By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. Hebrews 11:22
Joseph is considered to be a prince among the world of men and lived a life that is exalted within the realm of bible students and laymen alike. Joseph exemplifies a faith that believed despite the seemingly insurmountable events in his life. Joseph exercised his faith in spite of the impossible circumstances he experienced. Joseph possessed a faith that resulted in action when human nature’s tendency would have been to surrender in despair. Joseph possessed a Deathless Faith, an undying faith that without fail, even in the midst of adverse factors, never gave up. Joseph faced issues that most of us have never dreamed of confronting. Yet he was not the type of individual who would punt the ball on 4th and 1, but would instead call a time out, regroup and press forward with determination toward a first down. His deathless faith in God enabled Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, to hold his head up and bring glory and honor to Jehovah God, the Creator of all things. As a young man, Joseph exercised his deathless faith in the midst of Abandonment. From Genesis 37:23 onward, the Bible records the events of his own brothers selling him into slavery. Imagine Joseph's utter bewilderment and the thoughts that must have gone through the mind of this seventeen year old as his own flesh and blood bartered him in the same way one would sell an animal and then have it carted off to Egypt. Never mentioned during this ordeal is any attempt by Joseph to defend himself or fight back against his brothers. His life and position among them was paid for with twenty pieces of silver. Although there seems to be an inordinate focus on the importance of self-esteem in young people today and excuses are often made as to why children misbehave or rebelliously act out due to "low self-esteem", if anyone ever had the right to low self-esteem, it would have been Joseph. He was an innocent who was betrayed and discarded by his brothers, but he never opened his mouth in protest or to complain about the unfairness and injustice of his plight. After being transported to Egypt, Joseph became a slave, but in his pre-arranged position in the home of his new owner, Potiphar, he once again had to exercise his deathless faith while experiencing Accusation. Beginning in Genesis 39:7, we learn of the schemes of the vile and adulterous wife of Potiphar who falsely accused the young Joseph of a heinous act after attempting to seduce him. It is thought that not even Potiphar believed his wife, but to dismiss her accusations would have been politically and personally scandalous. Consequently Joseph, the son turned slave, was once again sentenced to prison despite his innocence. Though his life had seemingly tumbled into hopelessness, Joseph, with his deathless faith in the Lord, brought prosperity (Genesis 39:23) to the incarcerated even while serving his sentence in prison. During his incarceration, the goodness of God being seen in his testimony, Joseph correctly interpreted the dreams of both the butler and the baker. Even though the butler in his gratitude promised not to forget Joseph, Genesis 40:23 reveals that the prince of Israel became nothing more than an Afterthought. Sadly enough it appeared that life had dealt Joseph a very bad hand and that circumstances had acted against him. Viewed from the outside looking in, the evidence proved to be true. Joseph never lost his faith or vision in who his Lord was nor of the purpose of the promised seed of Abraham. His remarkable acts of faith that fueled the greatest disposition recorded among men were fortified by the belief in the promise of the one true God. Joseph had been carried off into a foreign land populated by a pagan people. In his heart, Joseph held to the undying belief that “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1.37). As time would move forward, the great picture and purpose of Joseph’s struggles would be revealed. Later in his life as a grown man, He would proclaim to his brothers, “And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” (Genesis 45:7). Through his trials and tribulations, the entire nation of Israel was preserved, living in Goshen. As the years passed, an elderly Joseph, now aged and infirm, would die in a foreign land with his family settled and safely secured with him. Joseph's deathless faith would once again be rewarded in his belief that God would lead his people from Egypt, a pagan land of preservation, into the promised land of the Abrahamic covenant. Beloved, his deathless faith in the Lord who would fulfill ALL that He promised enabled Joseph to persevere and continue on. That promise can encourage us today to do the same. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel...
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