The Big Reveal

We have to come to what we might call… the moment we have all been waiting for.

We are nearing the end of the story regarding Joseph and his brothers. A lot has taken place in the last few chapters.

Joseph, the favored son, had a dream that involved his family bowing down before him.

He shared that dream and it did not go well.

He is sold into slavery by his brothers. His father believes he is dead.

He is accused of sexual assault and placed into prison.

He is promoted to governor of Egypt and does well for the nation.

He NEVER stopped walking in the favor of God.

He was reunited with his brothers… and now… he is about to reveal his identity to them.

The brothers now stand in front of Joseph as the accused.

They are accused of steeling Joseph’s silver cup. Benjamin was in possession of it.

He had it… because Joseph placed it in Benjamin’s sack of food.

This was a setup from the beginning.

But this setup had moved Judah to take responsibility for his actions. And when he does… Joseph cannot keep the secret any longer. His compassion for his family can no longer be contained.

Genesis 45:1–2 NIV

1 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.

Joseph cleared the room… as he was about to clear the air. He did not want anyone messing up this moment so it was just him… and his brothers.

Now how awkward would this have been from the brother’s perspective?

They were pleading for the release of Benjamin when all of a sudden the governor clears the room and starts weeping beyond control?

Is this guy insane? Is he angry? Is he emotionally unstable? Are we about to die? Should someone get this guy a box of tissues?

What was going through their minds?

I very much doubt they anticipated what was coming next. Joseph, in their minds… was gone… either dead or so far removed that there was no way he could ever come back. They thought they were being judged for their actions (past and present) so what could this emotional outburst be leading up to?

So… When Joseph says in Genesis 45:3

Genesis 45:3 NIV

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.

It shouldn’t surprise us that… they are TERRIFIED at this reveal!

Why? Because they thought they were dealing with the governor of Egypt. Now they find out this guy is the brother they tried to dispose of!

Forget the accusation of being spies a couple of chapters back… Joseph knows these guys had done a terrible thing… and now he has the power to do something about it!

But Joseph did not reveal his identity to scare these guys or to punish them in any way… He was longing for this moment. He was ready to be reconnected with his family. Why? Because throughout all these years and all the trials… Joseph did NOT hold on to bitterness… He held on to the dream!

And in doing so… the door remained open for God’s promise for Joseph’s life to become reality. Joseph remained faithful… even in unfavorable circumstances… and God did the rest.

Now… be aware of something important. We read this story in a matter of minutes as we flip the pages of a few chapters. This took… YEARS of faithfulness. This took time. This required patience and faith.

We live in a culture that gives us instant satisfaction.

Fast food, next day delivery, instant communication… has us used to instant gratification. So when a moment… turns into a season… we sometimes struggle with the journey.

No one wants to experience a season of suffering, but they come while living in this broken world.

Even believers, who are called to live in but not of this world, will experience hardships. The key in making it through is found in faith - LASTING FAITH - that is not determined by your circumstance… but is determined by what you believe of God.

Do you believe that God is good… even when you experience bad things?

Do you believe that God has a plan… even when you go through chaotic situations?

Do you believe that God loves you… even when it feels like the world hates you?

Do you believe that God sees you… even when it appears that you have been forgotten by others?

GOD BECOMES REAL THROUGH OUR FAITH… NOT OUR FEELINGS. Our feelings will tell us one thing… our faith another.

This is why we must remain steadfast in what we believe… no matter what our circumstance tries to tell us.

Look at what Joseph tells his brothers in the big reveal.

Genesis 45:4–7 NIV

4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 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 does not “blame” his brothers for what happened… he instead praises God for His Providence!

“Providence, pastor? That's not a word we use very often. How does that apply to this story?”

What is Providence?

First off, let’s define this word.

Providence defined is divine guidance or care. And we can see the providence of God ALL OVER THIS story.

Now, it is important to note that if Joseph had adopted a different attitude or held on to bitterness… he may have missed what God had for him.

There are at least three aspects of God’s providence I want to talk about this evening.

Number one: Preservation.

By His power, God preserves, or maintains the world He created.

The Bible says that God’s preserving power is accomplished through His Son, Jesus Christ, who “is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). The power of Jesus holds together even the smallest particles of life.

So if the power of Christ is holding everything together… why does it seem like, at times, everything is falling apart?

Because of brokenness… because of sin. Because of the world’s rejection of God and Jesus.

The world stands in rebellion. It operates in rebellion. The sin it embraces works to undo what Christ is doing.

But God will ALWAYS come through if we remain faithful to Him.

Joseph went through a very difficult season because of the sins of others. They worked to tear down the dream that God had given Joseph.

They worked to undo what God was doing… but how many know God is light… and the darkness of this world will never overcome Him?

Joseph, although a victim of someone else’s sin… chose not to sin, and trusted the Lord.

Because of this, he walked in the favor of God AND God preserved the promise He had given Joseph.

Number Two: Provision.

Not only does God preserve the world that He created, He also provides for the needs of all the creatures upon the world.

My mind immediately goes to the words of Jesus in His Sermon on the mount.

Matthew 6:28–34 NIV

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

God cares for the flowers of the fields, the birds of the air, the beasts of the earth, and fish of the sea. Jesus makes clear that if God cares for these things… how much more do you think He cares for you?

The key here is what we run after. If we run after things, we will fall short. BUT… if we seek God first: His kingdom and righteousness… ALL WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF.

This is reemphasized in Philippians 4:19

Philippians 4:19 NIV

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

God truly is Jehovah Jireh - our provider. He provided for Joseph in his time of need… He will provide for you as well.

Number Three: Government

In addition to preserving and providing, God also rules the world. Since God is sovereign, the events of history happen only as He allows. At times, He directly intervenes to accomplish His purposes and to reveal Himself to people. God is the ultimate authority over all things.

Again, we must remember that while this is true, the world is currently in rebellion against God and as a result, it has become a slave of Satan.

But also keep in mind that there is coming a day when the devil himself will be thrown into the lake of fire for all eternity.

The enemy’s days… are numbered… but God will forever be! He governs this world… this (the Bible) is HIS STORY. And we know how this story ends!

Joseph knew how this season would end… not because he was in control… but because he knew that God was in control.

Joseph trusted the Lord as he was sold into slavery, as he was wrongly accused of sexual assault, as he was thrown in prison, and as he was forgotten by Pharaoh's official. On the surface… it looked like this was all the brothers fault… Joseph was a victim… and his fate was in their hands.

But Joseph knew that this was God doing hat only God could do. Look at his words in Genesis 45:8

Genesis 45:8 NIV

8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

The Twist in the Story

The message tonight is simply called the big reveal. And we started off by talking about Joseph and the revealing of his identity to his brothers. That was a big deal for sure… but there is an even bigger reveal taking place.

GOD WAS AND IS IN CONTROL!

From day one.. this was all about a dream given to Joseph from who? FROM GOD. And we saw multiple responses to what God had revealed to Joseph through that dream.

But ultimately, it all happened just as God said it would happen - the dream came true.

This journey for Joseph was not a mere set of accidents that happened to land him in the highest place of authority next to Pharaoh… this was God’s providence at work.

God moved in this way then… He moves in this way today.

The key is to trust in Him… no matter what.

Do you believe that God preserves - that Jesus holds it all together?

Do you believe that God provides - that He cares for you and your needs?

Do you believe that God Governs - That God holds all authority and is in control?

Then trust in Him. Place faith above what you feel and trust in Him.