FAITH || Lesson 11 

FAITH

Text:  Hebrews 11

Lesson Eleven – V.22

Examples of the ancients who were commended for their faith: (Cont’d.)

JOSEPH – V.22 – By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.

When his end was near – Note Proverbs 14:32 – When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous have a refuge.  Examples:

Jacob:  Hebrews 11:21 – By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

David:  2 Samuel 23:1-5 – These are the last words of David:

“The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel’s singer of songs:

²“The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.  ³The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: “When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, ⁴he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.’

⁵“Is not my house right with God? Has he not made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part? Will he not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire?

Stephen:  Acts 7:54-60 – ⁵⁴When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.  ⁵⁵But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.  ⁵⁶“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

⁵⁷At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, ⁵⁸dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

⁵⁹While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”  ⁶⁰Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Paul:  2 Timothy 4:6-8 – ⁶For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.  ⁷I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  ⁸Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day–and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones – See Genesis 50:22-26.  [Genesis 50:22 – Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years

Regarding the circumstances under which Joseph was taken to Egypt, see Genesis 37. 

(Genesis 37:24 – and they took him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it.

They took him and threw him into the cistern – Note Genesis 42:21 – They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come upon us.”)

For the account of Joseph’s life in Egypt, see Genesis 39-50.  (Genesis 41:50-52 – ⁵⁰Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.  ⁵¹Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.”  ⁵²The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”)

It is inferred that, by the names of his sons, Joseph was thankfully acknowledging the hand of the Lord in his affairs.

Let us thank the Lord for His spiritual and temporal gifts.  Note:  1 Thessalonians 5:18 – give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 13:15 – Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise–the fruit of lips that confess his name.

Genesis 50:23 – . . . Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees.  This was a “sign” that Joseph had accepted them as his sons, as was the case with Jacob and Joseph’s sons.  See Lesson Ten, Genesis 48:12, etc.

Genesis 50:24-26 – ²⁴Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”  ²⁵And Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.”

²⁶So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.]

Fulfilled:  Exodus 13:19 – Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel 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.”

Joshua 24:32 – And Joseph’s bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. This became the inheritance of Joseph’s descendants.

Let us thank the Lord for continuing to remind us that His promises are sure, and for the following passages which are some of His promises.

Philippians 3:20-21 – ²⁰But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Colossians 3:4 – When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.