Genesis 45:16–47:28
Today's reading begins with the Pharaoh receiving word about
Joseph and his brothers reuniting. The Pharaoh then extends an
invitation through Joseph for his brothers to retrieve their families
and father Israel/Jacob from Canaan and to come live in "the best of
the land of Egypt" so that they could "enjoy the fat of the land."
(This invitation extended by Pharaoh signifies God's supernatural
provision over "Israel." The fat of the land providing God's best for
his covenant people) When Joseph sends his brothers away with gifts to
do just that, he tells them, "Don't quarrel on the way!" Don't quarrel
on the way? Wow! I am completely awe struck with Joseph's actions.
Think about it – his brothers threw him into slavery and yet at the
end of yesterday's reading, Joseph is affectionate with his brothers.
Now, Joseph is inviting his entire family to Egypt so that he can
provide for them. I know that God is fulfilling his purpose for the
Israelites by sustaining them through Joseph's position as second in
command to Pharaoh, but Joseph is still making the choice to reconcile
with his family.
Joseph's forgiving heart is beyond my comprehension. If my
brothers threw me into slavery, I think I'd naturally be pretty bitter
and want the worst for them. I hope we can all learn something from
Joseph here. His forgiveness of his brothers freed him from his own
bitterness over them. He also freed his brothers from their guilt,
which is why he told them, "don't quarrel on the way." His brothers
just needed to accept his forgiveness to feel free. This is what
happens in our lives when we accept God's forgiveness through his son
Jesus Christ. We feel free. God wants us to focus on His grace, not
our guilt. Let's live in the freedom of God's forgiveness and not
quarrel with one another.
When Joseph's brothers arrive in Canaan and give their father
Israel the news about Joseph's reign in Egypt, Israel is shocked. At
first he doesn't believe that his son is even alive, but when he's
finally convinced, he wants to go to him. Israel then seeks God's
blessing on this move to Egypt and in a vision at Beersheba, God
comforts Israel when he says, "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt,
for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt
with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own
hand will close your eyes." We need to learn how to seek God's
guidance with every task. Only God can remove our fear and doubt when
He blesses our undertakings. If God can comfort a 130-year old person
that's making the biggest move of his life, then He can surely comfort
us in our weaknesses of fear and worry.
With God's blessing, Israel and all his descendants find their way
to Egypt. All together, there were seventy of them. Later, we will see
God multiply these seventy descendents into thousands.
In Egypt, Joseph reunites with his entire family and brings his
father and five eldest brothers before the Pharaoh. After the Pharaoh
gives the land of Goshen (the best land of Egypt) to Joseph's family,
just as he had earlier promised, he questions Israel about his age. To
this, Israel replies, "the years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and
thirty. My years have been few and difficult, and they do not equal
the years of the pilgrimage of my fathers." In other words, life is
short and hard. I like what Jesus' brother James says in James 4:14 –
"Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your
life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then
vanishes." Our life is but a mist that appears and vanishes quickly.
No matter how tough life gets, we have to constantly remind ourselves
that the short-term hardship on this Earth will never compare with the
eternal glory we will have with God in heaven. Do you find peace in an
eternally focused mind?
The last part of the reading describes the severity of the famine
in Egypt and its affects on its people. First, everyone runs out of
money to buy food. Then they trade their livestock for food. Then they
offer themselves and their land in exchange for food. The people of
Egypt (except the priests) are brought down to a place of servitude.
To my surprise, these people express gratitude under such
circumstances. They said to Joseph, "You have saved our lives. May we
find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh."
In the end, money will fail us just as it did the Egyptians.
Eventually, everything on this Earth will fail us. When reduced to
nothing, the people of Egypt found hope in the one who saved their
lives. Let us live in the hope of Jesus Christ, the one who saves our
souls.
Be Blessed,
Anthony
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