We deal with the grandfather of Isaac. God's people were not in Egypt (in bondage and serving others in a land that was not theirs as God had said.) 70 Years after being in Egypt, Joseph dies. The writer counts this so that Joseph may speak to us. Joseph gives his own memorial sermon that witnesses to us as we should be able to say the same thing with Joseph!
In times of difficulty, stress, but especially when deal touches us we need faith the most and need to testify of God's faithfulness to us. After burying Jacob, it is now Joseph's time to die. He stands in front of his children and preaches his own funeral sermon. He gives us a lesson to make sure our children know where we stand, why we live like we do! He speaks of God's promise to lead them into the land of Canaan. He took hold to the hope of God's promise and spoke to his kids about them! His bones were to be taken to be taken to the land of promise. He had heard from Isaac about God's promises and Joseph saw and took hold of God's promises even into the land of Egypt, seeing God meant it for his own good! Our zeal should be our life in the eternal as we live and testify of that life in our so-journey here below also.
We too must take hold of the Kingdom, the hope, the glory! He not only spoke of it, but took and oath which was his memorial. "God WILL bring us into Canaan...do NOT bury me in Egypt!" His casket stood among them (not buried) until they crosses the land of Jordan as a LIVING witness among them! It was there to remind them of the promises. What a testimony!!! The people (Israel) were carnal. And so often are we and need to have the testimony of Joseph's casket that we will not be left and know that the cemeteries will blossom one day! The unfaithful had the casket, but ignored and died in the wilderness. But the small remnant that took hold of the testimony! Do we too push these things away? Will our children have OUR TESTIMONY of the casket as we have taught and showed them in the totality of our lives?!?! What is the Word we leave when WE die??
The end of Genesis Joseph speaks and says he will deliver you and progresses to the 10 plagues as God delivers His people by the blood of the Lamb giving them an entrance into Canaan! The faith of our fathers still lives among us and we speak "the Lord is coming" and "He will come and take us home!" Do not be attached to the world. This is the funeral sermon we preach in our life. This is the funeral sermon we hopefully LIVE. That is the funeral sermon we want to hear when we die!!!