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to some travelers (37:19-28). Years later, serve with rigour, afflicting them until
in contrition and repentance, they gath- their lives became bitter (Exo 1:8-14).
ered around again when Joseph revealed Perhaps being whipped as a slave at the
himself to them as saviour and lord in brick kiln would drive a man to visit that
reconciliation (45:4). He kept them close tomb one evening and say, “Things may
in Goshen, where he nourished them and be difficult now, but these bones assure
protected them from the hostility of Egypt me that God will bring us out.” Maybe
(46:34). He would even calm their fears a midwife, pressured to kill baby boys
when they gathered around him with and watched closely by Pharaoh’s guard,
doubts and troubled hearts (50:19-21). But would slip away to the bones and cry out
now he was leaving. to God for help, praying that this would be
Now, the eleven men closest to Joseph the day Jehovah would fulfil His promise
are assembled around him again, this to remove them from this Godless land. Or
time in the most intimate of settings: his imagine being the parents of a newborn
deathbed. Here, the saviour of the world and losing your boy to the Nile because of
reminds them of a covenant established a policy set and enforced by an evil, satani-
long ago and gives them a command- cally energized government! The incred-
ment, connecting something tangible to ible grief of losing children to Egypt could
a promise of deliverance from an oppres- only be tempered by the promise linked
sive, hostile environment: “[God] sware to Joseph’s remains: “God will surely visit
to Abraham,” “God will surely visit you, you, and bring you out.”
and bring you out,” and “Ye shall carry up Eventually, the promise that gave them
my bones” (50:24-25). The bodily remains strength to carry on through Egypt’s diffi-
of Joseph would soon serve as a visual culties gave way to the realization of God’s
reminder of the promise of God to remove power on the night of the Passover. In fact,
them from Egypt. the second time we read of Joseph’s bones
After being embalmed, Joseph’s body is when the promise is being fulfilled and
would most likely have been stored in a God is taking them out. Moses brought the
sarcophagus and put under a mastaba as bones of Joseph with them (Exo 13:19)! No
a visible tribute to his character and sacri- more need for a reminder of God’s prom-
fice. But no matter how sweet the memory ise; they were now realizing God’s power!
of the person was, the promise made on This sets the stage for some New Testa-
his deathbed could never be disconnected ment parallels. Think back to the upper
from those bones. “God will surely visit room. On the same night in which He was
you, and bring you out.” being betrayed, the Saviour of the world
For an Israelite enjoying Egypt and had the eleven men who were closest to
growing his wealth in Goshen’s pastures, Him now gathered around Him. They
those words wouldn’t mean much, as he had grown used to being with Him and
did not really want to leave. But when to the feeling of security that His leader-
a new king came to the throne, things ship had given them. But now, on the eve
changed. The new king didn’t recognize of His departure, they are facing a future
Joseph’s contribution or respect Joseph’s without His physical presence.
character. Thus, Joseph’s people became The Lord knew their fears. He also
targets, and the new Pharaoh made them knew that the cross wasn’t the end. There

118 TRUTH kTidings April 2026