Summary of passage: Joseph spent his entire life in Egypt and died at the age of 110. Before he died, he reassured his brothers that God will aid them and take them out of Egypt to the Promised Land and requested that his bones be brought out of Egypt. He was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.
Questions:
11) God will aid them and take them up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
12a) To have his bones moved to the land God promised. This encouraged the Israelites in their faith in God as they trusted in God’s plan to return them to the Promised Land.
b) Exodus 13:19: “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him.”
Joshua 24:32: “And Joseph’s bones which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt were buried at Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a 100 pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem.”
13) Personal Question. My answer: From this passage: “God will surely come to your aid and take [your loved one] up out of this land to the land He promised (heaven).”
Other passages are better: Genesis 50:19-21: “Don’t be afraid…God intends it for good…He will provide for you and your children.”
Conclusions: Disappointment reigns. I think Lesson 30 & 31 should have been combined.
Did you catch the fact that Joseph was never buried? (I didn’t until I read commentary on this passage. I had assumed he was buried and then would be dug up for the trip to the Promised Land). Scholars suggest his bones were left out as a visual reminder to the Israelites that one day Joseph would be buried in the Promised Land.
Joseph’s request was showing great faith in God’s promises.
And so ends the Book of Genesis with God’s chosen people looking forward to the fulfillment of God’s promises.