An act of faith … not completely fulfilled for four hundred years!
That’s what Joshua 24:32 represents. “And the BONES OF JOSEPH, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, BURIED THEY in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor ….”
Joseph, long ago, had extracted a commitment from his people that they, upon leaving Egypt some day, would NOT leave his “bones” behind … not in such a heathen place!
Here’s the Biblical history: “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.” Genesis 50:24-26
It took long-range faith to believe God would deliver His people! Keeping a promise made to Abraham decades and decades earlier! Out of Egypt … into the land of Canaan!
And it took deeply-held faith for someone to remember those bones … those centuries later!
But they did remember!
Paul in Hebrews 11:22 takes up this theme, too. “By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning HIS BONES.”
Wow!
Now, having viewed this pristine “example” of faith in action … let’s apply it to our lives.
I’ve been hearing about Jesus’ Second Coming all my days as a Believer, a Christian. I was saved at age 6, in fact, assuredly!
And soon I’ll be 71 years of age, the Lord willing!
Yet … that blessed Event has not happened yet.
In fact, God’s children have been awaiting that Day for nearly two thousand years now!
But, like Joseph of old … we must believe.
We must trust.
No matter how long it may be, in God’s timing!
Even if after death has claimed our bodies!
Because, just like the Jews left Egypt … honoring the promise they made to Joseph about his bones, so will the saints some day leave this earth, via the miracle of the Rapture … honoring the promise Jesus made to us … “I will come again!”
Hallelujah.
This promise is “sure.”
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Peter warned us: “There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” 2nd Peter 3:3-4
In the face of this skepticism, unbelief … remember the bones of Joseph!
God always keeps His Word.