Genesis 50: 24-25

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised an oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.” Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here.”

The story of Joseph is filled with dreams, interpretation of dreams, tragedy, heartbreak, separation, reunion and much more. Joseph suffered betrayal at the hands of his own brothers who hated him. He suffered injustice at the hands of his Egyptian master Potiphar who imprisoned him wrongfully. He waited patiently to be redeemed of his circumstances. God duly rewarded him of his perseverance by elevating him to the second highest and powerful position in all of Egypt.

In all his trials, he never once questioned God. Instead, he witnessed the hand of God working in his life. No wonder he was able to declare confidently to his brothers that what they meant for evil, God turned it for their good. Joseph came to a realization that no matter where he was and in what circumstance he found himself in, God’s hand was with him, protecting him, granting him favor and guiding him. Joseph could have been bitter and vengeful towards his brothers. Instead, he chose to forgive and help them in time of their need. Furthermore, he helped them to see God’s hand of provision in all their situations. He helped them to see how God ordered steps in his life to provide a way to survive the famine.

The Bible doesn’t record if Jacob ever told his children about the promise that God gave to Abraham. Jacob was not too eager to go to Egypt even though he heard the news of Joseph being alive. Upon God’s command and assurance that one day they will return to the land of Canaan, Jacob traveled to Egypt. Jacob never sees the land of his fathers again. Only his body returns to the land of Canaan to be buried in their familial tomb. Joseph too never returns to the promised land. Only his bones will be carried by the Israelites 400 years later.

Joseph, whose life took so many turns, not of his own volition, understood that God was in control of his situation. His reliance upon God, his fear and love of God are noteworthy. He knew that God would not abandon him. He may have felt lonely several times but he continued to believe in God. He may not have built altars to God like his fathers but in his own quiet time, he must’ve sought God’s presence. As God was building him up for the role he had to fulfill, Joseph grew in confidence that His God will not abandon him. When he became the prime minister of all the land of Egypt, he realized that God had a purpose for his life: to preserve a remnant of people for God.

In all this, Joseph’s desire to return to the land of his fathers was never fulfilled. He had all authority to return to Canaan but understood that was not Lord’s will. He knew that and came to terms with that. His only request he makes of his brothers is that one day, when God will take them back to Canaan, they should carry the bones of Joseph to be buried there. His brothers promised to do that.

Dear Saint, we go through life not understanding why we are going through certain trials when it is not of our own making. We don’t see the light at the end of the dark tunnels. We wonder if we will ever find respite from our trying situations which keep mounting. Every turn brings a new challenge, a new mountain to climb, a new obstacle to overcome. Take heart, beloved! Despite your circumstances, know that God is walking with you in all your trials. He is paving the way through the challenges, through the mountains, and through the obstacles to reveal the beauty, the blessing and the prosperity that awaits us. We may not see what we have been expecting to see but something more beautiful that only God could have forged it.

Psalm 112: 5-9

It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; he will maintain his cause in judgement. For he will never be shaken; the righteous will be remembered forever. He will not fear evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is upheld, he will not fear, until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries. He has given freely to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be exalted in honor.