GENESIS 45 " A Great Turning Point - Joseph reveals Himself "

 

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. 

Genesis 44: "A Severe Testing With A Sweet Outcome"

This is a story about true repentance. What a huge difference true repentance makes to relationships – both, with God and men.

In Genesis 42 and 43, we saw that Joseph's family had been brought to Egypt because of the famine. 

In Genesis 42 he had provided them with grain, though he had kept Simeon. They had been accused of being spies, and as an assurance that they would return, Simeon was kept. As proof of innocence they were also told that they needed to bring Benjamin, their youngest brother. Jacob, their father, needed much persuasion in this, but ultimately necessity and hunger drove them back to Egypt. Here we find them again, treated hospitably once more by Joseph. After obtaining their provisions they had a meal with him, and now we find them ready to depart. But Joseph had one more great test for them. This test  would ultimately reveal the truth about them.  We have seen that Joseph has  kept himself from revealing himself spontaneously to his brothers. Why? Joseph needed to test the hearts of his brothers, because he  had been   so  severely betrayed  by  them.  Were they still the same as they were 20 years ago? Had they changed? Was there a future for them as a family?  

OUTLINE

1.       Joseph’s test (44:1-17)

2.       Judah’s  plea (44:18-34)

1.            JOSEPH’S TEST (44:1-17)

In order to know  the heart of his brothers, he determines  to test them to the limit. Warning! Do not try this at home. Do not use this example to  put your husbands, wives, children  or parents to the test  to see how much they  do / do not love you. Joseph's dealings here  are not a role model nor an encouragement  for us to test  our  families.  That would  bring unnecessary stress or trouble  into  the family.

What we have here is much, much bigger than a sadistic pleasure or a desire for revenge. Joseph's testing of his brothers is really an extension of God's dealing with his brothers. Remember the big picture. God is in this. This family is God’s covenant family. It is God’s prospective covenant nation. At this time it is a broken family. God, through Joseph is going to test the brothers to reveal their hearts. This is going to be essential in order to move forward as a prospective nation.  At Joseph’s level, he will have to know what he is committing himself to, if there is any hope of going forward.  There can be no reconciliation, there can be no way forward without true repentance.  This is something which we forget so very easily.

There are two great questions  in Joseph’s mind.

How will they treat Benjamin and how much do they really care about their aged father?  Once again we need to be reminded that 20 years ago they cruelly disposed of Joseph and they told their father a gross lie.  Do they still possess this mind-set? Are these still the same men? As Joseph asks this question in his heart, I want  to remind you  that  we must never assume that people  cannot  or will not change. This week I was reading  2 Chronicles. There I was reminded of the example of an extremely wicked king - Manasseh (2 Chron.33:1-20) -  a man that  started  extremely badly but who truly changed. He truly repented of his evil ways.  I also read of king  Joash who started  so well and who  ended very badly (2 Chron. 24)]

44:1-2   Joseph wants to see the hearts of his brothers. The way he does that  is to return the money in their sack  (just like the first time- 42:25) – not to incriminate them,   but as an act of unmerited kindness towards them. But now, in addition a special silver cup is placed  in Benjamin’s sack. Let the test begin. It’s a very shrewd one.  

44: 3-15.  Not long after the brothers have left, Joseph tells his steward to pursue them in search of his ‘stolen’ silver cup.  After protesting innocence (44: 7-9), each one’s bag is checked beginning with the eldest (44:12).So confident they were they of their innocence, that they insisted on the death penalty for anyone who was found with this cup in possession. The steward in turn insists that no death penalty is needed. The guilty party would simply be taken into slavery (44:10). The others were free to leave. The cup is discovered in Benjamin’s  sack  (44:12).The brothers are devastated …”then they tore their clothes…” (44:13 extreme grief and anguish), having  to return back to Joseph to face the music. Note, again that  “they  fell (bowed)  before him on the ground” (44:14 cf. 43:26,28) 

Do you see what is happening here?  Joseph as God’s instrument has incriminated the most vulnerable  and most indispensable member of the family.  How will they react to this?  Do you see the ingenuity of this test? Having formerly abandoned Joseph and having lied to their father (Gen.37), they are tested in their concern for their youngest  brother Benjamin, and in their love for their father. 

How will they react? 

Will they now abandon Benjamin?  

Will they tell their father another lie? 

