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"How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!" Psalm 139:17

Text: Genesis 45:1-28

A GREAT OUTBURST OF TEARS

Joseph could barely contain his tears even as he listened to Judah pleading eloquently for Benjamin. Every mention of the word “father” tugged at his heart’s strings. He was his father’s favourite. He was given a coat of many colours. He loved his father with all his heart! He also had a natural and strong love for his younger brother Benjamin! He was already a fully grown young man! How his heart yearned to reveal himself to his brothers. At last, Joseph was convinced that his brothers had changed. They were no longer the wicked and hard-hearted people who would sell their own flesh and blood as a slave. Judah, and yes all the brothers had offered to be slaves with Benjamin. It was time to reveal his true identity.

“Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those
who stood by him, and he cried out, ‘Make everyone
go out from me!” So no one stood with him while
Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh
heard it.”
GENESIS 45:1-2

How could Joseph continue with the charade? The play-acting on his part must end now! With great authority he dismissed all in his court. Being next to Pharaoh in position, Joseph had many who attended him. All his servants, all the guards, and whoever was in court that day were dismissed so that he could spend this private moment – to be reunited with his brothers! Who would have believed that such a reunion was possible, if not for the hand of God?

A STARTLING REVELATION

How stunned the brothers were when Joseph said these words to them.

“I am Joseph; does my father still live?”
GENESIS 45:3a

How were the brothers to respond to this statement? This was the brother whom they had sold! The person who stood before them was the most powerful man in all Egypt next to the Pharaoh! Their lives were in his hands!

“But his brothers could not answer him,
for they were dismayed in his presence.”
GENESIS 45:3b

The thought of having sold their brother as a slave had haunted them all these years. They had to live with the fact that Israel their father had to live with a melancholy all this while. None had been able to comfort him fully. Though Benjamin brought some measure of comfort, no one could take the place of his favourite son! And this man who stood before them was their long-lost brother? How could this be? If he were their brother, would he not take revenge against them? He had all the power to exact vengeance for what they did to him in the past! Dismay filled their hearts instead of joy.