Genesis 50:24-25 (KJV)
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you and bring you out of this land into the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, surely God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.
Here was Joseph the Prime minister of Egypt, having the complete trust of Pharaoh, and access to all the privileges and trappings of power, and the people of Israel were living in the âbest of the landâ in Egypt (Gen 47:11), and in peace and tranquility. Yet hearing Joseph speak in our text above, one is tempted to think they were living in bondage and under oppression. Though that was to come later, but as at the time Joseph spoke these words, there was no physical evidence whatsoever pointing to that. All he had to go on was the word of God to Abraham (Gen 15:13-14), and then to Isaac (Gen 26:3; 28:13) and Jacob (Gen 35:12; 48:21).
The bible has no record of God speaking to Joseph directly on this matter, however, it does record Jacob speaking to Joseph about it (Gen 48:21), and on the strength of that, he, Joseph, spoke, giving instructions concerning his bones. His actions declare his faith. See how the Holy Spirit described it in the book of Hebrews (Heb 11:22 NET) âBy faith Joseph, at the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions about his burialâ.
Doctors have a tool they put in your armpit to check for your body temperature, but to check for your faith we will look at your words and check out your actions. For a true test of faith is in what a man says and what he does. A girl who truly believes Godâs word will not wait for a âpersonal revelationâ before she refuses the marital proposition of an unbeliever; she will say NO. She wonât wait till a believing brother comes knocking before she says NO to the unbeliever. She wonât look at his character today and try to base her decision on it. WHY? Because we regulate our lives by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7 AMP).
Are you ready to walk the talk? Walk it in total reliance on and obedience to Godâs word; thatâs faith.
Source: Devotional