I Am Joseph

Make Known

This passage reminds me of a New Testament passage. I always like to tie the Old and New Testaments together. 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jn 20:14–16.

For two years Joseph has managed to keep from his brothers his identity. Have you ever wondered how this is possible, that Mary did not know Jesus? Or that Joseph was not known by his brothers?

English Standard Version Chapter 45

4 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.

What do you make of this statement? Joseph tells his brothers who he is and at the same time reminds them of their sin against him. This seems like a very human response doesn’t it. Jesus forgives as far as the East is from the West and does not remember but humans seem to not be able to forget even if we forgive.

English Standard Version Chapter 45

5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 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. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 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.

Yes you had a hand in sending me here but it was God’s work not yours. This is a discovery in Joseph first. When we need to forgive often times our focus is on how we have been done wrong. Joseph has grown greatly to be able to see the way God used him but also that God used his brothers in placing him there. Can you see how forgiveness started with Joseph? If Joseph focused only on how his brothers had done him wrong he most likely would never have been able to forgive them.

Now Joseph is asking his brothers to believe in him. Jesus is asking that of us today. Someone did you wrong but trust in me. The Father has placed me here to give you a bridge to forgiveness.

English Standard Version Chapter 45

9 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. 10 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. 11 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.’

God knows what your future is and He has a plan for you. I am sure Joseph needed time to figure it out, but he does doesn’t he.

English Standard Version Chapter 45

15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.

What is the significance of this last verse? If you understand the circumstances as to how Joseph ended up in Egypt you would know why this was a big deal. Joseph was originally going to be killed by his brothers but later was sold into slavery. Why? First of all his brothers were jealous of his spirit. The very spirit which blesses him.

How can God use you today to bless and forgive? Can you see how Joseph was blessed even though his life was not easy?