reconciliation 3

7:55 Tallinn time

The people of Israel are on the move. Exodus is their journey out of Egypt with Joseph’s bones. I find that interesting. They brought the bones of Joseph.

The story of Joseph is probably the one most people know a little about. He had a coat of many colours, he was thrown in a pit by his brothers, his boss’s wife had her eye on him, he was sent to prison, he landed in the right place for his starving family. He and his family prospered.

BUT they were enslaved.

Does it matter how many clothes, handbags, shoes, cars, planes, helicopters we have if we are enslaved. Is freedom the ultimate goal for any enslaved person?

The bones of the enslaved Joseph were brought out of Egypt with the people of Israel so they could all enjoy freedom, dead bones, alive bodies.

I wonder did his bones, moan and grumble their way through the desert with the Israelites. I wonder did the Israelites remember where the bones were and whose they were because they forgot God many times. They forgot God’s provision and his love for them.

It was not until Joshua led the people into the promised land that Joseph’s bones were laid to rest at Shechem. Shechem is the place that Abram stood as the LORD told him all this land would belong to his ancestors. Abram didn’t stay there, he went on to Bethel before heading to Negev.

BUT isn’t it interesting how the place names recur.

Joseph who saved his family from starvation that they grew in number and Abram who was told his ancestors would be as many as stars in the sky were in the same place in different times. In Stephen’s speech before the Sanhedrin the story comes together wholly.

After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all. 15 Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our ancestors died. 16 Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money.

Acts 7:14-16

They brought the bones with them.

  • Genesis 12:7,
  • Genesis 15:5,
  • Genesis 22:17,
  • Genesis 26:4,
  • Exodus 13:19,
  • Joshua 24:32
  • Acts 7:14-16