GENESIS 45 RECONCILIATION After Judah’s appeal to Joseph on behalf of Benjamin and his father Jacob, and with no self-centered appeal for himself or his brothers, there was really nothing more that needed to be said or done. The tests Joseph had put them through had finally brought about the change of attitude and heart needed for reconciliation to take place. The parting had happened and that could not be changed. But the hearts of Joseph’s brothers had finally changed, and even his own heart had to leave the past and move forward.
Now the time for reconciliation had come! Like in the parting, the hearts of all involved are exposed for what they were, so in reconciliation, a tenderness reveals the change of heart. Fears give way to tears. Distance gave way to the closeness of the embraces of repentance and forgiveness. The comparison of Joseph and Jesus is very evident here. Both were persecuted unjustly. Both were separated from their brothers for a while. Both forgave and restored their repentant brothers.
The relationship between Joseph was restored with the plain words, “I am Joseph!” He did not leave them terrified by a long pause to let their guilt sink in and become despairing at that revelation, but quickly added what he already knew was true. Giving them a point of relief and of common ground, he asked, “Does my father yet live?” The explanation he gave of divine sovereignty overruling their separation for over twenty years, was that God had sent him ahead of them, so they would be able to survive the famine.
How like our Lord Jesus he was, who came to make it possible for us to have eternal life and live with Him forever! Conviction of our sin against God was real. Our consciences made us stop and seek the Lord. The One who had already suffered for our sins before we even came to Him, was there to receive us when we finally came in repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He had already been crucified in our place and suffered the bitter consequences of our sin. He died for us fulfilling every legal requirement that our sin demanded. In His resurrection, He brought us into a whole new life.
Joseph’s brothers and their families all began a new life with Joseph and were spared the awful consequences of the famine. He told them he would provide for them so they would have all they needed because of his gracious provision. The joy of reconciliation continued and led to communion between them. The impact of this reconciliation was evident to those who had no part in it, but were affected by it, and could see the joy and power of it. In an unprecedented move, Pharaoh opened the land of Goshen to Joseph’s family without any hesitation. When the Sovereign Lord rules, even kings obey Him. This account of reconciliation is one of the most touching and beautiful illustrations of God’s grace that we read of in the Bible.
BLESSINGS FROM RECONCILIATION The Revelation, v.1-8. Reconciliation is able to take place when one who has been rejected is able to discern a change of attitude and heart in those who did the offense that brought separation. Brevity, reality, forthrightness and love are all part of what makes reconciliation possible. Hesitation and fear may be evident until the facts of the circumstances that led up to this are made plain. God was behind this event and all that led up to it. There was no reproach or demands made. The bigger picture of things as seen from God’s eyes was described and accepted. When we can see God working His will, and the reason for what has happened, reconciliation can then take place.
The Commission, v.9-13. Joseph’s position in Egypt gave him the authority to give directions and make things happen. He was not ashamed of his father or his brothers, nor did he lay any charges or complaints. When we know what needs to be done and can do it, or at least set about to make it happen, then it is our right and responsibility to take action.
To preserve unity and promote stability, security and safety, we need to make sure that all is provided. Nothing is trivial when it comes to restoring and maintaining the dignity, honor and respect for our Lord. We may not always be conscious of what is important, so to make sure very need is met, we pray, prepare and press ahead to the objective before us.
Encouragement for others to participate in a work may be accepted and acted upon when we can give a verbal explanation of the goal to be reached. If possible, visible evidence, like the wagons were to Jacob, add to the assurance that what is being proposed has already begun to happen. People are inclined to participate in something that is already started, not just talked about. Even more than just a tangible and visible project, is the spiritual and non-material elements involved that will have a lasting effect in life, and even eternal value.
The Reconciliation, v.14-15. Joy and open expression of relief and acceptance accompany reconciliation. Those responsible for failure, injury and grief will have enough remorse and personal hurt, that there is no need of going back over things that have been talked about and dealt with. There is a time to face and deal with a matter, and then move on without looking back. Promote good-will, not a rehash or “second-guess” of that which is past and done.
The Journey Back, v.16-24. What a difference the return journey from Egypt to Hebron was! The Pharaoh knew the kind of man Joseph was and he didn’t hesitate to welcome Joseph’s father and brothers because of his respect for Joseph. Courtesy is not out of style for those who appreciate God and His people. We need to be looking out for the welfare of others.
It is not always easy to accommodate to new situations and potential conflicts can arise if we are not careful. They generally are over some small matters, but it well for us to keep our eyes open for anything that can be misconstrued or may be a stumbling block to others. Those small things have the potential of marring fellowship with each other. When things in a new place are not what we are used to, it may take some time to fit in and accept those things that are strange or different to us. Look for those things that are positive and open new thoughts and vistas, rather that focus attention of the things that are different and if allowed to dwell on, will make us edgy and unhappy.
The Result, v.25-28. When things are not what we expect, there is a natural tendency to believe there is a hidden agenda, or something is not right about the whole matter. That is when we need unmistakable confirmation of the rightness of a matter. Jacob saw Simeon and Benjamin with his other sons, and he was satisfied. But he didn’t believe the words he was told.
It is reasonable to expect that there are proofs of a statement that at first seem unbelievable. Faith in what people say is far different than faith in God. When we believe God’s word, we are on the solid ground of tried and proven promises, as well as centuries of historical accuracy and fulfillment of prophetic words. We can go forward into the unknown areas of life, knowing that God is with us, for us, in us and is wanting to use us in ways we never thought of before.
The revelation of divine direction unfolds to us the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ like Joseph was revealed to his brothers. God has a purpose in life for every child of His. His love for us may not always make us feel good, but divine love conquers fears, blesses us and stoops down to use us frail mortal creatures for a purpose higher than we could have ever thought about. The method of divine revelation may be so foreign to us that we are not sure if we are discerning correctly what is happening. In the spiritual realm of life, much of what we know is very personal. It is hard to explain to others the confidence we have in God’s guidance to do a certain thing or go to a distant place. Devotion to Christ and a willingness to yield to what His word teaches us, is real to us even though it may not be to others.
The power of divine revelation is the assurance that our Lord is in control of everything. When we are conscious of God with us, our fears go away, our self-confidence fades into faith in our Lord alone to accomplish His goals for us. In grace, He gives us new ideas, new hopes and new courage so we don’t feel that we have to do what we know we are not capable of doing. Our trust and full confidence are in our Lord Jesus who has “all power in heaven and in earth.”
The outcome of divine revelation is God works in us to bring to Him that which He wants for His glory, for the benefit of His people and for us. God brought peace and reconciliation to Joseph and his brothers. He promised protection and guaranteed provision to meet their needs in the time of famine.
He does that for us in the normal course of life when we are hardly conscious of it, and He also supplies what we need in times of emergency.
There is given to us responsibility when divine revelation is given. We are to keep ourselves unspotted from the world. We are to tell others of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of sinners. We are to testify to the Living Lord Jesus who is coming again. We are to make known His position of authority as the Supreme Ruler of the universe and the Judge of all the earth. We are to make known to others that He receives any and all who will come to Him in faith. The kind of life we life, the attitudes we have and the consistency of our faith in our lord Jesus Christ is how we are able to let it be known to all around us, “Jesus is alive!”