Story 69 Joseph Reveals Himself
When Joseph told his brother who he really was, they were too terrified to say a thing. So many years before, when he was defenseless and alone, they had thrown him in a cistern and sold him to be a slave. Now he stood there with the power of the world’s mightiest empire on his side. What was Joseph going to do next? They deserved death for their crimes! How would Joseph use his power?
“‘Come close to me,’” he said. Wow. Come close to me. What a breathtaking, beautiful picture of mercy and grace. What goodness.
When they drew near, he said;
“‘I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, don’t be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing or reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by great deliverance.
“‘So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. Now hurry back to my father and say to him, “This is what you son Joseph says: God has made me lord over all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me-you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’”
As Joseph retold the story, he was explaining it with the eyes of faith. He had learned to utterly trust God, even as a slave. God was powerful and sovereign, and everything that happened to Joseph had happened for a very good reason. God used the hateful jealousy of his brothers to send Joseph to Egypt. When the terrible famine hit, Joseph was already there to save the family of God. God turned their most evil plans into his own work of grace and blessing for them. What an amazing God he is! What a breathtaking strength in Joseph!
After explaining the story from God’s point of view, Joseph urged his brothers to get on their way home. He told them to go get his father and bring him back quickly. Then he threw his arms around Benjamin and wept. Benjamin embraced his older brother, and they stood there close, dissolving the distance of so many years apart. Joseph went around and kissed all of his brothers, weeping all along the way. God had taken a horrific evil and used it for good, and now that bright and beautiful goodness was bringing forgiveness and reconciliation. When Joseph confessed who he was to his brothers, his sobs was so loud that his servants heard him. They went to the Pharaoh and told him that his beloved servant was having a family reunion. The whole palace learned about it. The officials of Egypt and their king were pleased to hear of this amazing moment in the life of their faithful Joseph.
The Pharaoh told Joseph that his brothers were to load up their donkeys and return to Canaan, but only to bring the rest of the family back to Egypt. They had a personal invitation from the king himself! He promised to give them the best of the land when they returned. This gift was very lavish, but it was fitting. Joseph had saved the nation of Egypt, and this was the Pharaoh’s generous thanks. The Pharoah sent the brothers off with carts so that their distinguished, aged father and their wives and children would not have to trek the long road to Egypt on foot.
Joseph prepared the way for them, giving them plenty of food and supplies for their journey home. Each brother received a whole new set of clothing, but Benjamin received five sets of new clothing and 300 shekels of silver. He sent to Jacob a fine caravan of ten donkeys loaded up with the best things in all of Egypt. Ten more donkeys were burdened with all the grain and bread they could carry.
As his brothers left the city with this parade of abundance, Joseph shouted after them, “‘Don’t quarrel on the way.’” How he must have delighted to lecture his brothers! They had once quarreled about killing him, but now God had transformed them to a family of peace. They were becoming fitting ancestors for the mighty nation that would be a blessing to the entire world!
The brothers journeyed back to the tents of their father in Canaan and told him everything that had happened. They said, “‘Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is the ruler of all Egypt.’”
Can you imagine? Jacob was so shocked that he refused to believe them. It was far, far too good to be true. It was a blessing so far beyond his imagination that he couldn’t begin to believe it. It was much too much to hope for. But his sons continued to tell him all the details. They explained all that Joseph said. Then they showed him all the carts that Joseph had sent and the donkeys burdened with the beautiful things of Egypt.
Jacob began to let a little hope creep in. It grew and grew. As it began to burst magnificently in his heart, the bright, beautiful truth made Jacob come alive again in a new way. “‘I’m convinced!’” he finally said. “‘My son Joseph is alive. I will go and see him before I die.’” It was as if Joseph had come back from the dead, only now, he was ruler over the world!
Jacob, now called Israel, had his whole household pack up everything, pitch their tents, and prepare to go. They left their home behind them. The first place they had to go was to Beersheba. It was the place where Isaac had built an altar so many years before. Jacob had come to offer a sacrifice to the Living God. He was about to journey outside of the Land of Promise with the entire covenant family, and he longed for assurance from God that this was the right thing to do. In spite of all the glorious news about Joseph’s life in Egypt, Jacob’s ultimate loyalty was to the will of God. He would not leave the Land of Promise without God’s permission.
That night Lord came to Jacob in a vision and spoke to him. He said, “‘Jacob! Jacob!’”
“‘Here I am,’” he answered.
“‘I am God, the God of your father…do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.’”
What a faithful Lord! He calmed Jacob’s fears and reassured him that his presence and blessings would go with the family. His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was not in danger.
Think about God’s tenderness as he reassures Jacob that his beloved Joseph would be with him when he died. Surely this was a God of great goodness and compassion.
What a great caravan the household of Jacob must have been! Imagine the twenty donkeys, the eleven brothers with their wives and brothers all journeying together! Picture in your mind the carts carrying the women and children, all their animals herding along with them, the tents and silver and gold and all the things they had gathered as a family over the years, all moving off in the direction of Egypt. This family of nomadic people were heading for the most magnificent city in the ancient world. What did they talk about along the way? Were they excited? Scared? Curious?
As they moved along, I wonder if Jacob thought about all the children and grandchildren God had given him. Of Leah’s boys, Reuben had four sons helping him keep track of the flocks and protecting the family. Simeon had six sons, though one was the child of a Canaanite woman. Levi had three sons, Judah had five, but two had died because of their wickedness. Perez had three sons. Leah had also given birth to Dinah. From all of Leah’s children, Jacob had thirty three descendants as they journeyed to Egypt.
Of Zilpah’s sons, Gad had seven sons, Asher had four sons and one daughter, and Beriah had two sons. There were sixteen descendants of Jacob through her. From Rachel, Jacob had Joseph and his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim, and Benjamin who had ten sons of his own. There were fourteen descendants to Jacob through Rachel. From Bilhah, God had given Jacob seven descendants. Dan had one son and Naphtali had four.
God knew each of Abraham’s descendants by name. He counted each of them as valuable members of his covenant family and recorded them in the Word of God.
The Bible makes sure to tell us that the number travelling in the caravan equaled sixty-six, not counting the wives. But if Joseph and his family were included, then Jacob’s family numbered seventy. Seven is an important number in Scripture. It is a symbol of divine perfection. Ten is the symbol of completion. God had prepared the family of Jacob for just this time, so that the family of God would be complete and prepared for this new stage of God’s perfect plan for his people.