UNROLL
A high, empty hall in an Egyptian house, its great wooden doors shut, a long shaft of afternoon light falling across the bare plaster floor.

The Book of

Genesis 45

Judah has offered himself in place of the boy. The governor of Egypt sends everyone out of the room, and cannot hold back any longer.

28 verses≈ 5 min4 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–11BeginningsCreation, fall, flood, Babel
  2. 12–24AbrahamThe call and the promise
  3. 25–36Isaac and JacobThe promise passed on
  4. 37–50JosephGod meant it for goodChapter 45

Joseph Reveals His Identity

Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me!” So none of them were with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers.

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But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household soon heard of it.

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?”

But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence.

Joseph

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.”

And they did so.

Joseph

“I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt!

Seen past the backs of his hesitant brothers, an Egyptian official in white linen holds out his arms to them across an empty hall, a shaft of light between them.

And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you. For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

0:21

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God, who has made me a father to Pharaoh—lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

Genesis 45:7

Reflect

Not you, but God

Joseph doesn’t pretend nothing happened. He says plainly, “the one you sold into Egypt!” Then, in the same breath, “it was not you who sent me here, but God.” Both are true. Think of something done to you, or something you did, that still hurts. Write it down honestly. Then write one way you can already see God at work in it, or simply that you will trust Him with what you can’t yet see.

Joseph Sends for His Father

Now return quickly to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me without delay. You shall settle in the land of Goshen and be near me—you and your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you own. And there I will provide for you, because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you and your household and everything you own will come to destitution.’

Behold! You and my brother Benjamin can see that I, Joseph, am the one speaking with you. Tell my father about all my splendor in Egypt and everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”

Then Joseph threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept as they embraced. Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept over them. And afterward his brothers talked with him.

Pharaoh Invites Jacob to Egypt

When the news reached Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and his servants were pleased.

Pharaoh

Then Joseph sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way!”

Pray

Do not quarrel on the way

Joseph had forgiven his brothers, and they still had a long road home and a hard story to tell their father. His last words to them were, “Do not quarrel on the way!” Pray for the people you are closest to. Ask God to keep old guilt from turning into new blame, to help you forgive as you have been forgiven, and to make your home a place where people can talk again.

The Revival of Jacob

So the brothers went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.

Joseph's brothers

“Joseph is still alive,” they said, “and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!”

But Jacob was stunned, for he did not believe them.

However, when they relayed all that Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob was revived.

“Enough!” declared Israel. “My son Joseph is still alive! I will go to see him before I die.”

Question

Quick question

At first Jacob couldn’t believe the news: “he did not believe them.”

What did Jacob see that revived his spirit?

You’ve experienced

Genesis 45

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A verse to carry with you

God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

Genesis 45:7

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