It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left. (New Living Translation).

‘The faith of Joseph was certainly remarkable. After the way his family treated him, you would think he would have abandoned his faith, but instead, it grew stronger. Even the ungodly influence of Egypt did not weaken his trust in God. Joseph did not use his family, his job, or his circumstances as an excuse for unbelief. Joseph knew what he believed – that God would one day deliver his people from Egypt (Gen.50:24-26). Joseph also knew where he belonged – in Canaan, not in Egypt, so he made them promise to carry his remains out of Egypt at the Exodus. They did (see Ex.13:19 and Josh.24:32)!’ (Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘New Testament Commentary’, p.836.)

Faith knows what it knows, and what it knows inevitably leads to action. Without works it is ”dead” (James 2:26). Joseph was so sure that the people of Israel would be delivered from Egypt, he told his brothers to take his bones with them when they left:

” Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’ 25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, ‘God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.’ ” (Genesis 50:24,25)

Faith is formed and nourished by God’s Word. Joseph’s confidence came because of what he knew of God’s promises.

“The best praying man is the man who is most believingly familiar with the promises of God. After all, prayer is nothing but taking God’s promises to him, and saying to him, “Do as thou hast said.” Prayer is the promise utilized. A prayer which is not based on a promise has no true foundation.” (C.H.Spurgeon).