The Israelites had lived in Egypt for centuries but finally it was time to go: " Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years" (Exodus 12:40). Once the plague that took the lives of every firstborn occurred, Pharaoh gave his consent for the Jews to leave. They left in haste (see Isaiah 52:2) but had one important detail to take care of as they left:
"Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place'" (Exodus 13:19).
This is a magnificent example of faith on the part of both Joseph and his descendants. The Jews could have easily forgotten about these instructions as they endured their hostile slavery in a foreign land. They could have thought, "Joseph's been dead for centuries. What difference does it make where his bones are buried—here or wherever we are going?" The people did not forget but kept the promise alive for 400 years. Furthermore, Moses and the people had faith they were going to get to the Promised Land they had only heard about so they decided to take Joseph's bones with them, confident their exodus was the fulfillment of God's promise.
Then consider Joseph and his faith. He had lived a full life and received an elaborate state burial. What would he care about where his bones would end up in the future? Yet there was something in him that said, "God's promise is true and this is not the home of my God or His people. When He fulfills His promises to my people, I want to be a part of it!" Therefore, he left clear instructions that he was to accompany the people back home to the place where he had been betrayed and sold as a slave. Jesus said many centuries later,
"Even Moses demonstrates that the dead are raised, in the passage about the burning bush. For he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive" (Luke 20:37-38).
Jesus could have included Joseph's name along with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for his faith was a match for theirs. In a sense, Joseph was alive and ready to make the trip with the people, still confident they were going to get where God wanted them to be.
If you are going to fulfill your purpose and be creative, you must also have the faith of Joseph. You will need to create for the present day, exhibiting faith through what you do, but also create with tomorrow in mind, for God can take what you do today and use it to teach or reach a future generation. Finally, like Moses and the people, you must have faith that what God has promised you will come to pass so therefore you must be diligent to obey His directions and commands.
In other words, you must have faith, create in faith, pursue purpose in faith, and trust that God is leading and guiding you in whatever you do—whether you feel His presence or not. Is faith the foundation for your purpose and creativity? Could your name be inserted so it is said that God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob—and you? For it to be so, then you must be willing to have faith deep down in your bones, like Joseph did—faith that God is who He said He is and will do what He said He will do.
Comments