Joseph Reveals His Identity

Transcription

1 Genesis Lesson 28, Part 1 Home Study Questions Joseph Reveals His Identity Genesis One of the compelling features of the story of Joseph is the many ways that Joseph s character and life picture that of Jesus Christ. For example, both were saviors, in different ways, to many people. Keeping this in mind, pray for understanding as you study. You may want to jot down your own list and then compare it with our Commentary writer s list at the end of the Commentary. Don t miss Joseph s keen awareness that God is sovereignly directing everything in his life the trials and the triumphs. Isn t that just like Jesus? Days Two and Three Write God s Word for the week: Genesis 45:8a. It was not you who sent me here, but God. Genesis 45:1-15 Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers As a review, reread Genesis 44 before reading Genesis 45: a. Why does Joseph finally reveal his identity to his brothers? b. How do they respond to his revelation, and why? c. What thoughts must have flooded their minds at that moment? 4. a. What reason does Joseph use to reassure and extend forgiveness to these men who had treated him so callously? How many times does he repeat his reason/perspective? b. What do you think brought him to this conclusion?

2 146 GENESIS LESSON 28, PART 1 HOME STUDY QUESTIONS c. For deeper thought: How is this seeming contradiction an illustration of the relationship between God s sovereignty and man s accountability? (See Acts 2:23 for a similar illustration.) 5. a. Look back on a season of suffering in your life. How has God used it for good? b. How does faith in God s sovereignty and goodness change a person s perspective on suffering? c. How is this also an important factor in your ability to forgive those who have hurt you? 6. a. In what ways does Joseph demonstrate unconditional love and forgiveness to his brothers? Do they deserve it? b. How has God demonstrated unconditional love and forgiveness to us? 1) John 3:16 2) Romans 5:8-9 3) Titus 3:4-5 c. Do we deserve it? Day Four Write God s Word for the week: Genesis 45:8a.

3 HOME STUDY QUESTIONS GENESIS LESSON 28, PART Genesis 45:16-28 Joseph Sends Word to His Father 7. a. What does Pharaoh s reaction to the news of Joseph s reunion with his brothers tell us about his regard for Joseph? b. What does Joseph provide for his brothers journey back to Canaan? c. Why do you think Joseph is so generous? 8. a. What parting words of instruction does he have for them? b. Why do you think he was worried about this? 9. a. Considering Jacob s reaction in 45:25-28, what do you think it was like for Jacob to learn that his beloved son, who he thought was dead, is alive? b. Do you think Joseph s brothers disclosed what they had done to him? (See Genesis 49:22-23.) Day Five Write God s Word for the week: Genesis 45:8a. Genesis 46:1-4 Jacob Stops at Beersheba 10. a. Why does Jacob stop at Beersheba before he leaves Canaan for Egypt? b. What barrier to Jacob s peace of mind may have remained? (See Genesis 26:2-3; 31:3; 35:1.) 11. a. How does God reveal His will to Jacob that night?

4 148 GENESIS LESSON 28, PART 1 HOME STUDY QUESTIONS b. What message does He give Jacob at that time? c. What specific promises does He make? 12. For further study: What are some of the ways in which God reveals His will to believers today? (See Psalm 119:105; 143:10; James 1:5-6.) Has He used any of these ways in your life? Day Six Write God s Word for the week: Genesis 45:8a. Genesis 46:5-34 Israel s Journey to Egypt 13. Describe Jacob/Israel s reunion with Joseph. 14. a. What location has Joseph chosen for his family s new home? b. What is he counting on to ensure that Pharaoh will endorse this choice? c. Why would it be important for this emerging nation to live apart from the Egyptians? 15. a. Biblical scholars estimate that more than 2 million Israelites left Egypt during the Exodus 430 years later. Compare Genesis 46:26-27 with Exodus 12:37-38, 40-41, 51. 1) How large is Jacob/Israel s family when they arrive in Egypt? 2) How many Israelites are there when they leave? 3) Who will bring them out? b. How do the above passages illustrate God s faithfulness in keeping His promises to Jacob? (See Genesis 35:11.)

