May 25, 2025: Isaiah 49:23 (Part 5 of 7) - They Shall Bow Down to Thee

“And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.” - Isaiah 49:23

Note to readers: Because of the length of this devotional, I have decided to split it up into 7 parts. This is part 5. I also have a link that contains the entire devotional.

Next we read about Joseph and what happened after he was sold in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard. God tells us in His word that He was with Joseph and prospered him in Potiphar’s house, so much so that Potiphar gave Joseph great responsibility over his house. As the overseer, Joseph was responsible not only for Potiphar’s house but for everything Potiphar had in the house and the field:

“And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand [care]; and he knew not ought [anything] he had, save [except] the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured [handsome in form and appearance].” (Genesis 39:6)

Potiphar was married, and his wife lusted after Joseph and came to him one day and said to him, “Lie with me.” (Genesis 39:7) Instead of agreeing to have sex with her, Joseph refused and told her that his master, meaning her husband, trusted in Joseph with everything he had and that he could not betray her husband by lying with her. Joseph said his master had not held anything back from him except his wife. Then Joseph said to her:

“…because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9)

Joseph acknowledged not only that it would be a wicked thing for him to sleep with his master’s wife, but also, and more importantly, that he would be sinning against God. How many people in our world today think about what sinning would do not only to them but also to people around them and how many actually fear God and what the consequences of their sin may be? Here we see that Joseph was a man of integrity, one who could be trusted. I think that is why God had given those dreams to Joseph when he was a young man. Potiphar’s wife did not like being rejected by Joseph. One day when she was alone in the house with Joseph, she took Joseph’s clothing and told him again to lie with her. This time, Joseph said nothing to her but fled the house, leaving his garment in her hand. She then went and told the men in the house, “See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock [laugh at] us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice: and it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.” (Genesis 39:14-15) When her husband came home, she told him the same thing. Potiphar then had Joseph put in prison and bound. However, as God had done when Joseph first came to Potiphar’s house, God showed mercy to Joseph. The ruler of the prison showed favor to Joseph and put him in charge of all the prisoners:

“The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him [Joseph], and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.” (Genesis 39:23)

While Joseph remained in prison, the Pharaoh of Egypt was offended by his chief butler and chief baker. We aren’t told what had offended Pharaoh but only that he had them put into the same prison as Joseph. Joseph was still in charge of all the prisoners. One night, the butler and baker each dreamt a dream and woke up the next morning feeling dejected. Joseph noticed this and asked why they were so sad. They told him that they both had dreamt a dream and that there was no one there who could interpret what their dreams meant. Before continuing with this account of what happened next, I want to say that I am absolutely in awe of God’s word. I have heard that prophecy is pattern in the Bible, and it is true here, for what we read in Genesis is very similar to what is in the book of Daniel, and that is that God Himself gives the ability to interpret dreams to whom He chooses, to His people, which I will discuss further. Now, let us read Joseph’s response to them:

“…Do not interpretations belong to God?” (Genesis 40:8)

The chief butler told Joseph that he had dreamt about a vine that had three branches that budded and had blossoms bloom and then brought forth grapes. The butler dreamt that he had taken the grapes and squeezed the juice into Pharaoh’s cup, which he gave to Pharaoh. Joseph told the butler that the three branches represented three days, and that within three days, Pharaoh would free the butler from the prison and restore him to his position he once had in Pharaoh’s palace. He also asked the butler to remember him after he would be freed and to mention him to Pharaoh and bring him out of prison. Joseph also told the butler, “For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.” (Genesis 40:15) The chief baker then told Joseph that he had dreamt about three white baskets, meaning three baskets of white bread, on his head. He had dreamt that the top basket had all kinds of baked goods in it for Pharaoh and then the birds ate the baked goods while the basket was on his head. Joseph then told the baker that the baskets were three days and within three days, he would be killed by Pharaoh, who would hang him on a tree and the birds would eat his flesh. Three days later, it was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he took the chief butler and baker out of prison. As Joseph said would happen in the interpretation of their dreams, Pharaoh did indeed restore the butler to his prior position, and the butler gave the cup to Pharaoh, and Pharaoh did indeed hang the baker. Though the butler was restored, he did not remember Joseph but forgot him.

