REUNION
45 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. 2 And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. 3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. 4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
vs1 Joseph becomes very emotional because of Judah's plea to take Benjamins place as a slave and how Benjamins enslavement would affect Jacob. His brothers had truly changed. All that Joseph had done through his plans of entrapment had proven his brothers now cared for their family more then themselves. He then instructs all servants to leave the room while he discloses his identity. This moment of reconciliation would have been a time of great emotion, in which those not part of all that had taken place could have appreciated.
vs 2 He cried so loud no one in the house could miss it.
vs 3 Joseph declares that he is their brother. His first question is what is so telling. How is Dad? Joseph and Jacob had a special relationship, and now twenty two years later, he knows that his father didn't abandon him. His dad thought he dead all this time. Joseph is seeing this moment quite differently than his brothers. Wait, what? You are who? Maybe there is some resemblance there. Oh no, this is very bad. They are confronted, not with an ambivalent ruler of Egypt, but with the brother that they meant harm. He has absolute power over their future.
vs 4 Joseph assures them that it is him, by recalling the very event that only they would know about. The very event that has them pooping their pants.
vs 2 He cried so loud no one in the house could miss it.
vs 3 Joseph declares that he is their brother. His first question is what is so telling. How is Dad? Joseph and Jacob had a special relationship, and now twenty two years later, he knows that his father didn't abandon him. His dad thought he dead all this time. Joseph is seeing this moment quite differently than his brothers. Wait, what? You are who? Maybe there is some resemblance there. Oh no, this is very bad. They are confronted, not with an ambivalent ruler of Egypt, but with the brother that they meant harm. He has absolute power over their future.
vs 4 Joseph assures them that it is him, by recalling the very event that only they would know about. The very event that has them pooping their pants.
GOD CENTERED PERSPECTIVE
5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
vs 5 Do not be sorry or angry with yourselves about what you did to me. They are very upset at the situation that they are now in. The amount of fear and regret that they are feeling is overwhelming. Something they did as youth twenty two years ago, that has been a source of smoldering guilt, has now come to collect. What will the price be? Joseph is the messiah figure in this story. He stands as the conduit for Gods will in this time. He has come to accept, that in all that has transpired, God has protected and directed his steps. God has used Joseph to preserve the very family in which many tried to get rid of him. If God did all this for them, he could not destroy them. He must do everything he can to preserve them. God will bless Egypt because of Israel, Egyptians will have many lives preserved. This is Gods will.
vs 6-7 Josephs dreams were a point of contention in his youth, now that gift that God gave him has been used to save them all. Jacob's sons will become a nation four hundred years later. This is the first chapter in a book that will close with the people of God being delivered from Pharaoh and Egypt by God. The irony is that God saved Egypt because of Israel, then He has to save Israel from the very people that He had saved.
vs 8 When Joseph had his dreams, so long ago, none of them could imagine what it would take for them to come to be. God has placed Joseph as second only to Pharaoh in the most advanced civilization on the Earth. Joseph was implementing a plan that would help the region survive a seven year famine. I would like to point out that, I believe that God has given us free will to choose. Had Josephs brothers chosen not to sell him or kill him, Joseph still would have ended up as second in command of Egypt. Satan's goal, since the garden, has been to stop his coming demise, by destroying the familiar line to the Messiah. When we follow his path, we will be unsuccessful, because God will accomplish His.
vs 6-7 Josephs dreams were a point of contention in his youth, now that gift that God gave him has been used to save them all. Jacob's sons will become a nation four hundred years later. This is the first chapter in a book that will close with the people of God being delivered from Pharaoh and Egypt by God. The irony is that God saved Egypt because of Israel, then He has to save Israel from the very people that He had saved.
vs 8 When Joseph had his dreams, so long ago, none of them could imagine what it would take for them to come to be. God has placed Joseph as second only to Pharaoh in the most advanced civilization on the Earth. Joseph was implementing a plan that would help the region survive a seven year famine. I would like to point out that, I believe that God has given us free will to choose. Had Josephs brothers chosen not to sell him or kill him, Joseph still would have ended up as second in command of Egypt. Satan's goal, since the garden, has been to stop his coming demise, by destroying the familiar line to the Messiah. When we follow his path, we will be unsuccessful, because God will accomplish His.