5 HOME STUDY QUESTIONS GENESIS LESSON 28, PART APPLY WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED Not only does the Lord keep His promises to Jacob, but also to his forefathers, Abraham and Isaac. Their descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore (Genesis 22:17; 26:4). Living in the 21 st century, we are in a position to see that God has preserved His chosen people as a distinctive nation. God ranks His promises to preserve the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob equal with His decrees making the sun to shine by day and the moon and stars to shine by night. He goes on to say, Only if these decrees vanish from My sight, declares the LORD, will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before Me (Jeremiah 31:35-36). Let Israel be a living example of God s faithfulness to keep His ancient promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. If He can do that, can He not also keep His promises to us? What promise do you need to hold on to today? May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). Lecture Notes

6 150 GENESIS LESSON 28, PART 2 COMMENTARY Joseph Reveals His Identity Genesis Joseph s delay in revealing who he is to his brothers must have taxed his patience. He had been apart from them for many years because of their callous rejection of him. It would have been understandable if he had confronted them harshly and rebuked them, but he did not. He was, like God, gracious and merciful. He had tested them and seen that, instead of abandoning Benjamin, they defended him. Clearly his brothers had become wiser over the years of separation. Joseph has now set the stage for the dramatic revelation of his incredible secret. He will identify himself and prove to be the savior of the brothers who had treated him so cruelly. I. Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers (Genesis 45:1-15) As Joseph s brothers again bow in his presence, he is overwhelmed with emotion. He controls his tears long enough to ask everyone but his brothers to leave. The Egyptians have no need to observe the reunion that is about to take place. As the last attendant leaves the room, Joseph begins to weep so uncontrollably that his household cannot fail to hear him (45:2). THINK ABOUT men who are not ashamed to cry. Joseph had proved himself to be a man who trusted God, who worked hard, and who was recognized as a man of great ability by everyone he served. He was undeniably a very capable administrator, thus it may seem surprising to observe how emotional he was. He was obviously a man skilled at leading men, but he was also a deeply demonstrative man; he cried without shame. Too often we teach our little boys to stuff their emotions to stifle their feelings with the admonition that big boys don t cry. Wrong! Big men cry. Many similarities between Jesus and Joseph have been observed. Though this one is seldom mentioned, it is certainly noteworthy. Jesus wept over the death of a friend (John 11:35); Joseph wept over being reunited with his family. Tears are not a sign of weakness, but of caring. Real men do cry and need not be ashamed of doing so. Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers and again asks about his father s welfare (45:3). They are so stunned that they cannot speak. The man who stands before them is one who, from their point of view, has been raised from the dead. If they had ever noticed the viceroy s resemblance to their brother, they had no doubt dismissed it as coincidental. Who would ever imagine a story so unlikely? How could their brother rise to the leadership of an empire?

