Jacob knew that the end of his life was near, so he made Joseph swear to take him back to the land promised to his seed by God. Egypt had become a temporary provision from God, but Jacob knew all along that this was not his final destination or his home. To remain there would be a forfeiture of God’s promise and their future.
Gen. 47:29-31 “And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt: But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said. And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head.”
LESSON - With each day that passes, society and the current culture remind us as well that this world is NOT our home. The Lord has blessed us with many resources to provide for ALL of our needs as well as many of our wants, but this world is still NOT our home. Unlike Jacob, we don’t need an additional promise from God, because He told us this world is NOT our home. Jn. 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” Have you allowed your heart to grow accustomed to the things around you? Don’t let your heart or your mind long for the things of this world. Strive daily to set your sights upon those things which are eternal, stored up for us in our Heavenly home. Adrian Rogers once said “Heaven is the absolute BEST that an All-Knowing, All-Powerful, and All-Loving God can create.” Don’t settle for less, because Heaven is our Final Home!!
~Mike