Message of the Week
The Little White Community Church
Scripture: Genesis 45:1-15
July 19, 2026
Message: “The Joyful Reunion!”
By Pastor George Gnade
Introduction:
1. No one can study the story of Joseph without sensing the depth of the emotions expressed in this story.
a. Imagine a teenager begging his brothers not to kill him or sell him as a slave; yet they do it anyway (Gen. 37).
b. Imagine a father crying so hard no one could com- fort him.
c. Imagine Joseph’s joy when he was taken out of prison and raised up by Pharaoh himself to reign over Egypt (Gen. 39-41).
d. Imagine seeing the brothers who sold you 20 years ago (Gen. 42).
2. We already learned how Joseph didn’t trust them; and therefore, tested them to see if they had had a change of heart (Gen. 42-44).
a. They didn’t recognize him, but he knew all about them. He had to know if his brother Benjamin was still alive or if his brothers had gotten rid of him too.
b. He had to know if his father was still alive, or if he had died from the stress of it all.
3. While seeming harsh and demanding, Joseph had a very soft heart. Several times he left the room and broke down and cried (Gen. 42:18-25; 43:26-31).
a. Now that he knew Benjamin was OK and that Judah was willing to risk his life so Benjamin could go back to his father (Gen. 44), now Joseph was ready to reveal himself to his brothers (Gen. 45).
b. So he demanded everyone leave him, and then with tears in his eyes, he told his brothers who he was. In fact, he wept so loudly that all of Pharaoh’s household knew something important was happening.
4. When his brothers heard what he said, they were too shocked to speak. We can only imagine what was going on in their heads.
a. “Is this really true? O God, what is going to happen to us now? Now we know how he knew our ages and how to seat us! Now we know why Benjamin was treated better than the rest of us, and then accused of stealing his cup. Now it all makes sense, but, O God, what will he do to us now’’ (Gen.43: 26- 44:13)?
b. While they were too shocked to speak and probably afraid to speak, they watched as Joseph hugged Benjamin and cried freely (Gen. 45:14).
5. But Joseph was not in a mean mood. He wanted to reconcile with his brothers. He had already forgiven them. He simply wanted to hug them and get to know them again. Finally, that is what happened (Gen. 45: 15).
In the process, we learn some valuable lessons.
A. The first has to do with the providence of God. Joseph had learned a very valuable lesson.
1. He said to his brothers: “Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves… God sent me before you to preserve life… So it is not you who sent me here but God”(Gen. 45: 4-8).
a. He learned that all of life is under God’s control; and through all that happens, God has a divine plan that is unfolding before our eyes. That is true for us too.
b. But considering all the pain and sorrow he went through, this was a very mature response.
2. It is easy to blame others or to blame ourselves for our problems, especially when we know in our hearts we have done wrong. But Joseph is teaching us that God has a plan. “All things will work together for good for those who love Him (Rom. 8:28). That was certainly true in Joseph’s case.
a. Always remember that Joseph was a type of Christ. When Joseph’s brothers were reunited with him, they got a glimpse into what God was doing.
b. When we see Jesus, I believe He will help us understand our own lives better. We must learn to live in faith, believing that no matter how hard life gets, God is still in control and knows what He is doing or allowing.
c. Paul went through a lot of hardship, but rejoiced through it all because he believed wherever God put him it was meant to be another opportunity to share Christ.
That is a good way for us to look at things too (Acts 16:16- 40; I Cor. 4:8-13;II Cor. 4:7-12; II Cor. 11: 16-29).
B. Secondly, this story teaches us about the blessings of God.
1. When Pharaoh heard about Joseph’s brothers and learned he wanted to bring them to Egypt, he laid down the royal carpet and offered them all the help they needed.
a. Food and clothes and carts for their families, everything you could think of were certainly at their disposal.
b. Not only that, they were offered the best of the land and the blessing of Pharaoh himself (Gen. 45:16-20).
2. Now this is all amazing in light of the mistakes these men had made. Pharaoh could have said: “Did I hear these men were responsible for selling Joseph into slavery? They deserve to die.” Surely the truth could not be hid.
a. But the brothers and their father were not treated as royal guests because of their sins, but in spite of their sins. They were treated as royal guests of honor because they knew Joseph.
b. In plain words, they were blessed by Pharaoh for Joseph’s sake. All was forgiven for Joseph’s sake. All Pharaoh wanted to do is make Joseph happy.
3. Here again, this is why Joseph becomes a type of Christ and what Jesus has done for us. We have all sinned and deserve to die, but Jesus died in our place.
a. We have all helped to put him on the cross, but He lovingly is willing to forgive us and bless us.
b. In the same way, our Father who is in heaven, like Pharaoh did for Joseph, forgives us and accepts us and blesses us all for Jesus’ sake (Eph. 1:3). This is also why Christians are taught to pray “for Jesus sake, Amen.” Or “in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!”
C. Thirdly, this passage teaches us about the ways of God.
1. Now that Joseph had made himself known to his brothers and had shown love and kindness to them, he encouraged them to do the same for each other.
a. As they got ready to go home to their father, Joseph commanded them: “Do not quarrel on the way” (Gen. 45:24).
Joseph knew how human we all are. He could see Benjamin blaming his brothers for all the awful things they had done to him.
b. He could see all of them pointing fingers at each other and trying to decide who was most at fault.
2. Besides that, now they had to tell their father Jacob the truth. While they had good news, they had to explain to him how they had lied to him and brought all these years of grief and sorrow upon him. How were they going to do that?
a. Yes, they had a lot of reasons for quarrelling along the way. Joseph wanted them to forgive each other as he was forgiving them.
b. That is what Jesus has taught us to do.
3. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, God came and confronted them. They immediately started blaming each other. That is the world’s way. Jesus taught us a better way. As He says in John 13:34, “As I have loved you, so you are to love one another. This is how others will know that you are my disciples by how you love one another.”
In conclusion:
1. Next week we will learn how Jacob and all their loved ones came to live with Joseph. Jacob lived 17 more years after that. What wonderful years they were.
2. But as soon as he died, Joseph’s brothers were scared he would get even with them. But Joseph responded in Gen. 50:19, ‘“Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You meant it for evil but God meant it for good to accomplish what is now being done to save many lives. So don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he assured them and spoke kindly to them.”
3. May God help all of us to learn these three lessons that we discussed today.
a. Because of the providence of God, we can trust Him that all things will work together for good for those who love Him.
b. Praise God for all of His blessings that we have and will receive all because of Jesus and for Jesus’ sake.
c. And, therefore, may we learn to love the way Jesus has loved us. God’s way is the best way. Amen!
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