A Death Remembered - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2026

Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here." So Joseph died and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Genesis 50:25-26

A Death Remembered
Joseph gives directions concerning his bones in the power of faith's vision of the living God. They are not to be left in Egypt. What a witness to the Israelites must the coffin of Joseph have been through the long years, forever reminding them that not even death itself can hinder the living God from fulfilling all His pleasure, and carrying out His purpose for His people. So in accord with the oath made to Joseph, when at last they left the land of Egypt, "Moses took the bones of Joseph with him" (Ex. 13:19), still to be a witness to faith in God throughout the forty years of wilderness journeying. And when at last they reached the land of promise, his body was buried in the "plot of ground which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor" (Josh. 24:32), there to sleep in the dust of the earth until he awakes to everlasting life and stands in his lot at the end of days.

Nor is it otherwise with the people of God today. Faith still looks beyond the valley of the shadow of death, to the home of God's eternal purpose. In the presence of death faith still rests on the God of resurrection, but with yet clearer vision, for we see Christ risen from among the dead, seated at God's right hand of power, holding in His hand the keys of death and the grave. As our faith looks up to the risen Man in the glory, may the passing glories of this dying world become small in our esteem while waiting for the moment when the Lord will surely visit His people, when we shall be caught up together to be forever with the Lord.

Hamilton Smith
Like Him! O grace supreme! Like Him before Thy face,

Like Him to know that glory beam unhindered face to face!

J. N. Darby