What Is the Significance of Joseph’s Bones Being Carried Out of Egypt?

Return to Eden

When considering of exile and return within the Bible, it’s vital to know that the land of Israel promised to Abraham and subsequently occupied by Joshua and Israel all through their historical past is a typological re-manifestation of the Backyard of Eden. It’s described in related methods, as is the Backyard of Eden.

That is very true in Exodus, Numbers, and Joshua, however it’s also possible to see it within the guide of Genesis. The land is not only a generic, geographically marked off area however serves this theological objective of remembering Eden and hoping that sometime the entire earth will return to that edenic state after a resurrection.

And that’s the place Joseph’s story is available in. He is aware of he’s about to die, however he additionally has hope for a resurrection. And so he asks the youngsters of Israel to recollect to hold him up into the land—that new typological Backyard of Eden—once they go.

And this does two issues. Not solely does it specific hope for resurrection—why else would somebody care a lot about their bones?—however particularly the place that resurrection will occur. He may very well be raised simply as properly in Egypt or wherever else, however he needs to be raised in that area that represents the Backyard of Eden, as a result of sometime the entire earth will revert again to these edenic situations.

To place it in one other method, Joseph believes that when he’s raised to life, he will probably be raised within the Backyard of Eden, within the very presence of God. That is important for us as a result of what it teaches us is the Christian hope of resurrection is not only, Oh, I get to dwell without end, however particularly, I’ll dwell without end within the presence of God, the place there’s true fullness of pleasure and pleasures forevermore.

Nicholas G. Piotrowski is the creator of Return from Exile and the Renewal of God’s Folks.

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