Isaac, Jacob's and Joseph's Faith Described from Heb.11:20-22

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 06-05-03

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Isaac, Jacob, & Joseph’s Faith

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Hebrews 11:20-22

 

            Message of the verse:  “20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.  21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.  22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.  (NASB)  “It was by faith that Isaac blessed his two sons, Jacob and Esau.  He had confidence in what God was going to do in the future.  It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.  And it was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, confidently spoke of God’s bring the people of Israel out of Egypt.  He was so sure of it that he commanded them to carry his bones with them when they left!”  (NLT)

            These three verses speak of the faith that these men of old had in their God, the God of Israel.  None of them had a written copy of the Word of God to learn from, yet they had great faith in God, and believed the promises that were first given to Abraham.  Isaac was the promised child of Abraham and Sarah, and was the one in whom the line of the coming Messiah would come through.  Isaac had his weak moments as all of us do, but he did believe the promises of God and passed them on to his two sons, of only one, Jacob would believe and act upon these promises.  Jacob, who became Israel after wrestling with God, had twelve sons who would become the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel, also believed the promises of God that had first been given to Abraham.   Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob, and was a favorite which got him in a lot of trouble, but that trouble was what the Lord used to get the children of Israel into Egypt where they eventually became a might nation 400 years later.  “Joseph was tried by temptations to sin, by persecution for keeping his integrity; and he was tried by honors and power in the court of Pharaoh, yet his faith carried him through.”  (MHCC)

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It is easy to come down on the things that these men did wrong in their lives, and although no sin is recorded about Joseph he did surely sin, but the point of what the writer of Hebrews is making is about their faith, faith in the promises of God in spite of the circumstances or consequences that they would find themselves in.  In some ways I believe that it is harder to live by faith when things are going easier in life, and there are no storms to go through, and that is because all believers need to be purified by storms in their lives that God brings about.  He does this for our own good, and for His glory.  Joseph is a wonderful example of a man living by faith and who kept living by his faith in God when the Lord gave him charge over Egypt, for when he was about to die he told his family to deliver his bones into the promised land when God called the nation of Israel into that land.

 

The Word of God was both challenging and refreshing to my heart this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To continue and act upon the promises of the Lord concerning the storm that we are going through, to continue to pray about this and believe that God’s will, will be accomplished through this for our good and for His glory.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 40:14-16

 

14.  Let those be ashamed and humiliated together who seek my life to destroy it; Let those be turned back and dishonored who delight in my hurt.

15.  Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me “Aha, aha!”

16.  Let all who seek Thee rejoice and be glade in Thee; Let those who love Thy salvation say continually, “The Lord be magnified!”