“We know that all things work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
He can work wonders for His own, when He has surrendered men through whom to work.
Genesis 45
1 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.
2 And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.
3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
9 Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not:
10 And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:
11 And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.
12 And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you.
13 And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither.
14 And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.
15 Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.
16 ¶ And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, Joseph’s brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.
17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;
18 And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.
19 Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.
20 Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is your’s.
21 And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.
22 To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.
23 And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way.
24 So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.
25 ¶ And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,
26 And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not.
27 And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:
28 And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.
Genesis 45:1-4 – J. Vernon McGee
Genesis 45:5-12 – J. Vernon McGee
Genesis 45:13-28 – J. Vernon McGee
Genesis 45:1-15 – Joseph Makes Himself Known to His Brothers
It may be that we have here an exact representation of a scene which shall be transacted some day, when our Lord makes Himself known to His brethren, the Jews. The Apostle Paul tells us that ultimately all Israel shall be saved; and may not this be brought about, when He says to them, “I am Jesus, your brother, whom ye delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate”? Was not Joseph’s wife rejoiced by his joy, and will not the Church of the redeemed be glad when that great reconciliation takes effect? What a beautiful interpretation Joseph put on their act of treachery—“God did send me before you.” Let us always trace God’s plan in the malevolence and opposition of men. They could have no power at all, unless it was given them from above. Joseph supplied all their needs—wagons to carry, food to nourish, raiment to clothe, and greetings to welcome! —Through the Bible Day by Day
Genesis 45:5 – God did send me before you.
There was great delicacy in Joseph’s command, “Cause every man to go out from me” (v. 1). He did not want to expose his brethren; yet he wanted to say words which could not be understood by the curious courtiers. Then he made himself known, and said, “Be not grieved, nor angry… for God did send me before you.” This was not only a kind way of alleviating their remorse and sorrow, but was the standpoint from which Joseph was wont to review his life-course. It was his habit to trace the working-out of God’s plan, and the interposition of his Providence amid and through the malevolence and treachery of men (Genesis 50:20).
This was also David’s habit, who, in the cursing of Shimei and the revolt of Absalom, saw the evolution of God’s permissive purposes.
Thus also Jesus spoke, when anticipating the coming of Judas to betray Him. “The Son of man goeth as it is written of him” (Matthew 26:24). “The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?” (John 18:11).
It is one of the inexplicable mysteries of Providence that bad men subserve God’s purposes and unwittingly execute His plans. It is not for us to explain it, but to consider the perplexities and disaster which we suffer at the hands of evil men as being permitted by God for the furtherance of some Divine and hidden purpose. Paul’s prayer that he might preach the Gospel at Rome was fulfilled through the hatred of the Jews; and he went to Rome at the Emperors expense. We may comfort ourselves whenever the storm is high, that God is at the helm, and is making the wrath of man praise Him, the remainder of it shall be restrained. Yes, Joseph, God is sending you through that pit and prison: but there is a way out into sunlight. —Our Daily Homily
Genesis 45:16-28 – Joseph Sends for His Father
This is indeed an Easter lesson. It must have seemed to Jacob and his children as though Joseph were indeed risen from the dead. Hardly more startling were the appearances of the risen Lord than the news carried back to Jacob that his long-lost and much-mourned son was the prime minister of Egypt. Joseph had not forgotten his father. His one desire was to bring him to share his glory. For this he sent the wagons to transport the whole family to his side. At first Jacob was incredulous. It seemed too good to be true. But when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent, that touch of delicate thoughtfulness, in such striking contrast to the cheerless isolation and loneliness of the last few years, caused his aged spirit to revive. Let us talk of the glory of our risen and ascended Lord, and especially of His desire that where He is we may be also. Now let us thank Him that He is not only willing to receive us, but provides the grace and help of the Spirit to transport us thither. —Through the Bible Day by Day