Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

Genesis 45

• See: Comparisons-Joseph and Jesus
• The Seven Year Tribulation is called the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble”. Both are associated with seven years of famine. Both result in the revelation of Israel’s “Son of the Father”.
• Jacob’s name was changed to Israel by God. Jacob is used in a worldly sense, since he was a manipulator. The second name “Israel” is spiritual and refers to Jacob’s future as a nation of chosen people. Both names are used in this chapter.
  How can this be? Who could predict that Jacob and his sons would become a nation? Only God who knows and directs the future of this singular biblical person called Jacob.
• God uses the story of Joseph to tell the story of the coming Jewish Messiah, Jesus who was Jacob’s creator and will become his descendant.
• About the title: Joseph tells his brothers “behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth (me!) that speaks to you.” They Real-ize their brother.

Joseph Revealed to His Brothers

Genesis 45:¹ Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.

Genesis 45:² And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.

Genesis 45:³ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence.

Genesis 45:⁴ And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

Genesis 45:⁵ But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God (‘ĕlōhîm) sent me before you to preserve life.

Genesis 45:⁶ For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

Genesis 45:⁷ And God (‘ĕlōhîm) sent me before you to preserve a posterity (remnant) for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

• Both Joseph and Jesus provide a great deliverance for the Jews.

Genesis 45:⁸ So now it was not you who sent (šālaḥ=to separate) me here, but God (‘ĕlōhîm); and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

• Joseph was separated from his family in order to do God’s will. (Holy means to be separated.)

Genesis 45:⁹ “Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God (‘ĕlōhîm) has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry (delay).

Genesis 45:¹⁰ You shall dwell in the land of Goshen (a land for the family of God), and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have.

• The family is “separated” from the rest of Egypt. (Holy means to be separated.)
  
• Personal application: Dwell in God’s family and be near to Jesus. Your entire family and your belongings; Then, He will provide for you AND your family, lest you come to the poverty of death.
  
  • Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
  • James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
    
• Note: When Joseph said “near to me”, it is the same Hebrew word in Ruth 2:20=He is near of kin to us ie: a Kinsman Redeemer.
• And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin ^H7138 unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
• Goshen Hebrew Meaning = “drawing near”

 Genesis 45:¹¹ There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine.” ’

• In the seven year tribulation, (the last kingdom on earth before Jesus sets up His kingdom), there will be a famine of God’s Word (Jesus).

Genesis 45:¹² “And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you.

• They Real-Eyes their Deliverer, just as the Jews will at the end of the tribulation when Jesus returns:
  • Hos 5:15 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.
• The seven year tribulation is Daniel’s 70th week and as such, God is focusing once again on the Jews; albeit, pulling the entire world into God’s wrath against the (gentile) nations.

Genesis 45:¹³ So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.”

Genesis 45:¹⁴ Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.

Genesis 45:¹⁵ Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him.

Genesis 45:¹⁶ 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.

Genesis 45:¹⁷ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan.

Genesis 45:¹⁸ 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 (The choicest produce) of the land.

• As with the family of Joseph, also the family of Jesus. As co-heirs with Jesus His family will receive the best.

Genesis 45:¹⁹ 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.

Genesis 45:²⁰ Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ”

Genesis 45:²¹ Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them carts (wagons), according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey.

• When the name Israel is used, it is in reference to God’s prophecy of the Jews becoming a nation, which we know today as “Israel” (aka Jacob).

Genesis 45:²² 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.

Genesis 45:²³ And he sent to his father these things: ten (assumed male) donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father for the journey.

Genesis 45:²⁴ So he sent his brothers away, and they departed; and he said to them, “See that you do not become troubled along the way.”

• See that you do not fight among yourselves along the way – or…
• Be confident -you will be treated well in Egypt – or…
• Don’t worry, I will not exact revenge on you and your families – or…
• Don’t worry, I won’t tell our father that it was all of you who sold me into slavery – or…
• All of the above.

Genesis 45:²⁵ Then they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father.

• He who was penned as “Israel” is now called “Jacob” (the first is spiritual, the second is worldly)

Genesis 45:²⁶ And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” And Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them.

• Saying Joseph was dead didn’t make him dead. Saying Jesus isn’t alive doesn’t make Him dead. Jesus is alive and among us.

 Genesis 45:²⁷ But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.

• What happens when the spirit is revived? The worldly Jacob once again is called “Israel”.

Genesis 45:²⁸ Then Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

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