In 44:15, Joseph questions them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practise divination?”   The word comes from the Latin ‘divinare’, meaning, “to be inspired by a god”, and thus to foresee. To practice divination is to uncover hidden knowledge by supernatural means. It is associated with the occult and involves fortune-telling. God forbids divination. “There shall not be found among you . . . anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who enquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD.” (Deut.18:10-12).  Practicing divination is listed as one of the reasons for Israel’s exile (2 Kings 17:17). 

In the book of Acts we find a slave girl who had a spirit of divination bringing her owners much gain by fortune-telling (Acts 16:16). The girl’s ability to penetrate mysteries was due to a demon that controlled her. Paul was troubled by this and he exorcised the demon (Acts 16:18), freeing the girl from her spiritual bondage.

Divination is not harmless entertainment or an alternate source of wisdom. Christians should avoid visiting fortune-tellers, astrologers, witches and mediums, those that read tarot cards, consult the dead etc. The spirit world is real, but the spirit world is not innocent. The Bible teaches  us  about the world of demons and deceiving  evil spirits. We must have nothing to do with them.

So, if Joseph is in God’s hand, how can he practise something that God has so clearly forbidden?  You will remember earlier in Gen.41 where he interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph was very clear that the interpretation of dreams was not in him. He said, “It is God who will give Pharaoh a favourable answer.” (41:16). I think that Joseph was simply using a scare tactic to make them believe that he had powers to see where the missing cup went.

44: 16-17   Judah takes the lead, and it is very clear that the brothers are lost for words.  You see no protestation of their innocence.  “God has found out the guilt of your servants“ (44:16) (Remember last week’s discussion of the powerful effect of the guilty conscience).They recognize that God has exposed them. 

Go back to that first  journey to Egypt in  Genesis 42:21, when they were accused of being spies, incarcerated for 3 days and then told that one of them needed to stay behind  until they returned with the youngest boy.  Notice there  how  the brothers interpret that happening: "In truth we are guilty concerning our brother  in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us, and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us."  And then Ruben says in 42:22, "So now there comes a reckoning for his (Joseph's)  blood".  You see how  this 20 year old  guilt remains deeply etched on their consciences. And now Judah says it again, "God has found out our guilt" (44:16). These brothers are guilt riddled. But the question is this. How will they deal with their guilt?  There  are two sides to this question. One will be answered in this chapter and the other  in  Chapter 45.

But it is 44:17  that constitutes the real test. Joseph  tells them  that they may leave  to go back to their father. Only Benjamin must remain. He offers them freedom at Benjamin's expense. 

What will they do? 

If they will only betray Benjamin, they are free to go.  

2.       JUDAH’S PLEA  (44:18-34)

Here we find one of the most powerful pleas in the Bible.  He is not asking for mercy. Judah declares his willingness to be a substitute for his brother. He is not  arguing, he is not denying guilt  - he is simply pleading  that his life should be exchanged for  Benjamin’s , and he does it  for the sake of his father  “whose life is bound up with the boy’s life”. He fears to see the evil that would find his father (44:34) if  Benjamin were not returned.  Notice how  he provides  Joseph  with a brief history  of the  family in verses 44:19-34 and in this  he makes two  pleas:  (i) he makes it clear that he will do anything he can to avoid hurting his father (ii) he makes it clear that he pledged himself (with  a curse – 43:9 ;44:32)  if he does not bring  Benjamin  back.   Look at the emotional language he uses in  44:20, 28-29.

That shows  us  the work of grace that has been done in the heart of Judah. And here is the first answer to how they must deal with their guilt.   And  you can see that  everything spills out of the depth of his soul, from the heart,   which is now filled with confession and repentance and the desire to do things right – all at once. Again, Judah  is not asking for mercy – but simply to be a  slave in the place of his brother.  This is one of the brothers who years before had  ignored the cries of Joseph. He was complicit in the cheating  against  his father. And here  he is – the man for others. Does this not remind you of  Another One from the tribe of Judah, who would offer Himself in the place of the guilty,  your and my guilt- so that  we, the guilty might go free?

All this showed Joseph that this was a changed family.

