The dying words of Joseph would help sustain the family of Abraham for the next 400 years. Joseph’s words spoken around 1805 BC reaffirmed the promise and prophecy that had been given to his great-grandfather Abraham around 2000 BC. This promise was inherited by his grandfather Isaac, and confirmed to his father Jacob by the Lord. Joseph understood and believed this promise in the fourth generation from Abraham, and his words of faith, and request to be buried in the Promised Land, will still be on the minds of this family 400 years later in 1445 BC when Moses leads a generation out of Egypt.

“Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, ‘God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.’ – Exodus 13:19

Joseph’s coffin, or sarcophagus, was with Israel during the 40 years in the wilderness and was carried across the Jordan by Joshua's generation when they entered the Promised Land in 1405 BC. When Joshua and the Hebrews had conquered the Land they took Joseph’s Egyptian sarcophagus and his 400 year old bones and placed them in a tomb at Shechem. The Promise was fulfilled, Joseph’s faith was proven true and the children of Israel had been obedient. Six hundred years of faithful waiting had been fulfilled:

“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 hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. This became the inheritance of Joseph’s descendants.” – Joshua 24:32

The writer of Hebrews in the New Testament comments on Joseph’s personal faith. Joseph’s faith helped influence several generations of Hebrews, especially Moses and his generation:

“By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.” – Hebrews 11:22

The Land belonged to the Hebrew people because of a promise made and kept by the Lord. The plot of land where Joseph’s bones were placed to rest was a plot of ground that was rightfully purchased by Jacob from the sons of Hamor in a legal transaction (see above Joshua 24:32).

"As we survey all the evidence, the thought insistently arises that some supernatural agency - or, rather, Agency - must be involved. Is it possible that suddenly, without intending to, we have stumbled upon scientific proof of the existence of a Supreme Being? Was it God who stepped in and so providentially crafted the cosmos for our benefit?"

- George Greenstein (astronomer)