Let us learn a posuk with Rashi

Chavrusa with Yaakov and David on the Parsha 

Chapter 48 verse 7.

Yaakov tells his son Yosef why he had to leave his mother (Yaakov's wife) at the place where she died and bury her there. He explains: “Rachel died on the road….and I buried her there on the road to Efrat.” Actually Yaakov does not explain: he simply states the fact. If in fact Yosef found this difficult then he should have received some explanation for the lack of consideration by Yaakov. Further, Yaakov is begging his son to bury him in Canaan, in the cave of Machpela, and the fact that he did not do the same for Rachel may need further explanation. 

Rashi adds: “I know that you feel badly about what happened to your mother, but you have to know that I acted by the word of G-d. She is buried in that place in order to be of help to her children. When Navuzaradan will exile them, they will pass by Rachel's tomb. Rachel will go out onto her grave and weep for her children.” The verse in Yirmiyahu continues and says 31:16), “there is reward for your act, says Hashem….and the children shall return to their borders…..”

For Rashi, Yaakov is also telling the story behind the story. Whatever the reason this is not clearly stated in the Torah, for Rashi this is the actual conversation. Yosef was apprised of the fact that his mother was buried somewhat unceremoniously by a directive of Hashem. 

The sequence is now understandable. Yaakov wants his son to bury him in Yisrael. Yosef feels that Yaakov did not act appropriately with his mother and that may make it difficult for him to carry out his father’s wish. Yaakov explains to Yosef that there 
was no choice and he had to bury Rachel on the way. 

Something strikes me as unacceptable. Did Yosef have the right to refuse his father's wish? After all, if Yaakov wished to be buried in Canaan, doesn't Yosef have to accept the challenge?

Why should Yaakov have to explain himself at this time? 

Perhaps there is another matter being discussed. Yaakov wants to explain to Yosef his own request to be buried in Canaan is not based on personal desires or interests. If this were the case he would certainly have excused Yosef the task and been satisfied to be returned to the Machpela cave when Yosef himself was returned to Canaan, at the time of the exodus. Yaakov wants Yosef to understand that sometimes an act of burial has wider significance and can be of immediate relevance and importance. 

Yaakov wanted to be buried in Canaan because it was important for his children to maintain the love for the land that Yaakov had. Knowing that he insisted to be buried in the Machpela, when it probably meant difficulty for Yosef, was itself a proof of the importance of thinking about the land of promise. Just as Rachel was buried on the way for the sake of her children, so to did Yaakov want to be buried in Canaan for the sake of his children. Yaakov was teaching Yosef that you create the future by acting devotedly in the present. Yosef, Yaakov said, I want you to act with me just as I acted with your mother, Rachel.

Gut Shabbos 
Rav Chaim Brovender