For unity to be  maintained among God’s people  it is important  that  sin must be confessed and dealt with.  Paul urges the Ephesians, (struggling with divisions – Eph. 2 &3),  in  Ephesians  4 that  one's Christian profession must have  substance:

“25  Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbour, for we are members one of another... 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:25, 31,32)

Spiritual revivals often begin with the pain of confessing sins that have hindered blessing in local congregations. [1]

Judah's  heart has been truly changed by God  and it shows in the way he loves.   The stage is set for  a revival  of this family  in chapter 45 – the revelation of Joseph and the reconciliation of the family.

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[1] Philip Eveson:  The Book of Origins (Genesis)  , p529

Genesis 43 "Back to Egypt! Another Lesson in God's wonderful Providence"

 

 INTRODUCTION  

In keeping with God’s eternal plan, the book of Genesis anticipates in Gen. 12:1,2 that  God  would make the family of Abraham into a great nation.  And in Gen. 15:13,14 it is anticipated  that  this nation, called  Israel would providentially land up in Egypt – because of a drought, and to survive that drought. The story of Joseph (beginning in Genesis 37) is the beginning and fulfilment of that prophecy. The book of the Exodus is the story of that nation as they flee Egypt   in order that they may enter the promised land in fulfilment of Gen.  12.

Joseph will be God’s catalyst to Israel’s survival.  You know the story. He is the second youngest of 12 brothers, and he is not well loved by his brothers. One day, when he visits them in the pasturelands, they decide to get rid of him, selling him to some traders, who sell him to an Egyptian official. He does well there. He is a trusted servant, but the official’s wife gets him into trouble and he lands in jail. In Genesis 40/41 his life takes a drastic turn through a God given ability to interpret dreams, and half way through Chapter 41 we see him rise from prison to prime minister of Egypt! At face value this sounds like a true fairy tale with a happy ending, except that this story is SO much bigger than Joseph or anyone could understand.  This is God’s BIG story of deliverance and redemption of His chosen people and it stretches across many generations. Thankfully we are given the big picture – the rest of the story as God’s redemptive plan unfolds over many, many generation, ending with His Re-creation- a new heaven and a new earth. 

As we look at this text our primary interest is always this:  

What are we learning here about God? 

What is God doing NOW as we read this passage? 

What are we learning here about His dealings with us and this world which He has created?  

Last time (21/11/2021) we saw how God, always in charge and always overruling, used a famine in His providence to bring Joseph to Egypt. We always tend to think of famines and the like as ‘natural’ disasters. The Bible doesn’t. When Joseph informs Pharaoh about the drought, this is what he says: “God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do!” (41:25).Every natural disaster is a reminder from God that we are not in control.  

And now  back to Joseph’s family

Joseph is in Egypt, and as yet  his family is completely unaware of his lot,  as they now also make their way to Egypt because of this famine.  Chapter 43 & 44  sees them  going back to Egypt  as we see the keeping power, the providential  and   steady hand  of the God of Israel on their lives. This  too is written for  our comfort.    

OUTLINE

1.       43:1-10   Dilemma

2.       43:11-14  Resignation

3.       43:15-34  The  scary road into an unknown future

1.            43:1-10   Dilemma

“Now the famine was severe in the land”.  Famine ... a repeated theme. Things are serious. The family’s food supply  is running low. Having been to Egypt before to purchase food, Simeon was being held captive  by Joseph (who had recognised them) until they should return  with their youngest brother, as proof that they were not spies. We see the brothers, especially Reuben  (42:37) and  Judah (43:3,8) plead with their father, to take Benjamin the youngest  to  Egypt at Joseph’s insistence (cf. 42:20).

In 43:1-5 Judah is the spokesman. They cannot go back to Egypt unless they bring their youngest brother.  Jacob clearly does not trust his sons. Whenever he sends them, someone doesn’t come back. First Joseph, then Simeon, and now Benjamin? In 43:8,9  Judah   pledges himself as surety for the protection of  Benjamin.  What a picture. In future there will be One from the tribe of Judah who will give His life in pledge  for ours! 

The sheer need eventually overrides Jacob’s stubborn refusal to send Benjamin. Behind the scenes  is the hand of God who directs Joseph,  who is now the prime minister of Egypt.  Joseph is in turmoil. Behind him is his deep suffering at the hand of his brothers, and before him is a real longing for his family. Genesis 42 shows us that Joseph was not destined for a comfortable retirement in Egypt.  

What will happen?

