Our text today is about the death of Jospeh. It is found in Genesis 50:24-26.
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten..
What a way to go! At 110, he died with his around him. He died with the privilige of the palace at his command. He died knowing that his family would be okay and their future would work out right.
It was not always so for Joseph. If we were to write a book about Joseph, our chapters might look something like this:
Chapter 1 – Joseph is hated by his brothers.
Chapter 2 – In the Pit with Joseph.
Chapter 3 – Joseph is a Slave.
Chapter 4 – Joseph in Prison.
Chapter 5 – Joseph befriends the Pharaoh.
Chapter 6 – Joseph harshly meets his brother’s again.
Chapter 7 – The Family is Reunited
Chapter 8 – The death of Jospeh
So you see, his life wasn’t always like it was at the end. There were many chapters to his life, hard, cruel, and painful chapters. Along the way he was betrayed by his brothers, his slave owner, and those who he helped while in prison. But, in the end those were just chapters to get to the good chapters.
I said all of this to help you (and me) realize that we all have chapters in our lives. There are easy and fun chapters. There are also the dark and hard chapters. We must not stumble of the hard chapters and miss the joy of the good chapters to come.
If you are in a hard chapter right now, hold on. A different chapter is coming. At the end of your book on you, “All things work together for good (Romans 8:28).
Back in the days of my counseling chapter, while people were waiting for some word of wisdom, I would tell them that I had a book that told their whole story. Then I would hand them a book full of blank pages. I would tell them they are writing their own book and how it ends is up to them.
Today, you are writing one of your chapters. Whether it is a hard or fun chapter, do not mistake it for the end of your book.
Lonnie Davis