Hebrews 11:22
By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
By faith when he was dying Joseph spoke of the future departure of the children of Israel from Egypt and commanded that his bones be carried up with the people. He stands among the heroes of faith of old, and as one of the great cloud of witnesses his life is held up as an example to the church. His faith meant believing God and relying on the Saviour for strength and availing himself of the promises of God, and this was counted to him for righteousness. By that faith he was sustained and strengthened and upheld, so that he withstood evil and opposing forces and received power and efficiency for the work and service of God. That same faith can work in believers today as channels of divine power, looking beyond death and things seen to the unseen future and the heavenly country God has prepared.
Joseph's Faith at Death
By faith at the close of his life Joseph looked ahead to the future departure of the children of Israel and gave instruction concerning his bones that they should be carried with the people on their way. His dying act was an exercise of faith that reached beyond his own death toward the promised future God had set before His people. Such faith fixes the mind upon unseen realities rather than upon discouraging things that are seen. It seeks a better country, even the heavenly city built by God.
Witness of Faithful Heroes
Hebrews 11 places Joseph among the heroes of faith and in the record of the faithful among God's servants of old. His dying testimony to Israel's future departure and his direction about his bones belongs to that record, and the same faith that worked in those servants can work in believers today as channels of God's power. The instruction of the chapter applies to workers for God, who are to go forward in faith and do their best, trusting that God hears and answers prayer, an experience that will be valuable in later work.
The defining mark of these heroes raised up from age to age is fidelity to God. Their obedience led others to glorify God.
As one of the great cloud of witnesses surrounding believers, Joseph's witness is held up as an example to the Christian church. He breasted the evils and difficulties in his way and braced himself successfully against opposing forces of evil in the Lord's name, sustained and strengthened and held by the Lord's hand. His faith placed him conspicuously before the world in order that his light might shine forth to those in darkness, and the fidelity of such heroes made them examples for people living in spiritual darkness.
Power of Living Faith
Joseph's faith meant believing God, availing himself of God's promises, and relying on Him and on the Saviour for strength in the midst of weakness and fear, and this believing reliance was counted as his righteousness. By that faith he was sustained and strengthened and held by the hand of the Lord, so that he breasted the evils and difficulties in his way and braced himself successfully against the opposing forces of evil. Through it he received efficiency and power for God's work and service.
The same faith that worked in God's servants of old can work in believers today, who may become channels of God's power as Joseph did, for God gives power for service to men and women now as He gave it then. All of God's believing people who move by faith, trust Him as Helper and Efficiency, and press through the cloud of objections and snares that Satan brings will receive the same efficiency and power to pass safely through darkness. Workers for God are therefore to go forward in faith doing their best, trusting that God hears and answers prayer, and the experience thus gained will prove valuable in later work.
Faith lightens burdens, sustains trust when God's providence is mysterious, and grows through trials in a way that prepares believers for service. Without the help that comes only from God there is constant danger of falling into the snares prepared for the feet, while the one who obeys God and will not be satisfied without the divine presence becomes a power for good in the world.