Finally, Joseph’s heart was finally healed! The success of seeing his family in one piece, especially his dad and his own flesh and blood brother, Benjamin, was the most satisfying thus far. He would have rated this as far more successful than his rise to premiership in Egypt. When his brothers bowed at his presence not knowing he was their long-lost brother, Joseph remembered his God-given dream. “God, you are so absolutely awesome!” he praised His Saviour from the heart while shaking his head in disbelief.
The brothers thought that this lord of Egypt was upset with them again. They had to depend solely on this one man or else Israel’s vision of greatness may just evaporate in the sands of Egypt.
“Everyone, please leave this room, except for these foreigners!” Joseph demanded. The brothers were stunned. They were expecting harsh words from this “tyrant” and patience was their only hope.
Joseph took down his turban and folded up his hair for them to see who he really was. "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" he spoke, wanting reassurance from them.
"No! This can't be!" Reuben, the eldest brother cried. Judah knelt cupping his face with his palms and wept. No one dared to look directly at him except Benjamin. He stood up, staggered in disbelief, and touched his own brother, Joseph. "Tell me that this is not a dream," he hugged Joseph, who was weeping loudly.
"No! This can't be!" Reuben, the eldest brother cried. Judah knelt cupping his face with his palms and wept. No one dared to look directly at him except Benjamin. He stood up, staggered in disbelief, and touched his own brother, Joseph. "Tell me that this is not a dream," he hugged Joseph, who was weeping loudly.
“I am Joseph. I am your brother!” He cried while hugging Benjamin. His eyes then turned towards the brothers, "The one you sold into Egypt." The evil they did had come back to haunt them.
Joseph’s brothers wept while hitting their fists furiously onto the ground. Sensing their intense grief and brokenness, the Hebrew 'Egyptian' master stopped them and said, “Don’t! Don’t be angry at yourselves or be dismayed. I know now why I am here. It is to save lives that God put me here.”
While the brothers stood silent, Joseph added, "There has been a great famine in the land for two years and for another five, the drought will continue. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth. And God will save your lives by a great deliverance."
With that, the brothers’ eyes widened, sensing the God that they and their fathers, Jacob, Isaac and Abraham worshipped was indeed a faithful God. Nothing escaped His eyes. No plan of His could be thwarted. Their evil deeds were turned into His favour. The famine was turned into His opportunity. His will would be done on earth as it was in heaven. The vision of blessings for the world carried by their father Israel was revived, when his long lost son, Joseph, who was not only kept alive but catapulted to great heights.
With that, the brothers’ eyes widened, sensing the God that they and their fathers, Jacob, Isaac and Abraham worshipped was indeed a faithful God. Nothing escaped His eyes. No plan of His could be thwarted. Their evil deeds were turned into His favour. The famine was turned into His opportunity. His will would be done on earth as it was in heaven. The vision of blessings for the world carried by their father Israel was revived, when his long lost son, Joseph, who was not only kept alive but catapulted to great heights.
Pharoah and his officials were pleased that Joseph’s brothers had come. That was the extent how Joseph had been to his earthly master. The emperor invited Joseph and family to stay in the best land in Egypt and eat the best produce. With God, blessings knew no bounds. Even in famine! Flowers blooming in the desert land, was how God described to those who trusted Him. How true that was to Joseph. He was sold to slavery, yet succeeded in Portiphar’s house. Dragged to prison, yet succeeded in winning friends in high places. He was languishing in obscurity but succeeded to become a household name in emperor’s palace. And almost a forgotten guy to become the master of a great nation!
And in Egypt they settled until Israel passed on. Joseph held no grudge at all at his brothers’ evil intention towards him, knowing full well that it was God’s intention of saving lives!
So the family grew to become a community in the best part of the land which God placed them for few hundred years.
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