Read with Me
Genesis 45:16-24 (HCSB)
When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace, “Joseph’s brothers have come,” Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and go on back to the land of Canaan. Get your father and your families, and come back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you can eat from the richness of the land.’ You are also commanded, ‘Do this: Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your young children and your wives and bring your father here. Do not be concerned about your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ”
The sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had commanded, and he gave them provisions for the journey. He gave each of the brothers changes of clothes, but he gave Benjamin 300 pieces of silver and five changes of clothes. He sent his father the following: 10 donkeys carrying the best products of Egypt and 10 female donkeys carrying grain, food, and provisions for his father on the journey. So Joseph sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving, he said to them, “Don’t argue on the way.”
Listen with Me
The fact that Pharaoh was being so magnanimous, especially during a time of famine, demonstrates how highly he esteemed Joseph. The Egyptians were not especially known for welcoming refugees into the country to stay. But in this case, Pharaoh issued a blanket invitation to Joseph’s entire extended family, promising not only a place to stay in the best, most fertile part of the country, but also promising that all their practical needs would be taken care of.
Joseph gladly did as Pharaoh commanded, sending his brothers with wagons in which they could bring back to Egypt not only their stuff, but all their people as well. Joseph also included provisions for their journey home, as well as rich provisions for their return, enough for everyone. Moses carefully noted that Joseph was especially generous to his full-brother Benjamin.
Joseph’s closing instructions to his brothers to not argue along the way showed that he knew the disposition of these men. It would be completely in keeping with their character to blame each other for the hardships that they had recently endured. But the fact is, all of them had a share in the past actions that had led inexorably to their recent trials.
Instead, Joseph wanted them to focus on the present blessing of being reunited against all odds. And he wanted them to focus on the rich future that they had been promised when they returned Egypt.
Pray with Me
Father, this really does seem like an almost fairy tale ending to the story. The lost brother has been found, the dark curse of grief would finally be lifted from their father’s heart, replaced by joy, and they would all be moving from a place of lack to a place of plenty. And that generation truly would enjoy all these great blessings. Their children and grandchildren would experience progressively more difficult times, but at this point, they only had a small inkling of that dark era that still lay in the future. Help us, Lord, to enjoy the good times You send for as long as they last, realizing that even Jesus promised us that we would have troubles in this world, but that, in Him, we can be overcomers. Amen.