JEFF TURNER
Joseph faced many hardships in his life. He was betrayed by his own brothers, sold into slavery, wrongly accused by his master, and left in prison. Through all of this, he held onto his trust in God. Yet, when the New Testament speaks of Joseph’s faith, it does not focus on these events. Instead, Hebrews 11:22 highlights something he did at the end of his life. He gave instructions about his burial.
Before he died, Joseph asked that his bones be taken to Canaan when God’s people eventually left Egypt. At the time, Canaan was not in their hands. But Joseph believed it would be, because God had promised it to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Joseph’s request showed his deep confidence that God would keep His word, even if the fulfilment was far off.
Joseph had no way of knowing when or how this would happen. Many years would pass before the Israelites left Egypt and even more before they entered the promised land. But Joseph was so sure of God’s promise that he wanted to be buried there.
This quiet act, asking to be buried in a land not yet theirs, shows us a faith that looked far into the future. It was not based on what he could see, but on what God had promised.
For we walk by faith, not by sight
2 Corinthians 5:7
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