TA - DA! IT'S ME! (Joseph continued!)

Cool picture, eh!? Don't know where I got it, but it reminded me that some things are not at all what they appear to be and that can be a GOOD thing! Ever misjudge a person? I have....and it wound up affecting me the way this iceberg would affect the Titanic!
It can represent something very significant in Genesis 45, too! In our story, Judah had just asked the 'Egyptian' (Joseph) for mercy so that he could take the place of his brother, Benji, who was going to have to be Joseph's servant for 'stealing' a silver cup from Joseph's house. (love those run on sentences!) Like last entry... confession and repentence lead to reconciliation! And after Judah confessed and repented, it was time for Joseph to reveal his true HEBREW identity and be reconciled to his brothers!
The hearts of Joseph's brothers had been laid bare through time and testing. They had shown how 13 years had changed them from selfish, self-serving boys to selfless, considerate men. Cool.
Genesis 45 shares that Joseph "could no longer contain himself in front of his attendants and he cried out, 'Have everyone leave my presence!' and he was all alone with his brothers". Can you just imagine the emotion of the room!? Joseph nearly wetting his pants with excitement and joy!! Joseph then says, "I am Joseph!! Is my father still living?" (vs. 3) And you know what the brothers did!? They said nothing, too terrified to speak! I love that! Joseph's joyful weeping was so loud that the Bible says that the Egyptians heard him and Pharoah's entire household heard about it! (I wonder if it was a wail or a laughter weep....or maybe it was a grunting one....I would've loved to have heard it!) It gets better!
He says (noticing their bit of trembling...perhaps THEY wet themselves!), "Come close to me....I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you!" (read the rest of that passage...it's great!) What incredible insight Joseph was given directly from God to know exactly how to communicate to his brothers that they had just been a part of God's amazing plan to preserve their lives by using the very life they sought to destry! Wow....God's clever! He has such an amazing way of humbling us!
Joseph gives the run-down of the last couple of years and shares that the famine was going to last a few more years. He then explains that God had been giving him favor with Pharoah and his entire household so that he could move their family into Egypt to be cared for properly during this difficult time. Once again, Joseph gave all the credit to God. He recognized that God had all this planned so that his family's household would not become destitute. Whoa! I wonder what his brothers were thinking right about then!
From there, the brothers were sent home to share the news with their father, Jacob. He was stunned and overjoyed, to say the least, and made preparations to head to Egypt. (read 'bout that in Genesis 46) When Pharoah heard what was going on in Joseph's place, he and his officials were pleased! Pharoah went to Joseph and said, " "Tell your brothers, 'Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.'
"You are also directed to tell them, 'Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.' " (Genesis 45:18-20). WHOOOOPEEEE! No doubt that excited the little Hebrew boy from Canaan who was once stuck in slavery, imprisoned, reconciled and exalted! DUDE! The chapter concludes with Joseph's family being given mass quantities of money, food, clothing, and other gifts including the choicest land in all of Egypt for them to settle on. (More to come on that.)
Ya know, when we are obedient in the midst of trial and tribulation, God always has our back. He always has something better for us around the bend. If at any point, Joseph had decided, "Nah, this whole God thing just isn't working! I'm in too much despair and pain"....he could've missed the joy and provision of God's sweet reconciliationand the riches of His glory! If he had given credit to himself every time he was exalted in front of Pharoah instead of giving all credit to God, Joseph could've missed out in the realization that his suffering was not his fault or a result of his works, but out of God's very best plan to set him up for the promised land. (more on that later). Ya know, anytime we identify with Christ (that is, suffer unjustly and/or for righteousness' sake), we share in His sufferings and when we righteously share in His sufferings, we also share in His fruitfulness....His blessing. That's what He promises us! (Romans 8:17). He's not the cosmic killjoy that so many people think of Him as....His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts! (Isaiah 55:9) Isn't that comforting! He's smarter than us and sees the whole big picture. He's sees it and with excitement and joy, includes us in it. He likes us that much! What a responsibility we have! And just think....it took 13 years for Joseph and his brothers to really get this! We have the Bible! Maybe it won't take us that long!.....we are a work in progress......humbling.....
Stay tuned!