Genesis 45-46

- We are in the last phases of the story of Joseph in Egypt and his eventual reunion with his family that he hasn't seen for over 20 years.

- So far we have seen that a great famine predicted by Joseph has brought even his own family to Egypt in search for food.

- Joseph as second in command was screening all foreigners and discovered his long lost brothers coming before him to buy grain.

- He does not reveal himself right away but instead sets in motion a plan to force his brothers to bring back his younger brother.

o He does this by accusing them of being spies and keeping one of them as hostage until they return with their younger brother as proof that they are innocent.

- In our last scene the book describes the second visit to Egypt by the brothers who along with their father's reluctant permission bring Joseph's younger brother.

- Once they reach Joseph he treats them to a fine meal and honors them in his home.

*This sets the scene for the reunion of these estranged brothers as Joseph reveals his true identity.

I. Joseph reveals himself - 45

- What Joseph had been doing was testing these men to see if there had been any changes in them.

o If they were the same selfish, godless, violent men, he could have them executed and save his younger brother.

o If they had changed, he could reveal himself and hope not only for a reunion but also for a re-conciliation.

- What he finds out is that they have changed:

o They were united among themselves.

o They were ready to sacrifice for one another (Judah ready to die).

o They were ready to admit their sin and accept God's punishment.

o They no longer bore any jealousy towards their half-brother but rejoiced at his favor at the hand of this Egyptian officer.

- Because of these things Joseph could no longer contain his emotion and need to reveal himself.

vs. 1-4 (READ)

- Even though he sends them out of the room, the servants hear (and later report to Pharaoh) the loud weeping of Joseph as he declares his true identity.

- The brothers were amazed (Hebrew word could be translated troubled or terrified).

- If they felt guilty before, they really felt bad now, but Joseph tries to calm them by asking about his father.

o Interesting to note that if this reunion had not taken place, the family would have eventually been separated and assimilated among other nations.

o It was this turn of events that kept them together.

vs. 5-8 (READ)

- Joseph wants to do four things:

1. Ease their minds that he is no longer angry or wanting revenge on them for what they did.

2. He wants to tell them what's happened to him over the last 20 years. Not only is he in charge of this food project but he has become an advisor to the Pharaoh and an important official in Egypt.

3. He wants to give God the glory by showing them that all of this was permitted by God to happen in order to show how great God is and to show how much He cares for His chosen people in preserving them.

4. Joseph needs to help them prepare for the five remaining years of famine.

II. Joseph sends his brothers home

vs. 9-15 (READ)

- Now Joseph shares with them the true urgency of the situation and tells them to bring his father and their families down with them.

o God had not permitted the people to leave Canaan before but Joseph is convincing them by God's great work that this was indeed God's will for them.

- He eventually will settle them in the land of Goshen in Northeastern Egypt, a fertile region about 900 sq. miles in size.

- After the initial burst and then serious discussion about plans, there is a second wave of emotion as Joseph, beginning with his brother Benjamin, hugs and weeps with each of his brothers.

- Each (except Benjamin) is forgiven each is reconciled in the arms of the other.

vs. 16-20 (READ)

- The king now learns of Joseph's family and offers his own approval on their immigration to Egypt.

- Joseph was the deliverer of Egypt and so the people and the king and officials are eager to help relocate Joseph's family.

vs. 21-24 (READ)

- Joseph provides them with goods and gifts to bring to Jacob.

o He gives even more to Benjamin and the brothers are not jealous.

o He tells them not to "fall out of the way" meaning not to be distracted, not to be troubled after they leave.

vs. 25-28

- The brothers must have heeded Joseph's admonition because there is no comment made about their trip back home.

- Upon hearing the news, Jacob is overcome by emotion but eventually he believes what he thought was impossible, that his son was still alive.

- The Bible does not say but in their attitude of repentance it may be that the brothers finally unburdened their story.

*Israel says "enough", he doesn't care about the details, he will see his son again and this is enough.

III. Israel in Egypt - 46

- All of his life Jacob has sought the Lord for his important decisions in his life.

- Even though Joseph has invited him and there is a great famine, God could end the famine and he could just go visit Joseph.

o Canaan is his home, the land that God has promised him and his future generations - and now he has to uproot and move everyone to an unknown land.

o He is overjoyed at finding Joseph but perplexed about leaving Canaan.

o God's will is difficult to determine at times.

vs. 1-4 (READ)

- It seemed that all the circumstances and "open doors" kept pointing him to Egypt and so Jacob packed up along with all the families and headed for Egypt.

