June 29 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Joshua 24:29–32

Devotional

The people of Israel took the bones of Joseph along with them when they left Egypt. They were buried in the land of Canaan. They did as Joseph had told them and buried the bones in Shechem. These bones were a memorial of God’s promise of deliverance out of Egypt for the children of Israel.

Let us also consider the bones of the One who was greater than Joseph. Of Jesus it is recorded, “No bone of him shall be broken.” His bones were all spared because He had to rise from the dead. His dry bones of death had to live. His bones are in heaven at the right hand of God because He ascended into heaven. His flesh and His bones are there to be a sure warranty that people of flesh and blood can be rescued from sin by free grace. Sinners can be saved. They can be saved who accuse themselves, saying, “Who can deliver me from this body of death?”

The Lord Jesus is at the right hand of God as a sure warranty that His people can and will be redeemed. They will all arrive in heaven, the land of rest, for He who was greater than Joseph said, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory” (John 17:24). It is as if we hear the Lord Jesus praying, “Father, I am not coming on My own, but I am taking them all with Me, all those who have learned to trust upon Thy Word and who have learned to live for Thee.”

The presence of the Lord Jesus in heaven and His high-priestly prayer supply a sure foundation for the salvation of His people. That is why it is so necessary to know Him and cleave to Him, for our warranty of salvation is in Christ alone. We will not find any support in our tears or our spiritual experiences. These cannot save a man on his deathbed. The only one who can save is Jesus. He is the only Name given under heaven.

By faith Joseph commanded that his bones be taken along to Canaan. The One greater than Joseph commanded regarding His bones, that they would be in heavenly Canaan. He did this not by faith but because of His merits as Mediator. It is in this Name that His people will be redeemed. He is the great Zaphnath- Paaneah, the great Redeemer, Jesus.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.