7 COMMENTARY GENESIS LESSON 28, PART Their inability to speak is due in part to a rapid assessment of their own position before this man. They had done everything except plunge a dagger into his heart. The one they cruelly rejected now stands before them as a sovereign ruler with the power of life and death over them. In this respect, as in many others, Joseph prefigures the person and experience of Jesus Christ (see below). The brothers have experienced a great shock, but they will soon see firsthand an even more dramatic turn of events as they learn the meaning of grace. The consciousness of sins revealed causes the brothers to back away from Joseph. But he calls them near (45:4) so he can calm their fears as well as keep the Egyptians from hearing what he is about to say. Their eyes and ears have not deceived them. (Joseph was no doubt speaking to them for the first time in Hebrew.) He is the brother that they had sold into slavery. Though he could justly destroy them all, that is not his intention. He is treating them with gentleness and grace. Though they could never imagine this result, God has used their sin in rejecting him for good. Joseph s presence in Egypt and his unusual wisdom have worked together to save many lives (45:5). The famine that has already been so severe has five more years to run, but Egypt is ready. Heaven has used the unhappy events of 22 years ago to preserve the family of Israel. Many in Canaan will probably die of hunger, but the family of Israel will survive (45:7). THINK ABOUT divine providence again. Question: How did Joseph get into this position of prominence and power? Answer: God put him there. But how? God had to be orchestrating events and guiding not just Joseph, but all the people who surrounded him and who made decisions concerning him. Had the caravan not traveled the specific route it did, Joseph might have died in the pit where his brothers threw him. Had Potiphar chosen to order it, Joseph would have been executed; yet who knows what had happened earlier between Potiphar and his wife so that he was inclined to show mercy to the one she accused. If the cupbearer had remembered Joseph sooner, he might have been out of prison and back in Canaan by the time Pharaoh had his dreams. Amazing, isn t it? God writing the script and things happening exactly as they had to for Joseph to be in the right place at the right time to live out God s will for his life. It s definitely worth thinking about this story of Joseph when you feel like God has forgotten you, and your life seems to be going nowhere. Your life, too, is part of a larger plan. God is at work behind the scenes in your life, providentially preparing you for His purposes! It s sure worth thinking about. The severity of the famine means that Jacob and the family must leave Canaan at once. Because Jacob is aged and lives in the land God has promised, he will be reluctant to move away. Joseph specifies exactly what the brothers are to say to their father. They are to explain Joseph s high position and vast authority and to attribute it all to God s

8 152 GENESIS LESSON 28, PART 2 COMMENTARY work (45:9). Joseph does not insist that the brothers reveal their own guilt in the matter, though they no doubt do so at some point. As far as Joseph is concerned, dwelling on the past is fruitless. The future particularly the future of their father is his pressing concern. He has already made plans to settle them in the region of Goshen, one of the most fertile areas of the eastern Nile delta. This plan is urgently important, because God has revealed that they won t be able to survive if they remain in Canaan (45:11). Having instructed them about the message to their father, Joseph now turns to the priority of the brothers reconciliation. When Joseph left Canaan, Benjamin was only a small boy. Now Joseph embraces him as a grown man and weeps tears of gladness, no doubt mingled with regret for the lost years of being together. So many results flow from a single sinful decision! At the moment, however, Joseph takes great pains to show affection to the brothers who treated him so harshly. Afterward his brothers talked with him (45:15), and he no doubt reaffirmed his promise not to do them harm. II. Joseph Sends Messengers with Good News (Genesis 45:16-28) With Joseph s revelation of himself, the lives of the 11 brothers change in an instant. They find themselves in radically different circumstances. Before this day, they were subject to slavery and death; now they have access to vast wealth and resources. Before this, they were distant from the source of authority and power; now their family member is associated with royalty. Their changed circumstances picture those of Christian believers, who, upon conversion, find themselves in a totally new situation. Jesus Christ, the very Son of God, is now our brother (Mark 3:35) and we are co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), assured of sharing in His glory. Not only that, but also Jesus definitely has access to the power and authority of God the Father (Matthew 28:18). He sits at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us (Romans 8:34). The new status of Jacob s family is soon affirmed by Pharaoh himself. Because of his affection for Joseph, the ruler extends the finest hospitality of Egypt to his family. Pharaoh sends the brothers back with carts that will make the trip easier for their families and their father Jacob. They will enjoy the best Egypt can provide once they arrive (Genesis 45:20). The brothers receive a royal commission much like the marching orders given to the church by Jesus in Matthew 28: They are to take a message of hope and authority to a group of dying people. They are to give them the message and to show the evidence of its authority. They will not be left to their own devices in this effort. The king himself will provide lavishly for their journey and for their return trip (Genesis 45:23). Joseph advises them not to quarrel along the way (45:24). Because of the staggering events, they will be inclined to accuse each other, but Joseph insists that they lay aside such conduct. More important matters are at hand. They must report the truth of what they know with conviction and persuade Jacob that there is hope for his family. The brothers do so, and

