By Kenny Bruce
Pastor Emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Memphis
Focal Passage: Genesis 45:1-5, 9-11
The climax of the story of Joseph is when he reveals himself to his brothers.
I. The revelation of his person (vv. 1-5). Chapter 45 begins with Joseph’s meeting with his brothers. Joseph knew his brothers before they knew him. He recognized them, but they didn’t recognize him. Before we were converted we did not know Jesus, but He knew us from our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:15). Like Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, Jesus revealed Himself to us.
The secret sin of selling Joseph to the Ishmaelite caravan was now revealed as the brothers stood before him. We, too, may sometimes hide our sin from others. If we don’t repent Jesus will expose it, if not openly in this life, then at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Another parallel between Joseph and Jesus is that he loved his brothers when they did not love him. Even when he sent them back to Canaan to get Benjamin, he was acting in love toward them, although they did not realize it.
He loved them so deeply that he could no longer control his emotions. Before his attendants, he cried out, “Have everyone go out from me” (v. 1). As he then revealed himself to his brothers. He wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard (v. 2).
Joseph’s tears were tears of joy that the estrangement between himself and his brothers was over. His brothers, however, were terrified (v. 3). They had fallen into the hands of the one they had wronged, and he had absolute power.
When the conviction of sin comes to the heart of a lost person and he realizes the consequences of his sin, he becomes terrified of God’s judgment. That conviction leads to his conversion. Joseph told his brothers not to grieve over selling him. He explained that it was for the saving of life that God had sent him ahead of them. God also goes ahead of us and orchestrates our path for our ultimate good.
II.The revelation of his provision (vv. 9-11). Joseph set his brothers’ minds at rest by disclosing his plans for the future. He had already told them that he was brought to Egypt providentially. He now informed them that they should go to their father immediately and come back without delay.
Also, they were to tell him of Joseph’s position and that they would live in the fertile land of Goshen near him. They were to bring back with them Jacob, the children and grandchildren, their flocks and herds, and all that belonged to them. He reminded them that the next five years of famine would be severe, and unless they moved to Goshen they would come to poverty.
Joseph’s seeing everything that had happened to him as having come from God enabled him to forgive his brothers easily. Donald Grey Barnhouse wrote, “To see God in all things, both good and evil, enables us to forgive easily those who injure us.”
Once we forgive, we are to extend undeserved blessings and promote their welfare like Joseph did. If we don’t forgive, we develop bitterness. When we forgive others, God forgives our sins. Relationships can move forward only with forgiveness. B&R