Genesis 45—Seeing God Through the Pain

This chapter. Man, it just undoes me. Talk about restoration. Talk about forgiveness, maturity, reconcilliation, grace. God breathed heavy in this chapter.

Joseph could no longer keep his composure in front of all his attendants, so he called out, “Send everyone away from me!” No one was with him when he revealed his identity to his brothers. But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and also Pharaoh’s household heard it.  Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But they could not answer him because they were terrified in his presence. Genesis 45:1-3

Some contradicting emotions in the room! In this corner, we have Joseph and his very loud weeping. And in the other corner, Joseph’s brothers staring in terrified silence. Both parties were looking at the same situation and having polar opposite reactions to it.

Joseph wept because he knew what God had done. The brothers were terrified because they knew what they had done.

I’ll just let that sit right there.

The view from Joseph’s perspective is nothing short of stunning. Seeing God through all of the pain he experienced. Oh if that could be said of us! That as we survey the pain of rejection, betrayal, and false accusations that we have endured, we would see God bringing diamonds out of the coal. Bringing life from what felt like our death.

When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace, “Joseph’s brothers have come,” Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and go on back to the land of Canaan. Get your father and your families, and come back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you can eat from the richness of the land.’ You are also commanded to tell them, ‘Do this: Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your dependents and your wives and bring your father here. Do not be concerned about your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ Genesis 45:17-20

For two decades Jacob lived with the loss of his favorite son, whom he believed to be dead. But now, in the middle of a famine, he’s about to experience the return of what he never thought he’d have again. But he won’t just receive Joseph back. He will get all that God had been doing with Joseph over twenty years. The favor, the provision, the best of all the land of Egypt. Jacob will now reap the fruit of God’s work in his son’s life.

And isn’t that just like God, to give back more than we’ve lost? Yes, it is just like Him.

And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave job twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10)

Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double. (Zechariah 9:12)

Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy. (Isaiah 61:7)

At the end of this chapter, what is it that I come away wanting? Glad you asked and I’d love to tell you.

I want to weep because I see what God has done, instead of over what I have done.

I want to know, believe, trust in, walk with, and lean on the God who gives me more than I could possibly lose.

And I want God to be in view no matter where I am or what it looks like there.