Two years went by and Joseph was still in prison. Pharaoh then dreamt a dream that troubled him when he woke up. He summoned the magicians and wise men to him and told them his dream, but none of them could interpret the dream. The chief butler then told Pharaoh that when he had been angry with him and the chief baker and had imprisoned them, they each had dreamt a dream. The butler told him there had been a young Hebrew man imprisoned with them who had interpreted the dreams and what the Hebrew had said would happen did come to pass. Pharaoh then summoned Joseph and told him he had dreamt a dream and had heard that Joseph could interpret dreams. Now, let us compare Joseph’s reply to Pharaoh to what Daniel the prophet many years later would tell the King of Babylon when the King sought someone to interpret his dream:

“…It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” (Genesis 41:16)

“Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew [declare] unto the king; but there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.” (Daniel 2:27-28)

Both Joseph and Daniel knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that any ability they had to interpret dreams did not come of their own ability but by God alone. May we ourselves remember Joseph and Daniel when it comes to any ability that God has given us. Now, let us continue with Pharaoh’s dream. He dreamt of standing by a river and seeing seven fat, well-fed cows grazing in a meadow, and then he saw seven emaciated cows that came after them, such that he had never seen before in Egypt. He saw the emaciated cows eat the fat cows and afterwards, the emaciated cows still looked unchanged; they were that thin. Pharaoh had awakened from his dream and then dreamt another dream. This time, he saw seven heads of grain that came up from one stalk that were healthy, and then he saw seven withered and thin heads of grain that were blighted, badly damaged, by the east wind, that came up after them. He saw the thin and weak heads of grain devour the seven healthy heads of grain. Joseph then interpreted Pharaoh’s dream:

“And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good kine [cows] are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted [blighted] with the east wind shall be seven years of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh. Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: and there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; and the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. And for that the dream was doubled [repeated] unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.” (Genesis 41:25-32)

Joseph then proposed to Pharaoh that he appoint officers who would take a fifth part (20%) of the land during the plentiful seven years and the food grown in that 20% of land and store it in the cities. Thus, when the seven-year famine came, the people would have food to eat. Pharaoh and all his servants agreed with Joseph’s proposal. Then:

“And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet [as discerning] and wise as thou art: thou shalt be over [in charge of] my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring [signet ring] from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures [garments] of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee [without your consent] shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:38-44)

Once again, but to an even greater extent, Joseph was given great responsibility, but this time it was under Pharaoh. It would be upon Joseph’s shoulders to ensure the food would be collected and stored during the coming seven years of plenty, and Joseph was ready to take on such a responsibility. Next, we are told that, just as had happened when the people living in Judah and Jerusalem were taken into captivity in Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh called Joseph by a different name, an Egyptian name of Zaphnath-paaneah, which the Authorized King James Version Bible that I have says “Probably Egyptian for God speaks and he lives.” (Genesis 41:45) Pharaoh also gave to Joseph a wife named Asenath, whose father was Poti-pherah, priest of On. We are told that at that time, Joseph was 30-years old. Joseph then went out to all of Egypt and gathered up the food which was to be stored during the 7-years of abundance. During this time, Joseph’s wife bore him two sons, whom Joseph named in a way that honored and thanked God:

“And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh [Making Forgetful]: For God, said he hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house. And the name of the second called he Ephraim [Fruitfulness]: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.” (Genesis 41:51-52)

Next came the 7-years of famine, and it was severe not only in Egypt but across all the earth. Joseph then opened the storehouses and sold the food to the Egyptians. In addition, all countries came to Egypt to buy food. The famine even stretched to where Joseph’s father and brothers still lived. Joseph’s father, Jacob had seen that Egypt had food and told his sons to go there to buy food so they would not die. Ten of Joseph’s brothers went, but Jacob kept Benjamin, the youngest son, home with him, for fear that something would happen to him, as it had happened to Joseph. Let us read what happened next:

“And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren [brothers] came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.” (Genesis 42:6)

Here were Joseph’s ten brothers bowing down before him. The same brothers who had mocked Joseph and hated him because of the dreams he had dreamt, and not only had his brothers mocked him but also his father, Jacob. It was his father who had mockingly asked Joseph if he, Joseph’s mother, and all his brothers should bow down to him. Little did they know then that Joseph’s dreams would come to pass. Joseph saw his brothers, but he acted as though he did not know them and spoke harshly to them. He asked them where they had come from and why they had come. Genesis 42:9 tells us, “And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness [exposed parts] of the land ye are come.” His brothers said no, that they were there to buy food and that they were honest men and not spies. They said they are twelve brothers, all the sons of one man who lives in Canaan, and that their youngest brother was with their father and one of their brothers was no more, meaning he had died. Joseph told them again that they were spies and in order to see Pharaoh, they must be tested to determine if they were telling the truth. He told them to send one of their brothers to their father to bring their youngest brother, while the rest of them would be imprisoned. He then put them all into prison for three days. It seems Joseph then had a change of heart:

