Give it All to God
a commentary on Genesis 45
Welcome back to another Biblit! If you remember from last week when we read Genesis 44, it ended with a cliffhanger. We witnessed Judah give this amazing speech, begging for Benjamin’s freedom in return for his own life. Today, we get to see Joseph’s response as we jump into this commentary on Genesis 45.
Context
To Joseph’s brothers, this is a very grave moment. They are distraught over the thought of returning home to Jacob without Benjamin. However, in Joseph’s eyes, these are his brothers. He is overwhelmed when he sees how much God has changed their hearts.
The chapter opens and Joseph is driven into this deep emotional state after Judah’s speech. He cannot control himself any longer and reveals that he is Joseph, their long lost brother.
Woa! It’s all out in the open now!
The brothers are flabbergasted and stand speechless. Joseph repeats who he is one more time and proceeds to ask about their father. The brothers still cannot bear the reality. This is their brother whom they plotted to kill and sold into slavery. They were wicked towards him; this was a sin they all most likely buried deep down and never gave the light of day again. Their hearts had changed, but their past had not.
The Bible says that the “brothers could not answer [Joseph], for they were dismayed at his presence.” (Genesis 45:3).
The brothers are most likely thinking that Joseph revealed himself so he can enact his revenge. The brother they sent into slavery has somehow risen to power and now has the authority to end their lives with a snap of a finger. They were terrified.
Joseph recognizes their fear and absolves it in a remarkable act of faith in God. He tells his brothers that God used their wicked deeds for good in order to save people’s lives. Not only the Israelites, but Egyptians too. He repeats over and over that it was God who sent Joseph to Egypt. In verse 5, he assures them:
“And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.” (Genesis 45:5).
What a powerful testament!
There is an important distinction to note here. Joseph does not tell the brothers their sin was justified. He does, however, point them to God rather than shame and guilt. He tells them not to stress over their sin, but instead run to God. I think that is so cool. Joseph has a true heart for the Lord and an understanding beyond most.
Joseph goes on to ask the brothers to rush back home and gather their father and return to Egypt so they can live in the land of Goshen.
Historically, whenever immigrants came into the land of Egypt, they would be given desolate land to dwell. Goshen was anything but desolate. It was one of the most fertile pieces of land in Egypt located on the Nile delta. It was also a remote area compared to the rest of Egypt, which would be important for Israel to remain their own people and nation. Joseph wanted Israel to not only thrive but to be preserved as God’s people also.
All the brothers have an emotional breakdown and give each other tear filled hugs.
It said earlier that Joseph’s weeping was heard throughout the household of Pharaoh. Apparently, just like today, word spreads fast. At this point Pharaoh has now heard that Joseph’s brothers were in town and he is thrilled.
He calls Joseph in and tells him to send his brothers back to Canaan in order to bring their father back. Pharaoh tells him that his family will have the best land in Egypt and that all the best things will be theirs. He also sends gifts and wagons to Canaan to bring everyone back as quickly and easily as possible.
Wow, that is quite the generous Pharaoh! He definitely loves Joseph.
So the brothers took their gifts and wagons and headed back to Canaan. To Jacob, Pharaoh sent:
“Ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provisions for his father on the journey.” (Genesis 45:23).
Joseph’s parting words to his brothers were not to quarrel on their way back home. There are some differing opinions on what he meant by “do not quarrel”. The one I like the best, however, is that Joseph was telling them not to fight over telling Jacob the truth.They are heading home to tell Jacob that Joseph is still alive. Remember, Jacob still thinks that Joseph was eaten by a wild animal 22 years ago. The brothers have to bring their darkest and cruelest deed they’ve ever committed to light. I think Joseph is telling the brothers not to fight over blame or how to tell their father the truth. He knows it won’t matter in the end, and that Jacob will be delighted just to know Joseph is alive.
When they get home, we don’t see the full conversation, but we do see the brothers tell Jacob his favorite son is still alive. Jacob doesn’t believe them at first (which makes sense), but when he sees the wagons and gifts from Pharaoh he is convinced. It was at this point Jacob’s spirit revived and the Bible calls his name Israel once more. The last verse of the chapter says:
“And Israel said, ‘It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.’” (Genesis 45:28).
Jacob and Joseph have not seen each other in 22 years, I can’t imagine how excited he must be!
Interpretation
There are a lot of things we can learn and glean from this passage, but two in particular stand out to me today.
Joseph’s faithful response. When Joseph reveals who he is to his brothers, he does not enact revenge like his brothers assume. He reveals his heart and trust in the Lord. He shows that he trusts God and knows the truth that Paul later preaches in Romans 8.
“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 CSB).
Joseph may not have recognized God’s hand at work when he was first sold into slavery or when he was wrongly accused and sentenced to prison, but he does now. As he stands looking at his brothers, he fully recognizes that God was working the whole time. God used his traumatic circumstances to not only save his own life, but the lives of his family, the future nation of Israel, and even the nation of Egypt. Again fulfilling God’s promises to Abraham in Genesis 12.
“Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:1-3 CSB).
Joseph trusted God during his trials, and because of it was able to recognize the amazing work of God to fulfill His plans and purposes through Joseph.Joseph points his brothers to God. Joseph never justifies his brothers’ sin. He says that God used their sin, but he still called their wickedness what it was...sin. He didn’t say they were enacting God’s righteous plans, for they were not acting in righteousness. However, Joseph does tell them to not focus on the guilt and shame of their past sins, painting another picture of what Paul preaches in Romans.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 CSB).
This is a truth Joseph is trying to point his brothers to. Not to focus on the guilt of their evil doing, but rather to focus on the good of God who so easily overcame the evil they did. Nothing they do can thwart God’s plans. There is no condemnation and thus no need to feel their weight of sin any longer.
Application
When I think of those two points above, I think about how to apply them to my own life.
I want to do a better job of reflecting on God’s work in my life. During the good times, it’s easy to forget God and during the bad times it’s easy to be angry with God. However, we know God is always at work. We know that he works all things for his purpose. The ultimate fulfillment of this promise is found in Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us:
“Though he was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him.” (Acts 2:23 CSB).
God sent Jesus to die for our salvation as the ultimate sacrifice. However, it was the wickedness of humanity that committed the awful deed. God used our own depravity to enact his righteous plan and save us all from that same depravity. This is the power of God! Nothing can thwart his plans, not even nailing His one and only son on the cross.
This is something I want to always make sure I reflect on and find my hope in. God is always at work. It doesn’t mean bad things won’t happen, but it does mean bad things can’t stop Him. His ultimate work on the cross is finished and my final destination is in the Kingdom of God. Whatever else happens in life is going to be within His plan, and that brings immense peace.Give my shame to Jesus. This has always been a struggle of mine, but it’s so freeing when I do it. Oftentimes I beat myself up over sin and want to live that perfect life, fully sanctified. I often hold onto this verse in Romans with immense hope:
“Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:23 CSB).
I am so excited for a new body in Heaven that is without sin! I am impatient and want it right now, though. I don’t think that’s such a wrong thing to want. What I think is wrong is I can find myself working towards it, rather than leaning on Christ’s sanctifying power.
When I do this and fail I can beat myself up over it. Christ never asked us not to fail. He came to this world to seek the brokenhearted. He was a friend to sinners, he ate with them and healed them. When someone sinned around him, he ran towards them to love them and point them to God. We need to get rid of our guilt and shame, and run to Christ to remove our sin. Not rely on our own strength to do it.