Genesis 45

There is ground for declaring that modern man has become a moral idiot.” Those words were published in 1948 on page 1 of Ideas Have Consequences by Dr. Richard M. Weaver, then Professor of English in the College of the University of Chicago. His book dropped like an atomic bomb on the post-war academic community and was called by one reviewer “a profound diagnosis of the sickness of our culture.” The message of the book was simple: If you don’t live according to the truth, then you must suffer the consequences.

Dr. Weaver should see the moral situation today! Not only has society rejected truth, but also it no longer believes in consequences. In today’s world, truth is whatever you want to believe, and if you believe the wrong thing, you don’t have to worry about the consequences. There are none. Since moral absolutes simply don’t exist, you can do whatever you please and get away with it. “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23) no longer applies. No truth—no consequences.

For twenty-two years, Joseph’s brothers had followed that philosophy and carefully covered their sins. They hadn’t told the truth and apparently had reaped no serious consequences. Furthermore, they weren’t afraid of being exposed because the only person who could witness against them was Joseph, and they were sure he was dead (Gen. 44:20). But the truth had to come out, both for their good and the success of God’s plan of salvation for the world. There are four scenes in this moving drama that begins with bad news and climaxes with good news.

Since this was an official meeting, other Egyptian officers were present, but now that he was about to settle a long-standing family matter, Joseph wanted his brothers all to himself. His interpreter, and perhaps other officials present, would understand their conversation in Hebrew, and everybody would be able to witness the brothers’ tears and expressions of love. It was time for family privacy.

Recognition (vv. 1–4). The simple statement “I am Joseph” exploded like a thunderclap in their ears and brought terror to their hearts. All kinds of confused thoughts suddenly began to tumble about in their minds. How could this Egyptian ruler know the name of their deceased brother? Why is he claiming to be somebody they know is dead? But if he truly is Joseph, why has he been treating them this way and what will he do to punish them for their sins? They were speechless. Every mouth was stopped as they stood guilty before their judge (Rom. 3:19).

But two things should have encouraged them: He was asking them to come closer, something Egyptians didn’t do with the Hebrews (Gen. 43:32), and he was weeping uncontrollably. This is now the third time Joseph has wept because of his brothers, but this is the first time publicly. He spoke to them again and not only identified himself as Joseph but also told them what they had done to him! The family secret was a secret no more.

Reassurance (vv. 5–8). Since Joseph could see his brothers’ mixed responses of fear and bewilderment, he encouraged them with words that came from a loving and forgiving heart. Yes, they had done wrong and were guilty, yet he told them not to dwell on their sins but on what God had done for all of them. God overruled the brothers’ hateful attitude and cruel actions and worked it all out for good. (See Joseph’s words in 50:20, which is the Old Testament version of Romans 8:28.) His brothers were responsible for Joseph’s sufferings, but God used them to accomplish His divine purposes.

The story of Joseph and his brothers encourages us to recognize the sovereignty of God in the affairs of life and to trust His promises no matter how dark the day may be. “There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand” (Prov. 19: nkjv). God sent Joseph to Egypt so that Jacob’s family could be preserved and the nation of Israel be born and ultimately give the Word of God and the Savior to the world. Without realizing it, Joseph’s brothers were helping the Lord fulfill His covenant with Abraham (Gen. 12:1–3).

Relocation (vv. 9–13). Since Joseph was “lord of all” (v. 8; see also Acts 10:36), why should his family live in destitution in Canaan? Five more years of famine were ahead of them, and it would be foolish to make repeated trips to Egypt to obtain food. Joseph instructed his brothers to hurry home, give the good news to his father that he was alive, pack whatever belongings they needed, and come to Egypt to live permanently. He promised to protect them and provide for them. The land of Goshen was a fertile area of Egypt where Jacob’s family and their descendants could live close to one another without fear.

The news was too good to be true, and perhaps some of the brothers exhibited skepticism and hesitation (Luke 24:41). Was this offer just another clever trap, like the hidden grain money and the “stolen” cup? But Joseph was speaking to them in their own Hebrew tongue and not through an interpreter (Gen. 45:12; see 42:23); and though they hadn’t seen him for twentytwo years, surely they could recognize their own brother’s voice and manner of speech. At least Benjamin would recognize his own full brother!

Reconciliation (vv. 14–15). It wasn’t a time for explanations and excuses but for honest expressions of love and forgiveness. Joseph embraced his brothers and kissed them, especially Benjamin, and they all wept together. Because hidden sin had been exposed and dealt with, and forgiveness had been granted, mercy and truth met together, and righteousness and truth kissed each other (Ps. 85:10).

But keep in mind that this reconciliation was possible only because Joseph had suffered and triumphed, and it’s a beautiful picture of what the Lord Jesus Christ did for sinners in His death on the cross and His resurrection. Like Jesus, Joseph went from suffering to glory, from the prison to the throne, and was able to share his wealth and glory with others. In his defense before the Jewish council, Stephen took pains to point out that Joseph revealed himself to his brothers “the second time” (Acts 7:13). This too is a picture of Christ’s experience with His own people Israel: They rejected Him when He came the first time (John 1:11; 5:43), but they will recognize Him and receive Him when He comes the second time, and they will weep and repent (Zech. 12:10—13:1).

