We all know the story: plagues, the parting of the Red Sea... epic stuff, right? But sometimes, the most crucial details are the ones tucked away in the corners of the narrative. Like, say, the small matter of Joseph's bones.
The story, as retold in Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg, based on various Midrashic sources, tells us the Exodus simply couldn't have happened if Joseph’s remains had been left behind. Think about it: Joseph, the son of Jacob who rose to prominence in Egypt, had made his sons swear that when God finally remembered them, they would carry his bones out of Egypt with them (Genesis 50:25). A promise is a promise, especially one made on your deathbed!
So, while everyone else was busy grabbing Egyptian jewels and gold – you know, making the most of their departure – Moses had a different mission: finding Joseph. Sounds simple, right? Not so fast.
According to the legend, Joseph was buried in the royal mausoleum, surrounded by who-knows-how-many other mummies and sarcophagi. Imagine trying to find one specific needle in that ancient, dusty haystack! How would you even begin?
That's where Moses’ mother, Jochebed, steps in. Talk about a crucial maternal assist! She led him directly to the spot. And here's where it gets really interesting: as Moses approached, he knew he was in the right place because of the incredible fragrance emanating from the bones themselves. Seriously, how's that for divine guidance?
But even with the right location, the challenge wasn't over. Joseph’s coffin was buried deep, sunk far down in the earth. How on earth was Moses supposed to retrieve it?
According to Ginzberg, Moses stood at the edge of the grave and spoke the words Joseph himself had uttered: "Joseph, the time hath come whereof thou didst say, 'God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.'" (adapted from Genesis 50:25).
And then? The coffin stirred. It rose to the surface. Just like that.
It’s a remarkable image, isn't it? A testament to faith, to promises kept, and to the idea that even in the grand sweep of history, the individual matters. Joseph's bones weren't just bones; they were a symbol of hope, of redemption, of God's promise to his people. And Moses, in making sure that promise was fulfilled, ensured the Exodus could truly begin.
What does this story tell us? Perhaps it's that even the smallest acts of remembrance, of honoring the past, can have monumental consequences for the future. And maybe, just maybe, that sometimes all it takes is the right words, spoken at the right time, to move mountains – or, in this case, coffins.