Today we come to a glorious chapter – one that we have been
waiting for. We all love a story with a good ending, and here it is – a broken
family is finally reconciled. But what
is more, here we receive an amazing insight into the work of God behind the
scenes. In fact here in 45:4-8
we find some of the profoundest verses in Genesis, if not in Scripture . It is summed up by Paul in his
letters to the Romans 8:28, “God
works all things for good.”
OUTLINE
1.
45:1-15 Joseph reveals himself, reveals God
plan, and is reconciled to his
brothers
2.
45:16-24
Egypt’s Pharaoh invites the
family to stay in Egypt.
3.
45:25-28 The return and report given
to Jacob.
1. 45:1-15 Joseph reveals himself and reconciles himself to his brothers
We have previously seen in Chapter 44 how Judah spoke humbly and earnestly when he confessed his sins, and their sins, in the
presence of Joseph, even though as they did not yet know that this was their
brother. Judah saw what had happened to them as God's judgment on them, all
because, about 20 years ago, they had sold their brother into slavery and into
an unknown future. They had also lied to their father concerning what they had
done. But now Judah was broken by the past. He was not too proud to lay his and
their sins open for all to see. And he showed that he and his brothers truly
cared about their father. They were also truly concerned for their youngest
brother Benjamin whose life was bound up in his father’s life (44:30).
In fact, Judah was ready to become a slave in Egypt in the place
of Benjamin. They were a changed people.
(i)
Joseph reveals himself (45:1-3)
It was at this point that Joseph’s heart crumbled. We read in 45:1, “Then Joseph could not
control himself… and he made himself known to his brothers…. I am Joseph!” He did
this with loud weeping, so much so that the Egyptians whom he had just sent out from his poresence heard it, and therefore Pharaoh heard about it.
The brothers were naturally speechless (45:3). And as they try to come to grips with this, he immediately asks, “Is my father still alive?” That seems to be a strange question, since
they had been talking about their father all along. Of course he was still
alive! His question needs to be understood in
context. All that he has heard from them about his father until now was really
‘at a distance’. Before he had asked as a stranger; now he asks as a brother.
Now he was really able to ask, “How is my
father doing?” Life is not just
about having a heart -beat. He is now
able to enquire how his father was really doing in every way – mentally,
physically, emotionally and spiritually. How is he in his entire well -
being? Would he be able to make a
journey to Egypt? The question was also
posed to ‘take the heat off’. Please understand that
the revelation that the brothers had just received was utterly shocking. The translation in the ESV says that
they were dismayed/ trembling (Hebr. nibh
halu) at his presence. The
question, ‘how’s dad doing?’ and the statement “I am
Joseph” (twice) takes the heat off, and
prepares the way for an
amazing interpretation of this event.
(ii)
Joseph reveals God’s plan (45:4-8)
Joseph wants them to know WHY all this has happened. He wants them to know that through it all, and by the grace of God ALONE, he was kept by God under difficult circumstances. God brought him to this privileged position in Egypt which he now holds. Because of this understanding, that God was in charge here, Joseph has been able to process all the events that have led to his suffering and exaltation as prime minister in Egypt. This story is a wonderful application of Romans 8:28,
“ALL things work together for the good of those that love God, who are called according to His purpose.”
Also, Joseph visibly demonstrates that a root of bitterness can be conquered
when one sees the hand of God over and
above one’s circumstances. You will note
that Joseph declares three times, “God sent me before you!” (45:5,7,8). That is a very clear message and it has huge implications, and
because God is the root cause of all this, he can say to them: ”Do
not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here (45:5)…; “God send me before
you to preserve for you a remnant on earth…” (45:7) “So it was not
(ultimately) you who sent me here, but God.” This will be repeated again, after Jacob the
father dies in 50:20 - ”You meant it for evil; God meant it for
good.”
That was a huge statement, and it showed these guilt riddled
brothers that over and above their evil action (and it was evil!) the
preserving, protecting and providential hand of God was guiding a process for
their GOOD. And Joseph was the first to
see and understand this, and that is why he could say this. And so Joseph has no need to rebuke them for
their sin against him. He can point them
to the overriding providence of God, and so there are no hard feelings and no bitterness.
Please note that the brothers’ evil action in itself does not
absolve them. Sin always remains sin, and in order for sin to be dealt with
effectively before God and man there must be genuine repentance. We have seen
genuine repentance here, and so the process for reconciliation is easy.
