Samuel Anyaso-Samuel

Samuel Anyaso-Samuel

Assistant Professor

THE PROPHECY OF JOSEPH

“By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones”
(Heb. 11:22)

Paul, writing to the church in Rome (5:3-5), says that tribulations produce patience; patience, experience; and experience, hope. And hope does not make one ashamed.

Through experience, Joseph had come to learn the faithfulness of God. Although he began life as a pampered child on his father’s aged knees, receiving vivid revelations of his ascendancy to prominence, the experience of his youth was largely shaped by many tribulations. But he would later see the manifestation of those revelations to which he had so dearly held on.

This sequence, although tedious, gave him an unprecedented knowledge of God’s faithfulness—that what He has promised, He is faithful to perform.

And from that experience, he could comfort those who came after him, both in life and, even more so, in death. With his brethren living as aliens in a foreign land, they hoped for settlement in the estate God had promised their race. Joseph was unequivocal—very certain about God’s deliverance of his people and the fulfillment of His promises to their fathers. He was so sure that he asked them not to leave him behind, although he would be dead. They must have responded, “We will take you along.” But he demanded a stronger commitment. They probably said, “We promise to take you along.” He did not seem satisfied with that either; he committed them to an oath. He had a view of God, shaped not merely by what he had heard or received from his godly lineage, but also by his experience of God’s dealings with him.

But why would Joseph speak of deliverance even when his brethren dwelt comfortably in Goshen? They lived comfortably in the best portion of Egypt (Gen. 45:10-11; 47:5-6, 27); nor were they in strife with the Egyptians in his days. Some reasons are:

  1. There was a promise, for God had made a covenant with Abraham (Gen. 15:12-21; 17:1-8). Egypt—even the so-called paradise of Goshen—was not the fulfillment of that promise; they were only passing through. Of course, Joseph could relate to this. He had the opportunity to settle for less than the God-given revelation. Being the head servant over Potiphar’s estate was as enticing and comfortable as dwelling in Goshen, but he chose not to. Here, I remember James’s counsel: “The trying of our faith produces patience, and let patience have its perfect work” (James 1:3-4).

  2. Joseph would have been aware of the coming hardship that his brethren would have to endure in Egypt, for God had made this known to Abraham (Gen. 15:12-21). Perhaps Joseph, with acute foresight, knew that the privileges his brethren enjoyed would gradually vanish after his death. He understood that his authority and influence were a covering for his people. Do you think that those princes and evil magicians would have been comfortable with an alien prisoner ruling them in their land? Of course, it was natural for them to crave the spotlight for themselves rather than see a foreigner occupy it. They would not even eat with him, even though he was ruler. He knew a greater consequence would befall his brethren; thus, he prophesied to comfort them. The evil princes, like Satan, were waiting for an opportune time to unleash terror on the sons of promise. Tactfully, he did not emphasize the coming challenge but was gracious enough to assure them of deliverance.

Joseph died, his influence gradually dissipated, and a generation of Egyptians arose that did not know that man of profound wisdom. Of course, the evil magicians would not preserve his lessons (Ps. 105:21-22) in their curricula; to them, his person and his wisdom were not worth learning. What ensued was 430 years of unbearable hardship for Israel. Goshen had become a living hell: their smiles had departed, their backs bled, and their shoulders were laden with heavy burdens. And as Joseph assured them, God looked compassionately upon their affliction and delivered them from captivity.

Now they left Egypt, and Joseph, though dead, departed with them. They marched through the sea as though on dry ground, and the bones of Joseph rejoiced. He must have been shouting, “God has done it again! He has shown Himself faithful to His word and promises again.” First, to me, and now, to my brethren. They marched through the wilderness, and throughout their sojourn, Joseph walked with them, looking forward to rest in that promised land. His bones took each step with confidence, strength, hope, and the joy of the promise before him.

Oh, how he would have turned in agony when the people played the harlot, when they quickly forgot about God and attributed their deliverance to idols, or when they complained against God, reasoning that He was not able to bring them into a safe haven. Moses was not the only one pleading; I believe Joseph was as well. Like Moses, he also put up with all their poor behavior throughout their sojourn in the wilderness.

Joshua and Caleb were not the only survivors from Egypt who reached the promised land. Joseph was there all along the way (Josh. 24:32).

Some applications: