I am sure you will agree, Joseph had lived a remarkable life. Then, in his dying moments, with three generations of grandchildren around him, he looked to the life after he had died and made his family swear an oath about his bones.
“Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years 23 and saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees. 24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” 25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” 26 So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.” (Genesis 50 v 22-26)
Joseph died in Egypt. He wasn’t taken to the family tomb in Machpelah beside Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He dies with the belief that at some point he will be carried out of Egypt. Moses would eventually do this hundreds of years later (see Exodus 13:19). Joseph died believing that God would finish what He started. It might be much later, but it will come.
Have you noticed he didn’t ask to be buried but to be carried? Egypt was not his home. His bones declared that the story was not over when he died.
Joseph teaches us how to die. That is to lean forward with trust. Joseph died believing he would make it home. He may have believed this to be much sooner than it was, 400 years later. But Moses eventually came, and Joseph’s bones made the journey home.
We live, like Joseph, between promise and fulfilment. There are things God has spoken over our lives that we may not see completed in our lifetime. Joseph shows us how to hold those promises intact and to die with faith.
The same God who kept every promise to Joseph keeps His promises to you. You may be waiting on a promise that feels long delayed. Four hundred years was a major delay, but God finishes what He starts.
Missions Paul 