“And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God…” (Genesis 42:18)

Before we read what Joseph told them to do, I wanted to say that Joseph’s statement to them, “This do, and live; for I fear God” reminds me a lot of what Jesus told a man who was a lawyer who wanted to know what he should do in order to have eternal life. Let us read that account from the book of Luke:

“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted [tested] him, saying, Master [Teacher], what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He [Jesus] said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing [wanting] to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment [clothing], and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound [bandaged] up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow [next day] when he departed, he took out two pence [money], and gave them to the host [innkeeper], and said unto him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.” (Luke 10:25-37)

Jesus showed the man that though the man who was from Jerusalem and went to Jericho was robbed and beaten, with even his clothes taken, and left for dead, was seen by people of his own faith, a priest and a Levite, they did not even attempt to help the man and merely walked to the other side of where he was, ignoring him in his time of need. However, it was the kindness and compassion of a Samaritan man who had helped him in his time of need and had shown him great mercy. I am reminded of this when I read Joseph’s words to his brothers. His own brothers had taken the coat of many colors his father had given him, thrown him into a pit with no water in it, and wanted to let him die in it, and that likely would have happened if his brother Judah hadn’t said they wouldn’t profit anything by letting him die and instead they sold Joseph to the Midianites. One of his brothers, Reuben, went away from his brothers and warned them not to shed Joseph’s blood. Reuben had intended to go back and get him out of the pit, but when he returned, his other brothers had already sold Joseph and he was gone. No mercy was shown to Joseph by his own brothers, and now Joseph, who was second in charge in Egypt and completely in charge of the food supply, had a decision to make: would he show his brothers mercy, though they had shown him none? It is clear by his words to his brothers that he would show them mercy because of what he said to them: “This do, and live; for I fear God.” Joseph knew that he was accountable to Almighty God, and he likely remembered all that God had done for him in his life, and that God had shown him mercy many times.

Joseph then told them to leave one of their brothers there in prison and for the nine other brothers to take food to their families in Canaan and to bring their youngest brother to him, and that they would not die. It was then they realized their guilt in what they had done to Joseph, their own brother:

“And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress is come upon us. And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child [boy]; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required. And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter. And he turned himself about [away] from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed [talked] with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.” (Genesis 42:21-24)

Joseph then instructed his men to fill the sacks of the men of Canaan with grain, and to put the money they had brought to pay for the grain into their sacks, and to give them food for their trip back to Canaan. Joseph’s brothers then loaded the sacks onto their donkeys and left for their home. When they arrived at an inn to spend the night, one of his brothers opened a sack to get food to feed his donkey and saw that some of the money they had brought to pay for the food was in the sack! He told his brothers, and they all were afraid, and said, “What is this that God hath done unto us?” (Genesis 42:28) This is an example of what guilt does to us, when we know that we have done something wrong and we worry, we anticipate the consequences of our wicked actions. When the brothers arrived home, they told their father, Jacob all that had happened and that the ruler of the food supply, who unbeknownst to them was their brother Joseph, had told them to bring back their younger brother, Benjamin, to him, and then he would know that the brothers were honest men and not spies and he would allow them to trade in Egypt for food. As they emptied their sacks of grain, they realized that every brother had money in his sack, and they and their father were afraid. Jacob, however, did not agree to send his son, Benjamin, to Egypt. Reuben told his father that he could slay his own two sons if he did not return from Egypt with Benjamin. Jacob, thinking that, like Joseph, Reuben was also dead, was not willing to take a chance with Benjamin and thus did not agree to send him to Egypt.

