| Previous Chapter |
* Index - Mendelsohn's Sermons on Joseph * Online Scripture text: Genesis 45 |
Next Chapter |
Introduction
Every so often in Parliament a matter arises of substance about reconciliation. Some backbencher wants an apology from the government and thus to appease his constituency. Every so often a march takes place over a bridge like happened here in Sydney a couple years ago, forcing the government to notice as tens of thousands of marchers declaring a requirement for reconciliation with the aborigines.
Reconciliation is a major matter in relationships of all kinds. People who otherwise are happy couples find themselves arguing through their lawyers in the courts, seeking divorce on the grounds of 'irreconcilable differences.' If you are given a tough assignment at work or you have some disease that is crippling and handicapping you in some way, they say you won't gain much personal ground unless you 'reconcile' yourself to it. So let's talk today about reconciliation, and use the story of Joseph, son of Jacob as the teacher on this major biblical and modern theme.
For those who are joining us today for the first (or first in a while) time, we have been studying the book of Genesis and seeing if it has lessons for us as 21st century people. And we are nearing the conclusion of our text, today reading from chapter 45.
Revelation of himself
Joseph the ruler of Egypt, 2nd only to Pharaoh, sends all his court officials, and interpreters and other attendants, out of the room. The atmosphere would have been stark, like being in a grand ballroom at the Hilton Hotel, and being met by John Howard or Tony Blair, and he alone. The brothers don't know how to react. They are uncomfortable in the situation. They've been stung before; they don't want to be caught out in another trap.
Joseph weeps. This is now the 3rd time he does so, only the 1st time he does so publicly or at least in front of the brothers. This has to put the brothers off a bit as well. Usually the composed leader of the nation would have surprised them with this out of control action.
But the crying was nothing like the announcement he then makes. "I am Joseph" (verse 3). Imagine the echoes in the barren room. Imagine the fear that arose in the brothers. They look at each other; they look at him. It has been 20 years since they last saw each other with recognition. The echo in the chambers of the room and in the chambers of their hearts would have been pounding and explosive as a thunderclap over a Kansas farmhouse just before and during a tornado. Their fears are massive, as they first wonder why this Egyptian is playing with them again, and how did he learn of their dead brother's name and situation. Speechlessness overwhelms them. The Bible says they were dismayed.
They were dismayed in his presence, or more literally, they were dismayed and troubled from his face. Rove would say, "What the?"
Reassurance of his love and grace
Joseph sees their grief. Thus he says in verse 5, 'do not grieve.' He knows he has dropped a bombshell on their lives. He knows he has startled them and sees them shaking in their sandals. He moves into reassurance mode. He tells them to come closer. Personal face-to-face contact is the way to do this revelation of himself. It's the way to deal with conflict. Joseph already removed the guards and officials; now he invites the brothers from around the desk, to come up close and personal. They approach him. He tells them of the history of the relationship they had, or better to say, didn't have. How they sold him into slavery, how he is the son of their father Jacob. He knows their character so well that when he later sends them away, he says, "do not quarrel with each other" (verse 24). They are a troubled lot and Joseph assures them of something greater than him, of something greater than their plans and concerns. Joseph tells them about God's plans.
And on the basis of God's plan, Joseph sees the hand of the Almighty. It wasn't the brothers who sold Joseph to the Egyptians. It wasn't the jealousy of the brothers that caused the separation. It was the hand of God and the sovereign plan of God in all things that got Joseph to be where he is. Listen in verse 8 how he uses all 3 terms for his office: lord, ruler and father.
Joseph does not diminish the brother's involvement at all. He reminds them of the sale of that century. That selling into slavery is no little deed in a mishpochah. It's tantamount to the deepest kind of injustice and ruin. And in the revelation of the person of Joseph, the 2ic also reveals the nature of the sale. He indicts them, clearly as the ones who did it, but he also refers to the Almighty as the greater sovereign who used them to accomplish his divine purposes.
The brothers didn't realize how they were going to fit into the Genesis 12 Abrahamic covenant. Most don't know how what they do will accomplish God's plans. But God had told our Father Abraham to leave his house and go to the land God would show him. God told Abraham that he would be a blessing to the nations and in relation to Abraham all nations would be blessed. Thus the nations, Egypt and the rest of the nearby kingdoms found their way to Joseph, great grandson of Abraham, to find food and thus blessing in this 2nd year of the famine, with 5 years to go.
The brothers were reassured of Joseph's love and grace, as they began to see again the plan and grace of the Almighty.
Relocation of the family
There were going to be 5 more years of need, as the dreams of Pharaoh had been interpreted. Thus why should Jacob and sons live in a place so far away and with such hopelessness of provisions? Joseph invited them to move to Egypt. But is the invitation of a king really an invitation or a requirement?
The brothers had already experienced his kindness in the banquet (chapter 43) only to be trapped by the steward. Now were they being trapped again? Foreigners struggle for years with the understanding of the culture of the new nation, and the boys would have been wondering what was really happening. Thus they hesitated.
