Year 1, Week 7, Day 4 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 7, Day 4

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Genesis 44-45.

Today’s reading provides a climax to the account of Joseph begun in Genesis 37. Genesis 44 describes Joseph’s design of trapping his brothers by secretly placing his silver cup in his brother Benjamin’s sack. Joseph seems to still be testing his brothers in order to decipher what kind of men they have become. Judah emerges as the true leader-a sacrificial leader-at this point. Genesis 45 reports Joseph’s disclosure to his brothers as to his true identity. Joseph offers forgiveness to his stunned brothers and arranges for his father, Jacob, to be brought to Egypt to weather the famine. Jacob is refreshed with the news that his son, Joseph, is alive and that he will soon see him.

What struck me from today’s reading is the glimpses of reconciliation that it reveals. The LORD shows us some important features of reconciliation as a preview for the reconciling work that He will provide through Jesus Christ: “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth…Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!” (Psalm 80:1-3). The reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers is a picture of how the LORD restores His relationship with us.

The first feature of reconciliation that today’s reading gives us a glimpse of is the sacrificial foundation required for reconciliation. When wrongs are done and harms are inflicted, true reconciliation requires a payment-a sacrificial payment. The need for this sacrificial payment is pictured in today’s reading. Joseph did not operate with a sense of revenge toward his brothers, but he did employ a scheme to assess their character. By having his silver cup placed in Benjamin’s sack, Joseph provided an opportunity for his brothers to abandon Benjamin as dead, just as they had done to him some twenty plus years earlier. Were the brothers still like that? Judah emerged and acknowledged their collective guilt before God: "What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord's servants, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found.” (Genesis 44:16). Judah was declaring that this present situation was the LORD’s doing in response to the wrong they had done twenty years earlier.

But Joseph pressed the test further providing the brothers an out as the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. Only Benjamin will be held guilty. But Judah offered himself as a sacrificial substitute: “Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers. For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would find my father.” (Genesis 44:33-34). Judah was a different man; the love that he now has for his father meant that he would be willing to lay down his life: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17). Joseph was able to see that his brothers were indeed in a different place. They acknowledged their guilt and sought to make amends.

The second feature of reconciliation that today’s reading gives us a glimpse of is the means that forgiveness plays in reconciliation. The bombshell revelation in today’s reading concerning who this Egyptian Lord actually is, startles the brothers: “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?…“I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.” (Genesis 45:3-4). The brothers have been caught; indeed they have been found out by God. But as the guilty brothers stood before their powerful brother, Joseph declared: “And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.” (Genesis 45:5). Over twenty years of wrongs have been cleared from the record, Joseph offered forgiveness leading to reconciliation: "For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.” (Psalm 86:5). Joseph was able to forgive his brothers because he understood the LORD’s hand in all of the events of his life. And the brothers were able to experience forgiveness from their brother for he was alive. Thus, they gladly announced to their father: “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 45:26).

Judah pictures the reconciling work of God toward sinners as a preview of One who will come from the line of Judah: “in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19). And as Christ was raised, his people find surety of sin’s pardon: “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:17).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe