Genesis 50:22,  And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.

Joseph was about 56 years old when Jacob died

This verse tells us that Joseph lived an hundred and ten years so Joseph lived 54 years in Egypt after Jacob’s death.

Apparently he or his brothers made no attempt to return to Canaan knowing that they were to remain in Egypt until God called them out.

Following verses in this chapter indicate that Joseph’s years in Egypt were long, prosperous and peaceful years.

He was given length of days and he saw his children’s children.

Joseph’s years were spent in favor with the Pharaoh and in his service in high office.

Little is made of his role in Egypt because God’s will has been now accomplished.

His role in Egypt had only been mentioned when it was necessary to God’s will.

He has Israel in a separated condition and in that separated condition God intends to grow them into a people of great number and an identifiable nation just as he had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

We are told in Exodus 1:8 that there arose a king in Egypt which knew not Joseph.

When Joseph left the scene persecution of the children of Israel began.

While Joseph was alive Joseph saw to it that Israel was a people separated unto God but when Joseph left the scene God brought persecution and toil to keep them a separated people.

Otherwise they would again be assimilated into Egyptian society and be forever lost.

Genesis 50:23,  And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees.

Joseph’s faithfulness to God in all of his years were blessed by God by Joseph living long and peacefully and being allowed to see his own grandchildren and his great grand children.

Notice the closeness of his grandchildren and Joseph’s involvement in their upbringing.

They were brought up upon Joseph’s knees.

Imagine the stories that Joseph told to his grand children.

He was not so far removed from the flood, from the Tower of Babel, from Abraham’s journey to the promised land and the stories of their cousin Lot and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra.

Imagine how vivid they were and how he made them alive because in so much of the story, Joseph lived and had been a principal player.

Joseph was the kind of man that was God’s story teller and I’m sure he told his stories giving God the glory for all that he had done for Jacob and his children.

These stories were preserved by God through people like Joseph and through the agency of the Holy Spirit given to Moses to record for our learning and evidence that God’s Word has been supernaturally preserved.

Genesis 50:24,  And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

We are not given who or how many of his brothers were still alive at his last hour.

Joseph was second to the youngest of the sons of Jacob, Benjamin being the youngest, and most likely some of his brothers preceded him in death.

But in his last hour Joseph’s faith shines though for he clings to the promise of the land that God gave to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.

That promise was the thread that tied this family together.

That promise was the connection of all of the present to all of the past and to all of the future.

That promise was made to the multitudes that came from the loins of Abraham and as God promised were to be innumerable as the sands upon the seashore.

There was nothing more secure in Joseph’s heart than that God will surely visit you and this guided his mind to give direction concerning his bones.

For Joseph knew that hard days were ahead for Israel, for Abraham had been told by God in:

Genesis 15:13,  And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

Joseph saw by the eyes of faith the days of tribulation coming upon Israel.

He saw Israel crushed and broken under a conquering Pharaoh.

Joseph knew the word of God and knew where he was in God’s program and where God’s program was taking them.

If you desire spiritual vision of the future you must know the word of God.

It is obvious that Joseph lived his life rooted in God’s infallible promise to Abraham.

He was one who definitely stood on the promises.

And this incident is the one incident that the Holy Spirit chooses to characterize the life of this hero of faith.

Joseph lived an exemplary life of faith.

His life was one of standing in the worst of adversity, of trials and difficulties, but this event is the one that God chose to include in the Hall of Faith listed in the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 11:22,  By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

The important thing to God is the overall plan for his people.

Joseph’s desire to return to the promised land with Israel was a promotion of that plan.

Joseph was aboard the train that God was driving and he was shoveling coal into the boiler.

Joseph never hindered God’s plan but always did his part to move it along in the direction of God’s will.

In this he emulated Christ who said, Not my will but thine O Lord!

Again we see that no one man is necessary to God’s program.

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph had done their part in the program and now Joseph was about to leave and others would step to the fore.

Moses and Joshua and Samson and Deborah, and Samuel and Elijah and David and Solomon and Isaiah, and Jeremiah were waiting in the wings to do their part.

God always has his man or woman ready to do their part.

But the continuity of God’s plan is in Him.

We can be sure that he will surely bring to pass all that he has promised.

One man comes, another man goes but "Thou remainest!"

Joseph blossomed and flourished like leaves on a tree, but he too withered and perished, but nought changeth thee!