The Story of God: Family Reunion
August 20, 2017
We were in Disneyland when the horrific events of Charlottesville took place last Saturday. Since we were not around media until Tuesday evening, it took me a little while to get up to speed with the fallout from that event. The media has had a heyday telling us what to think and feel about all of this and continues to stir the pot of division in our country. But in all of this, no one speaks to what God has to say. And if there were ever a time when we need to hear from God, it is now. After all, it was Samuel the Prophet who once said, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 In Psalm 33, the Psalmist wrote: From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.
So its obvious that God is fully aware of the hatred and division that is being stirred up in this nation, and HE knows the heart of every man, woman and child in this country. He knows your fears, your hopes, your longings and your dreams. And it is not His will for relationships to be broken, lives to be taken or for violence to be the answer. For the Good News of the Gospel is all about peace. God takes what is broken and makes it whole again. God takes enemies and makes them friends. God takes those who are alienated and estranged by sinful behavior and brings them together to experience peace and life, not violence and death. So, if there was ever a time when the Gospel of Grace is needed, if there was ever a time when God’s people need to rise up and show the world a different way, it is today.
That’s why the story of Joseph is as relevant today as when it was written nearly 2000 years before Christ. For the story of Joseph is a story of a family broken by jealousy, hatred and deceit. But the good news in the story of Joseph is that God was faithful to this family. God promised to make them into a great nation and through them to bless the world. And so God worked in Joseph’s life and the life of his brothers to heal what was broken. In fact, two weeks ago, after Joseph tested his brothers to see if they had changed, to see if they had repented from their wrongs, he finally revealed himself to them. And in so doing he shared with them the bigger picture of how God was at work. He shared with them, how even though what they did was wrong, God’s hand was at work in sending him to Egypt. He shared with them that they were not to be distressed or angry, for it was God who sent him there so he could save their lives. And so Joseph forgave his brothers, embraced each one and wept over them. Their relationship was restored. That’s the goal of the gospel. God is in the business of restoring what is broken. God is all about making relationships whole again.
So as we come to God’s Word this morning, there is one relationship that is yet to be restored. The brothers must go home and share the good news to Jacob that Joseph is alive and then bring Jacob to Egypt where they can once again be reunited as one family. So if you brought your Bible with you today, let me encourage you to find Genesis 45 as we will see in this final journey how restored relationships matter more than anything else in life. And it all begins with..
A Fresh Start When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’ Genesis 45:16-18
“You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.’” Genesis 45:19-20
The first thing we see is that Pharaoh invites Joseph’s family to come live in Egypt. He’s offering them a fresh start in Egypt. But he’s offering more than that. He’s giving them the best of the land, the fat of the land, brand new belongings, new lodging, new furniture, clothing, everything – the best available. Why such hospitality? Why such generosity? Because Joseph had saved Egypt, now Pharaoh wants to do the same for Joseph’s family. Grace received will bear fruit. Pharaoh is giving favor to Joseph’s kin.
But what I love most about his grace, is that he holds nothing back. He’s not just offering sanctuary – he’s offering the best of Egypt. So what do Israel’s sons do?
So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes. Genesis 45:21-22
And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey. Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!” Genesis 45:23-24
Joseph gives them provisions, silver and new clothing. This is indeed a fresh start. This story began when his brothers stripped him of his robe. Now, Joseph robes his brothers in Egypt’s finest. Delivered from guilt, hostility and famine, the brothers now head back to Canaan wearing the symbol of their new life. And as they leave, Joseph gives them one command: “Don’t quarrel on the way!”
Joseph knew his brothers. It would be easy for them to fall back into old patterns. So this was Joseph’s way of reminding them of their new relationship with him. They’ve been forgiven, been reconciled and provided for. Don’t throw this fresh start away. Don’t let your past define you. “Don’t quarrel along the way.”
What a great reminder for us. Once God forgives you and brings you into relationship with Him, you have a fresh start – a new beginning, a new life. So don’t go back to your old ways of relating to one another. You’ve been reconciled with God, you have a new family and a secure future. So don’t quarrel along the way. Or as Paul puts it: Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:3 We have peace with God. We should live in peace with one another. This is what our world longs to see. That’s what our world needs to see… from us!
And so as far as we can tell, they did that, and they arrived at the tent of their father with one thing on their minds: Good News So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. Genesis 45:25-26
This is a remarkable encounter. The brothers, now free of guilt, are free to announce the good news that Joseph is alive. But for a father who had long ago buried his son in his grief, this announcement stuns him. The Hebrew literally says, “His heart grew numb.” His heart that had grieved for years wasn’t prepared for such news. It staggered him. You might even say it gave him a mild heart attack. He could not believe what he just heard. But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.” Genesis 45:27-28
Don’t miss this. As the brothers shared with Jacob only one thing was on their minds: Joseph. Joseph was alive. They didn’t care about their possessions. They didn’t speak of their new fortune. They only cared about restoring their father with his son. And Jacob, after he recovers from this stunning announcement, he has only one thing on his mind, one objective left in life: “I will go and see him before I die.”
