What do you do when you want something but you can't do anything about it?
Mummy noun (especially in ancient Egypt) a body of a human being or animal that has been preserved by embalming and wrapping in bandages
In ancient Egypt, a man named Joseph was mummified because he wanted his bones to be buried at a much later date, on a piece of land that Jacob, his dad owned in another country.
Here's part of the story:
Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath, and he said, “When God comes to help you and lead you back, you must take my bones with you.” So Joseph died at the age of 110. The Egyptians embalmed him, and his body was placed in a coffin in Egypt. Genesis 50:25,26(NLT)
Joseph predicted that one day, as a result of a move of God, his entire extended family (the Israelites) will leave Egypt forever and when that happens, he wanted his bones to leave with them too! Yup, that's right - along with all the things they had to carry when they were re-locating for good, they had to carry a Mummy too.
Well here's what happened after Joseph's death. Persecution from the monarch. Infanticide. Civil disobedience from midwives. A Levite couple giving birth to a baby called Moses. Moses floating down the river, being adopted by the monarch's daughter, committing murder, running away, getting married, learning to take care of sheep, encountering a burning bush. A a stick became a snake. The snake became a stick again. One of the sticks that became a snake ate up other snakes that were once upon a time - sticks. Water turning to blood. The country being invaded by frogs, lice and flies. Livestock pestilence. Boils on the skin. Hail storms bad enough to kill people and animals. A locust invasion. The sun blacked-out. All firstborn children dead overnight. Lamb sacrifices. Blood smeared on doors. A visitation from God and Joseph's family relocates from Egypt!
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE DRAMA - YOU COULDN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP! Well what was Joseph doing all this while? - nothing really, the guy was dead.
80 + years had passed after Joseph made that wish about his bones - Moses wasn't even born back then - but the Mummy began it's journey back:
Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place." Exodus 13:19
Well here's what happened next. About 600 000 men, besides women and children - that's how many people, left overnight. Oh yes, and a Mummy too. A pillar of cloud by day. A pillar of fire by night. The Egyptian army chase down the Israelites. A stick splits the red sea in half. The Israelites cross over on dry land. The Egyptian army drowns in the red sea. Bitter water is made sweet. Bread falls from heaven. Water gushes from a rock. 10 commandments are given. So are rules and regulations, the ark of the covenant, the tabernacle and priests. A golden calf is worshiped. 3000 people die because of it. Moses hands over the baton to Joshua. Moses dies. The Jordan river splits open and is crossed. Jericho walls crumble due to silent marching and loud shouting. Kings and land are conquered. Achan is stoned. The sun stands still. Land is distributed to everybody. Joshua dies at a 110.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE DRAMA - YOU COULDN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP! Well what was Joseph doing all this while? - nothing really, the guy was dead.
Nearly 200 years had passed after Joseph made that wish - but the Mummy eventually returned.
Joseph’s bones, which the People of Israel had brought from Egypt, they buried in Shechem in the plot of ground that Jacob had purchased. Joshua 24:32a
So, how exactly did the Mummy return? I mean, what did Joseph do to pull off this epic 200 year plan? What was the strategy? Well, here it is:
While Joseph was dying, faith led him to speak about the Israelites leaving Egypt and give them instructions about burying his bones. Hebrews 11:22
What do you do when you want something but you can't do anything about it?
YOU SPEAK IT BY FAITH.
Sometimes, that's all you can do. And when you've done that, you've done enough. To anyone who is reading this, feeling hopeless and paralyzed because you find yourself waiting on a miracle - here's what I want to say to you: History records, that if necessary, God will move heaven and earth to make a declaration of faith come to pass. Ask Joseph's bones - they'll tell you it's true.
While Joseph was dying, faith led him to speak about the Israelites leaving Egypt and give them instructions about burying his bones. Hebrews 11:22
What is faith leading you to speak today?