JOSEPH SERIES: THE REVEAL

In Genesis 44, Joseph’s brothers passed the test, with Judah being their spokesperson sharing their true sentiments about their father and brother Benjamin. Feeling satisfied with their response Joseph who was overcome with emotions, revealed to them his true identity. Wanting this to be a private moment between him and his brothers, Joseph sent his attendants away. However, before he could tell them who he was, he allowed his years of pent up emotions to be displayed in a time of crying, after which he shared his identity and asked an important question, “I am Joseph; doth my father yet live?”

Since he talked to his brothers in their native tongue without an interpreter, at first, they were surprised and then terrified with this announcement. Joseph continued to speak to them and calmed their fears with words of truth, encouragement, comfort, hugs, kisses, more tears, and reassurance. Joseph realized his role was to preserve lives, and he shared this fact with his brethren; he told them, “And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.”

Meanwhile, the bible never revealed if Pharaoh knew Joseph’s history, but when he heard Joseph’s brothers was in Egypt, he was excited and happy for Joseph. He confirmed Joseph’s words to them about moving, and he invited them to move to Egypt, where they would be amply cared for while residing in Goshen, which was located in the easterly province of Egypt near the Arabian Gulf.

Following Pharaoh’s instructions, Joseph gave them wagons to transport their families back to Egypt and provisions of corn, bread, and meat to eat along the way. Additionally, he gave each brother changes of raiment; but he gave five changes of clothes and three hundred pieces of silver to Benjamin. His final admonishment to his brothers before they departed was, “See that ye fall not out by the way.”

When the brothers returned home, they shared the news of Joseph and his desire for the family to move to Egypt with their father. At first, Jacob did not believe their words; however, when he saw the wagons with all the provisions, he said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.”

As I did in the previous blogs of this series, I will end this blog with points that I think are helpful for all of us to remember:

1. Some family discussions and revelations should be done in private.
2. When emotions have been pent up for a long time, the final release of them can be explosive.
3. Priorities are revealed in conversations.
4. In God’s time, the full meaning of dreams will be revealed.
5. For His people, God has a plan of preservation and posterity.
6. You know you are free when you can love the people that offended you.
7. Sometimes your offender has difficulty accepting the fact that you have forgiven them.
8. Guilt can hold people in bondage.
9. When you are happy, people that care for you will be pleased for you.
10. Divine connections can benefit your future.
11. In your move, God can provide you with new stuff.
12. It is easier to blame than to take responsibility for your negative actions.
13. Move forward and don’t look back.
14. God can restore that which was lost.
15. When God gives you a Word it will come to fruition.