DEVINE PURPOSE
9 Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not: 10 and thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: 11 and there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty. 12 And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you. 13 And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither. 14 And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.
vs 9 Hurry up to my father before he worries one more day about Benjamin. Do not delay, you must get there while he still lives. When you get there assure him that his families future is bright because of his God. Tell him what all God has done to make this come to pass.
vs 10 God has provided some of the most fertile land in the region for our family to live on. I will still need to carry out my responsibilities in Egypt, but I will be here if you need me. Our way of life and our family will be delivered and sustained here.
vs 11 Jacob may be reluctant to move. Tell him that there are five more years of this famine. Everyone is asking themselves everyday, "how much longer can this last". God has revealed this to Joseph, and now his family can base their future upon it. Joseph has had this revealed to him. He did not know how long he would be a slave or a prisoner, yet he continued to work as unto the Lord. He maintained his faith and confidence in God through all his troubles.
vs 12 Look with your eyes and see the resemblance of Benjamin and me. Remember the dreams that I told you of all those years ago. Believe that I am Joseph.
vs 13 Tell Jacob that I have been granted the power to insure our family a future and security.
vs 14 Benjamin and Joseph acknowledge that they are reunited brothers. They are overwhelmed emotionally.
vs 15 They all acknowledge Joseph as their brother, and reunite. The brothers still have reservations about Josephs intentions to repay them. For now though, this is a path in which we will travel.
vs 10 God has provided some of the most fertile land in the region for our family to live on. I will still need to carry out my responsibilities in Egypt, but I will be here if you need me. Our way of life and our family will be delivered and sustained here.
vs 11 Jacob may be reluctant to move. Tell him that there are five more years of this famine. Everyone is asking themselves everyday, "how much longer can this last". God has revealed this to Joseph, and now his family can base their future upon it. Joseph has had this revealed to him. He did not know how long he would be a slave or a prisoner, yet he continued to work as unto the Lord. He maintained his faith and confidence in God through all his troubles.
vs 12 Look with your eyes and see the resemblance of Benjamin and me. Remember the dreams that I told you of all those years ago. Believe that I am Joseph.
vs 13 Tell Jacob that I have been granted the power to insure our family a future and security.
vs 14 Benjamin and Joseph acknowledge that they are reunited brothers. They are overwhelmed emotionally.
vs 15 They all acknowledge Joseph as their brother, and reunite. The brothers still have reservations about Josephs intentions to repay them. For now though, this is a path in which we will travel.
GODS INFLUENCE THROUGH GODLY PEOPLE
16 And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, Joseph’s brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. 17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan; 18 and take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land. 19 Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours. 21 And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. 22 To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment. 23 And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way. 24 So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.
vs 16 Pharaoh was pleased that Josephs Hebrew family had been reunited. Hebrew were not liked by the Egyptians, however Joseph is seen differently. It is possible that when Pharaoh elevated Joseph he also naturalized him.
vs 17-21 Pharaoh gives permission and commands that a caravan capable of carrying all of Jacobs family to Goshen be supplied.
vs 22 Benjamin will receive more than all the other brothers. He not only was his full brother, but did not betray him. Jacob may also understand this to be proof that it really is Joseph.
vs 23 Joseph sends Jacob his favorite steaks and side dishes.
vs 24 Stay out of trouble and don't stray from this path. You are to stay focused on your return.
vs 17-21 Pharaoh gives permission and commands that a caravan capable of carrying all of Jacobs family to Goshen be supplied.
vs 22 Benjamin will receive more than all the other brothers. He not only was his full brother, but did not betray him. Jacob may also understand this to be proof that it really is Joseph.
vs 23 Joseph sends Jacob his favorite steaks and side dishes.
vs 24 Stay out of trouble and don't stray from this path. You are to stay focused on your return.
JACOB, JOSEPH IS ALIVE
25 And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, 26 and told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not. 27 And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived: 28 and Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.
vs 25-28 Jacob sees and hears and believes. As unbelievable a tale as it is, the evidence is overwhelming. There are time that God will defeat Satan's lies with overwhelming proof, if we are willing to see it.