Discover The Word

Friday, July 15, 2011, Part 2

“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones” (Hebrews 11:20-22).

IDEA: When we talk about someone’s faith in God, we ask how did the person live and how did the person die.

PURPOSE: To help listeners realize that faith is an attitude of trust that shows up in life and in death.

Let me read a statement from Hebrews 11:20-22 that seems strange when you consider its broader context:
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

What strikes you about this brief discussion of these three men?

I. There are two factors that we wonder about:

Why are three outstanding characters in the Old Testament dismissed with a very brief reference, in contrast to Abraham?

What is it that the writer of the letter to the Hebrews notices about these three men?

What took place toward the end of their lives?

• Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau

• Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh

• Joseph gave instructions about his bones

Why do you think the focus is on what they did at the end of their lives?

II. What is significant about the end of anyone’s life?

What was significant about the end of these three men?  [all three of them were dealing with a promise]

A bottom-line question is, will your faith get you through death?

Stanley Marcus and W. A. Criswell died within a couple weeks of each other.  Stanley Marcus had a philosophy that served him well up until death; Criswell had a faith that got him through death to heaven.