- He stopped along the way at Beersheba where he had had lived with his father Isaac.

o It was the last stop along the way, the point of no return, before Egypt.

- He again offers sacrifice and prayers and God once again speaks to him and blesses and encourages him by telling him it's ok to go down and He will bless him there.

- In hindsight we can see some of the advantages for the Israelites to live in Egypt.

1. They would survive the famine.

2. They would be living in an advanced society and would learn many useful things for later on.

3. There was less danger of intermingling in Egypt than in Canaan. The Egyptians would not intermarry with shepherds and so the Israelites would be free to increase their people without pagan intermarrying.

4. Living in a foreign land would strengthen their bonds and force them to develop a particular culture to themselves.

5. They would be less likely to worship Egyptian gods and so the teachings of their patriarchs would remain intake.

6. A way to bring them together.

vs. 5-7 (READ)

- So in a very general way the writer describes the migration of Israel and his family and their possessions from Canaan to Egypt.

vs. 8-25 (DON'T READ)

- This section begins the important task of listing the genealogies of each son as they left the land of Canaan.

- Later on these records are used to determine who will serve at the tabernacle and where they will live in the land of promise.

o The lists go in order of wives with Leah's children listed first then her servant followed by Rachel and her servant.

- The sons, daughters and children are listed, even Joseph's sons (showing that the lists were compiled after this event took place).

vs. 26-27 (READ)

- The final tally that the writer gives here is that there were 70 people that came to Egypt.

o This doesn't represent the exact number counting all grandchildren etc., but is a representative number that includes the immediate family.

- 70 is a special number in Jewish history and theology (represents wholeness: 4+3 X10 (world + God X perfection)).

o 70 elders - Nu. 11:16

o 70 years of captivity - II Chron. 36:24

o 70 translators of Hebrew OT into Greek - Septuagint

o 70 members of the Sanhedrin

o 70 witnesses sent out by Christ - Luke 10:1

*These seventy represent the founders of the Jewish society and culture who went into Egypt as a family and came out 400 years later as a nation.

Lessons

1. You never know

- You never know what or why God is testing you.

o Joseph didn't know for 13 years why what was happening, was happening.

o His brothers didn't know why their lives were being put upside down - they thought they knew, but they were so surprised when they found out.

o Jacob didn't know why he was losing his family, even his life at a time when God was supposed to bless him.

- You never know why or for what reason God is testing you - but you're always happy when you pass the test.

*Be careful not to complain too loudly, not to lose faith too quickly, not to get mad at God too easily - cause you never know what He's going to do with you.

2. God will be there when you need Him

- God planned and prepared 20 years ahead of time to supply what Jacob needed even before Jacob was aware that he would be needing something.

- God knows the future, He knows the results of our decisions and even if He tries to influence us to make good ones through His word and Spirit

o He doesn't force us to make good choices

o He allows us to experience the results of our bad choices

o He also permits bad things to happen to us that we have no control over

- But in all of this He plans and works in such a way to be there when we need Him and provide what we need when we reach the point of need.

*Jesus says that our Father knows what we need before we ask Him, this is because He has been planning for our need long before we arrived at it - our asking is a sign of faith acknowledging this fact.

3. Always search for God's will before you decide

- Jacob had many definite "signs" that God wanted him to go to Egypt.

o His problem was that this seemed to contradict God's earlier promise to give him the land of Canaan and instruction to stay there.

- Jacob responded to the leading of the Lord with caution and prayer seeking the Lord's word and will to actually confirm this change in his life.

o Of course he finally received it at Beersheba when God actually spoke to him.

- We don't have God "audibly" speaking or appearing to us today but He still directs and speaks to us in particular ways so we can know His will.

1. His Word contains all we need for instruction, holy living and service - II Tim. 3:16; II Pet. 1:3 - we need to consult it.

2. The church provides direction, encouragement through its leadership example, teaching - ask elders, teachers, ministers, experienced brethren.

3. The Holy Spirit leads us through the Word, through His influence in our conscience and the opportunities we encounter in our daily lives.

· God does work all things for good - and the Holy Spirit is God who works these things out in our daily lives. Spend time in prayer and meditation.

4. Our judgment and experience used under God's influence helps us make wise and proper decisions. Use your best judgment and experience (parents, etc.).

- When we accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ in or lives through repentance and baptism, He directs us through His word, His Spirit, His church, our own conscience and judgment, in order to make decisions that will be in concert with His will and His plan for our lives.

*If we search for it, God will reveal His will for our lives in every area. He is pleased when we seek Him, and those who seek will find.