2.  43: 11-14  Resignation

Our extremities are God’s opportunities. Jacob must let go. And to his credit he does!  After giving   his fatherly talk in 43:11-13, consisting of three points, (i) take some gifts from the land (ii) take double the money that was returned to you (iii) take your brother,  he surrenders his family  to an uncertain future in his mind, but  thankfully it is not uncertain in God’s mind. This is the question that we always struggle with: Is God really with us in this?  The required response is always this: Have faith in God. Trust Him.  

We see  now  that ultimately  his trust is in God (43:14):  “May God Almighty (cf. Gen. 17:1)  El Shaddai, grant you mercy (favour/ compassion) before the man”. And may he send back your other brother  and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” The last sentence indicates that Jacob has resigned himself to an outcome that is in God’s hands alone. This is no small thing! Remember what is at stake. The future of God’s covenant people is at stake as he sends all his sons to Egypt. This is a test of faith, but  thankfully, faith in God is not irrational.  

3.       43:15-34 The scary road into an unknown future

The eleven brothers  meet with Joseph again, and despite his strange and sometimes hostile behaviour, they receive a surprisingly lavish hospitality from him.  

Joseph is  moved at the sight of his brother Benjamin (43:16,29-30).  He literally melts with tears as his compassion grew warm for his brother. Joseph meets his brothers with extraordinary hospitality (43:16-34).  

The brothers  are surprised by  his lavish welcome, but it actually produces fear in them. They were afraid (43:18) and the fear relates to the money that was returned in our sacks. Remember, they haven't done anything wrong here, BUT remember that these brothers have done much  wrong in the past. They cheated on their dad many times. And Joseph tattletaled on them. And then they did the worst  thing imaginable. They got rid of Joseph and  told their dad that he was torn by wild beasts.   They live with a guilty conscience, and a guilty conscience can be over sensitive, and overly suspicious, even  when received with kindness. At this stage Joseph is literally killing them with kindness. They are not comfortable. The conscience cannot be erased. It keeps in mind the past history of our  sins, whether of thought, word or deed, and it may remind us of them at any time. John Bunyan in his  allegory “ The Holy war” gives  conscience the name of Mr Recorder.[1] And so it is.  The conscience keeps a record.

In 43:19-25, they approach Joseph's  household  manager. They tell the story about how the money was accidentally given back to them and they obviously want to give the money back. And once again, they are surprised by kindness. The household steward tells them that he had received their  money, and he maintains, ”Your God and  the God of your fathers, has put treasure  in your sacks…” .  And so, again  they are treated lavishly by their brother who actually knows all about them, and who  could now  enjoy his payback time. But no- there are no such  thoughts or actions expressed here!   Even their animals are cared for (43:24)

They prepared to bring their  gifts to  Joseph  as they are invited for lunch  at noon (43:25). But now, please notice a very important fulfilment of Joseph’s dream in Chapter 37. In  43:26,28 and 44:14   we find them  bowing  down three times, reminding us  of the fulfilment of God's revelation to Joseph more than 20 years ago. That  dream  back then caused them to  be jealous of him, though his father kept the saying in mind (37:11). In keeping with that dream then, we find the fulfilment  God's earlier revelation is coming true and here the eleven brothers all bow down before their brother Joseph.

Instead of jumping up and triumphantly shouting, “I told you so!”,  we find in  43:27-34  that Joseph considerately  enquires about their welfare and their father’s welfare, but when his eyes meet that of Benjamin, “his mother's son”,  he melts.  God is doing a miracle here. He is giving  Joseph capacity beyond himself. Oh, how marvellous is the life of grace in the ruined soul.   

CONCLUSION

Despite Jacob's fears, despite the brother's  fears  their path  into the future is under God’s direction. Therefore  the future is always promising.  Make no mistake- their paths will lead through many  dangers toils and snares.   but it is promising, because God is always  in charge of His people’s future.  His grace is always sufficient for every situation. It is sufficient for Jacob, the brothers, for Joseph and for you! In every situation ! 

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[1]  Peter Masters: What you should know about the conscience, p.7

GENESIS 37 - THE LIFE OF JOSEPH: "Joseph And His Dreams"

 

Last time we looked at the brief history of  Esau and the Edomites in Genesis 36. Esau, the father of the Edomites was the twin brother of Jacob. The Bible makes only a brief mention of the   generations of Esau (36:1),  the non- covenantal   race, before it returns to  the story line of the  covenant  people,  led by Jacob,  and now in particular in  the   story of Joseph. This then brings us to the last section of the book of Genesis as we consider the life of Joseph at the beginning of   Chapter 37.

