Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. The testing period was over

a) The test of the brothers took months

i) Simeon was retained in Egypt

ii) Benjamin had to be brought to Egypt on the next visit

b) The brothers stood together solidly

c) Judah was willing to be a slave to Joseph, in place of Benjamin

2. The time to reveal all things had come

a) It was a huge moment

b) There were mixed feelings among the brothers

THE DISCLOSURE OF JOSEPH

1 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. 2 And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.
3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?”

Genesis 45:1-3b

1. First, all the servants of Joseph were dismissed

2. Joseph then made himself known to his brothers with many tears

a) “I am Joseph” Genesis 45:3a

b) “Does my father still live?” Genesis 45:3b

c) This disclosure came as a shock to the brothers

THE DISMAY OF THE BROTHERS

3 But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence.

Genesis 45:3c

1. The brothers were dismayed

2. They saw Joseph as the governor of the land

3. They were dumbfounded

A DECLARATION OF GREAT ASSURANCE

And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.”

Genesis 45:4

1. A gentle word to draw near

2. A gentle word but not accusation

a) I am Joseph

b) Whom you sold to Egypt

3. This declaration could have meant execution for the brothers!
But this was not the intention!

GOD’S DIVINE PURPOSE

5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.

6 For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

7 And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Genesis 45:5-8

1. God’s higher plan explained

a) To preserve life

God sent me before you to preserve life

Genesis 45:5b

b) To preserve a posterity

And God sent me before you
to preserve a posterity for you in the earth

Genesis 45:7a

c) Joseph understood this plan of God

i) Knowledge

ii) Discernment

iii) Faith

2. God’s hand appreciated

a) It was God

So now it was not you who sent me here, but God

Genesis 45:8a

i) God sent

ii) Not the brothers

iii) This had to be reiterated

b) It was God’s provision

i) A father to Pharaoh

ii) Lord of his house

iii) Ruler throughout all the land in Egypt

CONCLUSION

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Romans 8:28-30

1. A profound truth articulated

a) Called according to God’s purpose

b) Foreknown and Predestined

c) Justified and glorified

2. A powerful challenge

a) To love God

b) To understand God better

c) To have a deeper faith in God