Ch 45
"God sent me ahead of you to preserve life" was repeated 3 times from 45:5-8. On one hand, Joseph was the instrument God used to fulfill the Abrahamic covenant. God blesses the descendants of Abraham and therefore, they were preserved through the famine. On the other hand, the ill intention of man was prevailed by the plan of God.
(NET) You sold me here, for God sent me. The tension remains as to how the brothers’ wickedness and God’s intentions work together. Clearly God is able to transform the actions of wickedness to bring about some gracious end. But this is saying more than that; it is saying that from the beginning it was God who sent Joseph here. Although harmonization of these ideas remains humanly impossible, the divine intention is what should be the focus. Only that will enable reconciliation.
(NET) You sold me here, for God sent me. The tension remains as to how the brothers’ wickedness and God’s intentions work together. Clearly God is able to transform the actions of wickedness to bring about some gracious end. But this is saying more than that; it is saying that from the beginning it was God who sent Joseph here. Although harmonization of these ideas remains humanly impossible, the divine intention is what should be the focus. Only that will enable reconciliation.
Reflection:
Even though it was a mystery how the ill intention of man reconciles with the plan of God, I am amazed at the wisdom of God and how Joseph was not holding on the guilt of his brothers. He focused on the sovereignty of God. How could he do that? Joseph did not forget the past, but he could overlook that with a bigger picture of how God worked in their family. I ask the Holy Spirit to help me. Not to focus on my own benefit/loss but the bigger picture of what God wants to accomplish overall.
Audrey
2026
1. v.1-15 repeated theme:
a. v.3b...His brothers could not answer him because they were dumbfounded before him v.4b ...I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 Now, do not be upset and do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me here.
were dumbfounded-BDB be disturbed, dismayed, terrified...especially at chastisements & judgments of י׳ Ex 15:15
Summary: the 10 brothers were so terrified as if they were chastened by God. They had to face what they had done in the past. They sold Joseph to Egypt. The purpose of the following speech by Joseph was to help them to see this matter through his eyes and through God's eyes.
b. v.5b ...God sent me ahead of you to preserve life
7 God sent me ahead of you to preserve you on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8b...it is not you who sent me here, but God
Summary: Instead of being sold, Joseph said he was sent. Instead of the 10 brothers, Joseph saw God in action. God's purpose was to 2 folds: to preserve you (preserve for you a remnant on earth, which was related to the Ab's covenant), and to save your lives.
(BKC) The certainty that God’s will, not man’s, is the controlling reality in every event shined through as the basis for reconciliation. No doubt Joseph had consoled himself many times with this principle of faith. He who is spiritual can perceive the hand of God in every event, and therefore is able to forgive those who wrong him.
c. 9 b...“God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not delay! v.11 I will provide you with food there
v.13 ...But bring my father down here quickly!”
Summary: The family of Jacob moved to Egypt was as the plan of God. In fact, this is a fulfillment of what God told Abraham back in Gen 15:13.
Reflection: Joseph's speech was to help his brothers not to be terrified and not to be angry with themselves. By providing the angle from the promise of God and the plan of God his brothers would see that what they did was overseen by God. Do I have the guilty feelings over sins that I have confessed?
2. v.16-28 repeated theme:
18 Get your father and your households and come to me! Then I will give you the best land in Egypt and you will eat the best of the land.’
19b-20 ...Bring your father and come...for the best of all the land of Egypt will be yours.’ ”
23b...ten donkeys loaded with the best products of Egypt
Summary: Pharoah wanted Joseph to say to his brothers that go get their father so that they would enjoy the best of Egypt. They would live in the best (good) land, and eat the best (fat, choicest) produce of the land.
Reflection: Imagine you are Jacob. You faced famine and the food from the 1st trip to Egypt was almost gone. That's why he allowed Judah to take Benjamin to go for the 2nd trip. He probably tighten up the supply at home so that it would last until his sons came back with more. Now, you got the offer to live with not plenty of food, but the choicest, best produce of the land.
Pharoah was generous, but why? Because of Joseph his country not only survived, but thrived. He extended his thankfulness to Joseph's family and his father.
Joseph was the key person for the 180 degree change in Jacob's life. God protects Jacob all his life, including giving him a son who saved him and his family in famine.
What about me? God will not leave me nor forsake me. His protection and provision also covers me through people around me. God prepared them and put them around me.
3. Questions:
1) God sent Joseph to Egypt and made him able to interpret dreams. That's why Pharoah would extend the invitation to their whole family to move to Egypt. The 10 brothers were also responsible for their sins.
(NET) The tension remains as to how the brothers’ wickedness and God’s intentions work together. Clearly God is able to transform the actions of wickedness to bring about some gracious end. But this is saying more than that; it is saying that from the beginning it was God who sent Joseph here. Although harmonization of these ideas remains humanly impossible, the divine intention is what should be the focus. Only that will enable reconciliation.
2. Joseph forgave because he saw the sovereignty of God.
3. He did not believed at first but then his spirit revived and agreed to go.
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