October 2

Comfort En Route Home

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely visit you and bring you up from this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” — Gen 50:24 BSB

Joseph had been a living representation of God's providence to his brothers. When our "Josephs" die, a thousand comforts die with them. Egypt was never the same for Israel after Joseph's death, just as the world can never be the same for some of us after our loved ones are gone.

But notice how the pain of loss was eased by a promise: the living God would visit them. A visit from Jehovah! What a blessing! What a comfort! What a taste of heaven on earth! O Lord, visit us today; though we are not worthy to have You come under our roof.

More than that, God promised to bring them out. After Joseph's death, Egypt would become a place of hardship and bondage for Israel. But it wouldn't be that way forever. God would deliver them and lead them to the land of promise. We will not mourn forever either. One day we will be called home to the gloryland to reunite with our loved ones. So, “comfort one another with these words.”