Genesis 47:29-31 – Developing faithfulness in life

Jacob had drawn near to the end of his life. For a good part of his years he lived sorrowfully because he thought Joseph had died. But when he was 130 years old, news that Joseph was still alive brought a new lease of life. Revived, Jacob lived another 17 years and was frail and about to die. So he called for Joseph and said to him, “Please, if I have found favor in your sight, place now your hand under my thigh and deal with me in kindness and faithfulness. Please do not bury me in Egypt, but when I lie down with my fathers, you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” His desire was to be buried in Canaan together with Abraham and Isaac, in the cave of Machpelah. So he pleaded with Joseph to personally take his bones to Canaan. Notice he made Joseph put a hand underneath his thigh as he took the oath to take his bones back and be buried in Canaan after he had died. This was exactly the same way Abraham made Eleazer swore to him in Genesis 21:1-4. In that incidence, Abraham made his servant swore to only get Isaac a wife from among his relatives in Mesopotamia and not from the Canaanites. This way of making an oath was to ensure words given would be carried out. When Joseph promised to do as told, Jacob bowed his head to worship God.

  

In making this demand, Jacob was making a declaration of faith that Canaan was a land promised to Abraham and his descendants forever. It was in Canaan that Abraham and Isaac had been buried. Here Jacob was also looking forward to be laid among them, signaling that Canaan was where God had promised to give to Abraham and his descendants. So it was a declaration of faith in God’s word.

The whole purpose of Jacob in making Joseph took that oath was to ensure faithfulness. And we all know that faithfulness is an important commodity in the life of faith. Faithfulness had to do with integrity and trustworthiness. It’s about keeping promise. By being faithful, we reflect God’s character. We can never earn the trust of others if we do not keep our words. So we must make it a point to keep our word. This is one commodity that we Christians cannot do without. Our life of faith demands it. So be sure to be faithful to God, to self and to others!