But over and above that, we find in the Bible that even in
the face of unconfessed evil and of hatred for God, the truth is marching on. No power of sin, nor schemes of man, no
unbelief, no schemes of hell and the
devil can unsettle God’s purposes in the advancement of the kingdom of God upon this
earth. Jesus says and
guarantees us that the gates of hell shall not hinder the
building and advancement of his church (Matt. 16:18)-which does not correspond
to church buildings or
denominations or man- made institutions.
These will come and go. All the wrath of
the scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees and of other enemies of our Lord Jesus could not keep Him in the
grave.
This is important to know, even as we consider the rising darkness of our own times. We need to know this in these days of great blasphemy against our glorious God and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to know this in these days when God’s creation design is so heavily mocked and inverted and subverted. We need to know this at a time when people and nations appear to be almighty, when anti- Christian state control measures are rising. We need to know and hold on to the greater truth that in the end all these will have to reckon with the sudden appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ:
“Then will appear in
heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will
mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with
power and great glory…” (Matt. 24:30)
God remains in charge. He rules and overrules even our sinful actions and evil designs.
(iii)
45: 9-15 Reconciliation
This understanding is what makes reconciliation easy for Joseph
and his brothers and therefore they can be quick to implement God’s plan to save them in the midst of this
horrible drought - which
incidentally is a result of the curse of the fall. [Genesis 3:17,18 “cursed
is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life
; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you…”]
Joseph is not slow to give direction:
(i) Hurry up and go back to my (our) father. Tell him where I am and what I am doing. Tell him that GOD has made him the lord of all Egypt. (45:9)
(ii) Come live with me in Goshen, a fertile province of Egypt. Be near me. (45:10)
(iii) I will provide for you because there are 5 more years of this brutal famine (45:11)
(iv) Now hurry and
bring my father (45:13). It is important that his father hears and sees this, because
it will bring about real closure for
him. He, after all was a part of hearing
the original dream of Joseph in Chapter
37. He needs to know how everything has
come full circle now. This is a fulfilment
of the revelation of God. God is faithful!
All this then is sealed with an affectionate falling on the neck – first Benjamin, his own blood brother, the son of Rachel, and then the other brothers. Fathom this! After all these years, God, in His grace has enabled these brothers to be reconciled. God has done this and it is marvellous in our eyes!
2. 45:16-24 Egypt’s Pharaoh invites the family to come and stay in Egypt
(i) The Pharaoh of Egypt who is extremely kind
to Joseph, and he loses no time to provide logistical support
to bring the family from Canaan (45:16-20)
(ii) Joseph gives them
generous provisions plus clothing for
the journey (45:21-23). And he gave them a stern warning not to quarrel along the way. We continue to live in this fallen world.
Constant words of warning, exhortation and rebuke are necessary along our
life’s highway – especially this one: Avoid
quarrelling!
Despite all this wonderful
happening we need to remember now what is in stall for them as the
family is on the verge of living in
Egypt. This too is foretold in Genesis
15:13. They will be slaves in Egypt for more than 400 years. But all this is providence within
providence. Here in Egypt God will preserve for him a pure line of Hebrews. He will build and bring out a
nation. They would not mix with the Egyptians
for the Egyptians themselves had strict laws about not intermingling with other
races .
3. 45:25-28 The return and report given
to Jacob.
Here we find the return
of the brothers, and the initially hesitant response of Jacob. They tell their dad that his son Joseph is
alive, and that he is the ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Jacob’s response is similar to the initial response of the brothers to
the revelation of Joseph. His heart became numb. He is dazed. But when he sees all the evidence, when he hears
the words, and he sees the wagons, he believes. And he responds: “ It is enough.. I will go and see
him before I die.” (45:28)
And again we must see
what is at stake here. Jacob is asked to
leave the land of God’s promise to go to a foreign land. He is doing this when he is an old man, when
his strength is spent – when he should be thinking of himself and his home comforts. By faith then he goes, because he has heard
of a greater truth: his son is alive! His response is precious:"My son is still
alive. I will go to Him." Such truth overrides all objections and thoughts of feebleness. He is going, because he is moved by greater truth.
Praise God then for
the Bible- the truth and revelation of God’s
unseen hand behind our lives. And He
works all things for good. This moves me.
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