THE STORY OF JOSEPH. EPISODE 10. GENESIS CHAPTER 45: I AM JOSEPH!

 

CHAPTER 45: I AM JOSEPH

In this chapter:

• ü  Joseph can no longer keep the big secret from his brothers, having being overcome with love for them.
• ü  Joseph declares to his brothers “I am Joseph” and the brothers are dismayed and lost for words at this.
• ü  Joseph explains to them that they ought not to be distressed because of their heinous act of selling him as a slave to Egypt.
• ü  Joseph explained that it was by God’s plan that he ended up in Egypt for the sake of saving his brothers as well as many more people (great deliverance)
• ü  Joseph instructs his brothers to go and get their father from Canaan and bring over together with his entire household into Egypt under Joseph’s care.
• ü  The report about Joseph’s brothers arrival reach Pharaoh and who, in turn, sends a warm invitation for the entire family of Jacob to come over to Egypt and enjoy the best of the land of Egypt.
• ü  Pharaoh actually commands Joseph to have the brothers given wagons to ferry their folks from Canaan to Egypt.
• ü  Again, the brothers carry more than they bargained for including supplies for the journey, a change of clothes.
• ü  Benjamin gets an extra 300 shekels of silver and 5 changes of clothes.
• ü  Joseph also sent loads of gifts to his father and asked the brothers not to quarrel on the way.
• ü  When the brothers reach Canaan, they declared to their father that Joseph was still alive and in fact a ruler in Egypt. He could not believe it at first.
• ü  When the brothers told the father the words that Joseph had spoken to them and when he saw all the wagons that Joseph had sent, Jacob’s spirit was revived
• ü  Jacob resolves to go to Egypt to meet his son before he dies

This is perhaps the first chapter that begins on a joyful note and ends in an even more joyful note in the story so far. We left off in the previous chapter where Judah was making a very intense appeal for his step-brother Benjamin. We mentioned that the monologue speech by Judah is a speech of love and the longest in the entire book of Genesis. We also mentioned that Joseph had clearly set up a test for the brothers when he put his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. He wanted to know if the brothers loved Benjamin enough to contend for his welfare and freedom.

Now in this chapter, we see that the brothers passed with flying colors. In today’s elementary education ranking, they would have earned themselves an “Exceeding Expectation” score in the report card. We know that because of what happens after Judah is done with his speech as we see in this chapter. The bible says that “Joseph could no longer control himself..” He was overwhelmed with emotion and affection for his brothers.

He therefore ordered that everyone else leaves the room except his brothers. He cried out so loud that the Egyptians and the household of Pharaoh heard it. Joseph genuinely loved the brothers and could no longer keep himself from them.  They had previously committed some heinous acts of hatred against him, but Joseph now ultimately shows them unfiltered love. The bible says,  Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8, NLT)

What we see Joseph doing in this chapter is the best example of true forgiveness as we shall see as we get through this chapter. Think about his act of sending all the Egyptians out of the house before he engages his brothers in an intimate conversation about their past and how he even got here. One of the reasons why Joseph did this is possibly to protect the reputation of his brothers; to make sure that the Egyptians did not get to know the ugly side of Joseph’s brothers. True forgiveness involves keeping the wrongs of the offender away from unnecessary publicity. When you forgive a brother/sister, don’t go telling everyone all the wrong they did to you, nobody needs to know all about it.

Joseph therefore declares to his brothers “I am Joseph!” (verse 3a, NIV). He also once again asks if his father is alive. At this the brothers are stunned and lost for words. They could not believe what was unfolding right before their eyes. And we can try to imagine the reason why they are awe-struck at this point. For one, the man they hated deeply and did away with about 22 years back is now standing before them, alive and well.

Secondly, the man is all powerful now and could do as he pleases with them, including executing harsh revenge on them for their wrong doings against him. At the very least he could actually send them away without food to go and die of starvation back in Canaan. Here is the kind of feeling that Saul of Tarsus must have had when the Lord Jesus appeared to him on his way to Damascus to persecute the Jews. In Acts 9:5 it says, “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! (NLT)

The brothers are now utterly ashamed of themselves for all that they did to their own blood brother. That is why they have no words. In fact, in this whole chapter, not one word of their utterances is recorded. It is just Joseph speaking alone to them trying to get them out of their guilt and shame. And the brothers did well here by not in any way trying to explain or excuse away their wrongdoings against Joseph.

