Genesis 45:14 says, And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. Joseph and Benjamin hugged each other and wept tears of joy. Benjamin believed that Joseph had been dead all these years, since I am sure he was not a part of the plot to sell Joseph into slavery. We should be just as joyful when someone who was dead in sin comes to life in Christ. Verse fifteen adds, Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him. Joseph then kissed and wept with all his brothers, even though they had sold him into slavery. We should rejoice just as much when one person comes to Christ as we do when another one does, even if one of them has harmed us and the other hasn't. Joseph and his brothers then talked with each other. Once we are reunited with God through Christ, we need to talk with God always. Verse sixteen declares, And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, Joseph’s brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. When Pharaoh heard the news about Joseph's brothers, he was pleased. Though Joseph was powerful, he was still under Pharaoh's authority, so he needed Pharaoh's blessing. No matter how powerful we may think we are, if we are followers of Christ we are still under God's authority and need His blessing in all that we do. Verse seventeen adds, And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan; Verse eighteen continues, And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land. Pharaoh told Joseph to have his brothers return home, load all their possessions, come to Egypt and Pharaoh would give them the best of the land. When we come to Christ, we must come with all that we have and God will give us the best of land, which is our heavenly home. Verse nineteen states, Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. Pharaoh said that this was a command to Joseph, and he was going to provide the means for everyone to return. We are likewise commanded by God to call everyone to Him, and He will provide the means for them to get there, which is the cross of Christ. Verse twenty declares, Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours. Pharaoh said that Joseph's brothers were not to be concerned about their stuff, because the land of Egypt was theirs. We should never attempt to hang on to the things of this world if they get between God and us. Verse twenty-one states, And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. Joseph's brothers were given everything they needed to get home and back to Egypt. They could have still gone and not returned though. God gives every person what is necessary to come to Him, but it is always possible to not accept His gift of salvation. Sometimes, the things of the world just seem to be more important to people. Verse twenty-two adds, To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment. Joseph gave each brother enough to meet their needs, but to Benjamin he gave much more. I believe this was still a test to see how the other brothers would react. God will meet the needs of each individual, and there is never a need for us to be jealous if it seems someone else is being blessed more. Verse twenty-three continues, And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way. This simply tells us that Joseph made sure that his father would have ample provisions for the trip, just as we know that God will provide us with everything we need to come to Him. Verse twenty-four says, So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way. Joseph sent his brothers away with it warning to not fall by the way. As followers of Christ, we need to be careful that we don't fall out by the way. When we are born again through Christ, we are forever saved, but we can still fall into sin along the way if we are not careful. Verse twenty-five states, And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, His brothers did as Joseph told them to do. Verse twenty-six adds, And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not. Their father would not believe that Joseph was alive. Of course, Joseph's brothers, except Benjamin I believe, had known it was possible that Joseph was alive all this time, but I doubt they expected him to be in a position of such power. Verse twenty-seven adds, And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived: We are told that his sons told Israel what Joseph had said and he was revived. They still didn't tell him what they had done to Joseph all those yerse before. When a person accepts Christ as their Savior, they should be revived, and they don't need to know the sins of any other Christian. And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die. Israel said he had heard enough and knew that Joseph was alive and that he would go see him before he died. When a person hears the good news that Christ is alive, it should be enough. Then, the only way that anyone who hears the good news can be saved is if that person goes to Christ while he or she is still alive.
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