If you live your whole life believing the promises of God but do not receive them, does this mean that your faith is in vain? Hebrews 11:13 states, "These all died in faith, not having received the
promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."
Joseph is given as another example of one who lived by faith. The event to which the writer referred took place as Joseph was dying.
Hebrews 11:22: "By faith Joseph, when he died (was dying), made mention of the
departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his
bones."
Joseph had been taught about the covenant which God made with Abraham and passed on to Isaac and Jacob. The writer showed that Joseph not only was taught about the covenant, but he also believed that God would keep His promises. That is why Joseph instructed the children of Israel concerning his bones.
THE FACTS ABOUT JOSEPH
Joseph was the son of Jacob and Rachel (Genesis 30:22-24).
Genesis 30:22-24: 22And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her,
and opened her womb. 23And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath
taken away my reproach: 24And she called his name Joseph; and said, The
LORD shall add to me another son.
He was the favorite son of Jacob (Genesis 37:3).
Genesis 37:3: Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was
the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
He was hated by his brothers because of his father's partiality (Genesis 37:3-11).
Genesis 37:3-11: 3Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because
he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. 4And
when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren,
they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. 5And Joseph dreamed
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a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. 6And he
said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: 7For, behold,
we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood
upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my
sheaf. 8And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt
thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his
dreams, and for his words. 9And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his
brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun
and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. 10And he told it to his
father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What
is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren
indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? 11And his brethren
envied him; but his father observed the saying.
He had dreams of exaltation (Genesis 37:5-10).
He was sold by his brothers into Egypt (Genesis 37:12-28).
Genesis 37:12-28: 12And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in
Shechem. 13And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in
Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.
14And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren,
and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale
of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 15And a certain man found him, and,
behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What
seekest thou? 16And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they
feed their flocks. 17And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them
say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in
Dothan. 18And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them,
they conspired against him to slay him. 19And they said one to another, Behold,
this dreamer cometh. 20Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him
into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall
see what will become of his dreams. 21And Reuben heard it, and he delivered
him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him. 22And Reuben said unto
them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay
no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his
father again. 23And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren,
that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;
24And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was
no water in it. 25And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and
looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their
camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.
26And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and
conceal his blood? 27Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our
hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were
content. 28Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and
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lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces
of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
He received a position of great authority in Egypt (Genesis 41:37-57).
Genesis 41:37-57: 37And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the
eyes of all his servants. 38And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such
a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39And Pharaoh said unto
Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet
and wise as thou art: 40Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy
word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
41And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
42And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand,
and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;
43And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried
before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
44And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man
lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. 45And Pharaoh called Joseph's
name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of
Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. 46And
Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And
Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land
of Egypt. 47And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.
48And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of
Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round
about every city, laid he up in the same. 49And Joseph gathered corn as the sand
of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number. 50And
unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath
the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him. 51And Joseph called the
name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my
toil, and all my father's house. 52And the name of the second called he Ephraim:
For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. 53And the
seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. 54And
the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the
dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55And when
all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and
Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.
56And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the
storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land
of Egypt. 57And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because
that the famine was so sore in all lands.
THE FAITH OF JOSEPH
He had Godly influence (Genesis 39:1-3).
Genesis 39:1-3: 1And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an
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officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands
of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. 2And the LORD was
with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master
the Egyptian. 3And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the
LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
He had Godly conduct in business. (Genesis 39:5, 6).
Genesis 39:5, 6: 5And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer
in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's
house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had
in the house, and in the field. 6And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and
he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a
goodly person, and well favoured.
He resisted temptation (Genesis 37:7-19; Note Verse 9, "There is none greater in this house than
I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then
can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" ).
Genesis 37:7-19: 7And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife
cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 8But he refused, and said
unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the
house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9There is none greater
in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee,
because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin
against God? 10And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he
hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. 11And it came to pass
about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was
none of the men of the house there within. 12And she caught him by his garment,
saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him
out. 13And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her
hand, and was fled forth, 14That she called unto the men of her house, and spake
unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he
came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice: 15And it came to
pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment
with me, and fled, and got him out.16And she laid up his garment by her, until
his lord came home. 17And she spake unto him according to these words, saying,
The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock
me: 18And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his
garment with me, and fled out. 19And it came to pass, when his master heard the
words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy
servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.
