GENESIS 45
16 When the report was heard in Pharaoh’s house, “Joseph’s brothers have come,” it pleased Pharaoh and his servants. 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.’ 19 And you, Joseph, are commanded to say, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Have no concern foryour goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”21 The sons of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. 22 To each and all of them he gave a change of clothes, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five changes of clothes. 23 To his father he sent as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.”25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. 26 And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.” – Genesis 45:16-28
GENESIS 45 ISRAEL’S JOY TO LEARN JOSEPH IS ALIVE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
After Pharaoh and his household learned about Joseph’s family
He generously provided for the brothers to go back and get their father
All of Egypt is under Joseph’s disposal and can have all his family back
Israel was overjoyed to know his favorite son is still alive.
After all those years of suffering and grief over Joseph’s absence has now ended. God has used all the sins of Israel’s sons to Joseph to turn it into blessings. He used it for good so that Joseph can be the link for them to see God’s blessings poured on Israel’s family.
REFLECTION
- How can the story of Israel’s family bring hope to all sinners on earth?
