Genesis 45:16 – 24 “When the news reached Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do as follows: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan. Then bring your father and your families and return to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat from the fat of the land.’ You are also directed to tell them: ‘Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your young children and your wives, and bring your father and come back. But pay no regard to your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”
So the sons of Israel did as they were told. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had instructed, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. He gave new garments to each of them, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes. And he sent to his father the following: ten donkeys loaded with the best of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provisions for his father’s journey. Then Joseph sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way!”
By this time, Pharaoh realizes that God has used Joseph to save Egypt. Nothing is too good for Joseph’s family, and Pharaoh and his servants are pleased. This statement is highly significant because Joseph was not an Egyptian and could easily have been a target of court intrigue. But evidently Joseph has handled himself wisely. Pharaoh orders royal arrangements for moving Joseph’s family to Egypt. The one jarring note is Joseph’s warning to his brothers that they not quarrel on the way. Joseph may have forgiven his brothers, but he knows that they may not have forgiven one another!
v. 25 – 28 “So the brothers went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. “Joseph is still alive,” they said, “and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!” But Jacob was stunned, for he did not believe them. However, when they relayed all that Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob was revived. “Enough!” declared Israel. “My son Joseph is still alive! I will go to see him before I die.”
God is blessing Joseph and his entire family. Joseph gets to see his aged father. Jacob will be reunited with Joseph. The family will be saved and will prosper in Egypt for many years. Sometimes there really are happy endings.
APPLICATION: Forgiveness frees us up for the good things God wants to do for us. In Jeremiah 29:11 – 13 God says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
We can only seek God and find him when we are no longer holding grudges against someone else. As long as we are refusing to forgive someone else, we are the biggest hindrance to God blessing us. Joseph’s willingness to forgive his family opened the way for magnificent blessings.
PRAYER: Father God, please show us anyone whom we need to forgive and anyone from whom we need to seek forgiveness. Thank you for your great and mighty promises! Thank you that you are faithful and true and that you honor your Word. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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