Joseph Reveals His Identity

Good rainy and foggy evening from the Panhandle. It looks and feels more like a fall day than a summer day. In my last post I wrote of how Joseph's brothers had changed. No longer did they think only of themselves, now they were a family. This is evident by Judah's plea for Benjamin’s life.

The appeal of Judah touched Joseph. The repentance of his brothers, and their attachment to Benjamin, had been demonstrated in the most satisfactory way. This is all that Joseph sought. It was evident, throughout the whole narrative that his aimed never was to exercising any supremacy over his brothers. As soon as he had witnessed the moving proof of the changed nature of his brothers, Joseph reveled his identity.

Gen 45 In A Glance:

I. Joseph's discovery of himself to his brethren, and his discourse with them upon that occasion v. 1-15.

II. The orders Pharaoh, hereupon, gave to fetch Jacob and his family down to Egypt, and Joseph's dispatch of his brethren, accordingly, back to his father with those orders v. 16-24.

III. The joyful tidings of this brought to Jacob v. 25, etc..

(From Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.)

1. Joseph Reveals Himself

The eloquent plea of Judah, which apparently was the expression of all the brothers, moved Joseph to tears and he was overwhelmed with emotion. And as Joseph had tested the brothers and they had passed. He could no longer, conceal his identity from his brothers. 

Genesis 45:1-8

45:1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, "Have everyone leave my presence!" So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh's household heard about it.

3 Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.

4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

8 "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

When Joseph could no longer restrain his feelings, he started weeping. In that moment Joseph revealed his identity and opened his heart to his brothers. They, in their confusion and fear, were speechless. But Joseph reassured them. He declared: because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. (v. 5). Joseph with that statement took away any blame that might have been laid on his brothers, as he sought to reassure them that this had been the plan and purpose of God. It was his way of centering their attention on the supreme and divine purpose of God. The heaven-sent purpose was more significant than any minor act of mortal man. That purpose involved preserving Abraham's decedents so they could be used for the work of the Lord's will in the earth.

Genesis 45:9-24

9 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 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!"

2. Move to Egypt

Joseph urged his brothers to bring their father back to Egypt to live. He explained that the famine would last five more years, but that in Egypt he could provide a home and unlimited supplies for Jacob and the entire family group. They could settle in the land of Goshen, which was about forty miles from the site of present-day Cairo. Situated in the delta of the Nile, this section was the best of the land for herds and flocks. It was near On and also Memphis, where Joseph lived. When the brothers set out for home, he sent wagons along with them for the return trip to Egypt, and filled them with grain, presents, and supplies of all kinds.

(from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1962 by Moody Press)

Genesis 45:25-28

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."

3. Jacob Gets The Good News

As the old patriarch Jacob listened to his sons' report, his heart became numb (fainted), because he could not believe the good news about his long-lost son (v. 26). But when he saw the wagons and presents, and heard Joseph's message to him, his spirit revived and he began to look forward to joining his son in Egypt. It was a day of comfort and rejoicing for one who had seen much grief.

(from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1962 by Moody Press)

Review Questions

1. Whose sack does Joseph have the cup put in? Why?
2. What is the brothers’ response to the steward?
3. What is Benjamin’s reaction to the steward finding the cup?
4. Who comes to Benjamin’s defense? What is significant about this?
5. What is Joseph’s reaction to Judah’s defense?
6. How do his brothers handle Joseph’s declaration?
7. How does Joseph ease his brothers’ hearts?
8. What request does Joseph make of his brothers?
9. What is Israel’s reaction to the news about Joseph?