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Saturday, August 31, 2013

Genesis 45:9-28

We come to the end of Genesis 42-45 and the saga for Joseph hidden from his family.


Genesis 45:9-28


READING
Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11 I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’
12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”
14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.
16 When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, 18 and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’
19 “You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20 Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.’”
21 So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. 22 To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels[b] of silver and five sets of clothes. 23 And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”
25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

BOARD – Life, Lordship, Life

Request
Restate
Restoration
Ruler
Remember
Recite
9-11 – Request
Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11 I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’
Second part of the speech to the brothers Joseph makes plans to bring is father to Egypt.

Just as Christ talks to us and says come to us – do not delay – come now – otherwise you will become destitute – sounds familiar


12-13- Restate
12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”

He had already said this.  This should not be new news. 


14 – 15 Restoration
14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.

Notice the items of reconciliation and restoration here:

·    Physical Embrace
·    Weeping
·    Talking

16-20 – Ruler
16 When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, 18 and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’
19 “You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come.

Creation, even the ruler, was along for the ride – what Joseph had done delivered clear evidence and had even the Pharaoh happy that they were coming.

Clearly Joseph had done well by the Pharaoh – do we do well by our bosses? 


20-24 – Requiring Remember
20 Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.’”  21 So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. 22 To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels[b] of silver and five sets of clothes. 23 And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”

Notice vs 20 – God has brought Joseph this whole way to survive all of this to save the brothers and Father from the famine (as he had promised years earlier to Jacob).  What are they to take?  We will revisit in the next Chapter

7.5lbs of silver = ~$2900

Why does he not want them to quarrel?

Matthew 5:22 – Note what we are to do

25-28 – Recite and Rejoice
25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”


How exciting it must have been to tell Jacob!  They no longer had to be upset by what they had done and could recit and rejoice at the reconciliation. 

Who had provided the reconcilitation.  Did they do anything to deserve it?  Or had Joseph had to manipulate the situation to the state it was in.



Final Questions –
Notice again the pattern so evident here in regards to reconciliation :

1. What is God’s request (to come to Him)?

2. How many times must we be retold who Christ is?

3. What is the restoration process?  How do we continually restore ourselves?

4. What do the rulers around you say about this?

5.  What should we remember (what we have been given and what we should do with each other)?

6.  What should we be telling others?    Do you feel like rejoicing in the news about your reconcilitation?  Do you believe that Jesus had to go through all that and then rose again?  Do you believe that He will send for us?

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