Genesis Chapter 45
Joseph Is Reunited With His Brothers
A. Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers
1. (Genesis 45:1–3) The Emotional Revelation
“Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, ‘Make everyone go out from me!’ So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it. Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph; does my father still live?’ But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence.”
Joseph, overwhelmed by emotion, could no longer restrain himself in the presence of his brothers and the Egyptians who served him. He ordered everyone out, desiring this intimate and sacred moment to take place in private. Joseph’s heart had been deeply moved throughout the testing of his brothers, and his inability to restrain his emotions showed that his actions were not driven by cruelty but by divine direction. This moment was painful for Joseph, for his love for his brothers and longing for reconciliation had endured through years of separation.
When Joseph finally revealed himself, he declared plainly, “I am Joseph,” likely confirming his identity through personal marks or family traits. The revelation was so shocking that his brothers stood speechless and terrified. The Hebrew term bahal conveys a deep sense of alarm, amazement, or even terror. The brothers were struck by both the magnitude of their guilt and the astonishing reality that the very man they had wronged now stood before them as lord of Egypt.
Their reaction foreshadows Israel’s future response to their Messiah, when the Lord will pour upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication. As Zechariah 12:10 declares, “Then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.” Just as Joseph’s brothers were dismayed when they saw him, Israel will one day look upon Christ whom they rejected and mourn in repentance when they realize He is the One they pierced.
2. (Genesis 45:4–8) Joseph’s Testimony
“And Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Please come near to me.’ So they came near. Then he said: ‘I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.’”
Joseph, perceiving their fear, gently invited his brothers to draw near to him. He acknowledged their sin directly, saying, “whom you sold into Egypt,” yet he immediately turned their focus to the sovereignty of God. Instead of condemning them, Joseph sought to comfort them, saying, “Do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves.” His forgiveness flowed from his understanding that God’s divine plan overruled the malice of men.
The statement “God sent me before you to preserve life” revealed Joseph’s profound theology. He understood that the evil intentions of his brothers were part of a greater divine design. Both human responsibility and divine sovereignty coexisted perfectly. As Charles Spurgeon observed, “Man acts just as freely and just as guiltily as if there were no predestination whatever; and God ordains, arranges, supervises, and overrules, just as accurately as if there were no free will in the universe.” Joseph’s perspective illustrates the harmony between human free will and divine providence.
Through Joseph’s trials, God was preserving a remnant—a posterity for the covenant family through which the Messiah would ultimately come. Egypt became the womb of the nation of Israel. Had they remained in Canaan, they would likely have assimilated into the surrounding pagan cultures and lost their distinct identity. Instead, God separated them in Egypt where they could grow into a nation.
Joseph’s words also rebuke the false theology of those who deny the sovereignty of God in suffering. Many modern writers, such as Rabbi Harold Kushner in his book When Bad Things Happen to Good People, teach that God is loving but not sovereign. Yet Joseph’s testimony affirms the opposite. God is both perfectly loving and completely sovereign. His plan encompasses even the wicked deeds of men, turning them for His glory and for the good of His people.
When Joseph said, “So now it was not you who sent me here, but God,” he was declaring his complete trust in divine sovereignty. His faith mirrors the truth later expressed in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Joseph’s life stands as living proof that no event, however tragic, escapes God’s providence. Every sorrow and every betrayal had been used by God to fulfill His redemptive plan, to preserve life, and to bring about a great deliverance.
B. Joseph Sends His Brothers Home
1. (Genesis 45:9–15) Joseph Tells His Brothers to Bring Their Father to Egypt
“Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine.” And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you. So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.” Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him.”
Joseph’s first command to his brothers after revealing himself was urgent and compassionate: “Hurry and go up to my father.” His heart longed for reunion and restoration, not revenge. His message was full of grace and reconciliation, highlighting the sovereign hand of God in his exaltation: “God has made me lord of all Egypt.” It was not Joseph boasting in himself, but acknowledging that God’s providence had turned his suffering into glory. This mirrors what will one day be said of Christ by Israel, when they realize that the One they rejected is Lord over all.
The promise of Goshen was more than just an offer of land; it was an act of protection. The land of Goshen, located in the fertile Nile Delta, would become a place of refuge and separation. Israel could grow as a distinct people, shielded from Egyptian idolatry and culture. God was preserving the covenant line, fulfilling His promise to Abraham that his descendants would become a great nation.
Joseph’s affectionate embrace of Benjamin revealed the deep bond between them. Yet the text emphasizes that he also “kissed all his brothers and wept over them.” His forgiveness extended equally to those who had plotted his ruin. The years of bitterness and betrayal were washed away in tears of reconciliation. The phrase “after that his brothers talked with him” signifies restored fellowship. The wall of guilt had been broken down, and they could now speak to him as a brother once more.