9 COMMENTARY GENESIS LESSON 28, PART the effect on Jacob is remarkable. His spirits are lifted and he determines to make the long trip to Egypt. He must see Joseph before he dies. Perhaps at this point the brothers confess to their father their guilt in the disappearance of Joseph. Though not a requirement from Joseph s point of view he says nothing about it in his instructions to them the brothers must have longed to be free of keeping this guilty secret. Jacob seems to have learned the story before his death (50:17), and it would have been easier to explain things to Jacob at this euphoric moment than later on. THINK ABOUT forgiving and forgetting. The silence of Moses, our author, about the men explaining to their father that Joseph was still alive reminds us that some things that happen in families are so private and personal that they are better left unshared. As for Jacob, it may be that he was able to see the hand of God in the circumstances and to forgive his sons for their cruelty and deceit. Trouble often brings us closer to God. It appears that Jacob was able to hear their confession, forgive their sin against him and their brother, and release the whole matter without dwelling on it. God tells us to do that forgive and forget. What a help that is in mending broken relationships! Unfortunately, we too often get our archaeological shovels and start digging up dirt from the past. If we have really forgiven, we will not keep bringing up hurtful things that should be forgotten. Then we are able to move into the future with joyful expectation rather then getting mired in the mud of unhappy memories from the past. III. A Refreshed Israel Moves to Egypt (Genesis 46:1-34) Only one nagging barrier remains. Years before, God had warned Isaac not to go down to Egypt (26:2). Now Israel is doing the very thing that God had warned his father against. This question is certainly on Jacob s mind as the caravan travels through Beersheba. At this location, which had played such an important role in the lives of Abraham and Isaac, Jacob builds an altar. After he worships there, God speaks to him in a vision and affirms that Jacob s fears are groundless (46:2-3). It is God s plan for his family to move to Egypt, because there they will become a great nation. God s presence will go with them, and Jacob s descendants will return at the proper time (46:4). The family in its entirety and regardless of Pharaoh s instructions, all the family goods make the trip southward. The family members are named and numbered at this critical juncture. Of the direct descendants of Jacob there are 66. Adding Jacob to this number, as well as Joseph and his two sons, the family of Israel that settles in Egypt is composed of 70 people. Four hundred years later almost 2 million descendants will emerge to make the return trip to the Land of Promise. God is about to show just how faithful He is to His Word.

10 154 GENESIS LESSON 28, PART 2 COMMENTARY The climax of Israel s trip comes when Joseph rides out to meet Jacob along the way. The two enjoy a tender reunion after their separation of 20 years. Before Joseph leaves them in Goshen, however, he issues a bit of advice. He knows that when Pharaoh hears of the return of Joseph s family, he will want to meet them especially Jacob, the father of the remarkable man who serves as Pharaoh s viceroy. Joseph explains that when they meet Pharaoh they should expect him to ask about their occupation. Joseph will explain in advance to Pharaoh, that his brothers are shepherds, and when the brothers meet with him they should confirm this description. Since all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians (46:34), the Pharaoh will be happy to allow Israel s family to settle in Goshen. The territory is distant from any population center and is suitable for pastureland. What Joseph does not say, however, is crucial to the story. By living apart from the Egyptians, the Israelites will be able to maintain their ethnic and spiritual identity. There will be few opportunities to join Egyptians in the worship of their deities. Though Israel s privileged status will be lost after Joseph s death, they will maintain their most fundamental commitments to Yahweh and to each other. The nation that comes out of Egypt in Exodus 14 will be a distinctive people. IV. Parallels between the Life of Joseph and Jesus Christ Joseph s life anticipates the life of Jesus Christ in multiple ways. The New Testament stresses this point. Stephen bases his legal defense before the Sanhedrin in part on the life of Joseph. He insists in Acts 7:9-15 that it was only on the second visit after they had first rejected him that Joseph made himself known to the patriarchs. The implication: It will only be at his Second Coming that Jesus will be recognized by His own Jewish nation (see Isaiah 45:23-25: Romans 11:25-27). Such parallels are not accidental. Even minor details in the lives of key figures of Scripture point to Jesus Christ, the main focus of God s Word. There are probably more parallels showing Joseph as a type of Christ than any other man or event in the Old Testament. Let s look at some of the similarities: Both Jesus and Joseph were the long-awaited sons of their fathers. Rachel was barren for many years before God blessed her union with Jacob. God anticipated the birth of His Son before time was reckoned. Micah 5:2 states, out of you [Bethlehem] will come for Me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Both held a special place in the father s heart. Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age (Genesis 37:3). God the Father declared at Jesus baptism, You are My Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased (Luke 3:22). Both were predicted to be preeminent. Joseph s dreams as a teenager set forth God s amazing plan for his later life as a ruler in Egypt. Isaiah prophesied that the Son would reign on David s throne forever (Isaiah 9:6-7).

