"I Am Joseph!"

INTRO:

“Good things come to those who wait.” We can certainly use those words tonight, for we have all been waiting many weeks to reach this part of our study on the life of Joseph. Tonight, we see the wonderful passage where Joseph reveals himself to his brothers with the emotion-filled exclamation - “I am Joseph!”

It’s been a short wait for us, but it’s been a long wait for Joseph. For years he wondered if he would ever be reunited with his brothers and with his father. However, even the possibility of reunion and reconciliation has come, Joseph must wait a bit longer. There are still a little bit of God’s plan that needs to play out before all can be revealed.

REVIEW JOSEPH’S STORY - focus on the “partial reunion” of chapter 43.

A Clever Trap (44:1-13)

For several weeks of this series, I’ve talked about how Joseph is a man who has forgiven his brothers, full or grace and kindness, but that doesn’t seem to be the case based on these verses. Why did he trap his brothers with the cup?

You may also remember me saying, several weeks ago, that I believe Joseph, with God’s help, had put together a very detailed plans of certain steps and actions with the ultimate aim of restoring this relationship with his brothers and his brothers relationships with God.

I believe that was we see happening here. It a part of the grand plan. Taken by itself, it looks devious and vengeful, but considered on a larger scale, it seems brilliant.

Let’s read the next section to see if I’m right.

A Genuine Confession (44:14-16)

We could spend a lot of time here, but I want you to notice 2 things. WHO was speaking and WHAT was said.

WHO? - Judah. Just hold on to that for a moment. We’ll come back to it.

WHAT? - “We’ve ALL sinned!”

I believe Judah’s confession, and through him, the other brothers as well, was a confession not of recent events, for they were innocent, but a cry of guilt that was almost 20 years old. “God has found out the guilt of your servants.”

I believe this was the first crucial test Joseph (and God) had for these men. Do they recognize their sin before GOD?

Thankfully, they passed the first test. They had gone through a change of heart that can only happen through repentance. Don’t believe me? What what happens next.

All for One, and One for All (44:17-34)

It’s time for test #2 - Are you so selfish as you used to be?

Joseph says, “You’re free to go. Only the youngest is guilty. Leave him with me to be punished and you can return home unharmed.”

Let’s take a look again at who did the response on behalf of the brothers - Judah. Why is this important?

Back in Gen. 37 we read that when Judah and the brothers say Joseph coming to meet them, they said, “Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him...”

Judah had cared neither for his brother or his father (we can lie to him!) but now, he puts his own life on the line for one of his brothers and pleads for the wellbeing of his father. So much has changed.

Now we can come to chapter 45, the revelation of Joseph’s identity to his brothers, and understand the great joy that Joseph felt in that moment.

“I am Joseph!” (45:1-15)

There’s not much more to be said. Just reading this account is so moving.

Joseph had been speaking with his brother, up to this point, through an interpreter, but now he cries out in Hebrew “Ani Yosef!” “I AM JOSEPH!” Can you imagine how started the brothers must have been!

Joseph wept, so much that is started quite the rumor around Egypt. He revealed himself to some very shocked brothers, calling them in closer for a better look and a confirmation of his identity.

He invites the father. He embraces his brother. All is well.

CONCLUSION/INVITATION

Let me close by drawing your attention to two little words in Joseph’s speech to his brothers. “But God.”

Joseph was a man who saw God at work in all He did.

That’s why he had found emotional and spiritual freedom from his trials. That’s why he was able to to discern God’s complex plan that would lead to resolution. That’s why he repeatedly experienced God’s blessings.

BUT GOD.