Untitled Sermon (13)

Introduction

Last week we saw the final test that was given by Joseph to his brothers and today we see the climax of this dramatic tension. If you remember where we left off was Judah standing as a substitute for Benjamin. This showed a significant change in the life of Judah and was the final marker of true change.

That leads us to tonight where Joseph will reveal his true identity to his brothers and their relationship will be restored. More than just that though, Joseph interprets what has happened to him through the lens of Gods providence which we will talk about later. This interpretation shows how God has put him in this place for a specific reason and ultimately Joseph points us forward to a greater redeemer.

This climax to the drama we call Josephs life is a rich section that sheds light on so much of his life and points us to something greater so as we read be thinking about the entirety of his life and what all is said about it, especially in relation to God

Lets pray and then we can dive in.

Joseph Reveals Himself and Restores Relationship

Genesis 45:1–4 ESV

Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.

Joseph is so moved by what we read in the last chapter that he begins to weep and now reveals himself to his brothers. These brothers were speechless, they were struggling to comprehend what they have seen. Joseph then brings them in close telling them he is Joseph.

This is the big moment in the story and we see it is a very emotional one. Joseph’s weeping does not signal weakness though, it signals reconciliation. Here we see that reconciliation begins with grace. That is what we saw so many chapters ago and now it is fully played out. Joseph could have had them imprisoned and possibly killed but he exercised grace and gave them an opportunity to prove themselves.

Similarly our relationship with God is broken and he could have let us go and given us all the punishment that we deserve. Instead though he gave us grace and made a way for salvation, unlike this story though there is no proving yourself. He welcomes you freely and not by works.

Joseph Interprets the Past Through Providence

Genesis 45:5–8 ESV

And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

Joseph then does something amazing. Rather than condemning the actions of his brothers he declares that God sent him to Egypt to preserve life. Joseph looks back on his past and sees that God has been at work in each and every point.

Later Joseph will state this again in a summarized form but I think it is helpful to hear, it is in Genesis 50.20

Genesis 50:20 ESV

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

The brothers meant evil, God meant good from their actions. This shows us that God can use any person or situation to accomplish his purposes. Think about the death of Jesus. If Jesus would not have died then there would be no forgiveness of sins. God worked through the evil people that killed him for good.

What is going on here is what the providence of God. Providence is not just a city in Rhode Island, what it means biblically is the active control that God has over everything. His control over everything is what is called sovereignty but that does not imply action, providence is where he acts on that control to bring about his purposes. This is seen throughout the Bible.

Here in the life of Joseph he looks back through everything that has happened, both good and bad, and he sees that it was God working for his purposes.

Joseph Preserves the Covenant Family for the Future

Genesis 45:9–15 ESV

Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’ And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.

Now Joseph tells them to go and get their father and tell him that he is alive and that they need to all come down to Egypt. We see that there has only been two years of the famine so far. Joseph plans to put them in some of the best land so that they can continue their lives protected.

This is the reason that God worked through his providence to get Joseph here, to preserve life in the covenant family. This is the family that will become the nation of Israel and this is the family that Jesus will come through, they are all preserved by the actions of Joseph.

Without their reconciliation this would not have been possible. The more you look at it the more layers you see to the actions that God has taken to accomplish his purposes.

Joseph Anticipates the Greater Redeemer

Genesis 45:16–28 ESV

When the report was heard in Pharaoh’s house, “Joseph’s brothers have come,” it pleased Pharaoh and his servants. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan, and take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.’ And you, Joseph, are commanded to say, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. Have no concern for your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ” The sons of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. To each and all of them he gave a change of clothes, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five changes of clothes. To his father he sent as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.” So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. And Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

Here at the ending we see that there are provisions made for them from pharaoh himself, they have clothes and wagons for their journey. They are also told to not worry about their possessions because they will have the best of the land of Egypt. They then load up and go to their homeland and tell their dad, this revives his spirit and he says that he will go and see Joseph before he dies.

This ending anticipates something far greater than Joseph and it points us towards it. There are many of what we call types in the Bible and these form patterns all pointing towards something. Joseph is a type that is pointing us to someone greater, Christ. Consider the parallels between their lives.

Joseph was rejected by his brothers Christ was rejected by His own people

Joseph suffered because of their sin Christ suffered because of our sin

Joseph was exalted after humiliation Christ was exalted after the cross

Joseph saved his family from famine Christ saves His people from death

Joseph provided grain Christ provides eternal life

Joseph said, “God sent me before you to preserve life.”

Jesus said, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Joseph preserved physical survival. Christ secures eternal redemption.

Joseph reconciled a broken family. Christ reconciles sinners to God.

Joseph gave wagons filled with provision. Christ gives the Spirit as a guarantee of inheritance.

Joseph invited his brothers into Goshen. Christ invites sinners into His kingdom.

This is why the story does not end with Joseph.

It leads us to Jesus.

Conclusion

So as we close tonight let me ask you this, have you put your faith in Jesus? We are all in need of reconciliation between us and God, we need to be brought back into right relationship with him. This relationship that was broken because of sin. I also believe that God in his providence may have brought you here for just this purpose. God preserved this family so that Jesus could come and the life of Joseph anticipates this coming. There is a greater savior who did not just save grain for you but who gave his life so that you could be saved. If you have not put your faith in Jesus will you tonight?