The entire scene is a picture of grace, reflecting how God in Christ reconciles sinners who once rebelled against Him. As Paul wrote in Romans 5:10, “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Joseph’s forgiveness was not mere emotion but the outworking of divine wisdom and love.
2. (Genesis 45:16–24) Pharaoh and Joseph Send the Brothers Home with Many Gifts
“Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, ‘Joseph’s brothers have come.’ So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Say to your brothers, “Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land. Now you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.”’ Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. He gave to all of them, to each man, changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments. And he sent to his father these things: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father for the journey. So he sent his brothers away, and they departed; and he said to them, ‘See that you do not become troubled along the way.’”
When Pharaoh learned of Joseph’s brothers, he rejoiced. The ruler of Egypt was pleased to honor Joseph’s family because of Joseph’s faithfulness and favor in his sight. Pharaoh’s generosity overflowed, granting them the “best of the land” and abundant provisions for their journey. This favor extended not because of the brothers’ merit, but because of their relationship to Joseph. Likewise, believers receive blessings not because of personal worthiness, but because of their relationship with Jesus Christ, the Beloved Son in whom the Father is well pleased.
The brothers were sent back with an impressive caravan: carts, garments, silver, food, and donkeys laden with the finest goods of Egypt. To return to Canaan with Egyptian chariots would have been an astounding sight. As James Montgomery Boice noted, it was as if “a jumbo jet had landed among a primitive tribe.” The message was unmistakable—Joseph’s power and generosity were unmatched, and Israel’s household would soon experience God’s abundant provision.
Joseph’s parting words, “See that you do not become troubled along the way,” were wise and pastoral. The Hebrew implies “do not quarrel” or “do not become agitated.” Joseph knew his brothers well; old habits could easily resurface once they were away from his presence. Guilt, pride, or jealousy could spark arguments about who was to blame for past sins. His exhortation urged them to maintain peace and unity, remembering the grace they had received.
This instruction also serves as a timeless spiritual reminder for believers. Once forgiven and reconciled by Christ, we must not return to the strife and guilt of our former life. Instead, we are to walk in the unity of the Spirit, as Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:32, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
3. (Genesis 45:25–28) Jacob Hears the Good News — That Joseph Lives
“Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father. And they told him, saying, ‘Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.’ And Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them. But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived. Then Israel said, ‘It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.’”
When the brothers returned to Canaan and brought word to their father, their message seemed too good to be true: “Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” For decades Jacob had lived under the heavy grief of believing Joseph was dead, his heart scarred by sorrow and loss. So when the unbelievable news reached him, the text says, “Jacob’s heart stood still,” meaning it stopped or failed within him. The shock and disbelief overwhelmed him. Years of pain and cynicism made it difficult for him to hope again.
However, when the brothers recounted Joseph’s words and showed the visible proof — the Egyptian carts sent for transport — Jacob’s faith was rekindled. The sight of tangible evidence revived his spirit. Just as the disciples doubted the resurrection until they saw the risen Christ, Jacob’s faith was reignited by both testimony and proof. What he once mourned as dead was now alive beyond all expectation.
This moment beautifully parallels how the gospel reaches a world dead in unbelief. Many, like Jacob, do not believe when first told that the Son — once given up for dead — is alive and reigning in glory. Yet when believers share the words of Jesus and display the blessings and transformation He has brought into their lives, others begin to see that He truly lives. Faith is stirred by both proclamation and demonstration. As Romans 10:17 declares, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Jacob’s response, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive,” reveals a profound turning point. His despair transformed into contentment and hope. This is the same man who once lamented, “All these things are against me” (Genesis 42:36), but now, having seen the providence of God at work, could say, “It is enough.” What once seemed an unbearable tragedy had been part of God’s hidden plan of redemption and restoration.
The Scripture refers to him here as Israel, the name God gave him after conquering his old nature at Peniel. This shift from Jacob to Israel marks a transition from doubt to faith, from fear to trust. When Jacob operated in the flesh, he was marked by worry and self-pity. But as Israel, the man governed by God, he rested in faith and confidence.
This episode captures the essence of saving faith. Jacob believed because he had heard and seen enough evidence to convince him; then he acted upon that belief, preparing to journey to Egypt. Likewise, genuine faith in Christ moves beyond mere intellectual agreement — it stirs the heart to action. As James 2:26 affirms, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Jacob’s revived spirit and his decision to go and see Joseph symbolize the living response of a faith revived by truth and grace.
