“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Genesis 50:20 KJV

from Genesis 45, 46

Joseph could no longer control his emotions, and he ordered his servants to leave. Things on his heart for his brothers, he now was ready to share. His feelings over the years came out as he loudly wept. Then he began to tell his brothers who really was standing before them there.

“I am your brother, Joseph,” he said; and he asked again if their father was alive. But they couldn’t answer, for they were taken aback. He told them not to be grieved or angry with themselves for what they’d done to him years before–for God had His purposes behind their attack.

He said he was to go before them into Egypt to become lord over it, preserving the lives of many, for great deliverance from a famine’s blight. He asked them to come closer–to know that it really was the voice of their brother, Joseph, and that this “lord” was actually him in their sight.

So, God’s plan was ongoing; and now Joseph wanted them all to come to Goshen, for there would be five more years of famine before its cessation. He fell on his brother, Benjamin’s neck and wept. Then he kissed also all of his brothers, and there was weeping and conversing in celebration.

When Pharaoh heard that Joseph’s brothers had come, both he and his servants were pleased; and he then instructed Joseph on what to do. He said they should take Egyptian wagons on their journey back to their father in Canaan. Pharaoh would give them much before he was through.

He didn’t want them to be concerned about bringing all their goods, because the best of all the land would be theirs by Pharaoh’s decree. So Joseph provided greatly for their journey; and, in many things, gave more to Benjamin, who he was so happy again to be able to see.

Then the brothers traveled back to Canaan, bringing the wagons and donkeys loaded with gifts from their brother, Joseph, who was alive and not dead. When they told Jacob he was still alive, he was at first stunned and couldn’t believe it. But he finally believed because of the gifts and having heard of all that Joseph had said.

The spirit of their father, Jacob, was revived that day; and he rejoiced that Joseph was alive–and so highly esteemed, by an act of God’s own hand. Jacob made an offering unto God and received visions from Him in the night; and the things relayed in them would be exactly as God had planned.

P. A. Oltrogge

The story of Joseph will conclude in the next post.