The Promise

DEVOTION

GENESIS

THE PROMISE

Gen 47:27-31

27 Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number. 28 Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years, and the years of his life were a hundred and forty-seven. 29 When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, "If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried." "I will do as you say," he said. 31 "Swear to me," he said. Then Joseph swore to him, and Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.  

NIV

Israel is beginning to face the end of his years. He must know the time will soon be at hand because he calls for his son Joseph to his side. Here he makes him promise that he will be carried out of Egypt and buried with his own people on his own land, the Promised Land that God had brought him to. Jacob remembers the words of the Lord before he came to Egypt.

Gen 46:3-4

3 "I am God, the God of your father," he said. "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes."

NIV

Although Israel is not ready to breathe his last, he still knows it is Joseph whom he must count on to fulfill the promise God made to him. He requires Joseph to swear he will carry his bones out of Egypt and bury him with his fathers. When we get to the portion of this whole narrative when Israel dies, we see Joseph does fulfill his promise. But let us see the truth within this promise for our own lives. Again seeing Joseph as a picture of Jesus we can see Jesus making that promise to his Father about his creation, us. God sent his son to bring us out of this land when we die and bring us back to the Promised Land. That would seem to imply we were once there, as Israel was once in the land of Canaan. It is going to be many years in the lives of the descendants of Israel before they actually enter the Promised Land as a nation to conquer and occupy the land as the twelve tribes of Israel. It may be many years before we are carried off to our Promised Land in the heavenly realm, or it could be sooner then we think. Either way because of the promise Jesus made to his Father, we will be carried off to that place when we breathe our last. We certainly do not know the conversation the Father and Jesus had before he was sent to redeem us, so how do we know he promised he would? It is his words in his prayer in the garden before his crucifixion, “Nevertheless, your will be done”. Jesus promised he would carry out the will of his Father in order that we might be carried back to the Promised Land. This also means that we must accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, for it is only those of us who put our trust in him who will be carried to that land. Just as Israel was assured that Joseph would do as he promised, and carry him out of Egypt and bury him with his fathers, we can be assured Jesus will carry us out of this land and bring us to the place of our rest. There is one more truth within this narrative. Israel was promised that Joseph would close his eyes. We have the promise that Jesus will close our eyes. Our days our numbered, he knows the minute of the day in which we breathe our last and he comes to close our eyes and carry us home. 

Job 14:5
5 Man's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed. 
NIV

Ps 139:15-16
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 

NIV

 What a glories truth, a wonderful picture shown to us throughout all of scripture. The true story of God loving his creation. We can live with peace in our heart, because of his promise.