Joel M Bradshaw

19Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.”–Exodus 13

The book of Genesis ended this way:

And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. (Genesis 50:24-26)

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)

We love the perspective of Joseph here. We wonder if he knew that a future Pharaoh was going to forget him and how his organizational leadership would save the nation from famine. Joseph died a prince, but his people would one day leave as reluctantly freed slaves.

And yet Joseph knew that the very same God who was constantly with him on his journey would be with his people on theirs. And even though Joseph’s efforts saved his people from OUTSIDE the Promised Land, he wanted to be buried INSIDE the Promised Land.

His legacy must have continued all those years in some form, for they remembered to stop and get his bones. They had a promise to keep to the greatest and most famous (up to that time) son of Jacob.

Do you see your journey as in God’s hands? Do you see God’s faithfulness in your life? Do you trust the very God who has authored you story ultimately for your good and for His glory? For that was the perspective that Joseph maintained to the end, come what may (Genesis 50:20).–JMB