Family Dynamics
1 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons…, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”
3 Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him.
6 Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. 7 As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them.
“Where do you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.” 8 Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.
– Genesis 42:1a-4, 6-8
3 Now Israel [Jacob] loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
– Genesis 37:3-4
33 “Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. 34 How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come on my father.”
– Genesis 44:33-34
26 Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, let’s sell him… after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.
– Genesis 37:26
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.
– Genesis 45:4
8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.
– Genesis 45:8
1) Joseph has forgiven his brothers – he does NOT seek revenge
2) Joseph demonstrates true consideration for his brothers – he doesn’t want them to feel distressed or be angry for what they did.
3) Joseph sees beyond his circumstances and sees God’s hand in all of this. Joseph views all that’s happened to him with God’s perspective: this was God’s plan for good to come out of it.
9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have.
– Genesis 45:9-10