What is the meaning of Hebrews 11:22? By faith • Faith is “the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). • Joseph believed God’s covenant promises passed down from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob (Genesis 15:13-16; 22:17-18). • Like the earlier patriarchs, he “looked forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10), trusting the Lord’s plan beyond his own lifetime. Joseph • Joseph’s entire life, from the pit to the palace (Genesis 37; 39-41), had proven God’s providence. • He had seen dreams fulfilled (Genesis 41:32, 39-40), so his confidence in God’s future word was unshakable. • His personal testimony—“You meant evil against me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20)—shows the settled conviction that every detail of Scripture’s promises will come to pass. when his end was near • Genesis 50:24 records Joseph’s final hours: “I am about to die, but God will surely attend to you and bring you up out of this land.” • Even on his deathbed, his focus stayed on God’s unfolding plan, not on the fading health of his earthly body (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:1-2). spoke about the exodus of the Israelites • Joseph foretold a real, historical exodus centuries before Moses was born (Genesis 50:24). • He anchored that prophecy in God’s sworn word to Abraham: Israel would be enslaved in a foreign land, then delivered “with great possessions” (Genesis 15:13-14). • His words kept hope alive during the long years of bondage, reminding Israel that God never forgets His covenant (Exodus 2:24-25). and gave instructions about his bones • Joseph said, “When God attends to you, carry my bones up from here” (Genesis 50:25). • Moses fulfilled that request during the actual exodus: “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him” (Exodus 13:19). • Joshua saw it all the way through: “They buried the bones of Joseph in Shechem” (Joshua 24:32). • Carrying his remains testified that Canaan, not Egypt, was Israel’s God-given home (Hebrews 11:13-16). • It also previewed the resurrection hope—Joseph expected to rise in the very land God promised (cf. Job 19:25-27; Daniel 12:2). summary Hebrews 11:22 highlights a dying patriarch whose faith remained vibrant and forward-looking. Joseph trusted God’s covenant, predicted the literal exodus, and staked even his burial on the certainty that every promise would be fulfilled. His example invites believers to cling to Scripture with the same confident expectation, knowing the God who kept His word to Joseph will keep His word to us. |
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