We read in the previous chapter, how Joseph left Judah explain how his father would die if Benjamin did not return with them, and how he was willing to become himself a slave of Joseph instead of Benjamin.
Upon the tests they had gone through, his brothers proved that:
They were humiliated because of the evil they had done to Joseph.
They always remembered him, and he was mentioned twice in the speech of Judah.
They respected their father.
They took good care of Benjamin.
And so the time had arrived for Joseph to reveal to them his true identity, and he therefore ordered out of his presence all his assistants, leaving him alone with his brothers.
We can imagine how they must have been stunned, listening to Joseph crying out in Egyptian, a language they probably did not understand, to see that everyone immediately went out, and then to witness Joseph weeping so loud that not only the Egyptians but also the house of Pharaoh could hear him, before they knew the reason for it. That hard and severe man changed in their sight and, after the first explosion of his intense emotion, he addressed them in their own language, saying, "I am Joseph, is my father still alive?”
The day will come when the Lord Jesus will reveal His identity to his brothers, the Jews.When He came for the first time he came to His own and His own received him not (John 1: 11). Instead, they handed him over to be crucified. But when He comes for the second time, He will make Himself known to His people,"and one will say to him, 'What are these wounds between your arms?' Then He will answer, 'Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.' "(Zechariah 13: 6).
"In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness” (Zechariah 13: 1). It will be a meeting between the Lord Jesus and his brothers.The scene viewed by the brothers of Joseph is just a glimpse of how wonderful and terrible that day will be.
Joseph's brothers were terrified: they were held by the brother who they had hated, sought to kill, and finally sold as a slave about twenty years ago. Would he seek revenge now? They were afraid to open their mouth to speak.
But though from the human point of view it would be natural to expect Joseph to seize the opportunity to exact justice on his brothers, he did not do so: Joseph could see, over all events, the sovereign hand of God. The divine plan was unravelling and he realized that, by God's providence, he was now in the right place to save his father´s family. It would not have survived if it stayed in the land of Canaan.
Seeing this, Joseph told his brothers to hurry and to bring over his father, his family and everything they possessed, to dwell in the land of Goshen. The land of Goshen was on the east of the Nile, and apparently not far from the royal residence, a fertile area with a central valley of about 64 km long and it was at that time “the best of the land” (chapter 47:6 and 11) though it is now a desert.
Joseph's brothers remained stunned and speechless after his astounding revelation and only managed to speak again after he showed his special affection for Benjamin, then hugged and kissed every one of them.
The news then spread: the bustle and noise had been such that Pharaoh was sure to enquire the cause of it and then he was told that Joseph's brothers had come.
Both Pharaoh and his officials were pleased with the news, because Joseph was obviously very well liked by his excellent character, integrity and piety, and they sympathized with the joy that he had expressed so loudly. They certainly hoped that the rest of his family was good like him, perhaps unaware of what they had done previously.
The Pharaoh, like Joseph, sent them to fetch their father and their families and to come to him because he would give them the best of Egypt and plenty of food. He also gave them carts to bring their children and wives, the best passenger vehicles of that time, and told them not to be concerned about their goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt was theirs.He was generous with them on account of Joseph.
Joseph dismissed his brothers giving them carts, provisions for the journey and changes of garments, but to Benjamin he gave five changes of garments and three hundred pieces of silver. He also sent to his father “ten asses loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female asses loaded with grain, bread and food for his father for the journey”. He warned them not to quarrel on the way! He had forgiven them when he saw the change in their character, but did not want their new wealth to cause them to return to their old bad habits. It also reminds us that we are forgiven for our sin before God, and we should also be ready to forgive one another.
When they told old Jacob (already 130 years old) that Joseph was still alive and was ruler of the whole land of Egypt, he almost had a heart attack. He could not believe it at first, but when he heard them telling him what Joseph had revealed to them (could they now admit how they had been responsible for Joseph´s going to Egypt?), and showed him all that Joseph had sent him, including the carts, he had to accept the facts, and began to show some enthusiasm.
Jacob did not expect to live much longer (he lived for another 17 years), and would still have the great joy of seeing his son Joseph once more before dying. Maybe he thought about returning to Canaan after his visit to Egypt and the famine was over, but in the end he stayed and died there, but was buried in Canaan, as was his desire (chapter 49:29-33).
To recapitulate, we see that although Joseph's brothers had wanted to get rid of him, God used their evil actions to fulfil His plan. He sent Joseph ahead to preserve their lives, to save Egypt, and to pave the way for the emergence of the nation of Israel.
God is sovereign, and His plans are not subject to human actions.
When someone intends to do evil against us, let us remember that het is only an instrument in God's hands. As Joseph said to his brothers, “you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Chapter 50:20).
Joseph was rejected, kidnapped, enslaved and imprisoned. Despite this, he forgave his brothers and allowed them to participate in his prosperity. This is a picture of how God forgives us and blesses us despite our sin against him.
Jacob had difficulty in accepting the good news about Joseph. Also many people have difficulty accepting the good news of salvation only through faith in Christ. Never let the doubts take away from us the joy in knowing that we are participants of the many promises God makes to His people in His Word.
1 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, "Make everyone go out from me!" So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
2 And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.
3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph; does my father still live?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence.
4 And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.
5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.
6 For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.
7 And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
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 to me, you and your children, your children's children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have.
11 There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine." '
12 "And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you.
13 So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here."
14 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.
15 Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him.
16 Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, "Joseph's brothers have come." So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well.
17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Say to your brothers, 'Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan.
18 Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.
19 Now you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come.
20 Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.' "
21 Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey.
22 He gave to all of them, to each man, changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments.
23 And he sent to his father these things: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father for the journey.
24 So he sent his brothers away, and they departed; and he said to them, "See that you do not become troubled along the way."
25 Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father.
26 And they told him, saying, "Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt." And Jacob's heart stood still, because he did not believe them.
27 But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.
28 Then Israel said, "It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."
Genesis chapter 45