June 29, 2011

  • Joseph's Faith ~ the watchmen's hope: "God will surely visit you" (Genesis 50:24-25)

    Hebrews 11:22  By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

    Hebrews 11 is the great faith chapter of the Bible. Let's look back at the original account in Genesis 50 to find out a little more about this faith Joseph exhibited.

    And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years. 23  And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees. 24  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. 25  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. 26  So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

    I'm using the KJV today for a reason here. Please notice the words translated "surely visit," which occur in both verses 24 and 25. The original Hebrew for surely visit is "paqad paqad," and with that we see that wonderful repetition we find in the Bible when God knows we need to have something repeated!

    Paqad as used in the Bible can refer to a visit of a punishment or judgment, or else a visit of salvation and deliverance. In this case, as Joseph gives the directive regarding his bones, Joseph is looking forward to the latter type of visit, God's sure deliverance of His people out of Egypt. Joseph had the firm assurance and abiding hope that God would surely visit His people and bring them out of Egypt and lead them into the promised land, with them carrying his bones along with them.

    We find those same words "paqad paqad," or "surely visit" used in Exodus to proclaim the time had come and God's promise was coming to fruition, e.g.- Exodus 3:16 (KJV) (see also 4:31

    Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt...

    And then we see Moses and the Israelites carrying Joseph's bones...

    Exodus 13:19: And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.

    You can read for yourself in Joshua 24 the account of Joseph's bones being buried in the promised land.

    Many times as we look around and see the current condition of the Church, as we see so many individuals and more and more denominations walking according to the imagination of their hearts, that it seems there is no one valiant for the truth, we can be tempted to wonder what God is doing, and we may begin to question and doubt and despair and lose hope and want to give up. We begin to wonder if God is going to "surely visit" us. However, when we go back to the Scripture and read of God's continuing covenant love, mercies and grace toward His people reflected in such words as Joseph's proclamation of faith: "God will surely visit you," our eyes move off what we see – our distressing circumstances (and from the temptation to despair and hopelessness) – and onto Him who is invisible – our everlasting God – and His power and His promises. That's the reason I bring these words of Joseph to you today: "God will surely visit you," for I found them so encouraging, a real balm and blessing for my soul, and my prayer is that the Lord might encourage you through them as well.

    We must keep in mind that we not God's counselors, we do not know His mind, but we do know God is always faithful to His flock purchased with the precious blood of Christ, and He will surely visit His covenant people, His Church, in His way and His time for His greatest glory. He will not only be gracious but very gracious to His people (see Isaiah 30:18-19 - and note there that same repetition takes place: "very gracious" is the Hebrew chanan chanan).

    The other thing that is wonderful about this whole account is that we know the Lord was sovereign over the comings and goings of His people, including  those 430 years in Egypt, that they weren't an accident, and they didn't catch God by surprise. Not at all! And by faith, Joseph had the ability to look beyond all those years in Egypt to Israel's exodus and return to the promised land. And that's the kind of faith we are needing day by day. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

    In Genesis 15, after Abraham believes the Lord and God credits his faith to him for righteousness, and a deep sleep comes upon Abram, just before God cuts the covenant, God spoke to Abram of the coming bondage in Egypt. (This is also spoken of by Stephen at the beginning of Acts 7.)

    13 ... "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; 14  And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. 15  And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age."

    For those of us who are seeking revival in the Church and called to be watchmen on the wall (Isaiah 62:6-7), the temptations are great. May we may be continually strengthened as we abide in the Word of God, and let His Word abide in us, in this case that wonderful promise that "God will surely visit" us.

    Psalm 84:5  Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. 6  Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. 7  They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. 8  O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.

    * * *

    Holy Father, Thank You for providing the daily bread of Your Word, which is living and active, the only true sustenance for our souls. When we are tempted to be weary or discouraged or despair, draw us back to Your Word and so we might eat and receive the strength and assurance we need to uphold us, so we might walk worthy of the calling with which You have called us, to walk in the works You have ordained for us and finish our race with perseverance and joy. As our days are, so shall our strength be. May we go from strength to strength as we continue to commune with and eat and drink of the living Christ through Your blessed Holy Spirit.

    Thank You, LORD, for the continued reminders of Your faithfulness to Your people we see throughout the Scripture and Church history. You have given us these things to us an example to us. May we not be negligent but continue to study these events, so we might spur ourselves and one another unto love and good deeds, and persevere in prayer and the ministry of the Word, no matter what we might see – so we, like Joseph, may walk by faith, and not by sight. We look forward to the day that you will surely visit us, even if that day might come after we are dead in our coffins. May Your grant us grace to remain steadfast, knowing our labor in Jesus Christ is not in vain. Amen.

    * * *

    Please add your PRAYERS as the Holy Spirit leads you.

Comments (2)

  • Thank you very much for this. My prayer is for is to trust and be faithful even when we don't know or understand what God is doing in our lives and with those around us. that we be comforted and reassured, and be blessed in such a way that all will know it only came about from God.

  • Dear Heavenly Father,   Sometimes I get discouraged about the departure from the faith of those in authority in my denomination, and feel betrayed by them....I wonder what has possessed them to deny the things You have taught them from the beginning.   Thank You for this reminder of Your faithfulness....You are always the same and never will forsake us.   I trust Your word that You will visit us.  Thank You.

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"he called it the tent of meeting..."

I am burdened to pray to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the reformation and reviving of Christ's church.

The phrase tent of meeting comes from Exodus 33:7: Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp.

This site is devoted to God first and foremost. In all that is done here, my prayer is that God is glorified and His Name magnified and Christ and Him crucified is lifted up so He might be preeminent and God might receive all the praise, honor and glory due His Holy Name. All who have come to a saving knowledge of our Father by grace through faith in the all-sufficient sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are welcome to enter this tent of meeting to seek the Lord.

This blog is a place for all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to come and seek God's face for revival. My intention is for this tent of meeting to be a holy place where we can enter into PRAYER together to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, as the Holy Spirit leads you, please enter into prayer either here (think of "comments" as prayers) or on your own.

Habakkuk 3:2 O LORD, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.

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