We read in verse 15, 'afterward they talked with him.' They were sus and the situation was sus, and Joseph was sus. As we will read in a few weeks, they didn't really understand their being forgiven even to the end. Their cards, shown to all via videotape, are still trying to be moved closer to their chest. Exposure of their sins, which they had already admitted, is still uncomfortable.
Back in chapter 37, the brothers could not speak comfortably with Joseph. (Verse 4). They hated him because of his words (verse 8). Now it's the words of Joseph that are heard, finally heard, and now the brothers can speak. Their speechlessness did not begin in this chapter at the revelation of the ruler to be their long lost brother. They began to be speechless when he was 17. 22 years of speechlessness is evidence of the need of reconciliation.
He wants their dad to join them. He wants the house to be together, not only physically, but also in the forgiveness of the Lord.
Reconciliation and embrace as one
A man stopped by a flower shop to order some flowers to be wired to his mother who lived 300 kilometers away. AS he stepped out of the car, he noticed a young girl sitting on the kerb sobbing. He asked what was wrong, and she replied, "I wanted to buy my mother a red rose. But I only have 80 cents and the rose costs $4." The man smiled and said, "Come in with me and we'll get you that rose." He bought the little girl her rose and ordered his own mother's bouquet. AS they left he offered the girl a ride home. She said, "Yes please. You can take me to my mother." She directed him to a paddock and there was a cemetery, where she placed the rose on a freshly dug grave.
The man returned to the florist, cancelled the wire order, picked up the bouquet, and drove the 300 km to his mother's house.
Reconciliation requires presence, and affection shared. Note the brothers in verses 14 and 15. How they fall on each other's necks. Their embrace was one of relief and release. It was restoration and reconciliation. It was happiness and fear and worry and wonderment. It was all sorts of emotions
It wasn't a time for explanations and going backwards. It was a time for embracing (Ecclesiastes 3.5) and genuine expressions of forgiveness and love. Note the special love again to Benjamin, the only full brother of Joseph. Because they had dealt with their sins and grace had been extended, they could hug. Psalm 85.10 says, ""righteousness and truth kiss each other."
Returning and new beginnings
Reconciliation would be complete with the gifts and promises made to the family. The boys had stolen the favoured tunic from Joseph in his youth; now he given them new robes each. They had sold him for 20 pieces of silver; now he gives Benjamin 15 times that amount. He sends them home to get their father. He, who was known as father to Pharaoh, still longed to see his own father, and to be reconciled to him.
At the news of the reunion, Jacob's heart grew faint.
Or grew numb. Or in our version "was stunned." This is similar to a heart attack. But he looked outside and saw the collection of animals and carts of food. His spirit revived
In other words, it was the words of the son and their impact that gave Jacob life again. He and you and I are revived by the words of the rejected/ risen one.
One last comparison in our text. When Joseph reveals himself to the brothers (verse 3) he says "Is my father still alive?" At the end when Jacob decided to travel with the boys back to Egypt, he said, "it is enough that my son Joseph is alive." The word "life" chai, is the key and the ending of each phrase. It is the life of the family, the restoration of the broken that gives everyone pleasures. True pleasure, true joy is found in restored relationship with the Lord, and that's only found in the rejected/ risen one, whom we know as Y'shua.
Compare to Y'shua
We've been comparing Joseph to the Messiah each week, and today we do a bit more. We see in today's episode the Messiah figure, Joseph, bringing his brothers to their knees. And then raising them from them. Remember he had told them his story in chapter 37, 22 years before. They had rejected him then. And sold him as a worthless entity. Now he reveals himself to them "a second time" (Acts 7.13) and this time they bow, this time they get it. This time the brothers know the rejected one is the risen one. And it is in reunion with him, in restored relation to the Messiah that Messiah's brothers will find true freedom and peace and security. Jesus is the hope for the Jewish people, today and every day.
The Bible says " God was in Messiah reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. (2 Corinthian 5.9) Thanks be to God for this love of Y'shua.
Summary
Here are some things I see as we conclude, and you can add your thoughts to your own list.
Dear friends, we have eternal life due to the Saviour Y'shua, due to His love and forgiveness. His Resurrection has proven His new covenant. His teaching is great, and yet it goes well beyond that to His life and death. No amount of good works will give us enough information to help us overcome evil. No amount of information will help us overcome our own evil inclination. Only the messiah can repair our relationship with God, which will in turn give us pleasure with Him.
If you have never experienced this eternal and new life about which we are speaking, if you are yet outside the relationship with God, then pray with me. If you haven't yet been restored into fellowship with Him, do so today. Won't you pray this prayer and ask God to forgive you of your sins, whatever they might be, and come home to pleasure with God? Lord forgive me in the name of the Messiah, the Serpent Bruiser, Y'shua himself. Forgive me for all my sins, and make me clean again. Give me eternal life in the name of Y'shua and make me born again. I trust you.
| Previous Chapter |
* Index - Mendelsohn's Sermons on Joseph * Scripture text: Genesis 45 |
Next Chapter |