Genesis 45:1-28 NKJV
45 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.
3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. 4 And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
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 to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine.” ’
12 “And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you. 13 So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.”
14 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. 15 Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him.
16 Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well. 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. 18 Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land. 19 Now you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. 20 Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ”
21 Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. 22 He gave to all of them, to each man, changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments. 23 And he sent to his father these things: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father for the journey. 24 So he sent his brothers away, and they departed; and he said to them, “See that you do not become troubled along the way.”
25 Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father. 26 And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” And Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived. 28 Then Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
What a conclusion to the week — Joseph’s revealing to his brothers of who he is (which left them speechless), and eventually that same revealing to his father, Jacob, who thought of him as being dead for a long time. Hear now, from the words of Valerius Herberger, how he so insightfully draws correlations between this event and Christ, our Lord:
“Dear Lord, Jesus, how beautifully You are portrayed for me here! Joseph said, “Come down to me; do not tarry,” (v2) “You shall be near me,” (v3) “There will I make provision for you,” Oh Lord Jesus… Joseph’s words remind me of Your sweet words. You also said, “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden; I will refresh you” (Matt. 11:28). Him who comes to You will not cast out (John 6:37). Oh, help me willingly to come to You and to bring a repentant heart so that I may be pleasing to You. Oh, help me not to tarry, not to delay or postpone my repentance, but to turn on haste from sin, to follow You with a bold faith, and to embark upon a Christian life, that I may be blessed, that is, that I may be with You.”
“Joseph kissed all his brothers and so demonstrated his love. Joseph’s heart, speech, and actions were all in agreement, for there was no treachery in him. O Lord Jesus, there is nothing false in You either. Your kind heart, Your comforting words, and Your gracious actions all agree perfectly. You kissed us with the kiss of love in our Baptism. You offer me the kiss of Your love in every evangelical sermon. You kiss me with grace in the confessional and the most worthy supper. Oh, help me sincerely to rejoice in this love in life and death.” (The Great Works of God, translation Matthew Carver, 435-39, CPH) Let us pray: Gracious Lord, help us always to keep our heavenly chariot ready. True repentance and conversion to You is the best heavenly chariot, and it has three chief parts, just as a chariot does: first and in front, remorse; in the middle, faith; and lastly, newobedience. Help us to sit in constant readiness, and when the last chariot of our dying hour comes, to climb aboard with Simeon to depart in peace and joy. Amen.