By Faith Death is Not the End Hebrews 11:20-22

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22 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

What will the time of your death look like? Will the end of your earthly days be marked by fear, disappointment, regret…or will your deathbed be a place of hope, joy and faith? The text today points us to three men (Isaac, Jacob & Joseph) who demonstrated great faith as they approached their own death. All three of these men believed that God had promised them Land, Seed & Blessing (Genesis 12) and all three of these men passed from this life without seeing these promises realized in their lifetime. How would they handle these unrealized expectations?

OUR FUTURE IS NOT DEPENDENT ON OUR PERFORMANCE GENESIS 27:27-40; HEBREWS 11:20 As we read Hebrews 11:20 we get this picture that Isaac gave a great blessing to BOTH Jacob and Esau in AGREEMENT with God’s DECLARED PLAN. The reality, however, is much less pristine. Jacob and Rebekah scheme against Isaac to get the blessing while Isaac rebels against God’s choosing of Jacob and seeks to bless Esau and Esau seeks to renege on his sale of his birthright. Four schemers, despite their rebellious performance, find themselves squarely in God’s sovereign plan.

OUR FUTURE IS NOT DEPENDENT ON OUR PERFORMANCE GOD’S PROMISES OUTLIVE OUR EARTHLY LIFE GENESIS 47:27-31, 48:15-22; HEB. 11:21 The conclusion of Jacob’s life is marked by a complete reversal and reshaping! The deceptive, self- dependent, rebellious and irreligious Jacob has been transformed into a faith-filled, faithful worshiper of God that has fully submitted to God’s plans and promises. His parting words call for a blessing of Joseph’s children in reverse order (youngest then oldest) and return of his bones to the land God has promised to Abraham, Isaac and his descendants.

OUR FUTURE IS NOT DEPENDENT ON OUR PERFORMANCE GOD’S PROMISES OUTLIVE OUR EARTHLY LIFE OUR DEATH BED BECOMES A PLACE OF HOPE GENESIS 50:22-26, HEBREWS 11:22 Joseph’s final words to his family were, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob...” Like his father Jacob he also commanded his bones to be taken back to the land of promise. Joseph’s deathbed was a place of hope and trust.

By Faith Death Is Not the End Big Idea: Can God be trusted with unrealized expectations? The Patriarchs remind us that a life of faith is not necessarily characterized by our hopes and dreams becoming a reality in this life. In truth, much of the Christian life is marked by hardship, trials and grappling with unrealized expectations. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph believed that God would make good on His promises despite evidence to the contrary. When Joseph died they were a small clan, not a mighty nation, and they were displaced from their land of promise. Their deathbed was not marked by a realization of God’s promises, yet they chose FAITH!