Joseph was a hero because he passed on something that lasted—the promises of God.

I have my grandfather's German Bible. My German professors would probably not be surprised to learn that I don't read it every day. When I look at it, I can still see my grandfather walking through the snow to mark the next log with his double-bladed ax.

JOSEPH PASSED ALONG GOD'S PROMISES

Joseph, our hero of faith this month, left his bones to his family. "By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones" (Hebrews 11:22). But when his family looked at his bones, he didn't want them to remember him. He wanted his family to remember a promise they had made to him and a promise that God had made to them: "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place" (Genesis 50:25). Joseph wanted them to take his bones back to the land God had promised.

Joseph had become an important ruler in Egypt. When his family experienced a famine in the land God promised to give them, Joseph invited them to Egypt to live. They lived and prospered in Egypt. But they knew that this was not their land. God had made them a promise. They were God's chosen people; they were to live in their own land and, from them, the Savior would come. So before he died, Joseph made his family promise to take his bones back to the land God had promised to them.

The Bible doesn't tell us where Joseph's bones were kept. It does tell us he was embalmed like the Egyptians and placed in a coffin. I think it is safe to assume that since he was next to Pharaoh in importance that they probably placed his coffin in a special tomb. It might be that every time the Israelites looked at his tomb they were reminded, "This isn't our land; we have to take these bones back to our land." I think it might also have reminded them, "We are God's people and from us the Savior of the world will be born." Those promises took on new meaning when the Israelites fell out of favor with the Egyptians and were enslaved. In a way Joseph's bones made him a hero of faith.

WE SHARE OUR FAITH

What will you leave the next generation? What will you leave your children? That bowling league trophy? Maybe an antique cabinet? A wing of a hospital with your name on it? Well, I guess unless Jesus comes back first, we will all be leaving our bones behind. It is probably why we mark our graves. People will look at our graves and remember us. But do you think anyone will remember four hundred years from now? That is about how long Joseph's bones were in Egypt. Joseph was passing along more than his bones; he was passing on the promises of God.