In spite of what was happening to him, he still had divine favor (Genesis 39:21-23).
Genesis 39:21-23: 21But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and
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gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22And the keeper of the
prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and
whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 23The keeper of the prison looked
not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and
that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
He had God's provision in difficult circumstances (Genesis 40. Note Verses 5-8).
Genesis 40: 1And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of
Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. 2And Pharaoh
was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against
the chief of the bakers. 3And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of
the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. 4And the captain
of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued
a season in ward. 5And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream
in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler
and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison. 6And Joseph
came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were
sad. 7And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's
house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day? 8And they said unto him, We
have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto
them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you. 9And the
chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a
vine was before me; 10And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though
it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth
ripe grapes: 11And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and
pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand. 12And
Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are
three days: 13Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore
thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the
former manner when thou wast his butler. 14But think on me when it shall be
well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me
unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: 15For indeed I was stolen away
out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they
should put me into the dungeon. 16When the chief baker saw that the
interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and,
behold, I had three white baskets on my head: 17And in the uppermost basket
there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them
out of the basket upon my head. 18And Joseph answered and said, This is the
interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days: 19Yet within three days
shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and
the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee. 20And it came to pass the third day,
which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he
lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.
21And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup
into Pharaoh's hand: 22But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted
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to them. 23Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.
He honored God (Genesis 41:14-16).
Genesis 41:14-16: 14Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him
hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and
came in unto Pharaoh. 15And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a
dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that
thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. 16And Joseph answered Pharaoh,
saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
He was given divine revelations (Genesis 41:25-36).
Genesis 41:25-36: 25And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is
one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26The seven good kine
are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. 27And
the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and
the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.
28This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do
he sheweth unto Pharaoh. 29Behold, there come seven years of great plenty
throughout all the land of Egypt: 30And there shall arise after them seven years
of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the
famine shall consume the land; 31And the plenty shall not be known in the land
by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. 32And for that
the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established
by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. 33Now therefore let Pharaoh look
out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34Let Pharaoh
do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of
the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. 35And let them gather all the food
of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and
let them keep food in the cities. 36And that food shall be for store to the land
against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the
land perish not through the famine.
THE FINAL AND GREATEST ACT OF FAITH BY JOSEPH
The promise remembered (Hebrews 11:22).
Hebrews 11:22: By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of
the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
The promise was first given to Abraham (Genesis 15:13-16).
Genesis 15:13-16: 13And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed
shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they
shall afflict them four hundred years; 14And also that nation, whom they shall
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serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. 15And
thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. 16But
in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the
Amorites is not yet full.
It was passed on to Isaac and Jacob. It was remembered by Joseph.
Genesis 50:24: "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."
Genesis 47:29, 30: 29And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called
his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I
pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me
not, I pray thee, in Egypt: 30But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry
me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou
hast said.
God will surely visit you. God will bring you out of this land (Egypt). God will bring you into the land which He sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. God said it. Joseph believed it. "Faith
comes by hearing, and hearing comes by the Word of God." Romans 10:17.
The faith and commandment of Joseph was honored. The promises of God fulfilled.
Exodus 12:40, 41: "Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in
Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the
four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the
hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt."
The promise to Joseph was kept.
Exodus 13:19, "And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had
straightly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye
shall carry up my bones away hence with you."
The burial of Joseph's bones was done in the promise land as promised. This took place about 300
years after the death of Joseph.
Joshua 24:32, "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 the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and
it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph."
Conclusion
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promise land. Joseph died in faith, not having received the promise. But he saw it by faith and was persuaded that God's promise was true, and God would keep it (Hebrews 11:13).
Hebrews 11:13: These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but
having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Joseph was a faithful servant of God and lived by faith. He lived by God's standards and trusted God to keep His promises and to provide for him.
The believer today has not seen heaven, but he believes God's promises about heaven. The believer today has not yet received a glorified body, but he believes that one day he will receive it.
Have you received the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour? If not, why not do so now?
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