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DYING FAITH

This passage gives us some examples of how to die in faith. It is a precious thing to the Lord when one of his saints comes home. See Psalm 116:15. We have three Patriarchs - Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. The death of each one illustrates their faith. They did not die in despair - they died in faith.

1. Isaac's dying faith reminds us of our future (vs 20)

A common man - Isaac passes the blessing onto his sons. Isaac was a common man. You can't think of anything extraordinary that he did. He lived longer than any of the patriarchs, yet little is said about him in the Bible. More is told about his failures than his successes. Yet he is in the hall of fame. God uses common ordinary people.
A confident man - In the later years of his life, his faith really started to blossom. Isaac is looking for the things that are to come. Death is not the end of things for the believer. There is things to come. God will give you dying grace - when you are dying!

2. Jacob's dying faith reminds us of our focus (vs 21)

The way he lived - Jacob was a con man during much of his life. There was duplicity in his life. You can identify with Jacob. He was a rascal who wanted to do what was right but he kept doing what was wrong. See Romans 7:14-25. The Christian life is a struggle to do good against a nature that wants to do what is evil. If Paul can say this, how can some people pretend they are so holy? We need the Holy Spirit to fight our evil nature on the inside.
The way he left - At the point of his death he calls for Joseph and his grandsons. He left this world with his focus upon the Lord. He worshipped to the Lord leaning on his staff. Jacob wants to be buried with his descendants.

3. Joseph's dying faith reminds us of our freedom (vs 22)

It is a wonder that Joseph had any faith at when you consider how he was betrayed by his brothers. Life made him better rather than bitter.

It is a promised exodus - God has promised that they are coming out of Egypt and Joseph believed it.
It is a personal exodus - He gave a commandment concerning his bones. He had grown up in Egypt but he knew it was not his home. There was a promised land. When Moses and the people of Israel are coming out of Egypt they dig up the bones of Joseph and take them with them. Joseph is buried in the promised land.

Seeing is not believing, believing is seeing. Jesus is coming back and the dead in Christ will be raised from the grave to be taken to the promised land.