Giving Hope

DEVOTION

HEBREWS

GIVING HOPE

Heb 11:22

22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.

NIV

Once again, another of those men of old who at the end of his time here on this earth spoke about what was going to happen to others and at the same time wanted to make sure his bones were not left behind. Although when he made that statement the children of Israel had not been in Egypt very long and were not in slavery or under any sort of persecution. They were simply not where God has promised Abraham they would be. Joseph had surely seen the hand of God all during his life, from the time of his youth when he had visions, his journey into Egypt, his life in Potiphar’s house, in jail, and as the second in command of all of Egypt. But still as he faces the end of his life, he gives hope to his family. Surely they all understand about life after death, they knew Enoch had been taken, they knew the power of God, and that bones were just bones, and not the remains of the spirit which resided within. Yet it, was a point of contact, an oath which they had to make to him, in which he was making them surely believe God would indeed come to their aid, and they would someday go to the place God had promised them. Do we make sure somehow that as we live, and when we come to the time of our passing give that kind of hope and surety to our family that God will surely come to their aid and take them someday to the place He has prepared and promised He would give to them? Is this not the hope of all of us? Jesus said that He goes to prepare a place for us and that He will come back and take us to that place so that where He is we will be also. As the children of Israel were promised a physical place here on earth and as Joseph gave his family hope that God would bring them to that place, we also have a place God has promised us, a physical new city of Jerusalem where we will reside with Christ. As we prepare to step into eternity, into the presence of God, let us remember Joseph, and give our family that kind of hope, especially if there are any who struggle with belief in God. Let us give testimony of the power of God, the grace of God, and the salvation of God all our life, even with our last breathe, giving hope.