Joseph was from a classic dysfunctional family. Joseph’s mother had died giving birth to his little brother, Benjamin. Joseph had 3 stepmothers, 10 stepbrothers, and 1 full brother all living in the same house at the same time. Joseph was his daddy’s favorite – a daddy’s boy. One day, when the brothers were away taking care of the family business, the daddy sent Joseph out to take them some food. The brothers saw him coming and schemed to kill Joseph. But one of the brothers came up with a plan to sell Joseph to a band of traders headed to Egypt. They told their daddy that Joseph was dead.
One minute he is a seventeen- year-old boy with all of his life ahead of him and in the next minute he is a slave.
Joseph became a household slave and then was falsely accused of rape. He was thrown into prison and then forgotten. Forsaken. Framed. Forgotten. From 17-30. 13 years. No one would have blamed Joseph for becoming angry, bitter, and filled with revenge.
But God had plans for Joseph. The king of Egypt, the Pharaoh, has a dream. He finds out that Joseph gets insight from God to interpret dreams. There will be 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine. Josephs advises the Pharaoh to store the excess during the years of plenty to have enough for the famine. He hears, “Great idea. You’re in charge.” So, Joseph finds himself second in command of all of Egypt.
The famine hit other lands besides Egypt. And Joseph’s long lost family lived in one of those areas. They needed food. Joseph’s daddy had been informed that there was extra food in Egypt. So, he sent 10 of the brothers to ask for some food to take back home to their family. Jacob wouldn’t allow Joseph’s full brother, Benjamin, to go.
The 10 find themselves face-to-face with Joseph, the governor of Egypt. They didn’t recognize Joseph. He was 22 years older. He looked and sounded like a powerful Egyptian ruler. How could these brothers expect their little brother to have become “the man” in all the land? And the Bible says, “They bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.” They fulfilled Joseph’s early dreams.
1 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. Genesis 45:1
Joseph wants to reconcile with his long-lost family. It’s going to be emotional. Joseph didn't want to act in an undignified way in front of his servants and officials. He wanted to show self-control. Plus, these moments would be too sacred for anyone else to be listening. He longed to reconnect with his brothers freely in an intimate setting. In love he says to his staff, “Leave us alone.”
2 And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. Genesis 45:2
Joseph breaks into tears. This is a strong Hebrew expression for weeping. This is big time emotion being expressed.
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. Genesis 45:3-4
Joseph is not an unapproachable dignitary.
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. Genesis 45:5
Joseph says, “You don't have to beat yourself up over this stuff. Your sin has resulted in my good and for God’s glory. What has happened is part of God’s redemptive plan.” Joseph is seeking to alleviate their guilt and shame. He’s not minimizing their sin, their failures, their responsibility. But he’s saying, “I see now who is behind all this. God has been working all along to save us all.”
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. Genesis 45:6-7
Joseph says, “God sent me. This is really not about you guys and me. It's all about God and what God is doing. I have been sent here to save the life of our family.” Redemption is behind all this. So, Joseph comforts his brothers with the doctrine of the providence of God. God is in charge even over the sins of his brothers. It was God’s will to permit their sins against him. This why he can so freely forgive. He sees the hand of God. Joseph is not soured by resentment or self pity.
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. Genesis 45:8
Joseph did more than reveal his identity he revealed his perspective on what had happened to him. Notice the two words that change everything, “But God!” (v.8). Joseph says “you sold me but …. God sent me.” (v. 5). Seeing God at work in his life had prevented him from being bitter. He knew that God took the evil intentions of his brothers and overruled them for good.
9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry.
10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. Genesis 45:9-10
This land was called the Land of the Rameses. It was the best land around. Joseph is giving them the best when they treated him the worst. The land was suitable for both crops and livestock. So, he’s giving them the very, very best.
11 There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.'
12 And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you.
13 You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here."
14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck.
15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.
Genesis 45:1-15 (ESV)
The kisses and tears are a sign that the pain of the past 20+ years has been forgiven fully and freely. The relationship is cemented with the talking. Conversation happens maybe for the first time. There’s so much to catch up on. The rift has been bridged. A dysfunctional family becomes functional. For the first time, perhaps, they are talking with one another. God is doing exceeding abundantly beyond all ask or think.