What I love about this encounter is that it revealed the change of heart in the brothers. All their lives, they had fought for land, for possessions, and with each other. But now, after going through the ringer with God, the only thing that matters to them now is their father’s happiness. They wanted to heal what they had broken – their father’s heart. And they knew what would do this: reuniting their father with Joseph.
And by the way, this is at the heart of the gospel. God who formed your heart, wants to be reunited with you. The Father wants you to know Him. The Father wants you to be with Him in an eternal relationship. Your relationship with Him is the number one thing on His heart. Like Joseph, we were lost and He’s done everything in His power to bring you home to Him. That’s why He sent Jesus. This is the gospel in a nut shell: For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. 1 Peter 3:18 Nothing heals a broken heart more than being reunited with the one you love. This is what’s at the core of God’s heart and also Jacob’s heart.
So Jacob was convinced. He couldn’t wait to see his long lost son. But he still needed one more thing. He needed to hear from God. He needed to know if God was in this. He needed God’s Assurance So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
“I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.” Gen. 46:1-4
After all his journeys, after all he had gone through, Jacob knew one thing: as great as his hope to be reunited with Joseph, his relationship was with God was greater. So before leaving the Promised Land, Jacob stopped. Jacob stopped in Beersheba, built an altar and offered sacrifices to his God. And then God met with him personally and said, “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.”
That’s all he needed to hear. God assured Jacob, “I will be with you in Egypt.” God assured Jacob “I will make your family into a great nation there.” God assured Jacob, “I will bring this great nation back to the land.” And God assured Jacob, “You will die in peace with your family at your side: Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.” Jacob needed God’s assurance that He was orchestrating this reunion. He needed assurance that God was in this. And he got his assurance by listening to God’s voice.
What a great example for us. We too need to hear from God. We have far too many other voices that bombard us everyday. These voices leave us fearful and uncertain. But when we listen to God’s Word, He give us the assurances we need to move forward in life. He promises to be with us wherever we go. His Word assures us that He is still large and in charge. So even though our world seems to be coming unglued, He still holds it all together. We just need to learn to listen to Him – like Jacob. Let Him assure you of who He is, how great He is, how good He is, and what He wants to do. For His purposes are far greater than any purposes of man. And His purposes will prevail. That’s what Jacob needed to hear before he moved forward. And it’s what we need to hear as well: God will always be with us. God will always be for us. God will always be in control.
And so with God’s assurance, knowing that God has his back, now there’s No Looking Back Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel’s sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him. So Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt, taking with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan. Jacob brought with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring. Genesis 46:5-7
No looking back. Jacob believed God was with him, so he didn’t just move his family to Egypt; He entrusted the future of Israel to God’s hands. He went all in. Every man woman and child of Jacob’s family went down to Egypt. No more riding the fence. No looking back.
Can I say this? Sometimes, that’s what we need to do as well. I think we are masters at only going half-way with God. We’re glad to have a secure salvation. We’re glad to know God loves us no matter what. But too often, we’d rather trust our future to ourselves, and then ask God to bless us – rather than the other way around.
I learned long ago that going all in with God is the best decision you can ever make. For God is wiser, stronger, more gracious and loving then anyone in this world. He formed your heart. He knows your needs. He gave His best, His all for you. So going all in with Him is not just a calculated risk, it is the greatest decision you can ever make.
And that’s what Jacob did, and doing so led him to the best moment of his life. After 22 plus years of grief and brokenness, famine and trials, God finally leads Jacob and his sons to Egypt to the ultimate Family Reunion And who sets up this reunion? None other than the one who was instrumental in tearing the family apart – Judah. What a beautiful picture of redemption: Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When they arrived in the region of Goshen, Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. Genesis 46:28-29a
As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time. Israel said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive.” Genesis 46:29a-30 Is there no greater picture of reunion than this? Think of what this must have been like: A father who thought his son long dead – A son who for over 22 years longed for the loving affection of his father. Now reunited, together, weeping, hugging each other and laughing for joy!
Later next week we’ll get to enjoy a reunion of sorts. After being gone from Tacoma for three years, we’ll be reunited once again with our dear friends Loren and JoAnn Johnson. We’ll hug, share stories, eat together and laugh together, and stay up far too late reminiscing. It will be great.
But do you know what will be even greater? To be reunited with loved ones who have already passed into the presence of Jesus. In April, I lost my dad, but because of Jesus, I know that someday I will see him again. Many of you have lost loved ones too. But part of the good news of the gospel, is that now anyone who puts their faith in Jesus can have this hope of reunion. Listen to how Paul spells it out for us: Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
You see, at the end of the day, the goal of the good news found in Jesus is reunion. The goal of the gospel is all about relationships: a reunion with our heavenly Father who longs to be with us face to face; a reunion with brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone on before us; and a reunion with loved ones – brother and sisters, mothers and fathers, children and friends, who have passed on in death, but who are alive with Jesus. Jacob and Joseph’s reunion gives us just a taste of what this will be like. And it will be great. This is the hope that Jesus gives. Do you have this hope?
The good news is this: Jesus is alive. He died for your sins and rose from the grave so he might bring you to God. And all you need to do to be reunited with God and your loved ones is to put your trust in Jesus. Have you done that? You can right now.
Leave a Reply