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16 Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, "Joseph’s brothers have come." So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well. 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Say to your brothers, 'Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. 18 Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land. 19 Now you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. 20 Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.'" 21 Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. 22 He gave to all of them, to each man, changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments. 23 And he sent to his father these things: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father for the journey. 24 So he sent his brothers away, and they departed; and he said to them, "See that you do not become troubled along the way." ~ Genesis 45:16-24
Today, we continue our study of Genesis 45 where we are witnessing the unfolding of an amazing story before our very eyes. At this point in the narrative, Joseph has been reunited with his once estranged and utterly shocked brothers. The three steps toward forgiveness have been realized, including the injury, the debt incurred by the injury and the cancellation of the debt. Forgiveness has prevailed and this story provides a picture of what we all desperately need in order to enter into a personal relationship with God. Without the forgiveness of our sin, we are doomed to an eternity in Hell.
In v.16 of today's passage we read, "Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, 'Joseph’s brothers have come.' So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well."
During the previous seven years of plenty Joseph was diligent to store up grain for the seven years of famine that he knew was coming. Due to Joseph's obedience his brothers benefitted greatly. The literal translation of the beginning of this first verse is: "And the voice was heard." The message was presented to a pleased Pharaoh. Since Pharaoh had given to Joseph the title of Zaphnath Paaneah which means "the Savior of the World," the picture was made complete. Joseph, yet again, pictured the Lord Jesus who pleased the Father in all that He did. It all worked out because Joseph was perfectly obedient to the call of God upon his life.
In v.17-20 of today's passage we read, "17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, say to your brothers, 'Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. 18 Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land. 19 Now you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. 20 Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.'"
I have always prayed that the Lord would give those whom I love favor in the eyes of those with whom and for whom they have worked. Here God gave favor to Joseph's brothers because of their relationship with Joseph. The believer in Christ has favor with God only because of the work of Christ on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin.
Pharaoh, among other things, gave to Joseph's brother's "grain" which in the Bible always pictures the word of God. The written word always tells us of the Living Word who is the Lord Jesus Christ. Contrary to popular belief, the Bible is not simply a collection of ethical principles, moral platitudes, or abstract life lessons. The Bible has one ultimate plan, one ultimate plot, one ultimate champion, one ultimate King, the Lord Jesus Christ. The goal of the Bible is to usher us into a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus.
Joseph's story had come full circle. The dreams he had when he was yet a teenager came to pass and his brothers bowed down before him. And, since Pharaoh had given the command to Joseph for his brothers to load all their things up and return to Canaan, Joseph could not be held guilty for breaking a previously given command. Pharaoh which means "Great House" pictured God’s rule and authority and because of their relationship with Joseph, Pharaoh showed favor to Joseph's brothers. Pictured here is the fact that there will come the day when "at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth."
In v.21-24 of today's passage we read, "21 Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. 22 He gave to all of them, to each man, changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments. 23 And he sent to his father these things: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father for the journey. 24 So he sent his brothers away, and they departed; and he said to them, 'See that you do not become troubled along the way.'"
The care Pharaoh provided for Joseph's brother picture for us the care that God the Father will provide Israel during the Tribulation. In Revelation 12:13-14 we read, "Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent." Just as Jacob and his family were given provisions and were protected, so will God protect and provide for Israel during the last three and a half years of the Tribulation. The symbolism of the wings of the eagle are given to signify God’s divine care. The wilderness that Israel will flee to has long been assumed to be the caves at Petra Jordan.
The numbers mentioned in today's passage are significant. Joseph gave to Benjamin 300 pieces of silver. The last time a specific amount of money was given was when Joseph was sold by his brothers for 20 pieces of silver. So, Benjamin was given 15 times the amount for which Joseph was sold. Since the number 15 represents resurrection, the picture here is that of the resurrected Christ.
The last time 10 animals were noted as being loaded with goods and sent to someone was when Abraham sent his oldest servant to find a wife for his son Isaac. Like then, there is a reason why the number 10 is accentuated here. The number 10 is the number for fullness. These 10 donkeys represent a fullness of what is being sent which includes the "good things of Egypt." The 10 donkeys sent from Pharaoh picture what we have in Christ now which will be given to the Jews in the future.
The 10 female donkeys were then loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father for the journey. Jacob consistently pictured the unsaved people of Israel in Genesis. To them they are now given grain. The word grain in v.23 is not the one used in the past 4 chapters. Instead it literally was "purified grain." The kernel was cracked and the grain was purified. Throughout this narrative, the grain has consistently pictured the word of God. During the Tribulation, Israel will possess the pure grain which includes the New Testament. The grain, or, the Word of God, always point us to the Lord Jesus Christ. The written Word of God always reveals to us the Living Word of God.
Joseph gave to his brothers one final directive before they departed for Canaan, he said to them, "See that you do not become troubled along the way." Joseph knew his brothers and he knew that it is hard to improve on depravity. Though guilt had done its work in Joseph's brothers' hearts and even though they were forgiven, they were still capable of the worst. We are no different. We know on the authority of God's Word that our past, present and future sins are forgiven, yet we have the command to not feed the flesh which are the sinful desires within us. Not many can carry wealth and not lose our spiritual equilibrium. Sudden wealth or promotion has a way of making us arrogant if we are not careful. As believers we must trust one another but we must be careful to never trust the flesh of the old man.
