| “And Israel [Jacob] said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you” (Genesis 48:21). |
| “And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you” (Genesis 50:24). |
| When Jacob was about to die, he recognized that he was nearing the end of his life in this world, and told Joseph that though he was going to die, God would be with him. Perhaps even in your young life you have had someone die who was close to you, perhaps a grandmother or grandfather, or even a good friend. It is hard when this happens, and Jacob knew it would be hard for Joseph when he died. Joseph would miss his father very much. But he reminded Joseph that God would be with him — the One who would never die. It is the same with us today. We may lose good friends and older relatives, as they go to be with the Lord, but the Lord is the same, and He will always be with us. |
| But then, when Joseph was about to die, he said something different. He was looking on to the time when the Lord would deliver the children of Israel from Egypt, and bring them into the land of Canaan. He knew that while they were doing well in Egypt, yet it was not the place where they were to stay. God had promised Abraham that He would give his children the land of Canaan, and Joseph remembered this. |
| Because of this, Joseph reminds his brethren that he was going to die, but that God would surely visit them. It took some time, for the children of Israel stayed in Egypt about another 140 years after Joseph died, and had a very difficult time, for a new Pharaoh became king. He did not know Joseph, and when the children of Israel became very numerous, he made them into slaves. But eventually the Lord raised up Moses, who led the people to freedom with the Lord’s power. |
| You and I are also enjoying the fact that the Lord is with us, but we must also remember that this world is not our home. We are waiting for the Lord to come and take us home to be with Him. God will surely visit us too! |
