Joshua 24:29-33: a reflection

29After these things, Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being one hundred ten years old. 30They buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash. 31Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, and had known all the work of the LORD, that he had worked for Israel. 32They buried the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, in Shechem, in the parcel of ground which Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of silver. They became the inheritance of the children of Joseph. 33Eleazar the son of Aaron died. They buried him in the hill of Phinehas his son, which was given him in the hill country of Ephraim.

The book of Joshua closes with three burials: Joshua himself, the great leader; the bones of Joseph, carried up from Egypt; and Eleazar the priest. And it records a quiet testimony about the generation Joshua led: Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him, who had seen all that the Lord had done for Israel. A faithful leader and a generation that remembered God's works had kept the people close to him.

The burial of Joseph's bones is especially moving. Centuries earlier, dying in Egypt, Joseph had made his family swear to carry his bones back to the land God had promised. Through all the years of slavery and the long journey through the wilderness, they kept that promise, and now, at last, his bones are laid to rest in the promised land. It is a picture of faith fulfilled across generations, a hope held so firmly that it outlasted the man who first believed it.

Two things to carry from this closing scene. First, a generation that remembers what God has done and follows faithful leaders stays close to God; guard that memory and pass it on. Second, some hopes God fulfills only across long spans of time, even beyond a single lifetime. Joseph did not live to see his bones laid in the promised land, but the promise held. Whatever God has promised, trust that he keeps his word, even when the fulfillment reaches beyond your own days. Hold your hope firmly, and hand it on.

Lord, a faithful generation served you as long as they remembered your works, and Joseph's long-held hope was fulfilled at last when his bones came home to the land you promised. Help me to remember what you have done and to pass that memory on. And teach me to hold your promises firmly, trusting that you keep your word even when the fulfillment reaches beyond my own lifetime. Amen.