# 4 2024 Dev. Ge. 45. God’s Purposes! Read all of chapter forty five first . We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Ge. 45:7 “But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”
Chapter 45 is the culmination of Joseph’s testing his brothers from the first time they came to him for food. Joseph was convinced that his brothers had changed and decided to forgive. He also saw God’s hand in all that had happened to him. That is a lesson for us, as Christians, we know God uses us but there are times when God blesses us by revealing how we are used by Him.
Vs.1-7 Joseph comes out to his brothers, he had wanted to do that from the beginning but God used him to test his brothers. It seems God wanted to bring to light their awful deed of selling their own brother, God gave them plenty to think about.
Joseph reveals his true identity. “But his brothers were not abled to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.” Imagine what was going through their minds at that moment!
Joseph reassures them; “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…to save your lives by a great deliverance.’”
Vs. 8-11 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.” The events in Joseph’s life are nothing but fantastic, God is in control from the beginning; his dreams, his brothers jealousy, the caravan that came along, Potiphar’s house, the jail, Pharaoh’s servants in jail with him, the dreams, Pharaoh’s dream, the famine, all that to bring the Israelis down to Egypt so that they become a nation, protected from enemies and from spiritual attacks by Satan. Think about that!
Vs.12-15 Finally, Joseph and his brothers are reconciled, it was a great relief and a wonderful event for them all.
Vs.16-20 “When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased.” Here God adds blessing upon blessing, Pharaoh orders Joseph to bring his family to Egypt and provides transportation as well. This part of God’s plane is almost complete.
Vs.21-24 “So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels[b] of silver and five sets of clothes.”
What Irony, they had striped Joseph of his multicolored coat but now Joseph sends them off in new clothes and with love.
Joseph adds; ‘Don’t quarrel on the way!’” It is a command but the Hebrew word used here is normally translated as, don’t be anxious, upset, or fearful.
Vs.25-28 Now they had to convince Jacob, that Joseph was alive. “They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.’ Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.” Can you imagine the brothers explaining how this could be possible? God had to bring about major reconciliation and forgiveness. It would seem impossible, but with God it is possible, when we let Him work in our lives. This is what we take away from this story; GOD is in control and he wants good for his people, and he does brings only good for His people even as we go through difficult times God is accomplishing his purposes!
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