Exodus 13

“Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, because Joseph had made the Israelites swear a solemn oath, saying, ‘God will certainly come to your aid; then you must take my bones with you from this place.’”  Exodus 13:19 (HCSB)

Do you remember the names of your grandparents’ parents? I don’t know the names of mine. I’ve definitely not heard of any agreements they made about their bones. I’m as good as cursed if they did!

What if we compounded this scenario by 400 years? Do you know the names of your ancestors who lived 400 years ago? Imagine a solemn oath that endured twice as long as the United States has been a nation. This was the case with Joseph’s bones.

Attached to the folklore of Joseph’s bones was the promise of hope. The hope of freedom by Divine intervention sustained the Israelites all those years. For the Israelites, the tradition of “what we’re going to do with Joseph’s bones” had to be comforting because it promised deliverance. At times, it must have felt more like superstition than God’s promise! Still, there was the hope: Maybe it’s true… Maybe God really will deliver us from Egypt and deposit us into Canaan.

Sometimes, planning your response to blessing is all the hope you need to get through the hard times. Here is a little thought I like to comfort myself with when money is tight (and it usually is): I make a mental list of the people I want to give money to as soon as I am in another season of financial overage. It helps keep me pressing on.

But in the end, freedom is not about finances. Freedom is spiritual. Many wealthy people are miserable, and many poor are peaceful.

“Your life should be free of the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ Therefore, we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”  Hebrews 13:5-6  (HCSB)

Jesus said, “I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself” John 14:2-3 (NASB)

This hope of the resurrection, combined with Jesus’ promise to never leave or forsake us, allows the believer to endure this life and its trials. As was the case with Joseph’s bones in Egypt, the Lord will prove Himself faithful towards us. He will return to take us home to Heaven, not bury us in the ground of our homeland. We will walk in newness of life, along with a host of others, including Joseph, saved by God’s grace through faith in His promise. Now, THAT is a hope worth hanging your faith on! That is the hope of eternity with Messiah Jesus mixed with the promise of never leaving or forsaking us in this life!