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GENESIS 45
The revelation of God’s good plan in spite of the brothers’ evil intentions -- (DATE: After 1661 before Christ)
DISCOVER Genesis 45: Joseph saw his brother Judah, the perpetrator who had come up with the idea to sell him into slavery, and how he now was willing to bear this very same fate of slavery not only as a substitute for his brothers, but also for his father’s obvious favorite, Benjamin. This caused Joseph’s feelings to overwhelm him, and he could not help but cry. Sending all his servants and slaves out with one short command, he was suddenly alone with his brothers. Weeping loudly, so that the servants he had just sent out of the room could hear him, he then let his facade drop and he revealed himself to his brothers, who couldn’t believe their ears when this Egyptian official inquired about their father as his own. Joseph asked them to come closer and then recounted his tale since the day they had sold him into slavery. In this summary of his life Joseph confirmed to his brothers that it had not been them who had sold him into slavery, but rather that it was God who had sent him to Egypt, to preserve not only the life of his family now, but also many more lives. In addition he informed his brothers that the two years of famine were only the beginning, as five more were still waiting to challenge their survival. -- Thus he told them, because God had sent him here to secure a place for his family to survive, they should travel back to their father in Canaan. They should tell him to dismantle his tents and come to Egypt with all he had, where Joseph would look after them with all the might his status as the caretaker of Pharaoh’s land could provide. Knowing how hard it would be for his father Jacob to believe all this, Joseph pointed out that his brothers needed to convince him of the truth that he was still alive and had gained honor and power here in Egypt. -- When he was completely overtaken by emotion, he fell upon Benjamin’s neck to cry tears of joy, for they had the same mother. He also kissed all his other brothers, from the other wives of their father Jacob. It was only then that they were able to speak again. -- The news of Joseph’s reunion with his brothers was so great, that it quickly reached Pharaoh. As king of Egypt he was overjoyed for him, so that he went out to him and backed Joseph’s request to his brothers by his own command that he would welcome his steward’s family and would have them settle in the best place his land had to offer. He also provided chariots and additional food, so that when the brothers reached their home in Canaan, they could load the women, children and weak people onto them, so they wouldn’t have to delay in coming here. -- Joseph added fine clothes for his half-brothers and even more for his full brother Benjamin, whom he in addition gifted three hundred shekels of silver. As a special gift to his father, Joseph added donkeys, both male and female for breeding, laden with fine food and other gifts from the land of Egypt. So he sent his brothers off, exhorting them not to quarrel among themselves along the way. -- When this large caravan reached the home of Israel, the brothers told their father the joyous news that Joseph was alive and had become the lord of Egypt. After so many years of believing his son dead, Jacob of course didn’t find it in himself to trust their words. But as they detailed what had happened in Egypt, and seeing the rich goods they had brought and the chariots with them, his spirit began to trust. Thus he told his sons to stop their overflowing words, as he was convinced his son lived, and he would go to see him before death would take him away.
PRAYER: LORD, God of Jacob, we worship you and adore you for your wisdom and power to change the evil plans of men into a blessing for many. Joseph’s brothers wanted to eliminate him, but you kept him, blessed him and raised him to the pivotal task of securing the lives of countless people in a terrible famine. Through your goodness and holiness you alone have the power to change evil into good, and thereby reveal your mercy and love. Heavenly Father, you did something similar much later in your Son, who as Jesus was crucified outside Jerusalem as the King of Israel. The Jewish leaders wanted to eliminate him. But you changed their evil plans into the greatest victory ever, by conquering sin, the Devil and death, when you accepted the vicarious death of your Christ for our sins on the cross and when you raised him from the dead. We love you and thank you with all our hearts that you brought about such an eternal salvation for all who believe in your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
QUESTION 45: How did God change the evil, which the brothers did to Joseph, into a blessing for them and for many?