By Faith-Death Was Defeated and A Legacy Left Behind
February 5, 2023
HEBREWS 11:20-22 The blessing of faith is in constant use throughout the Christian’s life, but faith has a great work to do in death as well. Helping believers to finish well, to die in the Lord so as to honor Him and leave behind a legacy to the faithfulness of God. Vs11 All these people were still living by faith when they died. If anyone should die triumphantly it should be believers.
The patriarchs’ mentioned in these verses illustrate to us the power of faith even in facing death.
Now these saints had not always lived faithfully. They lived imperfect lives, just as we do, but they grew in their devotion to God and obedience to His word. That’s why Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph were able to exhibit great faith at the end of their lives.
As we’ll see these patriarchs’ lives ended passing on the promises of the inheritance to their children completely confident in God’s word. Though they had not seen the land possessed, the nation established, or the world blessed, they passed on their faith in these promises to their children.
They all died saying, these promises will be fulfilled in God’s time. They didn’t die in the despair of unfulfilled dreams, but in peace.
They died defeating death, knowing that even though they physically died, God’s promises could not die. That is genuine faith, the kind of faith that God honors.
ISAAC’S FAITH Vs20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
Isaac, trusting God to fulfill His promises to Abraham and his descendants, pronounced blessings on his own two sons Jacob and Esau regarding their future.
“Isaac” was the son who had been promised to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. Isaac in the two chapters in Genesis (26 & 27), that record his life was seemingly a passive and quiet man. Though in his life he had some mistakes and failures, he continued to grow in faith.
The greatest thing Isaac had going for him was his father Abraham who lived out and taught him the life of faith. No doubt this had an influence and played a part in Isaac also being a man/son of faith.
As a healthy young man in his latter teens he submitted himself to his 100 plus year old father to the extent that he allowed himself to be bound for sacrifice. That’s an early picture of his obedient faith not only to his father but to God.
At Abraham’s death Isaac received his father’s blessing and God Himself reaffirmed His covenant with Isaac in: Genesis 26:3-4 Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. 4 I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, 5 because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.” 6 So Isaac stayed in Gerar.
Just as his father had done with him, Isaac passed on the blessings of God’s promise to his sons by faith. He had absolute certainty that they would come to pass.
JACOB’S FAITH Vs21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
Jacob, when old and feeble, while still in Egypt, by faith blessed each of the sons of Joseph.
Jacob was Isaac’s son and Abraham’s grandson. Jacob’s sons became the fathers of the12 tribes of Israel.
Jacob’s life was up and down spiritually. Sometimes he walked by faith and sometimes he stumbled by sight. He had times of great faith and times of fear and anxiety.
Unlike his fathers, Jacob didn’t try to circumvent God’s plan for his heirs. Joseph, though younger than all his brothers except Benjamin, was the chosen son to bless. Hagar, Ishmael—-Isaac, Esau (Genesis 25:23)
Even when Jacob was dying in a strange land, he believed the promise that Abraham’s descendants would be like the sand on the seashore and would inhabit the promise land and that in them all the nations of the world would be blessed. Once again, what was never possessed was passed on in faith.
True faith helps us see beyond the grave. Jacob died with that kind of faith worshiping even as he died.
JOSEPH’S FAITH Vs22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.
Like his father and grandfather, when his end was near, Joseph spoke in faith about the fulfilment of God’s promises. Specifically the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and asked for his bones to be buried in the promised land.
Dreams—Brother wanted to kill him, but sold to Ishmaelites—Taken to Egypt sold to Potiphar, Accused, Put in Prison—-Put in Charge—Cupbearer & Baker—Pharos’s Dream—Top Ranking—Famine would bring family.
After he had been reconciled to his brothers, Joseph brought his family to be near him and as his inevitable death approached, he requested that his bones be taken to the promised land when the Jews eventually left Egypt four hundred years later.
Joseph’s faith is a testimony to God’s providence. His story reminds us of how God is always looking ahead of our situation in order to bring good out of evil. Genesis 50:20 “..you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good..”
Joseph’s life is a lesson in the importance of a positive attitude:
True faith senses success even in dark times, True faith discovers victory even in the appearance of defeat – these are traits of spiritually successful people. These are the attitudes that are built on a foundation of faith.
It had been about two hundred years since God made the initial covenant with Abraham. Two hundred years of promise, and no fulfillment in sight.
Joseph had to look ahead beyond death to see the promises, yet he saw them clearly and confidently. Genesis 50:24 “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.” 25 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.”
Exodus 13:19 “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him..”
Joshua 24:32 “Joseph’s bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem..”
In these three incidents, these patriarchs looked beyond their own deaths to the reward that God had promised his people. Faith was an essential part of their life. And because they lived by faith, they could die in faith.
They all died without having obtained the promises that God made and yet each one of them passed on the promises believing by faith they would come true
They didn’t die in despair but in hope, they died with expectation. Their faith defeated death.
LET ME DRAW THAT LINE
A Christian who fears death has a serious weakness in his faith. Because to die in Christ is simply to be ushered into the Lord’s presence. 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” 1 Corinthians 15:54 “Death has been swallowed up in victory”
The most-important legacy we can leave our families is not a comfortable home a large income or material possessions.
The greatest legacy is a spiritual one that no amount of money can buy. It’s an example of an unwavering trust in God’s love and wisdom and promises. It’s an example of endurance, courage, patience, and our expectation for eternity.
Are we providing a lasting spiritual legacy of priceless value for those we love? A life lived for God/Jesus is the best inheritance we can leave our children.
Does our faith lift us beyond this life. Do we have a sustaining faith that will carry us worshiping into eternity, at the same time leaving behind a legacy of confidence in God’s promises to our heirs? There should be. There can be.
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