Genesis 45

Life’s disappointments and failures must be seen in light of the big picture or they will consume us.  Joseph saw the big picture.  In v5 he urges his brothers to see it as well: God was preserving the lives of His chosen ones through 7 years of extreme famine.  But even more, God was preserving a posterity for His chosen ones (v7).  More than saving Jacob and his sons, God was doing what was good for generations to come.  He had told Abraham that his descendants would be afflicted in a foreign land for 400 years, but would come out with great possessions (Gen. 15:13-14).  Bringing His people to Egypt at this time was God’s way of putting them in the iron furnace (Deut. 4:20), the house of bondage (Ex. 20:2), where they would become a great nation.  So we must see the big picture, the picture of what God has been doing, and continues to do, in establishing His Son as Lord over all the earth.

This wonderful chapter, finally bringing us to the revelation of Joseph to his brothers, continues to speak Christ to us.  Consider all that took place in Gen. 45.

·        v1-4: revelation.  Joseph made himself known, a word yada referring to deep, intimate knowledge.  He had longed for this day, and Judah’s marvelous words in Gen. 44 made it clear that now was the time.

·        v5-8: reconciliation.  Joseph had earlier offered to let the brothers go home in peace, but without Benjamin (44:17).  That would not have been true peace.  Now he offers them personal peace (v5) as well as peace with their father.

·        v9-11: provision.  From his exalted position Joseph wants to care for his family in the best way.  Thus he invites them to Egypt where he can pour out fully his abundant blessings.

·        v12-15: reassurance.  Understandably the brothers are fearful, but Joseph assures them of his love so that they finally enjoy fellowship with him.

·        v16-20: blessing.  Added to this was the blessing of Pharaoh himself.  God’s goodness is always beyond normal, beyond what we ask or think.

·        v21-28: joy.  Joy comes to Joseph, potentially to the brothers (v24), and to Jacob, who had earlier thought all these things are against me (42:36).

This chapter gives us a picture of Jacob’s future descendants, the eventual nation of Israel.  They will yet be saved by God, a salvation that will first bring them to repentance and faith so that Christ might be revealed to them (Zech. 12:10-13:1).  They will finally mourn the One they have crucified.  They will know Him, He will reassure them of His love, and they will bow before Him.

It is also a picture for believers today.  For those chosen by God, when they believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, see Christ revealed in their hearts.  This was Peter’s experience (Matt. 16:17) and Paul’s (Gal. 1:15-16).  For every true believer it is said that God “shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6).  Have you come to know this One?  Are you growing in His knowledge and grace?  Are you at peace with yourself and with God?