“Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. And Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?’ But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. So Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come near to me, please.’ And they came near. And he said, ‘I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God.’ ” (1a,2-8a)
Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers (including Benjamin), and after some eloquent and comforting words from Joseph, they all weep together (I’m assuming it’s a joyful weeping, or a healing weeping).
At Pharaoh’s command, Joseph sends wagons and donkeys from Egypt with enough supplies that the brothers can pack up their families and move them to Egypt (including Israel, their father). Joseph promises to provide for their families during the next 5 years of famine, even though his brothers did nothing to deserve/earn this generosity, Joseph lavished it upon them simply because he loves them.
Here is my favorite part of the chapter (actually, my favorite part of Genesis): “And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (v5,8a, 50:20)
This is amazing foreshadowing of Jesus Christ Himself: “Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, ‘You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.’ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (Jn 7:28, Jn 3:17)
Joseph did not condemn his brothers for what they did – he wisely discerned that it was God Himself who sent him into Egypt, so that through him God would save His people. God later does the same thing through Jesus, though the salvation is for all people for all time. We did not do anything to deserve/earn this generosity, God lavished it upon us simply because He loves us.
Praise be to You, O Lord God Almighty, father of Joseph and Jesus. You did not send them into this world to condemn us, but to lavish your love, mercy and forgiveness upon us. You provided salvation to us, despite the fact we deserved death because of our sin. Thank you for your mercy and forgiveness, and the grace through which You delivered us. May we celebrate Your name, give all glory and praise to You, and stand firm as Your redeemed people, called by Your name.
~ Conqueror in Training