Time went on, and Jacob and his family ran out of food. Jacob told his sons to return to Egypt and buy more food. Judah reminded him that they would not be able to buy food from the ruler unless they brought their brother, Benjamin to him. Jacob was upset at them that they had told the man about their brother, and they told him that the man had asked them about their family. They had told him, not knowing that he would want them to bring their brother to him. Judah told his father to send Benjamin with him so that they could go and buy food to save their family. If he did not bring his brother back, then he (Judah) would bear the blame forever. Finally, Jacob agreed and told them to take some of the best fruits, nuts, spices, balm, and myrrh to the man, along with double the money they had previously taken. Then Jacob told them:

“And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” (Genesis 43:14)

Jacob knew that he was at the point where he had to trust God, no matter the outcome. How many of us have ever been in a similar situation? I know I have, and it was a turning point in my life, one that I will never, ever forget. With Jacob in agreement, the nine brothers left for Egypt with their youngest brother, Benjamin, along with the gifts and money. They arrive in Egypt and went to see Joseph. When Joseph saw them, he told the ruler of his house to slay an animal for them to eat, and that they would eat lunch with him at noon. The man invited the brothers into Joseph’s house. However, instead of feeling comfortable about eating with him, the brothers were afraid that he was going to imprison them because of the money that had been put in their sacks when they left Egypt the first time. They decided to address the situation head-on. When they got to Joseph’s house, they told the steward about the money they had found in their sacks when they returned home and that they had brought the money back to return it. They also said they had brought more money to buy more food. The steward then told them:

“…Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.” (Genesis 43:23)

We know that in Genesis 42:25, Joseph had commanded that his brothers’ money be put in their backs before they had returned to their home in Canaan, but here was his steward saying he had their money. Whatever his reason for doing it, it was God that made it happen; thus, the steward spoke the truth. All of Joseph’s brothers’ worrying had been for nothing, for he had intentionally returned their money to them before they left Egypt the first time. How many of us have worried about something that we needn’t worry about? Here was an Egyptian who was telling them about their God - Almighty God - who had given them back their money. Joseph’s steward then brought them into Joseph’s home, and he washed their feet and fed their donkeys. Let us read what happened next:

“And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth. And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he alive? And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads and made obeisance [prostrated themselves]. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.” (Genesis 43:26)

Finally, Joseph was able to see his younger brother, Benjamin. Joseph was filled with so much love in his heart for Benjamin that he left the room and went to his chamber and wept, for his brothers still did not know that he was their brother Joseph. He washed his face and returned to his brothers, for it was time to eat. The Hebrew brothers ate separately from the Egyptians, for we are told it was an abomination to the Egyptians to eat with Hebrews. Joseph gave five times the serving of food to Benjamin than he did to the other brothers. Joseph then told the steward of the house to fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they would hold and to put the men’s money they had brought with them back into the sacks. Joseph also told his steward to put his (Joseph’s) silver cup into Benjamin’s sack. In the early morning, the brothers left for their home with their sacks of food and their donkeys. Now Joseph wanted to test his brothers, for still they had not recognized him as their brother, and he told his steward to go and follow after the men and when he caught up to them, he was to say to them, “Wherefore have ye rewarded [repaid] evil for good? Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth [practises divination]? ye have done evil in so doing.” (Genesis 44:4-5)

The steward did as Joseph commanded him. When he caught up to the brothers, he asked them what Joseph had told him to ask them. The brothers asked him why he would ask them such a thing, and said they had returned the money they had previously found in their sacks the first time and asked him why would they steal from his lord’s house silver or gold. They told him that if the cup was found in any one of the sacks, then the one who has the sack should die and they would be his lord’s slaves. The steward said to them that if the cup is found in a sack, the one whose sack it was would be his slave but the other brothers would be blameless. He then searched the brothers’ sacks, starting from the oldest brother to the youngest brother, and he found the cup in Benjamin’s sack. His brothers then tore their clothes, and they returned to Egypt. Judah and his brothers fell before Joseph, who asked them why did they do what they had done. Judah replied to Joseph, saying:

“…What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.” (Genesis 44:16)

Joseph replied by saying that only Benjamin, the one in whose sack the cup was found, needed to stay and be his servant and the rest of his brothers could leave. Judah then pleaded with Joseph and told him that it would literally kill his father if Benjamin remained with Joseph as his servant, for Benjamin was the only surviving son that remains from his mother. Judah told Joseph of how Jacob had reluctantly agreed to let Benjamin come with them the second time in order to buy food and save their family. Judah then asked Joseph to let him remain as his servant and let Benjamin return to his father. Joseph had reached the point that he could no longer conceal his identify from his brothers. He was torn up inside seeing the anguish his brothers were going through and that they loved their father. Finally, he told the Egyptians who were with him to leave the room, and he was left alone with his brothers. Joseph cried out loud and the Egyptians in his house heard him. Joseph then said to his brothers:

