Genesis 45 Jacob finds out that Joseph is alive:
Last week, we closed with these thoughts:
Judah pled to take Benjamin’s place!
(Gen 44:33) "Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. {34} "For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would come upon my father?"
That’s it! Joseph breaks down!
(Gen 45:1-5 NKJV) Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, "Make everyone go out from me!" So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. {2} And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it. {3} Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph; does my father still live?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence.
There is no way to begin to imagine what that moment was really like! "I am Joseph.” I’m sure he said that in Hebrew, not Egyptian. What a moment! But his brothers could not answer him
What questions had to rush through their mind.
How did this all happen? How did he get here? How did he come to be in charge of all Egypt?
We are so totally helpless, and he can do anything he wants to to us. What will he do to us now?
So he must comfort them and assure them that everything is going to be all right.
(Gen 45:4) And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. {5} "But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.
Look at Joseph now that he has seen his brothers have changed! He’s forgiving! He’s reassuring!
It’s a new day for the family.
Joseph is now ready to start putting things back together, but things will never be quite the same again. He begins by letting them in on what he knows that they do not know, and then he’ll tell of his plan for them.
(Gen 45:6) "For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. {7} "And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
“to save your lives:” He was a savior. Not of their eternal lives, but of their physical lives. Stephen calls this to the attention of those who were about to kill him.
Stephen thinks it is important enough that he gives a brief outline of the story. Stephen’s point is that the children of Israel had abused, rejected or killed three saviors who had been sent to them.
Stephen’s Account:
(Acts 7:9-14) "And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him {10} "and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. {11} "Now a famine and great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no sustenance. {12} "But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. {13} "And the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to the Pharaoh. {14} "Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him, seventy-five people.
Joseph continues reassurance for his brothers.
(Gen 45:8) "So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
Now it’s time to Act with Urgency!
(Gen 45:9) "Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph: "God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry. {10} "You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children's children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. {11} "There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine."'
This is solemn and serious—Not to be taken lightly!
(Gen 45:12) "And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my [full] brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you. {13} "So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here."
“your eyes . . . see that it is my mouth that speaks to you.” “My mouth–your language! I’m Joseph!
That’s the Plan! That’s what needs to be done! Now it’s time to start restoring the emotional side of being a family.
Restoring, or maybe trying to create something that had never been—
a family with real love for each other!
Joseph starts with his show of affection for Benjamin.
(Gen 45:14) Then he fell on his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. {15} Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him.
“After that his brothers talked with him.”
At this point, they have decided that Joseph is sincere in trying to reestablish love and feeling in this family.
(Gen 45:16) Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, "Joseph's brothers have come." So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well.
The great spirit of this Pharaoh is evident by what he does for Joseph.
(Gen 45:17) And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Say to your brothers, 'Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. {18} 'Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land. {19} 'Now you are commanded; do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. {20} 'Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.'"
All this, Pharaoh did for Joseph.
Remember, there were some misgivings between Egyptians and Hebrews, but Pharaoh did not let that keep him from being very gracious and generous with Joseph and his family. Remember an earlier statement about some of the differences between the Egyptians and the Hebrews:
(Gen 43:32 NKJV) So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.
Joseph works with his brothers to carry out the generous offer from Pharaoh and adds gifts.
(Gen 45:21) Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. {22} He gave to all of them, to each man, changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments. {23} And he sent to his father these things: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father for the journey. {24} So he sent his brothers away, and they departed; and he said to them, "See that you do not become troubled along the way."
(Gen 45:24 KJV) So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.
(Gen 45:24 NASB) So he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, "Do not quarrel on the journey."
Joseph is evidently still concerned about their spirit. Since he was concerned, I’m not sure why he sent Benjamin home with five times as much. We can be thankful that there was not quarrel that we know of.
(Gen 45:25) Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father. {26} And they told him, saying, "Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt." And Jacob's heart stood still, because he did not believe them.
Jacob's heart stood still: When you have believed for 15 years that your son had been torn to pieces by a wild animal, this is truly an amazing story!
When did Israel ever learn the truth? or did he? I think he must have at some point in time, but I know of no record of it.
Did the ten sons break and tell their dad?
They knew he could ask Joseph when he got to Egypt. It’s part of the story that I don’t know about.
{27} But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived. {28} Then Israel said, "It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."
the spirit of Jacob their father revived. {28} Then Israel said,
Someone pointed out that learning his son was alive turned Jacob into Israel: Remember (Gen 32:28 NKJV) And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed." -- His son was alive!
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