There is something so unique about storytelling. Whether it be a true story or something made up, whether it be something based down for ages or something brand new. Storytelling is something that is a part of every culture on the earth in one way or another and dates back to Bible times.
In Genesis 17, God promises Abraham that the land of Canaan will belong to him and his descendants. We know that Abraham never sees this day, but clearly he believed what God told him because he passed this story down. This promise was a story told over and over again throughout the generations. Several generations later, Joseph is told of this promise.
Now as Joseph starts to die, he remembers the story he was surely told as a child, one that he told his children. He remembers that promise so many years ago to Abraham. And he reminds those around him while also making a request. Genesis 50:24-25 24Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will certainly come to your aid and bring you up from this land to the land He promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” 25So Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath: “When God comes to your aid, you are to carry my bones up from here.” HCSB Joseph wants his bones to be buried in Canaan when the Israelites reach that promised land.
Now, I certainly do not want to add to God’s word, but I do have a few guesses about how those generations have felt. Abraham probably thought he would get to see this promised land as his. I am sure that Isaac and Jacob also longed to see the land as theirs and didn’t get to. Joseph maybe thought, “Wow! Look at how God has used me! Certainly he will allow me to see this promised land!” And yet, none of these men got it. But they didn’t lose hope, they continued to tell this story, this promise, to their children.
After Joseph, all of his brothers, and the king had died, the new king came in and wanted to get rid of the Israelites. He ordered for all male babies to be killed. One mother saved her son by putting him into the river. We know that this baby was Moses, who grew up in the kings house. I don’t know if he heard this promise as a child due to who raised him, but we do know that his biological mother helped to care for him. We can imagine that she shared the old stories with Moses just as an Israelite mother would.
Now, Moses grew up and God used him to set the Israelites free from slavery. And as they were leaving Egypt, Moses remembered the promise that Joseph had made his brothers make so long ago. Exodus 13:19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, because Joseph had made the Israelites swear a solemn oath, saying, “God will certainly come to your aid; then you must take my bones with you from this place.” HCSB
Moses wandered around in the desert for 40 years with the Israelites due to their sin. And we know that while Moses got to see Canann from afar he didn’t get to enter the land. But we can also clearly tell that he held onto God’s promise as well as the promise made ot Joseph. Moses clearly passed these promises down to the next generation. When Moses died, Joshua became leader in his place. The people of Israel finally were able to enter the promised land after many generations heard the promise. And Joshua upheld the promise made so long ago to Joseph. Joshua 24:32 Joseph’s bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the parcel of land Jacob had purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for 100 qesitahs. It was an inheritance for Joseph’s descendants. HCSB
And again, this story is passed down, as we see the author of Hebrews mention it again in chapter 12. The hall of faith reminds us of so many stories of wonderful faith. And it also mentions the promise that Joseph made his brothers take. By faith. By faith, Joseph knew that the stories he had heard of God’s promise would one day come true. By faith, he didn’t say IF God saved them, but when God saved them. And by faith, the next generations listed to what he said. Hebrews 11:22 By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones. HCSB
It is our job to share these stories, to share these promises with the next generation. If we aren’t telling them, who will? If we aren’t raising up children to know the promises of God, who will? The next generation needs us to tell them the old stories. We need to carry those bones until the day finally comes.
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