OUTLINE

1.The brothers’ hate  towards him (37:1-11)

(i)  Because he  brought a bad report about them to his father (v. 2).

(ii) Because  their  father loved him more than them  (vv. 3, 4).

(iii) Because he dreamed of his dominion over them (vv. 5-11).

2. The brothers’ revenge (37:12-36)

(i) The opportunity that arose  for  them to  get rid of him (vv. 12-17)

(ii)  They  conspired to kill him (vv. 18-20).

(iii) They providentially changed their  plan (vv.21-24)

(iv) He was  sold  as  a slave to Ishmaelites.  They took  Joseph to Egypt. (vv. 25-28).

(iv) They made their father believe that he was killed  by a wild animal (vv. 29-35).

(v) He was sold to Potiphar in Egypt (v. 36). And all this was working together for good.

 

1. The brothers  hate towards  Joseph (37:1-11)

These are the generations  of Jacob… (37:2) and now  we are introduced  to the story of Joseph. Joseph was the  firstborn of his mother  Rachel. Rachel, you will remember  was Jacob’s  first love. The story of his  four   wives (Gen. 29 &30)  is  a sad  one, but we need to rest in the fact that God  was working out His sovereign  plan  despite  the  broken and sinful  world  in which  God’s  covenant  people needed  to make their living. The same is true for us, and Romans  8:28 remains true.  Rachel, struggled to conceive (29:31; 30:1). When she did eventually conceive she gave birth to Joseph[1] (30:22-24). When we are introduced to Joseph we learn that he is 17 years old (37:2b). Later in  41:47 we shall  learn that  he  is  30 years old when he finally enters into Pharaoh’s  service in Egypt. 

We read in 37:3  that  “Israel (Jacob) loved  Joseph more than  any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colours“.[2] The writer  obviously wants us to know that  Joseph was Jacob’s favoured son, and he  was not even  subtle about this.  Remember also that his father Isaac favoured his brother Esau above him.  The multi-coloured robe  that he had  made for him  set him apart  from the other sons, and the other sons  knew it.  Now clearly this will become a problem, and we may safely say that Jacob was not wise in making this distinction between Joseph and his brothers.  Parents must learn to be impartial.

The problem is quickly seen in 37:4. As the oldest brothers were tending the flocks,  Joseph was bringing bad reports about his brothers to his father, causing even further  resentment. His reports about his brothers were probably true, but they did not endear himself to his brothers.

And now, to crown it all, come those two dreams in 37:5-11. To be sure, they were revelations from God. They were prophetic dreams.  But the way (tone/timing/context)  he communicates  these dreams to his brothers and father, did not exactly endear him to his brothers. It takes real maturity and discernment to know what we must do with the information that we get from the Word of God. We cannot share everything profitably without considering the context in which we share truth from God’s Word. In Matthew 7:6, in the context of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reminds His disciples, “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.” This would indeed  come back upon Joseph, and so we read in 37:8 that they hated him even more, and in 37:11 we read that “they were jealous of him”.  We also note in passing that Jacob, like Mary [3]  kept the saying in mind.  Jacob was mature and older, and though he did not understand the dreams, he kept in mind that God  might be in the details.

These dreams, we shall see were indeed from God as Joseph would remember them in Gen. 42:9. They were not given to lord it over, or to put his brothers down at this time.  These dreams were given as a private help to him when he would be facing his brothers once again, many years later in Egypt. The Lord our God  sometimes  prepares us  by  giving us a glimpse of that which lies ahead, but that is for personal consumption, and can only be verified after  what was seen  in a vision/ dream has come to pass. We do well to keep our dreams to ourselves and not burden others with them.

God has ways of preparing His people beforehand for the trials which they cannot yet see. There is no doubt that these dreams would have come back to the brothers, when they really did bow on 4 occasions before Joseph (Gen. 42:6;43:26,28; 44:14)

Now all this information was given to an immature Joseph, and Joseph did not do well with the information given. Matthew Henry astutely  observes,  “Joseph dreamed of his preferment, but he did not dream of his imprisonment. Thus many young people, when they are setting out in the world, think of nothing but prosperity and pleasure, and never dream of trouble”.

