Where Will They Take YOUR Bones?

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt.  He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.   Hebrews 11:22

Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers when he was very young.[1]  However, even as a slave in Egypt, this ancestor of Jesus kept his integrity and commitment to God on the faithful-front-burner.  He knew God was watching over him.  Throughout his time in Egypt Joseph never lost sight of God’s promises given to his ancestor, Abraham, that the land of Canaan would be their inheritance.  At the end of his days (on Earth) Joseph instructed his family to carry his bones back to that promised land when they left Egypt years later.  I’m not an historical mind-reader,  but it seems clear that Joseph’s intent was to stay true to God’s call and promises, even after he left this earthly realm.  Being buried (re-buried) in that place of promise was a significant gesture of his faithfulness – home at last!

Joseph’s clan did what he asked of them, burying him at Shechem, the first place his great-grandfather, Abraham had worshipped.  It was at that place God gave the promise of Canaan Land to the descendants of Abraham. 

Joseph’s intent all throughout his difficult early days, and glory later days, were aimed at going back to the altar where God first called.

For You Today  

You may have a lengthy line of Christians in your ancestry, or you may be the first of your family to profess Christ.  Either (or anywhere in-between) is a perfect place to adopt the kind of life-long holy determination that defined Joseph’s life.  If you had a rough start in life, like Joseph, or a relatively secure and happy start, like Opie in Mayberry, you will someday also have an end. 

For the time being, God is calling you to the kind of faithfulness Joseph lived…ready to serve and honor the One who gives the promise…Father, God, Lord of Heaven’s hosts.  By your thoughts, words, and deeds, leave no doubt in your clan’s minds where they should carry your bones when your time comes.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

Go to VIDEO (read by author)

There are about 2,000 devotional posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road Devotions library.  To dig deeper on today’s topic, explore some of these: 

Never Give Up   Big Faith

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Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©  

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[1] Read the account of this rough start in life here:  Genesis 38