Genesis 46:1 -30. Israel said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive.”

What does it mean to be ready to go? When I tell my wife I am ready to go, it means I want her to hurry up. I have my coat on, I am halfway to the car and I am waiting on her. I am ready to go means that I have got everything done that I need to do and I want to get this show on the road. Is that what Israel meant when he said he was ready to die? If so then he was in for a long wait. He did not die for another 17 years.

I believe Israel was saying that not knowing what had happened to Joseph had been the greatest regret of his life. Now knowing that Joseph was alive and well, had removed that regret. Dying with great regrets is a very hard thing. God wants to help us overcome our regrets. It is not always possible. Sometimes people face death never knowing what happened to someone they loved. That is what Israel was facing before his sons returned with the news that Joseph was alive.

“I am ready to die” is not the same, as “I want to die”. Many people because of mental illness, physical pain or a sinful life want to die. That does not mean they are ready to die. I have known people because of age and physical pain who wanted to die. Because they were in a loving relationship with God, they were also ready to die. When they passed from this world into the next it was not a tragedy. Those of us, who knew them, knew it was a blessing. Their dying made them happy, and made us happy for them. They were no longer in sorrow and pain.

Until the lord returns we will all die. Some of us may die before we want to. Because of God’s mercy and grace, there is no need for anyone to die before they are ready. We do not need to be in a hurry. We do need to be ready.