 2. The Brothers Revenge (37:12 – 36)

In this portion we  find  Joseph taken from the love and protection of his father’s home in Hebron, via the hostility  of his brothers in  Dothan, to the completely alien world  of Egypt.[4] Jacob expected to find his brothers near Shechem (37:12),  about 80 kilometres  north of Hebron where his family now  lived. We read of Shechem in Chapter 34. This was the place where their sister Dinah had been raped, and where the  sons of Jacob wreaked terrible  havoc in terms of exacting revenge.

Jacob was concerned about his sons and sent Joseph on an errand to find out how they were doing.  As a dutiful son he went (see v.13b), but neither he nor his father  were suspecting what might happen.  He did not find them  at Shechem, but  was helped by  a man (37:15) to find them at Dothan, another  24 kilometers further north of Shechem. It says something about Joseph’s sense of duty to his father and brothers, and it says  something  about  his  perseverance to find them. 

Next we read, “They saw him from afar… they conspired against him to kill him” (37:18,20).Maybe his multi-coloured coat gave him away.  Note how deliberate they were  in  this. They called him ‘ this dreamer  for they resented him for his dreams  (37:19).  They were ready to kill their brother and moreover  they were ready  lie about it to their  father. Not good! Calvin says, “It never enters  into their mind that what is hidden from men cannot escape the eyes of God”[5]. This is the same frame of mind that possessed Cain, when he killed his brother Abel  (Gen. 4:8). God did not let Cain get away  with this murder.

But God protects His own. We are immortal until our work is done[6].   Next we read of  the firstborn of the sons of Jacob, Reuben, coming to the rescue cf.   v.22. Rather than being killed  he was thrown into  a dry well, being stripped of his robe (like Jesus in that sense) of many colours- the symbol of all that they had come to hate about him. In 42:21 we read that Joseph begged for his life,  but  they would not hear him. It takes real hardness of heart to  do this to your own  flesh and blood. Thankfully Reuben  saved him from being murdered  (42:22)

Next in vv. 25-30  we read of a caravan of Ishmaelites[7]  (also called Midianites 37:28,36 cf. Judges  8:24) on their way from Gilead via Canaan to Egypt  to sell their  aromatic spices  and perfumes there. This was the providence of God. Judah made the  suggestion  that they should sell Joseph to them (v.26), to be carried off to Egypt, where he would disappear  never be heard of again. They sold him for 20 pieces of silver (Jesus was sold for 30 pieces of silver).  And so Joseph’s brothers were wonderfully kept from murdering him. In fact this  would ultimately lead to their  deliverance  in a few years down the line, for  Joseph would in some sense  be their Saviour  in a period of  extreme drought.

Vv.31-36  They made up a story for  their father, telling him that  he was torn in pieces by a wild animal (vv. 29-35). We have all learned of Adam to  cover up and hide  our sin. The devil has taught us well  in this regard. When we  commit one sin,  then he teaches  us  to hide and cover it up  with another.

As  for Jacob , when he receives this news from his sons  he deeply  grieved. He  tore his clothes and sat in sackcloth and ashes (37:34). His sons hypocritically pretended to comfort him, but  Jacob refused to be comforted (37:35). 

In the meantime the  truth is that Joseph was alive. He was sold to Potiphar in Egypt (v. 36). Jacob never thought that he would ever  see Joseph again. But God was in the detail, preserving for Himself the covenant line, and all this was ultimately  working together for good. The NT martyr Stephen  in Acts 7:9-52   tells of this story – beginning with the treatment  of  Joseph by his brothers and ended his story   by applying it to the religious rulers of this day , who had  been so bitterly opposed to Jesus. History repeats itself constantly. Joseph’s story is so remarkably divided between his humiliation and his exaltation that we cannot avoid seeing something of Christ in it. Jesus was first humbled and then exalted.  This also shows us the path  which we often must tread … through many tribulations  we must enter into the kingdom.

Thank God then that  the  days  of  God’s covenant  people are in His hands.

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[1] Hebrew: May He add

[2] Technically, Benjamin, also born to Rachel   was the  youngest.

[3] Luke 2:19,51

[4] The Book of Origins : Philip Eveson,  Welwyn Series, p.479

[5] The Book of Origins : Philip Eveson,  Welwyn Series, p.481

[6] George Whitfield: Journals, p.

[7] Ishmaelite was a general term for ‘ nomadic trader’,  and Midianite relates specifically to the tribal grouping