Joseph’s Kindness
Open Your Bible
Genesis 49:1-33, Genesis 50:1-26, Isaiah 55:8-9, Romans 8:28-30
BY Erin Davis
At the end of the day, and the end of our lives, we all want to be carried home.
Israel experienced the dysfunction and joy of family (Genesis 28 and 29), life and death (Genesis 29–30, 35:18), abundance and famine (Genesis 30 and 42). He wrestled with God and walked with Him.
There is typography to all of our lives, highs and lows, peaks and valleys, times when God’s blessings flow like roaring rivers, and times when they seem like a barely trickling brook. Each individual moment, experience, or circumstance is just a snapshot; only God has the 10,000 foot view. And at every elevation, He is wooing us back toward home.
Though Israel met the love of his life and experienced smashing success in Haran, he never stopped thinking about Canaan. Though his children and grandchildren put down deep roots in Egypt, he never shook the pull of home. After calling them to himself to offer one final blessing over each of them, he gave instructions for his own burial—not in Egypt, where Joseph was interred, but with his forefathers, in the cave found in a field, in the land of Canaan (Genesis 49:29–30). He told them: “This is the field Abraham purchased from Ephron the Hethite as burial property. Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried there, Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried there, and I buried Leah there’” (Genesis 49:29–31). Israel wanted to rest with his people.
Whether we are in a moment of success or failure, whether we find ourselves deeply rooted or adrift, whether in the highest of highs or the lowest of lows—our hearts ache for our true and future home. There is a longing, placed deep inside of each one of us, not for the land of our fathers, but the land of the Father. We know, deep down in our guts, that eternity with Him is where we belong.
Israel’s ache exists in each one of us. Like him, we want to know that we won’t have to stay forever in this foreign, broken land. In every peak and every valley, we can cling to this hope: in Christ, our homesickness will be satisfied. Someday soon—it won’t be long now—we, too, will be carried home.
38 thoughts on "Joseph’s Kindness"
-
And this is the truth.
-
Oh how I long to be free of this world and home with my Father! When life gets hard, I remember that this is not what I was made for – even the best days will pale in comparison to our eternal life. Praise Jesus!
-
A friend of mine had died after a six year battle with ALS. It was mentioned she “had lost” her battle against this dreaded disease. She was a strong woman of faith and had loved her Jesus deeply. I struggled with the idea that she “lost the fight”. I don’t think that’s the right phrase. And so I said I didn’t really believe that. The battle wasn’t lost. The disease didn’t win. I think the war was simply over. Her Commander in Chief told His soldier the battle was over. Her tour of duty was done. It was time for her to go home. The soldier hasn’t lost the battle when he receives his orders to go home. And so my dear friend got her orders and went home to heaven, greeted with a hero’s welcome. I believe her Commander in Chief held His arms open wide and proclaimed “Well done, good and faithful servant!” The disease lost. She won. It wasn’t even close.
-
❤️
-
Beautiful perspective!
-
Thank you so much Churchmouse! My son is living with kidney cancer right now. But, some day, pray God not too soon, he will be going home. May I use your words for him at that time? He was, and is, a proud Marine and a compassionate and strong cop. He served his country and his community with all he had. He struggles with not being able to do the work he did before. Yet, he still reaches out to others to help all he can. He’s helping a friend pack up to move today and will come back home tired and aching. But he never thinks that the pain he’s in is a reason he can’t help others.
-
Agree!!! My beautiful mother-in-law went to be with Jesus after an 18 month battle with stage 4 cancer last August. She held firmly that God had given her that mountain to show others her mountain could be moved and lived those 18 months bravely with many who met her not even knowing she had cancer. The girl rocked her wigs!! When she finally went into liver failure in July, it stunned and shook us all. But I listened to an amazing sermon by Steven Furtick – I know how this story ends. It was then that God gave me the peace – she’s going to see a victory. She’s going to see Jesus!! While her healing came on the other side of eternity, I truly believe she moved her mountain and saw a victory. Death does not defeat us!!
-
❤️
-
Amen!
-
I love this idea of coming home. Of finding a place you feel comfortable, safe and secure. A place you belong and know you are loved. I feel a glimpse of that here on earth, but I know that in heaven I will be completely at home. May I long for they day that every tear will be wiped away.
-
❤️❤️
-
-
I love this Angie. Thank you for this.
-
Oh how I look forward to going home. I love to read about it in Revelation 21.
“Look, the home of God is now among men, and he will live with them and they will be his people; yes, God himself will be among them.[a] 4 He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. All of that has gone forever.”
One of the things that is so hard for me is to say goodbye to those I love. I hate saying goodbye, What joy to know that we will all be together, living with God and those we love. It is hard to see those we love in pain. I long for the day when there will be no more tears or sorrow.
I also look forward to being with all of you precious women who I’ve come to love. We are bound for the Promised Land!
-
❤️
-
❤️
-
-
Today’s scripture includes one of my favorite verses. “You meant it for evil but God used it for good”. How often I have experienced this in my life and the lives of others. So thankful that God has the 10,000 ft view and more importantly that He is watching. This has been a great study. Thanks SRT.
-
Amen!!
-
-
Oh how we long to go home as much as we love our family we know where we eventually want to be. What peace we derive from knowing we have a Heavenly Father awaiting us.
I remember why I went home to Bermuda to bury my father my sister and I chose men he has helped during his life to carry him to his final resting place, they were humbled to of been asked to carry him to the place he had chosen. They thought of what he did for them, me I was at peace know he was at home with our Heavenly Father where he longed to be. -
Have you ever made something?
My students will color pictures, or make a craft at home, and give it to me.
Those gifts mean the most. There is a part of the child in the creation. They have chosen to give me something that mattered to them.We are gifts, created by God, given to our parents. Our children are gifts, created by God, entrusted to us.
Every person…created by God. Every person…a gift.
Each one of us formed, the days of our lives planned, the hairs on our heads counted. And, given the breath-kiss of God to bring our soul to life.God’s creation started in the garden, and will continue until the triumphant day when He comes to take us Home!
Jesus, give me vision for Your purpose, hands that heal, ears that listen, and a heart of obedience and love.
For the one who finds themselves among ashes of a bonfire of their own making (as one SRT sister stated), I pray we remember that God brings beauty from ashes. I pray that He will use those ashes to enrich the soil for His good. And, in the Today’s until His return, may we use this gift He has given us, the days, the hours, the minutes, to guide others back HOME, where we belong. May they not see us on this journey, only Jesus.
Garden beginnings. Heavenly endings – for His children.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus!-
Well spoken. ❤️
-
Beautiful heart prayer. Thank you
-
-
Post Comments (38)