This means that there’s hope for your family, your friendships, your ministry – wherever there’s conflict and hurt. God can take away the rebellion of your prodigal. He can transform the lack of communication in your home. He can heal the hurts. There’s hope. When we forgive, great good can come.
One minute he is a seventeen- year-old boy with all of his life ahead of him and in the next minute he is a slave.
Joseph became a household slave and then was falsely accused of rape. He was thrown into prison and then forgotten. Forsaken. Framed. Forgotten. From 17-30. 13 years. No one would have blamed Joseph for becoming angry, bitter, and filled with revenge.
But God had plans for Joseph. The king of Egypt, the Pharaoh, has a dream. He finds out that Joseph gets insight from God to interpret dreams. There will be 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine. Josephs advises the Pharaoh to store the excess during the years of plenty to have enough for the famine. He hears, “Great idea. You’re in charge.” So, Joseph finds himself second in command of all of Egypt.
The famine hit other lands besides Egypt. And Joseph’s long lost family lived in one of those areas. They needed food. Joseph’s daddy had been informed that there was extra food in Egypt. So, he sent 10 of the brothers to ask for some food to take back home to their family. Jacob wouldn’t allow Joseph’s full brother, Benjamin, to go.
The 10 find themselves face-to-face with Joseph, the governor of Egypt. They didn’t recognize Joseph. He was 22 years older. He looked and sounded like a powerful Egyptian ruler. How could these brothers expect their little brother to have become “the man” in all the land? And the Bible says, “They bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.” They fulfilled Joseph’s early dreams.
1 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. Genesis 45:1
Joseph wants to reconcile with his long-lost family. It’s going to be emotional. Joseph didn't want to act in an undignified way in front of his servants and officials. He wanted to show self-control. Plus, these moments would be too sacred for anyone else to be listening. He longed to reconnect with his brothers freely in an intimate setting. In love he says to his staff, “Leave us alone.”
2 And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. Genesis 45:2
Joseph breaks into tears. This is a strong Hebrew expression for weeping. This is big time emotion being expressed.
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. Genesis 45:3-4
Joseph is not an unapproachable dignitary.
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. Genesis 45:5
Joseph says, “You don't have to beat yourself up over this stuff. Your sin has resulted in my good and for God’s glory. What has happened is part of God’s redemptive plan.” Joseph is seeking to alleviate their guilt and shame. He’s not minimizing their sin, their failures, their responsibility. But he’s saying, “I see now who is behind all this. God has been working all along to save us all.”
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. Genesis 45:6-7
Joseph says, “God sent me. This is really not about you guys and me. It's all about God and what God is doing. I have been sent here to save the life of our family.” Redemption is behind all this. So, Joseph comforts his brothers with the doctrine of the providence of God. God is in charge even over the sins of his brothers. It was God’s will to permit their sins against him. This why he can so freely forgive. He sees the hand of God. Joseph is not soured by resentment or self pity.
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. Genesis 45:8
Joseph did more than reveal his identity he revealed his perspective on what had happened to him. Notice the two words that change everything, “But God!” (v.8). Joseph says “you sold me but …. God sent me.” (v. 5). Seeing God at work in his life had prevented him from being bitter. He knew that God took the evil intentions of his brothers and overruled them for good.
9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry.
10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. Genesis 45:9-10
This land was called the Land of the Rameses. It was the best land around. Joseph is giving them the best when they treated him the worst. The land was suitable for both crops and livestock. So, he’s giving them the very, very best.
11 There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.'
12 And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you.
13 You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here."
14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck.
15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.
Genesis 45:1-15 (ESV)
The kisses and tears are a sign that the pain of the past 20+ years has been forgiven fully and freely. The relationship is cemented with the talking. Conversation happens maybe for the first time. There’s so much to catch up on. The rift has been bridged. A dysfunctional family becomes functional. For the first time, perhaps, they are talking with one another. God is doing exceeding abundantly beyond all ask or think.
This means that there’s hope for your family, your friendships, your ministry – wherever there’s conflict and hurt. God can take away the rebellion of your prodigal. He can transform the lack of communication in your home. He can heal the hurts. There’s hope. When we forgive, great good can come.
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