Genesis Chapter 45 Verses 1 – 3

• Dismayed!? Understatement alert! Can you imagine the brothers here? All of this, every interaction, the history, 20 years, their lost brother, their stored regret, their shame and their guilt, and then this statement by the man who has power of life and death over them…this man, the ruler of Egypt!? Dismayed!? Understatement.

• Jewish legend (and that’s all this is, legend) says that the brothers were so shocked that their souls left their bodies and it was only by a miracle of God their souls came back! Fatality! Flawless victory!! Here is the ruler of Egypt, weeping so loudly that the nation hears him and he orders everyone out except them…they may have thought they were going to be killed on the spot! And then this comes out of him…I am Joseph!!

• They were dismayed. The word in the Hebrew means they were shocked, they were speechlessly stunned…amazed and petrified…and that points to what is coming at the revelation of Jesus for every Jew. Zechariah 12:10 says, “I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn”

• Fourteen more times in 4 more verses, to the end of Zechariah 12, the Bible speaks of another person or group mourning when they realize who Jesus is…and it won’t only be mourning over what was done to Him, how He was pierced by His own family and friends, but there’s so much mourning because, I mean imagine, when lost souls realize that salvation, eternal life, all that comes with that…joy and wisdom and power and purpose and freedom…when its realized that all of that was not only right there and readily available, but a free gift…how sharp will be that mourn.

Genesis Chapter 45 Verses 4 – 8 (Uncovered yet in complete privacy) (Father to Pharaoh, why? Because of the Word of God)

• Anton Ego sat at a table alone at Gusteau’s restaurant and when asked what he would like to order, his response, “Perspective.” Joseph doesn’t diminish what his brother’s did…, “You sold me into Egypt,” but Romans 5:20 says, “Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.” He doesn’t dismiss or diminish the sin but what he does…a little perspective…he finds God’s hand and heart in the midst of hardship and tragedy. He saw that God’s purpose in it all was greater than the evil of his brothers. God’s grace was able and did (20 years, one Potiphar’s wife, one prison, one heart (Joseph’s) set on the Lord) not easy, but look at the outcome, Joseph found that the grace of God was greater than the sin of man!

• And here’s the thing…God does break us down…He is the Potter and we are the clay…His workmanship in Christ Jesus…but here’s what you must remember. No one wigs out about the demo during a remodel…remember, He has a design, a plan…trust Him.

Genesis Chapter 45 Verses 9 – 15

• All that Joseph has secured, his desire is to share it with his family…Jesus said in John 17:22, “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one.”

• AND…another superior understatement! “After that his brothers talked with him!” What do you think they said? There is so much! So much to say, so many things to know and to discover! And I think about that day when Jesus will be revealed to each one of us. And each one of us, none of us will be weighed down with any kind of sin or shame or regret or fear or frustration…

• 1 John 3:2 says, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” And in that moment we will be amazed and there is no doubt in my mind that Jesus will fall on each one of us like a Father who greets His child…and after that, we will talk with Him. What a wonderful hope and thought!

Genesis Chapter 45 Verses 16 – 24

• There is a great pattern here revealed in Joseph once again. Some have counted the types, pictures, parallels of Joseph to Jesus thus far in the text and it’s no less than 70 times that Joseph is a picture and a portrait of Jesus Christ for us. Notice at the revelation of himself to his brothers…First, there is proximity. “Please, come near to me.” Then, there is forgiveness. He pardons them and what’s more, he tells them to pardon themselves. Cast your sin as far as the east is from the west, it’s gone…God had a greater purpose than your sin. Grace has won!

• Then, he reveals his purpose to them! So, first proximity…then, at the revelation of Joseph/Jesus there is complete pardon! Then there is understanding and explanation and revelation of purpose and the brothers share in that purpose in that they now get to go and get their father…bring him here…and then finally, there is great…abundant provision. Precisely the pattern of Jesus in the heart of the redeemed. Proximity, pardon, purpose and then provision. Abundance of joy, strength, love…the best kind of provision!

• Joseph then sends them to go get their father…go out and bring another one to me…but notice this, “See that you do not become troubled along the way.” Don’t quarrel, don’t be angry…what’s interesting is that if they had stayed right there with Joseph, there’s no way they would have trouble…but as they depart from him, there is great opportunity for the flesh…just as it is with you and with me in the Lord. When there is trouble…quarreling and strife, know this…someone is straying from the Lord.

Genesis Chapter 45 Verses 25 – 28

• Years before, Jacob was told that Joseph was dead….and he believed it. Now he is told that Joseph is alive, and he doesn’t. Why is it, what is it that is in us that so easily believes bad news and not good? We are just bent by way of our fallen nature to be critical and skeptical…and if that’s us, if that’s you Christian…how much more those that do not know the Lord?

• So, how are we to bring them to the Lord…? How are we to share with them the gospel of Jesus Christ? Well, let me take you back to Elementary School…show and tell! Tell them! Tell them what has happened. How God loves them and has provided for them! Has paid the entire debt and now heaven is a gift! Tell them! And when they are skeptical…make sure you show them the carts! What God has done in your life! The beauty of heavenly provision. Make sure your joy has been and is on display…your kindness, your graciousness, your love…

• Jacob didn’t believe their words, but then when he saw their words mixed with faith…well, I would say, hard evidence…when he saw the carts…his spirit came to life! Oh how most important it is that our story matches our story! Why do so few Christians not bring others to the Lord…no carts… Jesus said in Matthew 5:15-16, “You are the light of the world! A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house! Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven!!” We are not saved by good works, but folks, we are most certainly saved for good works…(Ephesians 2).

• And through this news, and through this proof, through this heart-committed belief on the part of Jacob…notice this for him, he says…, “That’s enough.” In other words, that’s all I need…and it is and will be the same for anyone who comes to the Lord…all that they need, He for them will be enough…just as you and I, as we draw near to Him, receive His grace-filled pardon, understand His and receive our purpose…He fills each of us with His provision…and our hearts are full…and we find…enough.