“…I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled by his presence. And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing [plowing] nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity [remnant] in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry [delay] not: and thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: and there will I nourish [provide for] thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty. And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you. And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither. And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.” (Genesis 45:3-14)

What an amazing account we just read of how God works in our lives! First, Joseph told his brothers not to be angry with themselves because they had sold him because God had used their actions to preserve life, to preserve the lineage of Jacob. God sees what we cannot see, and God knows what we cannot know. God knew before Jacob and his sons were even born that it would be through Jacob that Messiah would eventually come, and God made that possible through Joseph. It was Joseph who would be sold and taken to Egypt, where God would prosper him in all he did, even in the times of his bondage in prison. It was God who would ensure that Jacob’s family would not die of starvation during the 7-year famine, and He did that through Joseph. Joseph could have been bitter and could have hated his brothers for what they did to him. He could have had them killed or permanently imprisoned. He could have said something like “let them starve, for they cared nothing about me,” but he didn’t. He wasn’t out for vengeance; no, because he loved them and he showed mercy to them. Though he did not reveal himself to them when they came to Egypt the first time, it was because he was testing them. Through this testing, he saw that they truly loved their father Jacob, and also their youngest brother Benjamin. Joseph saw that Judah had told Jacob that he would take the blame forever if anything happened to Benjamin, and that Judah was also willing to give up his life and be Joseph’s servant so that Benjamin could be returned to Jacob. Joseph also knew and plainly stated that it was God who used him in order to preserve their family line, and he knew that because he had remembered his dreams that he had dreamt of his brothers and his family. Through Joseph’s difficult times in his life, we have a lesson that we can learn from him, and that is to trust in God no matter what happens in our lives. Things may happen to us that we don’t understand why they are happening, but we must trust that there is a greater purpose that God has for us, one that is beyond what our eyes can see and beyond which our minds can comprehend.

As I am editing above what I wrote previously, I realize that the same words also could apply to Jesus Christ. The first time He came to earth, His own brethren, the ones He came to save - the Jews - betrayed Him. They mocked and scoffed at Him. While Jesus never Himself outright said to the Jews who did not believe in Him as their Messiah, their Savior, that He is the Messiah, He did agree in at least two instances with two people who were seeking their Messiah. One instance is the Samaritan woman at the well, whom we read about earlier, said she knew that Messiah, who is called Christ, was coming and when He does, He would tell them all things. Jesus responded to her, saying, ”I that speak unto thee am he.” (John 4:25) A second time was when Jesus asked His disciples, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” They said that some people say He is John the Baptist, some Elijah, some Jeremiah, while others said He is one of the prophets. Jesus then asked them, “But whom say ye that I am?” Peter, being full of faith in Jesus said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:13-16) Jesus responded to Peter, who was called “Simon,” saying:

“…Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17)

Like Joseph had tested his brothers and didn’t tell them who he was, Jesus didn’t just come outright and tell people who He is but instead waited to see if they were looking for the Christ to come, and if they believed in Him as the Messiah, the Christ. Just as Joseph saved not only Egypt, but more importantly, his own family line, during the 7-year famine, Jesus will save a one-third remnant of the Jews during the 7-year time of Jacob’s trouble. Just as Joseph had to suffer all that He did in order to save his family line and to bring glory to God, so too did Jesus suffer all that He did to save His people, which are not just the Jews but all people who put our faith and trust in Him to save us, and to bring Him glory. As Joseph revealed himself when his brothers came to him a second time, so too when Jesus comes to earth the second time, He will reveal Himself to His brethren, the remnant of Israel. As Joseph showed love, grace, and mercy towards his brothers when he revealed to them that he was their brother, instead of holding the remnant of Israel accountable for all that they did to Him, Jesus will show them love, grace, and mercy when they realize who He is and that they had had Him crucified:

“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirt of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness [grieves] for his firstborn. In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadad-rimmon in the valley of Megiddo.” (Zechariah 12:10-11)

Returning to Joseph, in Genesis 45:16, we read that the Egyptian servants in Pharaoh’s house heard that the men who had come from Canaan were Joseph’s brothers and that it pleased not only them but also Pharaoh:

