“³Then 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. ⁴And 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.” ⁵But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.”

– Genesis 45:3-5 (NKJV)

“Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; (notice the simplicity of this statement – these words testify of a man who is not defensive, insecure or unsure of his identity; he has nothing to prove and has wisely chosen the perfect moment to reveal who he truly is with the matter-of-factness so delightfully indicative of pure truth; not unlike God the Father when He reveals Himself to Moses as “I AM”; as mentioned before, Joseph chose to reveal who he is, it wasn’t drawn out of him through manipulation, nor did it spill out in a  moment of unguarded emotional overwhelm, no, it is delivered as only a True Spirit-led Child of God can deliver a truth of such far-reaching consequence and destabilising impact: boldly, calmly, assuredly, with conviction and in accordance with The Will of The Father) does my father still live?” (Joseph’s second statement then reveals his most personal and urgent desire: knowledge of the welfare of his beloved earthly father Jacob: not only the first representative of God the Father in his life, but his first blessed introduction into knowing what it means to be truly, wholeheartedly and unconditionally loved, establishing his worth and identity until it fully matured in his relationship with his Heavenly Father. From a more pragmatic point of view, let us also not forget that Joseph has before him all of his brothers in the flesh during these moments, but has not yet had incontestable proof of life of his father; despite Judah’s relaying that he is still living, the tremor of unsurity in this urgent question is evident for all to see. I would also like to venture that when it comes to our most dearly beloved loved ones, we are most vulnerable, for in all other matters Joseph has proven himself wise, discerning, God-fearing, Trusting and full of Faith, yet it is when it comes to any threat posed either to Jacob or Benjamin’s life and the knowledge of their welfare that we detect the subtle signs of a Joseph that is slightly destabilised and tempted unto doubt, insecurity, hastiness and even – as we saw earlier – the devising of a man-made plan outside of God’s Perfect Will. One final interesting point worth mentioning here is the tiny detail that reinforces the fact that Joseph has revealed his identity at a very precise moment, deliberately, authoritatively and with conviction: in the very next sentence he utters, he resolutely refers to himself in a manner deliberately affirmative of the revelation just gone before by referring to Jacob as “my  father”; there is absolutely no doubt in his mind that he intends henceforth to be understood and known in his capacity as Joseph, “[their] brother whom [they] sold into Egypt.”) But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. (How precious, even in these moments, to recognise how far the brothers have come. There is no trace of the bitter, envious, hard-hearted young men who once would have cruelly despised Joseph for being promoted to the very ruling and reigning position – the mere suggestion of which in prophecy once inflamed in them a murderous hatred – he now fully embodies. No, instead we see men humbled through circumstance, Godly discipline, Godly sorrow, age, maturity and time to feel burdened now only by an acute awareness of their own evil wrongdoing and sin against the man they recognise now as innocent and chosen and worthy, standing before them. And it is good and right and proper that they should be moved to quiet reflection, humble silence and the full experience of sorrowful mourning over their sin one last time, before being so graciously, so kindly, so wholeheartedly pardoned by the Christlike one Joseph, lest they conveniently avoid their final opportunity to stare squarely into the full devastation of their once being used by the devil to threaten the life of the blessed one before them, the very one now bestowing upon them such tender mercies.) And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. (Let us here revel in the Perfect, Holy, Christlike expression of a man perfectly revealing the nature and character of The Father – as Christ Himself did – to all of mankind represented here in the brothers: wholly unworthy, having behaved detestably wickedly and deserving of His wrath, yet perfectly forgiven in the sacrifice of The Son and beckoned to draw near with boldness: perfectly forgiven as if they had never sinned.) Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. (Again Joseph reasserts his identity, reminding them that indeed he is their very brother and that his name is Joseph – an honoured name that carries much power and authority in that day and age. He also does not shy away from the reality and details of their very real sin against him, but is able to boldly declare that they have wronged him inexcusably, for he does not seek to flatter them or excuse their behaviour which would serve only to inflame pride by stroking the fragile human ego – no, they must wholly face what they have been forgiven of- as much as they must accept that they are indeed forgiven. It is therefore equally important for us to recognise that He IS Jesus – The Honoured Name that carries all power and all authority in all days and all ages, that indeed He IS our very Brother and that it is a very stark reality with many an intricate and individual detail that it is our sin that so cruelly sold Him into the hand of the enemy to die on a Cross, but that because of it we too, truly, truly are indeed wholly and perfectly forgiven and are invited to draw intimately and infinitely close.) But now, (“but now” indeed, as the glorious wondrous Truth of The Good News, The Gospel, is announced: ) do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; (there is now NO condemnation more for those who are IN Christ Jesus) for God sent (for God the Father is and was and always will be perfectly, sovereignly in control: every wicked deed, every cruel intent, every dishonourable plan wrought, every evil thing intended by the enemy for harm has always been perfectly, beautifully, sovereignly wielded by God The Father – not only including, but most especially – that cruel death of His Son upon a cross, not only for Perfect Ultimate Good, but . . . ) me before you to preserve life ( . . . to Give LIFE!).” (Let us also not neglect to recognise the subtle reminder that Our Beloved King Jesus is sent and goes before us always; forever conquering and overcoming on our behalf as He then also beautifully teaches and leads us, our Perfect Rabbi and Shepherd-King, to go where He has gone and is going, that we might be like Him.)