their brothers, most people would probably accept this as an acceptable action. The common person back in the day considering how much Joseph had helped Egypt, would not be considered unreasonable if they thought Joseph would prefer to stay in Egypt and to be buried there forever. Those who didn't directly hear Joseph's direction to have his bones taken out of Egypt when the children of Israel left would have a hard time believing what Joseph said. Many would question these words. But this is what Joseph said. And the Bible shows that when Joseph died, his body was prepared for burial as any high-ranking Egyptian might be.

Genesis 50:22-26
And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years. And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

So Joseph died, and was buried, and later when the children of Israel left Egypt, when there was a Pharaoh who didn't remember who Joseph was, the children of Israel took the bones of Joseph with them.

Exodus 13:17-22
And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you. And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

So Joseph's faith was a simple faith based on belief. In believing, he never let go of the promise. He did not let the bad situation of being sold into slavery make him angry or ignore the promise made to Abraham. Having lived a difficult life, in a strange land, removed from the land of promise, Joseph never lost hope, and kept the faith. In tough times, when all seems lost, when all we have is belief itself, is the time when we need faith the most.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
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