PERFECTION

PERDITION

OR

Jacob (Acts 7:15) and Joseph (Heb. 11:22). Yet, seeing how closely the theme of Hebrews is interwoven with this

word, it is possible that it was used with intent, because of what was to be written immediately afterward.

What Joseph particularly remembered when near the close of his life, was the `departing of the children of

Israel', or, as the original has it, `the exodus'. `Made mention' is perhaps better rendered `remembered' as the

margin suggests. In what way could Joseph have `remembered' the exodus of Israel? The actual deliverance at the

Passover did not take place for nearly two centuries after his death. He is said to have remembered this exodus `by

faith', and therefore must have known and believed some `word of God' (Rom. 10:17). It is very evident that the

promise of Genesis 15 was believed by Joseph, and he realized that his own imprisonment and elevation to the

throne, the coming of his brethren and their settlement in Egypt were all parts of one great whole. The basis of

Joseph's faith reads as follows:

`And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve

them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge;

and afterward shall they come out with great substance. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be

buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the

Amorites is not yet full' (Gen. 15:13-16).

Joseph, surely, was one of those witnesses who `died in faith, not having received the promise', but who

nevertheless saw it afar off and was persuaded of it. There is no murmuring when his time comes to die, but just a

confident assurance that God will keep His word:

`And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which

He sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will

surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence' (Gen. 50:24,25).

Twice in this small compass we have the expression `visiting He will visit', the Hebrew figure denoting

emphasis and certainty. Joseph knew that bondage and affliction awaited Israel, yet who more fitted to speak

confidently than himself? Had not Joseph endured sorrow and reproach? Is it not written of him: `Whose feet they

hurt with fetters; he was laid in iron'? (Psa. 105:18). Nevertheless, the Lord had kept His word of promise to

Joseph, and so He would keep His covenant with His servant Abraham also. In the exodus Joseph would have no

conscious part, for he knew that his hour had come.

Joseph, however, did not only remember the exodus of Israel; he gave commandment concerning his bones.

Why was this? He certainly did not intend Israel to hold them in reverence as the church of Rome does the bones of

martyrs. There is something distinctly personal in Joseph's desire. If we compare the statements of Scripture

concerning Jacob and Joseph we shall realize that there is some important lesson involved in their concern about

their bones and their burial. We will continue first the record of Joseph:

`And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of

ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it

became the inheritance of the children of Joseph' (Josh. 24:32).

This parcel of ground was bought by Jacob, as recorded in Genesis 33:19, and there he had erected an altar and

called it El-elohe-Israel, God - the God of Israel. When Jacob came to die, after blessing the twelve tribes, he too

makes special arrangements for his burial in the land of Canaan:

`I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the

cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought

with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his

wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah' (Gen. 49:29-31).