“And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade [load] your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan; and take [bring] your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat [best] of the land. Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.” (Genesis 45:17-20)

Joseph did as Pharaoh commanded him to do, and he also gave his brothers changes of clothing. However, to Benjamin he gave 300 pieces of silver and five changes of clothing. His brothers left Egypt, and when they arrived at their home in Canaan, they told their father that his son, their brother, Joseph was alive! They told him not only was he alive, but he was governor over all the land of Egypt. Scripture tells us that Jacob did not believe them. They then told him the words of Joseph and showed him the wagons Joseph had sent to bring Jacob to him. After seeing all that Joseph had sent:

“And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die. And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac. And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes [will close your eyes when you die].” (Genesis 45:28-46:4)

Almighty God had just reiterated to Jacob the promise He had previously made to Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham, and to his father, Isaac, which was that He would make their descendants into a great nation. Now God was telling Jacob to go into Egypt but that he would bring him up again, meaning that God would bring Jacob and his descendants back into the land of Canaan that He had given them. Genesis 46:8-27 tells us the names of each son and Jacob’s daughter, Dinah, and the names of all of their sons who came with Jacob to Egypt, for a total of 70 people. Jacob then sent Judah to Joseph to direct him to the land of Goshen.

“And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.” (Genesis 46:29-30)

The words that Jacob spoke to his son, Joseph remind me of the words spoken by a man named Simeon many years later when he finally saw the face of his Savior, Jesus Christ, when He was brought to the temple by Joseph and Mary:

“And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” (Luke 2:25-32)

What a wonderful reunion that must have been for Jacob and Joseph! God had made it possible for Jacob to be reunited with his beloved son in a way that no one would have possibly expected. Joseph then told his family that he would go tell Pharaoh that his family had arrived and that from the time of their birth, they have been shepherds and that they brought their flocks with them. He said that when Pharaoh calls them to him and asks them what is their occupation, they should tell him the truth so that they could live in the land of Goshen. Joseph said that every shepherd was considered an abomination to the Egyptians, and Goshen would be a place where they could dwell. Joseph then went to Pharaoh and told him that his family had arrived. He also took five of his brothers to Pharaoh, who asked them what was their occupation, and they told him they were shepherds and had brought their flocks because the land where they lived was barren. Pharaoh told Joseph to let his family dwell in the best of the land of Egypt in Goshen. Pharaoh also told Joseph to let his brothers be rulers over Pharaoh’s cattle, as well as their own flocks. Joseph then presented Jacob to Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh asked Jacob how old he was, and Jacob answered that “few and evil” were his days, and that he had not lived as long as his fathers (Genesis 47:9). Jacob’s father, Isaac was 180-years old when he died (Genesis 35:28) and Abraham was 175-years old (Genesis 25:7). Clearly and understandably, Jacob’s life was deeply affected after his other sons had told him that Joseph had died and Jacob had been separated from him for all those years.

Joseph took his father and his brothers to the best of the Egyptian land, “in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.” (Genesis 47:11). As Joseph had correctly interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, the famine continued in Egypt and in Canaan, and it grew even more severe. It was so severe that the people of Egypt and Canaan spent all the money they had to buy grain from Joseph on behalf of Pharaoh. When they ran out of money, they sold all their livestock for grain. When they had no more money or livestock, they sold their land and themselves to be servants to Pharaoh in exchange for seed to sow, except for the priests who retained their land, as they were given a ration of food by Pharaoh to eat. Joseph also had the people move from the rural areas into the cities. Joseph told them to sow the seed and that a fifth part, or 20%, of whatever they reaped must be given to Pharaoh, in addition to making it a law. The Bible tells us:

“And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years. And the time drew night that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt: But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said. And he said, Swear unto me. And he swore unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed’s head.” (Genesis 47:27-31)

What Jacob had Joseph do when he had Joseph put his hand under Jacob’s thigh was the ancient Hebrew way of a man making an oath to another man. Gotquestions.org has an article that explains this further. (See: https://www.gotquestions.org/hand-under-thigh.html) Jacob wanted to be taken back to the land of Canaan after he died, and Joseph took an oath, promising he would do that for his father.  Some time later, it was told to Joseph that his father was sick, and he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and went to see Jacob:

“And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, and said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed [descendants] after thee for an everlasting possession. And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon; they shall be mine. And thy issue [offspring], which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.” (Genesis 48:3-6)