11 COMMENTARY GENESIS LESSON 28, PART Both were sent to their brothers with a message, but were rejected. Joseph went to his brothers with a message from their father and was thrown into a pit (Genesis 37). Jesus came to his brothers, the Jews, with the message of salvation and was crucified (John 1:10-11). Both were sold for silver. Joseph was sold to Ishmaelites for 20 shekels of silver (Genesis 37:28), and Jesus was sold by Judas for 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-15). Both were sent away to a distant place. Joseph went to Egypt and Jesus ascended to heaven (Luke 24:50-52). Both patiently accepted undeserved sufferings. Joseph languished in prison for many years. Jesus was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth (Isaiah 53:7). Both proved their purity and integrity when tempted. Joseph did not sin with Potiphar s wife; Jesus withstood Satan s temptations and never sinned (Luke 4:1-13; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Both were wondrously delivered from their afflictions and exalted to the right hand of authority. Joseph rose to power as second only to Pharaoh because of his miraculous interpretation of dreams (Genesis 41). Jesus miraculously rose from the dead (John 20) and now sits at the right hand of God the Father (Hebrews 1:3). Both acquired a bride with pagan connections. Joseph was given Asenath, daughter of an Egyptian priest, to be his bride (Genesis 41:45). The bride of Christ is the church which has been predominantly Gentile for the last 2,000 years. Joseph became a servant in the household of Potiphar. Jesus said, the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). Joseph was imprisoned with two offenders; he pronounced blessing on one, but judgment on the other. Jesus, too, was condemned with two offenders. He also pronounced blessing on one, but judgment on the other. Many more parallels exist, but these demonstrate the craftsmanship of heaven in the experience of Joseph. By his remarkable life, Joseph, a savior, turns our attention ahead toward his great-nephew (many generations later) and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

12 156 GENESIS LESSON 28, PART 2 COMMENTARY PERSONALIZE this lesson. The similarities between Joseph and Jesus are so striking that it takes more faith to believe they are all just coincidental than it does to believe that God deliberately planned them. Surely God was carefully preparing the nation of Israel to believe in His Son when He appeared. The climactic likeness of the two men is high drama. Joseph is finally honored, exalted, and bowed down to by all Egypt (representing the world) and his brothers (representing the Jews). In the same way, Jesus will be honored, exalted, and bowed down to when He returns in glory. At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9-10). In this present age, we have the choice of acknowledging His lordship and submitting to Him voluntarily. When Jesus returns, it will be too late to choose, too late to change your mind, too late to receive the gift of eternal life by believing He died for your sin and thanking Him. Everyone who has not believed and bowed before Him will be forced to bow, but then be banned from His presence forever. Have you chosen? To refuse to choose is to have chosen already. Dear friend, choose now to come to Jesus. Choose now, before it s too late. I tell you, now is the time of God s favor, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Day One Review: Joseph Reveals His Identity Genesis Write God s Word for the week: Genesis 45:8a. 1. Discuss some of the ways in which Joseph s life parallels the life of Jesus Christ. 2. Which of these is most meaningful to you today, and why?