|
Hebrews 11:22
The pinnacle of Joseph's faith involved his confidence in the promises passed down from Abraham about his descendant's return to the Promised Land. Joseph commanded that his bones be carried back to the land by the Israelites. But his reason for wanting his remains returned to the land was more than mere sentiment. Notice his father's words: Then Israel said to Joseph, "Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers. Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow." (Genesis 48:21-22) Thus, it was not just the children of Israel in general that would return to the Promised Land. As he lay dying, Jacob was rightly confident that God would bring Joseph specifically back to the land of his fathers, which is why Jacob tells him that he would receive a double portion. However, Joseph lived his entire life without receiving his inheritance. As Hebrews 11:39 says, he "obtained a good testimony through faith" but "did not receive the promise." Had God been unfaithful? On the contrary, the next verse explains: "God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect [in the resurrection] apart from us." So, when Joseph gave the command regarding his bones, he was contemplating the resurrection! This is highly significant because, as far as we know, there had never been a resurrection up to this point. In the absence of a direct revelation from God, it is likely that Joseph's faith on this point stemmed from Abraham's story and faith. God considered Abraham to be faithful because he accounted that God must resurrect the "sacrificed" Isaac for the promises to be fulfilled (Hebrews 11:19). The Bible does not tell us precisely what was explained to Abraham about the resurrections, nor does it say what was taught to Joseph. Yet, we know that God's promises were passed down, as undoubtedly was the story of Abraham's accounting, giving Joseph an example of how to reason and conclude correctly. From the story of Abraham and Isaac and Abraham's demonstration of faith that death does not hinder God's purpose, Joseph must have correctly determined that for him to inherit the double portion, he would be resurrected! Thus, Joseph gave a commandment regarding his bones. He wanted his bones back in the land of his fathers so that when God resurrects him, he will already be there. Exodus 13:19 records that, hundreds of years later, Moses took charge of Joseph's bones. He cites the fact that the children of Israel were put under a solemn oath: When God visited them, they would be obliged to carry Joseph's bones with them. Later, Joshua 24:32 reports that the bones of Joseph were finally buried at Shechem after the death of Joshua. Moses, hundreds of years after Joseph's death, was well aware of the solemn oath, and he did his part to see it fulfilled. The Israelites carried Joseph's bones out of Egypt during the Exodus. They were carried through the Red Sea and for forty years through the wilderness. After Moses died, Joshua became the protector of the bones and had them carried across the Jordan. After Joshua died—like Joseph, at the age of 110—Joseph's bones were finally buried. We know that the children of Israel, through Joshua's time, knew about the oath they were bound to. But thoroughly intertwined with that oath was the faith that Joseph demonstrated in prophesying of Israel's deliverance from captivity, and his absolute assurance in the resurrection of the dead that would bring him back to life in the land of his fathers. Joseph's faith did not die with him; it was carried with Israel all through the wilderness and throughout the settlement of the Promised Land. Joseph's coffin was a testimony to all who remembered the story that God was absolutely dependable in carrying out His promises and that death is not the end. God saw to it that Joseph's faith was continually recounted for generations to come as the Israelites transported his coffin everywhere they wandered. Hebrews 4:1-2 relates that the gospel was preached to the Israelites. The gospel is about the Kingdom of God being established on this earth, including the future resurrection of the dead. The resurrection resides at the very core of the gospel, and we see that the Israelites carried a reminder of a future resurrection with them throughout the long lives of Moses and Joshua. Could Joseph's coffin, and thus the story of Joseph's solid belief, have been a significant part of the preaching of the gospel to them? Joseph could have taken his place among the great leaders of Egypt, but he chose instead to demonstrate his faith in what God had said to his ancestors by instructing that the children of Israel carry his bones with them when they returned to Canaan. Even though resurrections were apparently still theoretical then, he was confident that he would live again. Just as Abraham had accounted, Joseph trusted that God was able to raise him up to fulfill the promises. This is the faith of Joseph that God highlights in Hebrews 11.
David C. Grabbe
The Faith of Joseph (Part Two)
|
