Genesis 45

Here in these verses God’s plan is fully revealed. He was working for the good of Jacob’s family and their descendants and ultimately—through one of those descendants, Jesus Christ—for the good of the whole world (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28). Through all this, then, God’s purpose was to accomplish a truly great deliverance (verse 7).

We need to see all of history, in its every detail, as a working out of God’s great and eternal purpose. Everything that happens in the universe happens according to the set purpose of God’s will (Acts 2:22–24; Ephesians 1:4–5,11–12).

8–13 Part of God’s purpose was that Joseph should be father (chief advisor) to Pharaoh and ruler of all Egypt¹³⁰ (verse 8). God placed Joseph in a position to settle his entire family in the most fertile land of Egypt, the region of Goshen located in the delta of the Nile River (verse 10).

14–20 After many tears and embraces, the brothers returned to their father Jacob bearing numerous gifts and taking with them empty carts in which to transport their wives and children back to Egypt. Pharaoh himself was involved in the planning: he told them not to bring back any of their belongings because the best of all Egypt would be theirs (verse 20).

21–24 Joseph gave each brother new clothing and to his younger brother Benjamin he gave five sets of clothes and much silver. He sent generous gifts to his father Jacob. His parting words to his brothers were: “Don’t quarrel on the way” (verse 24). Joseph knew they might begin to blame each other for what had happened in the past, and he didn’t want anything to hinder or sour their joyful meeting with their father.

25–28 Jacob’s initial reaction to his sons arrival was one of stunned disbelief (verse 26). Only after he heard their entire story and saw the carts and gifts Joseph had sent did he become convinced (verse 28).

Throughout Scripture we are shown people responding to God’s grace with either belief (faith) or disbelief (lack of faith). Here Jacob demonstrated both—first disbelief and then belief. If Jacob had continued to disbelieve, the family would have remained in Canaan and possibly have perished; they would never have enjoyed the blessings of Egypt. Our faith unlocks for us the blessings of God; our lack of faith deprives us of those blessings. So often our faith is like Jacob s, unsteady and unsure. We are like the father described in Mark 9:24, who said to Jesus, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” Whenever we are tempted to disbelieve, let us pray that our spirit might be revived, as Jacob’s was (verse 27), and that with God’s help we might overcome our disbelief.