Joseph’s Bones

Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here.” So Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years; and he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt. Genesis 50:25-26

Life does not begin and end with me. Live begins and ends with God. If I allowed God to live through my life, His influence, through me, will live on.  Though my body may ond day lie in a grave, life will be far from over if I’m God’s child. The promises of God that I embraced for my family will unfold long after I’m gone.  I will watch and pray from heaven’s threshold as God’s faithfulness is displayed in the heavens and the earth.

The promises God made to Jacob and his descendants, realized through Joseph and his descendants, are still coming to pass today. That’s because Joseph’s life and the choices he made matter. He is not only a teacher when I review his story, but he is also a catalyst for the coming redemption of Israel. His coffin holds the remains of his mortal body, but earth still feel the effects of his faith.

Genesis reveals the themes of scripture. Creation. The Fall. Redemption. Restoration. Not only are these revealed in the overall storyline of the book, but they are also evident in the individual stories of God’s chosen people.

I am praying for you as I finish writing from Genesis today. It’s a sad day to say goodbye to our characters for now but my heart is full.  I hope yours is too.  Just like Joseph, you are meant to see redemption in every area of your life ~ then restoration. Despair results from living in a storyline that is unfinished and making the erroneous conclusion that this is the end of your story. Like Joseph, each of us are to wait for God to redeem what is broken. Yes, at times we faint under the ‘waiting’ but God will give us the grace to be tenacious in His waiting room.

I can think of no better way to conclude than with this incredible scripture from Psalms about Joseph.

They bruised Joseph’s feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the Lord proved him true. Psalm 105:17-19

Oh, my friend, as we close the book of Genesis, let’s stand tall in the truth that captivity never has the last Word for anyone determined to prevail in the promises of God.

To You, God of Joseph, be all the glory. To You, my God, be all honor and praise. In Jesus name, Amen