“By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones” (Hebrews 11:22).
When Joseph died at the age of 110 (Genesis 50:26), he had lived in Egypt for over 90 years. Sold into slavery at the age of 17 (Genesis 37:2), his entire adult life was lived in Egypt. Yet, because of his faith he did not consider Egypt his home. Therefore, he gave instructions concerning his bones and where his final resting place would be.
Because of the amazing display of God’s sovereignty and providence in the first 40 years of his life, Joseph trusted God’s ability to keep His promises no matter how unlikely their fulfillment may appear at the present time. Therefore, since God had promised his great-grandfather, grandfather, and father that their descendants would live in the land of Canaan, Joseph “took an oath from the children of Israel” in which they promised to carry up his bones from Egypt (Genesis 50:25).
“Moses took the bones of Joseph with him” when Pharaoh ordered Israel to leave after the final plague on Egypt years later (Exodus 13:19). His bones were carried for 40+ years and finally were “buried at Shechem, in the plot of ground which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for 100 pieces of silver” (Joshua 24:32). Though not interred at Machpelah with Abraham and Sarah, Joseph was buried in the Promised Land.
Joseph’s faith burned brightly in his life until his dying day.