Joseph, seeing their confusion and guilt and shame, beckoned them closer to himself. It must be that when talking to the ruler of Egypt you had to stand a far off for his safety and also in his honor. But Joseph now invites the brothers to break that protocol and draw nearer to him so that they could have a candid conversation. This reminds me of what the scripture says in Isaiah 1:18: “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” (NKJV)

The above verse is part of a larger speech where God calls the kingdom of Judah to repentance and reconciliation with him. The nation had become rebellious and sinful with all sorts of wickedness but God in His lovingkindness and tender mercies called them back unto Himself; to give them His forgiveness. Joseph here is demonstrating such kind of Godly character in forgiving his brothers and giving them another chance.

And it is so for us too; we need to heed to God’s invitation through and in Christ Jesus to come to him in repentance and He will forgive us of our sin and guilt and shame and bring us under His care once gain. It should make us to rejoice as believers knowing that we are no longer condemned if we are in Christ Jesus. The Apostle Paul writes: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1, ESV)

The brothers therefore draw nearer to him and Joseph re-introduces himself to them and adds that he was the same Joseph that the brothers sold to Egypt; just to make sure that the brothers have no doubt anymore that this was real. And how much deep those words must have pierced the hearts and consciences of the brothers. The weight of guilt could not be heavier. That is why Joseph in his lovingkindness goes a long way to try and take away the sense of guilt from his brothers by directly telling them not to be distressed about it.

This also points eschatologically/ prophetically to what will happen between Jesus and his brethren, the Jews: the direct descendants of Jacob, next time when they meet up face to face. In the theology of end times(eschatology), there is a time when Jesus will re-appear in person and make Himself known to the children of Israel at their lowest moment; when they need help the most. Some Bible commentators say this will happen somewhere during the period commonly known in theological circles as the “Great Tribulation Period" The Tribulation Period will be a time when the anti-Christ will be ruling on  earth for a term of seven years and the second half of it lasting about three and half years, is when the anti-Christ will unleash the worst evil against the humanity. This second half is the one that is referred to as the “Great Tribulation.”

Bible commentators say that towards the end of this period, Jesus will appear to the Jews and reveal to them that He is indeed their Savior even though they despised and rejected and even pierced Him, when he first appeared to them. Some of the verses that speak about this moment that some Bible commentators refer to is  Zechariah 12:10 talking about the deliverance of the kingdom of Judah. It says, “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. (NKJV)

Joseph explains to the brothers that it is was God at work to have him get down to Egypt for the sake of their family, the family of Jacob, to save them from death and devastation by the famine that had now befallen the world back then. He says to them So it was not you who sent me here, but God (Verse 8a, ESV).

This is a great demonstration of God’s providence at work in the lives and affairs of his people. It is God’s hand working behind the scenes, in the normal things of life, to bring about God’s will upon his people or humanity at large. This is as opposed to the miraculous where God intervenes supernaturally to turn things in the direction of his will and purpose. All these go to show God’s sovereignty in all the earth, and indeed all the universe.

What Joseph is telling his brothers here is also a reminder of what we have been saying all along as the running theme in this whole story: that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28, NKJV). This is the same thing that happened with our Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of His brethren. When the Jews handed Jesus over to the Roman Empire to be crucified, they were trying to get rid of Him in a crafty way. They wanted him gone but did not to do it themselves; they did not want His blood on their hands. Just like the brothers of Joseph opted to sell him in Egypt as Judah suggested rather than kill him and bear the guilt of his blood.

We however know that it was for the benefit of the Jews and indeed all nations of the earth that Jesus was ‘done away with’ after being rejected and betrayed by his own brethren, the Jews; to bear the punishment for the sin of humanity and thereby bring salvation for all. And Joseph in this chapter is telling his brothers that it is was God Himself that allowed Joseph to be sold down to Egypt in order to save his family and the rest of the world back then.

We also need to understand that sometimes when we find ourselves in difficult and unpleasant situations due to the wrongdoing of other people against us, like Joseph found himself, we can rest assured that God could be working something bigger and better.  God can create a beautiful story out a horrible mess. When we find ourselves in seemingly troubling circumstances, sometimes weed to remind ourselves that it may not necessarily be the bad people who got us there, but God, in some cases.

