Genesis 45:1-8 Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, "Make everyone go out from me." So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. (2) And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. (3) And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. (4) So Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." And they came near. And he said, "I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. (5) And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. (6) 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. (7) And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. (8) 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.
Joseph can bear it no longer, he can no longer withhold his tears and
his joy, he must reveal his true identity to his brothers. Putting all his
servants out, he finally make himself known to his brothers, “I am Joseph!” His brothers’ reaction
is not one that we might have expected, for when we have not seen a relative
for a considerable length of time we run to embrace them, we receive them with
joy. The brothers are shocked, stunned, speechless, alarmed, afraid and
anxious. Not only is Joseph still alive, but he has risen to a position of
great authority, he can with a single command have then cast into prison, or
put to death. Was Joseph still angry and bitter about what they had done to him
all those years ago, would he now seek to exact revenge?
Joseph, discerning their fear speaks to them graciously, gently,
lovingly and kindly. He extends forgiveness, he acknowledges the wisdom and
sovereignty of God and he acts in great kindness towards them, not only giving
them many gifts and provisions, but also in seeking to provide for them in the
years to come.
This chapter is a highlight in the book of Genesis, and it continues
to reinforce many of the key themes of Genesis. God is the sovereign ruler of
all things, man may plot and plan, but God’s will always prospers, He is the
one that is in ultimate control. God is a God of faithfulness, what He
promises, He will perform. We have seen this to be true in the lives of Adam,
Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and now in the life of Joseph. What an
encouragement this is to us to know that we can entrust our lives into God’s
hands and find our rest and assurance in His promises.
Greatest of all, we are seeing that God’s plan of redemption is
growing, moving forward and coming nearer to fulfilment. God has taken a man,
Abraham and called him, to Himself, promising to make him into a great nation,
that through a promised Son, the whole world will be blessed. This promise
proved itself true through the birth of Isaac, whom God preserved and in time
blessed with two sons, Jacob and Esau. God worked powerfully through Jacob,
preserving Jacob’s life from his brother Esau and from Laban, God took a man
who had nothing except the clothes on his back and made him into a great and
prosperous family. But this family’s livelihood was threatened by a great
famine, would this famine destroy the promises of God and God’s plan of
redemption through God the Son, Jesus Christ? Joseph’s words make it clear to
us, “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.” Years
and years before the famine came upon the land, God was already at work,
preserving the life of Joseph from his brothers, from Potiphar and his wife,
and from the jailer. Throughout this time God was not just at work preserving
the life of Joseph, He was also at work in the hearts of Joseph and his
brothers, transforming and changing their characters. God was working out His
sovereign and perfect plan of redemption, one that could not be hindered,
thwarted, derailed or inhibited by man. Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt and the
preservation of Jacob’s whole family in Egypt brings us one step closer to
coming of Christ.
Almighty, sovereign God, we thank You
that You truly do work all things out in accordance to the purposes of Your
will. We thank You that is was a part of Your purpose and will to accomplish a
great salvation for us through Your Son. Thus we thank You that as we read the
pages of the Old Testament we see Your plan of redemption at work, moving ever
closer to its climax and fulfilment in the coming of Christ. We thank You that
as we see You at work, it encourages us to trust in You and rest in Your
promises, even though the future is unknown to us. You are a God who is
faithful and good, whose plans and will cannot be hindered, but shall always
come to pass. Amen.
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