THREE GRAVES IN EPHRAIM

(Joshua 24:  29-33)

by Alfred D. Byrd

	Here in the hills of Ephraim,  the heartland of Canaan,

We have gathered to give to the earth  this godly man,

The last of three leaders who brought us  to the land of our Promise

And now lie at rest in that land  till their lives are renewed.

	The first was Joseph the Just,  who, unjustly enslaved,

Was raised by his righteous Protector  to rule in Egypt

And found his father and brothers  a fertile refuge

When they left this land in a drought  for a life as strangers.

Foretold by Eternal's word  of our time of bondage,

But foreseeing the day of redemption  that would doom our oppressors,

Joseph called on his kindred  to carry his body

From the land of worldly wickedness,  through the wasteland beyond it,

To our home of hope and blessing  in the Holy One's presence.

Now, by the Holy One's hand,  he has what he wished for,

The fulfillment of faithful longing  for a future reward:

We have borne his body hither  to be buried in Canaan

Till the Lord of Life shall recall him  to the light of God's day.

	The second servant of God  to be set in this earth

Was Joshua, joining in battle  for the Just One's cause:

Serving at Moses' side  as he sought our deliverance,

The servant, at Moses' decease,  ascended to judgeship

And conquered this land for his kindred  with cunning and faith.

Having won the reward of God's Promise,  the warrior said,

"Others may kneel to idols  from Egypt or Canaan,

But I and my family honor  our Creator and Lord,

For He has honored his oath  to Abraham's line

To give us this land we live in  and to love us forever."

Thus, he set an example of service,  sincere in its faith,

That will lead those who looked on his face  to live in his image,

For he, like Joseph, has hope  through the Holy One's Promise

Of seeing our sins atoned for  and our service rewarded.

	Eleazar, the son of Aaron,  honored by God

As the principal priest in His service  of praise at His altar,

Is the last of the three godly leaders  whom we lay now to rest;

He stood before God in our stead  to restore us to favor

And gave us teachings from God  to guide how we walk.

He received from our Sovereign's lot  the cities of refuge,

Where those guilty of bloodshed may go  to be guarded from wrath

Till a day of priestly death  shall redeem them to freedom;

And these cities are signs of that day  when a Savior shall come

To offer His death as the dues  for the debt of our sin.

Eleazar, laid here in earth,  has entered God's presence

And awaits the Redeemer's work  as reward for his faith,

While his sons, who succeed to his office,  keep sacrifice burning

Till the One their worship foretells of   shall work its fulfillment.

	Let us honor through actions of faith  those whom earth has covered,

For their souls have ascended to God,  the Source of all being,

And their bodies, bound to this world,  bid us remember

That all of us owe our Maker  an honest account

Of how we have heard and obeyed  His holy commandments.

Thus, we, like these worthy leaders,  should worship our God

With a servant's will to work,  a warrior's zeal,

And a priest's approach to the altar  with praise for God's blessings.