Joseph directs his brothers to go and fetch their father together with all his household and bring them to Egypt where Joseph could take care of them and save them from death by starvation. Joseph explained that this was necessary because the famine was to last another 5 years on the land.  Joseph also  promises to give them the best lands in Egypt, the Goshen area. Joseph is simply pledging to be their shepherd in that very difficult era in history. Just like the Psalmist says while talking about the ultimate and all-time Good Shepherd, he says: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. (Psalm 23:1-2, NKJV)

Joseph wants his kinsmen and brethren to come under his care and watch. Matthew Henry comments, “Our Lord Jesus being, like Joseph, exalted to the highest honors and powers of the upper world, it is his will that all that are his should be with him where he is, John 17:24. This is his commandment, that we be with him now in faith and hope, and a heavenly conversation; and this is his promise, that we shall be forever with him.”

Joseph also tells the brothers to explain to the father, Jacob, of all the honor that Joseph had received in Egypt as they themselves witnessed. This may be seen as some sort of  a ‘down payment’ for  consolation to his elderly father as he awaits the full manifestation/ experience of the greatness his most beloved son whom he believed, for over 20 years now, to be long dead.

The news of Joseph’s brothers presence in Egypt reached to and pleased Pharaoh and his servants. This is amazing considering that there existed a well-known hatred between the Egyptians and the Jews. In fact, in the previous chapters, we saw that they could not even sit on the same table during a feast. But then, Joseph had shown so much excellence and diligence in dealing with the situation down in Egypt that he earned the favor of all Egyptians, to the extent that the Egyptians thought so approvingly of Joseph’s relatives. But we know that Joseph’s relatives, particularly the ten brothers were not very good people. Yet, because of Joseph’s actions in Egypt, they were also counted to be good people and gained the favor and friendship of Egyptians.

And even so for us: it is not of any good that we have done to deserve God’s favor but what Jesus has done at the cross of calvary. Without the completed work of Christ on the cross of Calvary, we are horrible people and enemies of God. It is the sacrifice of Christ that has reconciled us with God as the Apostle Paul explains in Romans 5:10-11 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. ¹¹ So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. (NLT)

Pharaoh therefore directs Joseph to have his father and all his household be brought to Egypt where he promised to give them the best of the land. Imagine just how marvelous that is. The king of Egypt is now welcoming Jews and giving an entire family and all its descendants direct citizenship in the most prosperous nation and empire at that time. He even extends more favor upon the family of Jacob more than even Joseph had offered. But we know it is not him who is at work here, but God; The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the Kings of Kings.

Pharaoh therefore orders Joseph to send supplies and wagons to go fetch his father and all his household and bring them into the land of Egypt. Pharaoh effectively makes this trip back to Canaan to be a royal assignment. What started as a desperate endeavor by Jacob and his sons to get a little more food for sustenance ends up being a royal mission to bring them into the land of abundance wealth and prestige. That, brothers and sisters, is how God can change a story; from one of desperation and destitute to one of joy and gladness.  And God can use the most unlikely people to bring good on His people.

Pharaoh tells Joseph’s brothers to come over to Egypt and not to worry about the things they will leave back in Canaan for the best of Egypt will be theirs. On this Matthew Henry comments, “Thus those for whom Christ intends shares in his heavenly glory ought not to regard the stuff of this world: The best of its enjoyments are but stuff, but lumber; we cannot make sure of it while we are here, much less can we carry it away with us; let us not therefore be solicitous about it, nor set our eyes or hearts upon it. There are better things reserved for us in that blessed land whither our Joseph has gone to prepare a place.” I think this is what the Apostle Paul is saying when writing to the church at Corinth  in 1 Corinthians 2:9: But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (ESV)

The brothers therefore leave Egypt and come back to Canaan with great an entourage to the ultimate surprise of their aging father. This is going to be the best day of his life in a long time. There is so much good news awaiting him this time round. Of course, one of the best things for Jacob is seeing his beloved Benjamin back with his brothers. That itself was good enough and he must have been more than relieved to see the boy back home. There was also other ‘smaller’ good news like seeing Simeon back and indeed all the brothers together with all the food supplies. But the best was yet to come!

The brothers therefore declare “Joseph is still alive!” (verse 26a)…Jacob was stunned at the news—he couldn’t believe it. (verse 26b, NLT). I would bet that Jacob did not even hear the part where they said he was ruler of Egypt at first. All he cared to hear is that his most beloved son is indeed alive and not dead as he had believed for over 20 years now. The feeling is the one that the followers of Jesus had when it was declared to them that He was alive again, on the third day! Mark 16:9-11 records; When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. ¹⁰ She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. ¹¹ When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. (NIV)

For Jacob, this was like the resurrection Sunday for the disciples of Jesus. The darkness of the night had been too long, but now the morning has come. Indeed, sorrow may last for a night, but joy comes with the morning as scriptures teach.