Genesis 45:1 - Meaning and Application

Judah and his brothers were waiting for an answer, and they were amazed to find, instead of a judge’s severity, a father’s or brother’s affection.

Joseph first sent all his attendants out of the room, Genesis 45:1. Private talk between friends is the freest and most open. When Joseph wanted to show love, he laid aside his royal rank, and his servants were not meant to witness this. In the same way, Christ kindly shows himself and his love to his people apart from the world’s sight and hearing.

Then tears began his speech, Genesis 45:2. He had held them back for a long time, with great struggle, but now they rose so strongly that he could not restrain them. He wept so loudly that even those he had sent away could hear him. These were tears of deep tenderness and strong love, and with them he put off the stern manner he had kept toward his brothers. He could endure it no longer. This pictures God’s mercy toward returning sinners, like the father of the prodigal son, Luke 15:20; Hosea 14:8-9.

He then told them, very suddenly, as a man eager to speak, who he was: “I am Joseph.” They had known him by his Egyptian name, Zaphnath-paaneah, and his Hebrew name had been lost and forgotten in Egypt. Now he makes them use that name again: “I am Joseph; I am your brother,” Genesis 45:4. This would humble them further over their sin of selling him, and it would also give them hope of kind treatment. When Christ wanted to convince Paul, he said, “I am Jesus.” When he wanted to comfort his disciples, he said, “It is I, do not be afraid.”

Joseph’s brothers were shaken by this. They likely stepped back in fear, or at least stood there stunned. But Joseph called them kindly and familiarly: “Come near to me, please.” When Christ reveals himself to his people, he also invites them to draw near to him with a true heart. Joseph may have wanted to speak quietly about their selling him, so the Egyptians would not overhear and be even more hostile toward the Hebrews. Now that his emotion had eased a little, he could speak softly, though at first he had cried out.

He then tried to calm their sorrow over what they had done to him by showing them that God had meant it for good, Genesis 45:5. “Do not be grieved or angry with yourselves,” he says. Sinners should grieve over their sins and be angry with themselves for them, even if God turns those sins to good by his power. No praise belongs to the sinner for that. Still, true repentance should be deeply moved when it sees God bringing good out of evil. We should not use this thought to lessen our own guilt and weaken repentance. But it can help us be less harsh toward the sins of others and cool down resentful anger. Joseph uses it this way. His brothers did not need to fear revenge for an injury that God’s providence had turned to such great good for him and his family.

He tells them the famine would last five more years, but he was in a position to care for his relatives and friends, Genesis 45:6, 8. That is one of the greatest comforts wealth and power can give to a good man. He also puts the wrong they did him in a gracious light: “God sent me before you,” Genesis 45:5, 7. God’s people are under his special care. Joseph believed his rise was meant less to save Egypt as a nation than to preserve a small family, the family of Israel, for they are the Lord’s own portion. Whatever happens to others, they will be kept safe.

Providence also looks far ahead and reaches far into the future. Long before the years of plenty, God was already preparing to provide for Jacob’s house during the years of famine. The psalmist praises God for this: “He sent a man before them, Joseph” (Psalm 105:17). God sees his work from beginning to end, but we do not (Ecclesiastes 3:11). His plans are wonderful, and his ways reach farther than we can see. There are many hidden parts in his work, yet everything is still guided by his wise rule. So we should not judge anything too soon.

God often works by using opposites. The jealousy and fighting of brothers can destroy families, yet here that very sin became the means of saving Jacob’s family. Joseph could never have become the shepherd and stone, that is, the strong support, of Israel if his brothers had not attacked and hated him. Even those who wickedly sold Joseph into Egypt later received benefit from the good God brought out of it, just as many who helped put Christ to death were later saved through his death.

God must have all the glory for the timely rescue of his people, whatever means he uses. Joseph says plainly, “It was not you who sent me here, but God,” Genesis 45:8. So they must not resent what happened, because it turned out so well. But they also must not boast about it, because it was God’s work, not theirs. They meant to stop Joseph’s dreams by selling him into Egypt, but God used that very act to bring them about. “He does not mean so,” Isaiah 10:7.

Joseph then promises to care for his father and the whole family during the rest of the famine. First, he wants Jacob to quickly hear the news that his son is alive and now holds great power. His brothers must hurry back to Canaan and tell Jacob that Joseph is lord over all Egypt, Genesis 45:9, 13. Joseph knew this would be like soothing oil on Jacob’s gray head, and a strong comfort to his spirit. If anything could make the old man feel young again, this would.

Joseph also wants them to make sure Jacob knows the truth of the news. “Your eyes see that it is my mouth,” Genesis 45:12. If they thought carefully, they could remember his face, his speech, and other familiar signs, and so be convinced.

He is also eager that his father and all his family come down to Egypt, Genesis 45:9. “Come down to me. Do not delay.” He gives them Goshen as their home, that part of Egypt nearest to Canaan, so they would keep in mind the land they would one day leave, Genesis 45:10. He promises, “I will provide for you,” Genesis 45:11. It is the duty of children, if their parents ever need it, to support and help them as fully as they can. No religious excuse can cancel that duty, Mark 7:11. This is one way of showing true religion at home, 1 Timothy 5:4. Our Lord Jesus, like Joseph, has been raised to the highest honor and authority in heaven, and it is his will that all who belong to him should be with him where he is, John 17:24.

This is God’s command: to live with him now in faith, hope, and a heaven-minded walk. This is also his promise, that we will be with him forever.

Then Joseph and his brothers showed their love to one another. He began with Benjamin, his youngest brother, his own full brother, who had been only about a year old when Joseph was taken from the family. They wept on each other’s necks (Genesis 45:14), perhaps because they thought of their mother Rachel, who died giving birth to Benjamin.

Rachel had recently been a source of grief in Jacob’s mind, because he thought he had lost both Joseph and Benjamin. Joseph was gone, and Benjamin was being taken away, too. Now, in a sad reversal, they wept for Rachel because she was no longer there. After Joseph embraced Benjamin, he did the same for all his brothers (Genesis 45:15). Then his brothers spoke with him freely and openly about everything in their father’s house.

When true forgiveness is shown, warm fellowship usually follows.