Genesis 45:1-28

April 30, 2017

Lord’s Day Worship

Sean Higgins

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The sermon starts at 19:10 in the audio file.

Or, Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers

If Genesis 44 is one of the greatest displays of repentance in all of Scripture, Genesis 45 is one of the sweetest reconciliations. We might not believe it except for the fact that most of us have heard it so many times since we were kids. Bitter, jealous, angry hatred planted some twenty-two years previous is now plucked up as Joseph reveals himself to his brothers without returning resentful, offended, grudge-holding wrath on them.

Joseph had set them up by having his steward place his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. The brothers had been sent away, then the steward chased them down and accused the of theft. They didn’t know they’d been framed, but Benjamin had the cup. The brothers could have left their youngest brother as a slave to “the man” in Egypt, just as they had sold their youngest brother to be a slave in Egypt two decades ago, but they did not abandon Benjamin. They all turned back to Joseph’s house. Joseph confronted them and told them that they were all free to go except for Benjamin and Judah made an extended plea on behalf of his father, even offering to take Benjamin’s place.

Judah did all of the talking in the second half of chapter 44. In chapter 45, Moses records almost none of what the brothers said. The majority of the chapter is Joseph revealing himself to his brothers and then inviting them, along with Israel and the rest of the family, to come and live in Egypt.

To outline the story is almost like to dissect a tear; it’s possible and sort of misses the point. Yet for the torrent of emotion expressed by Joseph, it is his theological perspective that is most amazing. Without his theology, he would have had a lot of emotion, but it would not have ended like this.

Revelation of Joseph to His Brothers (verses 1-15)

I’m not sure which would be more surprising to the brothers, that Joseph was still alive, that Joseph was “the man” they had been dealing with, or that Joseph wasn’t angry with them.

His Perspective (verses 1-8)

Judah finished his appeal on behalf of Benjamin Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He’s already had a couple times when he had to leave the room in order not to show his feelings in front of his brothers. Now he doesn’t want to show his feelings in front of his attendants so he has them leave. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” And Moses clarified: So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. It is personal, and the privacy will be important as well.

And he wept aloud, he “gave his voice in weeping” (Hamilton), so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. Again, he’s cried at least twice before (Genesis 42:24; 43:30), but he pulled himself together before letting his brothers see. Now he wants them to see. And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” We can assume that his interpreter also went out, since “no one stayed,” so he starts speaking in their language. As Moses relates the story, there are no more tricks, no more delays, he just comes out with it. And immediately he asks about his father. Judah had just appealed to become a substitute in order to keep Jacob from dying, but Jacob is a key concern to Joseph.

But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. They didn’t know what to say. They didn’t know what to believe. The word dismayed could be translated “dumbfounded” or “stunned” or “terrified” (NIV). Sometimes the word was used to describe “paralyzing fear sometimes felt by those involved in war” (Wenham). “Their lives are clearly in the hands of the one they thought they killed” (Waltke).

So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Jos[...]