Date: 01-18-2021

Title: A Promise Kept

(S) cripture:
    Genesis 47:27-30 (NLT2) 27 Meanwhile, the people of Israel settled in the region of Goshen in Egypt. There they acquired property, and they were fruitful, and their population grew rapidly. 28 Jacob lived for seventeen years after his arrival in Egypt, so he lived 147 years in all. 29 As the time of his death drew near, Jacob called for his son Joseph and said to him, “Please do me this favor. Put your hand under my thigh and swear that you will treat me with unfailing love by honoring this last request: Do not bury me in Egypt. 30 When I die, please take my body out of Egypt and bury me with my ancestors.” So Joseph promised, “I will do as you ask.”
    Genesis 50:7-13 (NLT2) 7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. He was accompanied by all of Pharaoh’s officials, all the senior members of Pharaoh’s household, and all the senior officers of Egypt. 8 Joseph also took his entire household and his brothers and their households. But they left their little children and flocks and herds in the land of Goshen. 9 A great number of chariots and charioteers accompanied Joseph. 10 When they arrived at the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan River, they held a very great and solemn memorial service, with a seven-day period of mourning for Joseph’s father. 11 The local residents, the Canaanites, watched them mourning at the threshing floor of Atad. Then they renamed that place (which is near the Jordan) Abel-mizraim, for they said, “This is a place of deep mourning for these Egyptians.” 12 So Jacob’s sons did as he had commanded them. 13 They carried his body to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre. This is the cave that Abraham had bought as a permanent burial site from Ephron the Hittite.

(O) bservation:
    Jacob made Joseph promise (take an oath) to bury him with his ancestors in the cave Abraham bought from Ephron, the Hittite. Joseph did as he promised, with the blessing of Pharaoh, and accompanied by his brothers and their families and many officials of Egypt.

(A) pplication:
    Keeping a promise is important. Jesus said to let your “yes be yes” and your “no be no”. He also said that it is better not to vow and vow and not keep it. I wondered why Jacob made Joseph take an oath after he had said he would do as asked. I wonder why Joseph’s word wasn’t good enough. I want to live in such a way that when I give my word people will know that I will carry it through. I will make my word my bond.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, strengthen my character so that I can carry out the promises I make whether to you or to the people around me. Amen