“Afterward his brothers talked with him” (Gen. 45:15) is a simple sentence that speaks volumes in what it doesn’t report. When Joseph was a teenager at home, his brothers so hated him that they couldn’t even speak to him (37:4), but now that they’ve been reconciled and forgiven, communication is possible. We have every reason to believe that they apologized for the way they treated him, and certainly they updated Joseph on the family news, especially news about their father. The reconciliation of estranged brothers and sisters ought to lead to restored fellowship and joyful communion (2 Cor. 2:1–11). Joseph didn’t put his brothers on probation; he freely forgave them and welcomed them into his heart and his home.

You can’t help but contrast the way Joseph dealt with his brothers’ sins and the way King David dealt with the sins of his sons (2 Sam. 13—19). Joseph was loving but firm; he knew that his brothers must be brought to the place of repentance and confession before they could be forgiven and trusted with responsibility. David, however, forgave his sons without asking for evidence of real repentance, and his abnormal affection for Absalom almost cost him the devotion of his people.

Like Amnon and Absalom, David had been guilty of sexual sin, and this may have affected his ability to deal with their crimes. Joseph was a man of purity and integrity, and his approach to dealing with his brothers’ sins was much more mature and Godlike. It isn’t necessary for us to wallow in the mud in order to sympathize with the needs of sinners or help them clean up their lives. Jesus was the friend of sinners (Matt. 11:19; Luke 7:34) and yet was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” (Heb. 7:26).

The Egyptians whom Joseph had asked to leave the room probably lingered close to the door so they could be the first to find out what was going on and report it to Pharaoh. When they heard Joseph and his brothers weeping and understood why, they carried the news to Pharaoh who rejoiced that Joseph’s brothers were now with him. After all, Joseph was the savior of the nation and a “father” to Pharaoh (45:8), and the ruler of Egypt wanted to give a royal welcome to Joseph’s family.

Promises (vv. 16–21). Joseph had already told his brothers to relocate in Egypt. So it’s likely that he and Pharaoh had previously discussed this idea and that Pharaoh had approved. Pharaoh’s words not only verified what Joseph had promised, but also they promised even more. He promised them “the fat of the land” to enjoy and wagons for carrying their families and whatever goods they wanted to bring with them to Egypt. Because of Joseph, Jacob and his family had the great ruler of Egypt working for them and providing what they needed!

Gifts (vv. 22–23). The brothers had taken Joseph’s robe from him when they sold him to the merchants (37:23), but he gave each of them new clothes to wear. In Scripture, a change of clothes is often the sign of a new beginning (35:1–7; 41:14), and this was certainly a new beginning for Jacob’s eleven sons.

Joseph’s brothers had sold him for twenty pieces of silver, but Joseph gave Benjamin fifteen times that amount. He also provided the men with extra food and ten extra animals to carry the food and to draw the carts for their return to Egypt with their families. It would take a great deal of food to feed Jacob and sixtyfive members of his family as they traveled to Egypt.

Knowing human nature in general and his brothers in particular, Joseph gave them one final admonition: “Don’t quarrel on the way!” (45:24). During their first meeting with Joseph, Reuben had already expressed the Hebrew equivalent of “I told you so” (42:21–22), and Joseph didn’t want that to happen again. The matter had been settled once and for all and there was no need to discuss it or to try to fix the blame or measure the guilt. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Ps. 133:1)!

Revival (vv. 25–28). Jacob was happy to see his sons safely home again, especially Benjamin about whom he had been particularly concerned. But Jacob wasn’t prepared for the incredible report that (1) Joseph was alive; (2) he was the second ruler of Egypt; (3) he wanted the whole family to move to Egypt; and (4) he would care for all of them. How much good news can an old man handle in one day?

“Jacob’s heart fainted” (v. 26) literally means his heart “grew cold” or “grew numb.” He almost had a heart attack! The news was too good to believe, but he couldn’t deny the presence of the carts that Joseph had sent and the extra animals to carry the burdens and draw the carts. His spirit revived as he contemplated seeing Joseph and having his united family around him until he died. He was 130 years old when he went to Egypt (47:9) and died at 147, which means he had seventeen years in which to enjoy the family, especially Joseph and the two grandchildren he had never seen before (v. 28).

The brothers surely told their father the truth about what they had done to Joseph, and they certainly asked Jacob to forgive them for causing him twenty-two years of grief. It’s likely that the old man wasn’t too surprised at their confession, for he’d been suspicious all along that his sons carried a dark secret in their hearts (42:36). Seventeen years later, on his deathbed, Jacob would have his day in court when he would gather his sons around him and tell them the truth about themselves and God’s plans for their future (chap. 49).

The sovereign God has overruled the plots of sinners and accomplished His will for Jacob, Joseph, and his brothers. For the next four centuries, the Jews will be in Egypt, first as honored guests and then as suffering slaves, but through it all, God will mold them into the nation they needed to be in order to do what He wanted them to do.

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out” (Rom. 11:33).