Thoughts on the Life of Joseph # 3

In this post on the life of Joseph, I've thought a lot about Joseph's reunion with his brothers.  

Those who know this story will remember how Joseph finally got out of prison one day when Pharaoh summoned Joseph to interpret his dreams for him. Pharaoh's dreams didn't make sense to him or to his magicians, the Bible says. But to Joseph, those dreams made perfect sense because of the wisdom and insight God gave him. Joseph gave full credit and glory to God for that.  

Pharaoh was so impressed by how wisely and precisely Joseph interpreted his dreams (seven years of plenty and seven years of famine), and because of that, Pharaoh made Joseph second in command under himself. This meant that Joseph was second in command in the entire world then. Egypt was a superpower in the world at that time.

Joseph married, and his wife gave birth to their two boys which Joseph named Manasseh and Ephraim. The meaning behind his sons names reflect that God helped Joseph to experience both fruitfulness and joy - forgetting the pain he experienced at home with his family. 

Joseph wisely prepared for the seven year famine which the Bible says was upon the face of the entire earth. (Genesis 41:56) The Bible says that all countries came to Egypt to buy grain (corn) from Joseph. 

Among all those people and nations that went to Egypt to buy corn from Joseph were his brothers. They showed up in Egypt one day, and I cannot help but wonder what went through Joseph's mind when he suddenly realized that this group of men bowing down to him were his brothers! 

I wonder... did Joseph recognize his brothers right away? Or did it take him a minute or two to realize who they were? 

I also wonder how quickly Joseph had a "flash back" to his dreams at the age of 17. By doing some basic math in accordance with what the Bible tells us, Joseph would've been 39 years old at this time.  

Something I find very fascinating about Joseph's first encounter with his brothers after so many years (22 years to be exact!) is that he did not reveal himself to his brothers right away. Why? 

Joseph knew that his brothers had no clue who he was. In knowing that, Joseph had an advantage over them. I think the reason Joseph didn't tell his brothers who he was at first was because he wondered how his brothers might treat him if they knew. Would they treat him with kindness? Or would they treat him exactly like they had before?   

To find out, Joseph asked them some questions. I marvel at what Joseph did and asked of them. He told them to bring their youngest brother (Benjamin) down to Egypt. Then, Joseph put all his brothers in prison for three days. Why did Joseph do that? I think it was to make a very strong point to them - he meant what he said! After three days, he let his brothers out of prison, all except for Simeon. His point? Bring Benjamin down to Egypt if you want Simeon let out of prison.

Why was Joseph doing all this? After hearing his brothers share, Joseph understood what had happened back at home while he was away. They thought Joseph was dead. Benjamin was now, very clearly, his father's favorite son. That is why Benjamin didn't come down to Egypt with them. 

So, Joseph decided to put his brothers to the test. Were they treating Benjamin like they treated him? Joseph knew he would find out this way. 

Sure enough! The brothers returned to Egypt a second time, this time, bringing Benjamin with them. And at his word, Joseph let Simeon out of prison. 

At that point, Joseph had a meal with all of his brothers with them still being clueless as to who he really was. Joseph curiously asked them about their father (his father!) and then the Bible says that Joseph asked about Benjamin who was standing directly in front of him. I have to hold back tears when I read this part of the story in the Bible. Benjamin! His brother! 

I can only imagine the enormous will power it took for Joseph not to cry directly in front of them when he saw Benjamin after 22 years, knowing full well that this was his one and only brother, one who never treated Joseph badly like his other brothers had. The Bible says that Joseph had to "make haste"; he had to run out and cry because, I'm sure, he ached to give his brother a hug! I'm nearly crying as I type this. 

I've often wondered... why didn't Joseph finally tell them at that point who he was? I believe because Joseph still wasn't sure how his brothers might treat him. His test wasn't done yet. 

His final test was when he sent all his brothers away with their sacks full of corn, making sure that a certain silver cup of his was put inside of his brother Benjamin's sack of grain, unaware to Benjamin. 

Why did he do that? Joseph wanted to make it look like Benjamin had stolen his silver cup, even though Joseph knew he didn't steal anything. 

But why would Joseph do that to his brother? Because Joseph wanted a good excuse to keep Benjamin there in Egypt.   

And why would Joseph try to keep Benjamin in Egypt? Because Joseph wanted to see how his other brothers would react to that. Would they be glad to see Benjamin stay there? Or would they want Benjamin to go home with them? 

Joseph knew this final test on his brothers would give him the answer he was looking for. Joseph was very wise. 

What happened? Joseph got his answer. 

His brothers pleaded for their brother Benjamin. They knew it would brake their father's heart if Benjamin didn't return home. 

Through that, Joseph was able to see, clearly, that his brothers cared not only about their brother Benjamin, but they also cared about their father Jacob. His brothers had changed. They were no longer the way they used to be towards Joseph. It was then that Joseph finally revealed his identity to them. 

I can only imagine the shock, the surprise, and perhaps the disbelief, when Joseph told his brothers who he was! The Bible says that Joseph's brothers were troubled when he told them. Why? Because they knew they had done wrong to him years ago. What might Joseph do to them? 

Joseph's response to his brothers inspires me. Joseph didn't get angry. Joseph didn't punish them or desire to "get even" with them. Instead, Joseph told them to "come near" the Bible says.

An artist depicting Joseph with his brothers. 

I can only imagine the tears and the hugs that went around! This part of the story gets me every time. I'm crying while typing this. 

Joseph displayed love and true forgiveness to his brothers, even though they had done wrong to him. There is no doubt, Joseph suffered tremendously because of them.  

But Joseph was able to love and forgive his brothers because Joseph looked beyond the things he suffered at their hands. Because Joseph walked with God, Joseph saw the bigger picture. 

I love Joseph's response to his brothers in Genesis 45:5:

"Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life." 

Joseph repeats this a few verses later by saying: 

"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..." Genesis 45:7-8 

Joseph reassured his brothers, three times, that it was God who sent him down to Egypt, not them. Joseph chose to focus on God's purpose and sovereignty, even amidst all his pain and suffering. I believe that is what enabled Joseph to love and forgive his brothers the way that he did. 

Joseph's life inspires me in so many different ways. Joseph was, truly, a man who walked with God. I look forward to meeting Joseph in heaven someday!