Living FaithfullySample

Faith in the Future  

To encapsulate the faith of Joseph, the writer of Hebrews alludes to an incident at the end of Genesis. Jacob had died, and Joseph’s brothers were afraid. They feared that Joseph would take revenge on them for selling him into slavery. Joseph reassured them, however, telling them that while they acted with evil intent, God meant their actions for good. Joseph told them that he did not intend to play God and pass judgment on them. Rather, he would care for them and for their children as long as he lived (Gen. 50:15–21). 

Joseph lived to be 110 years old. The Israelites had settled in Goshen when Joseph was 40, so he protected them for 70 years. During those years they flourished and multiplied. When the time came for Joseph to die, he made the Israelites swear that they would not leave his sarcophagus behind in Egypt but would take his bones with them when they left Egypt and went to the promised land (Gen. 50:22–26). 

The author of Hebrews comments that Joseph and all the rest of the Old Testament saints “were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised” (Heb. 11:39). All those people looked forward to something. That great something, the Messiah and the Messianic age, had arrived with the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Christ. These saints, as well as the readers of this letter, all looked forward to the fulfillments of that Messianic age, the fulfillment of the kingdom. 

In Joseph’s case, he knew that Abraham had bought land in Canaan and had buried Sarah there. The other patriarchs had also been buried in the promised land, as a token of their faith in God’s promise. Additionally, connection with the land of promise at death was a sign of connection with the kingdom of God. This is why the bodies of criminals were exposed, to be devoured by beasts and birds; they were not buried in the holy land. 

Jesus is our holy land. By faith we are connected to Him in this life, and at our deaths we go to be with Him forever. Our bones will not be left in Egypt, but we shall be raised incorruptible. In our resurrection bodies we shall dwell in the final and true Holy Land for eternity.

Coram Deo  

Even though with Jesus’ coming the Kingdom was ushered in, we still await its consummation. As you look with faith to that future, remember that our moment-by-moment steps of faith now still count for the kingdom. Determine anew today to walk faithfully as an alien and stranger in this world.