Recognition of the Hand of God Genesis 45 I. Introduction and review A. Two weeks ago we spoke about how Joseph had become a great man, without doing any of the things that other great men seem to do B. Also, in the preceding chapter, we saw how Joseph had unleashed his final test of his brothers spiritual condition 1. The test placed Judah in the forefront now as leader of these brothers 2. We witnessed important changes in these men, especially Judah: a. He had spoke to his father truthfully and with genuine respect b. He is willing to accept personal responsibility c. They had a perfect opportunity to abandon Benjamin to his own misdeeds, but instead refused to forsake him d. He even offered to substitute himself as a slave instead of Benjamin, that is his life in substitution for that of Benjamin e. He thereby practiced integrity by keeping his promise to his father, even when doing so worked to his detriment f. He has become sensitive to God s working in his life g. He confesses his iniquity with a broken and contrite heart [see 44:16] h. He was willing to act on the family s behalf instead of his own C. Joseph now believes it is time to reveal to his brothers who he really is D. How will his brothers respond to this revelation Page 1 of 8
II. The revelation of Joseph s true identity [Gen. 45:1-15] A. Joseph reveals himself in a very godly and intimate way 1. Joseph decides to do this in private, so he orders all others to leave the room 2. The Egyptians all leave but they don t go to far 3. This is a very emotional moment for Joseph 4. The inital reaction of his brothers is that they are dumbfounded and don t know what to say 5. Then the reality of the situation starts to dawn on them, and they become very nervous and dismayed a. Dismayed lb h bahal {baw-hal'} (1) Meaning: 1) to disturb, alarm, terrify, hurry, be disturbed, be anxious, be afraid, be hurried, be nervous 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to be disturbed, dismayed, terrified, anxious 1a2) to be in haste, be hasty 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to make haste, act hastily, be hurried, be hastened 1b2) to dismay, terrify 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to hasten 1c2) hastened, hastily gained (part.) 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to hasten, hurry, make haste 1d2) to dismay, terrify (2) Grammar: Stem - Niphal, it is the "passive" of Qal b. They also now know that Benjamin know s what they had done Page 2 of 8
when he had not before then c. Now their father will find out 6. Why did he call them closer? a. So he could speak without anyone hearing him b. The phrase is an intimate one c. Although Joseph appeared very Egyptian, how many men in the world at that time would have been circumcised, certainly no Egyptians B. Joseph, even in his emotional state, could read the dismay on their faces 1. So he sought to comfort them 2. What does Joseph tell them? 3. Even though they did it to him, they didn t do it to him, God did. 4. Joseph had been trained to see things from God s perspective a. three time he tells them it it was God who sent him to Egypt [45:5,7 & 8] b. If the brothers will look, there is no anger or vengeance in his heart, only love and compassion C. Lessons to learn at this point: 1. Joseph became a great man because of his attitude toward God first and his world second a. What are the evidences of that attitude b. When we are able to see God s plan in our location, we re getting the right attitude the right attitude Page 3 of 8
III. The trip home [Gen. 45:16-28] (1) It was not you who sent me here but God c. When we are able to sense God s hand in our situation, we re getting the right attitude d. Joseph gave God all of the credit for the position he was in and all that had been achieved in his life e. When we are able to accept the things that happen to us, that is the circumstances we face in life, as good, even when there s been evil invovled in the process, we re getting the right attitude A. Word of Joseph s brothers arrivals soon reaches Pharaoh 1. He helps make provision to bring Joseph s family down to Egypt 2. He promises them the best land and whatever they need [45:20] 3. Do you think that they left their goods in Canaan and traveled to Egypt without them? [46:1] 4. Consider what is the most valuable things you own? a. If you were to relocate would you want to take them with you? b. Would that be true if you were relocating in heaven? B. Do not quarrel on the journey [45:24b] 1. Quarrel z: gr' ragaz {raw-gaz'} Meaning: 1) tremble, quake, rage, quiver, be agitated, be excited, be perturbed 1a) (Qal) to quake, be disquieted, be excited, be perturbed 1b) (Hiphil) to cause to quake, disquiet, enrage, Page 4 of 8
disturb 1c) (Hithpael) to excite oneself 2. We should probably understand this word as instructing the brothers not to get agitated or perturbed as one would preceding a getting into a fight C. Do you think that as they traveled from Egypt to Canaan that they discussed how to approach their father? 1. What are they going to tell him? 2. They were direct and to the point 3. The most important goal was to get Jacob and the family to Egypt a. There were still five years of famine to face 4. Jacob at first is numb, and so taken off guard that he can react only in disbelief 5. But then the wagons and animals and gifts convince him of the truth of their message D. Jacob says that he will go and see Joseph (and his two grandsons) before he dies 1. He actually lives about 17 more years after going to Egypt IV. Some final Thoughts: A. It was of key importance to get Jacob and the family to Egypt 1. Joseph was going to have to rely on his brothers to do that. 2. So it was Joseph s job to empower them 3. Consider the qualities that enabled Joseph to empower his brothers a. A strong sense of security [45:4] (1) please come near to me b. A strong sense of identity [45:4] Page 5 of 8
(1) I am Joseph, your brother c. A strong sense of empathy [45:4] (1) don t be grieved or angry with yourselves d. A strong sense of purpose [45:5] (1) God sent me before you to preserve life e. A strong sense of perspective [45:6-7] (1) still five more years of famine (2) what are you going to do if you don t come to Egypt B. God working through his people to accomplish His goals 1. The information step a. To get Jacob and his family down to Egypt, they would need the right information b. In the time of the Patriarchs He spoke through people, now He uses Scripture c. The information in the Bible is all we need to learn of what God wants from us [Psa. 32:8] d. It is inerrant and infallible, but it is our responsibility to dig though it 2. The confirmation step a. God will confirm His plan to us (1) sometimes He uses people (a) (b) in Joseph s situation He used Pharaoh however consider people carefully Page 6 of 8
i) they should have shown wisdom in managing their own affairs ii) iii) iv) they shouldn t have any ulterior motives they should be on an equal spiritual plain there are other concerns (2) sometimes He uses circumstances 3. The application step a. This involves obedience b. Taking the steps to do what God has said to do 4. The confrontation step a. There will always be obstacles b. Satan is opposed to us doing what God wants us to do, so he will try and stop us c. Jacob at first didn t believe his sons 5. The inspiration step a. Words can inspire us b. Works can inspire us c. Worship can inspire us 6. The realization step C. Consider the description of Joseph s life in I Pet. 5:6-7 1. 1 Peter 5:6-7 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Page 7 of 8
2. What part of that passage do we tend to look to first? 3. What part of the passage is second to draw our attention? 4. But consider the first part humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God a. Did Joseph do that? b. Was there anything that touched Joseph and his life that didn t first have to pass through the fingers of his God Page 8 of 8