“Joseph Has a Family Reunion”

Preached 2/7/21

Joseph Has A Family Reunion

When we finished last week, we saw Joseph’s brothers kneeling before Joseph as his dreams had told him would happen.  And this is the point where Joseph can hold the secret no longer.  This is where Joseph finally spills the beans.  Genesis 45:1-3 (34)[48] – Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.
3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.

To me the most important verse in this passage is 45:7 – But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.  Joseph realizes what is going on at the highest level.  He knows, and has always known, that God is in charge and he has always readily admitted it and given God the Glory for every good thing that has happened to him.  Do you readily do that?  Do you insert God into your daily conversations and give him the Glory?

The response in Pharaoh’s palace was also great.  The Pharaoh was pleased.  So much so that he directed Joseph to bring his whole family down to Egypt and gave them a special place to live.

Genesis 45:16-20 – When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, 18 and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’
19 “You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20 Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.'”

Genesis 45:21-24 – So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. 22 To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes. 23 And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”

45:21 the brothers do as they are told and load up carts and donkeys to head out to Canaan and bring the rest of the family down to Egypt.  They know under Joseph’s eye they will be taken care of.

In Chapter 46 Israel has a dream.  Genesis 46:1-4 – So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
3 “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 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.”

Israel had a dream of God telling him not to worry and to go down to Egypt and settle.  In his dream why did God call Israel, Jacob?  Genesis 46:4 – “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.”  God’s promise was true.                 Bostwick UMC 2/7/21