22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
At the end of his life, Joseph did two things: (1) predicted the coming exodus from Egypt and (2) gave Israel instructions to bury his body in the promised land.
22 By faith Joseph,
Joseph believed that God would bring Israel back from Egypt to the promised land. He spent his adult life in Egypt. He brought his father and brothers to Egypt. He carried Jacob’s body back to Canaan after he died.
when he was dying,
Joseph also believed God at the point of death.
made mention of the departure [exodus] of the children of Israel,
This phrase refers to the words of Joseph to his brothers in Genesis 50:24–25. He believed God would bring them to their homeland eventually.
and gave instructions concerning his bones.
Moses carried out Joseph’s instructions about the burial of his bones (Ge 50:25; Ex 13:19). Eventually, Israel burned his bones in Shechem in the land of Caanan (Josh 24:32).
PRINCIPLE:
Faith believes God for the future.
APPLICATION:
The exodus from Egypt took place years after Joseph made his prediction. He understood God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants. Joseph looked down the corridors of time to 400 years later. He believed that God would restore Israel to the promised land.
Just before Joseph died, he reiterated faith in God’s promise (Ge 50:24). He was certain that God would restore Israel to the promised land (Ge 50:25).
