DAY FIFTEEN: 

Joseph Reveals His Identity

Genesis 45:1-46:7 

Joseph recognized his brothers immediately and had them in his power. He could avenge himself for what they did to him and all the pain they caused him. He didn't do that, but he also didn't reveal his identity at that first meeting. He wanted to see if they were the same men who threw him in a pit and then sold him off as a slave. They passed the tests Joseph put them through. When he threatened to keep Benjamin as his slave Judah made an impassioned plea to stay in Benjamin's place. 

At this point Joseph can't hold his emotions in any longer. He orders the Egyptians out of the room. This is a moment just for the twelve sons of Jacob. Through his tears he cried out "I'm Joseph! How is our father?" The brothers couldn't speak. We read that they were "dismayed." The Hebrew word can also be translated disturbed or terrified. All these years they thought he was dead. But here he is! And not only is he not dead, he's running Egypt! What will he do to us now? We deserve whatever Joseph dishes out for us.

But Joseph wasn't out for revenge. He had forgiven them long ago. Had he held a grudge the Lord would not have been with him and given him favor. Joseph had come to see that there was a larger purpose in all that he had endured. God put him in this position of power so that he can save his family! Slavery and imprisonment were the schools God used to teach Joseph humility and trust. Seven years as Pharaoh's right-hand man preparing for the coming famine established Joseph as a man of ability and integrity. And now, with his brothers before him, he realizes what God has done. He said to them, "And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt." His brothers did an evil thing, but God turned it into good!

Joseph grabbed Benjamin in a bear hug and wept. The others slowly realized that God had done something magnificent! They too started to weep and they had a group hug. Twelve brothers, together again, but this time in peace and harmony. They were witnesses to God's amazing grace. They deserved to die for what they did to Joseph. Instead God has saved their lives through Joseph.

Joseph sent his brothers back to Hebron with gifts and with wagons and pack animals. Go tell Dad I'm still alive and ruling Egypt. Load up your families and everything you have and come down here. There are five more years of famine ahead. I'll take care of you. When Pharaoh heard he was delighted and urged them to come. I love Joseph's last words to them as they head out: "Do not quarrel on the way!"

Jacob was stunned when he heard the news that Joseph was alive! We read that his heart went numb. The Hebrew word means to be faint or weak. He's floored and can't believe what he's hearing. But then when he saw the wagons and all that they brought back, he realized that Joseph really was alive. God was so good to let Jacob see his beloved son before he dies! They loaded up everything and headed out. On the way, the Lord spoke to Jacob in a dream. "I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes."

When they arrived Joseph brought them before Pharaoh. He gave them the Nile delta region, the land of Goshen, for their home. There they would find grass for their flocks and Joseph could look after them. In time Jacob died, but before that he blessed and prophesied over each of his sons. They took his body back to Hebron to bury him in the Cave of Machpelah along with Abraham and Isaac. This small family grew into a multitude and the nation of Israel was born. When Joseph's time to die came he ordered that his body be carried back to Canaan when they left Egypt. Goshen was not their real home, and they would return someday to the land God promised to Abraham.

Next week we'll continue our study with Moses and the Exodus of Israel from Egypt.

Two words, forgiveness and providence, scream out from this passage. Joseph's brothers had wronged him grievously. They ripped him from his father and caused him years of pain. If anyone had a right to be bitter over his lot in life it was Joseph. Instead of nurturing resentment he gave his life over to the Lord. Then there was no room for anger toward his brothers. God then was able to work with Joseph. He had gifted this young man with an amazing ability to organize and administrate. God gave Joseph favor with everyone and he was God's instrument for saving His people.

There is no room in our lives for unforgiveness. God doesn't allow us the false luxury of bearing a grudge. "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" is the only part of the Lord's Prayer that Jesus explained. He said, "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14-15) Jesus told Peter it wasn't enough to forgive his brother seven time. Seventy TIMES seven! The command to forgive is for our own good, and forgiveness is more about us than about the people who have hurt us. Nelson Mandela said "Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies." Resolve now to obey God's command and forgive those who have hurt you. If you just don't have it in you, pray that God will enable you to do what you can't do on your own. Forgiveness is freedom!

When I was a young Christian the story of Joseph left me in awe. God planned all of this and used the brothers' sin and Joseph's suffering to accomplish His will. When his brothers feared that Joseph would take his revenge after their father's death he reassured them: "Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." (Genesis 50:19-20) We call this providence, The Westminster Shorter Catechism defines providence in this way: "God's works of providence are, his most holy [a], wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions." (Q. 11) Nothing can stop God from accomplishing His purposes in the world and in our lives. He takes bad things and brings good out of them. As Joni Eareckson Tada wrote, "Sometimes God allows things He hates to accomplish things He loves." When things go badly for us, when we run into that "crook in the lot," we're tempted to think that God doesn't love us and that He doesn't care. Nothing could be further from the truth! He loves us more than we can ever know, and He is working in our lives for our good. There's a purpose for everything we go through. Nothing is wasted in God's economy. Rest in that great promise from Romans 8:28- 30, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."

I leave you today with this heart-searching song from Kevin Levar: