Joseph Makes Himself Known

And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.” Genesis 45:28 NIV

Father's joy. He really wanted to see his son, and then such sudden news and an offer come.

Of course, much is not clear. It is not clear why Yosef offered the Father and his brothers to go up to Egypt at all? He himself says that Egypt is below (you came down to me) and Eretz Avot/Land of the Fathers is above (go up to my father). Such a powerful man as he could completely feed his father's family in the promised land. Today, a lot of people receive support from their loved ones where they live, and everything is fine. Later, as the Midrash says, Joseph's grandson, Yair, even made conquests in distant Canaan... And everything was successful at a distance.

Maybe, as the commentators say, Joseph wanted to build a “new society” in Egypt. But in this case, anyway, why take the family (representatives of the old society) to yourself? What would they interfere with?

There is another option that in this way he fulfilled the plan of “correcting the brothers”, and the embodiment of those dreams that visited him in childhood, namely, the brothers bowed to him ...

The place and interpretation also deserve that the “sheaves, the sun and the moon” worshiping Joseph are not brothers and father and mother, as Jacob interpreted, but eleven idols of Egypt humiliated by the God of Israel, and for this the entire Holy Family was required, and the idols of Egypt were put to shame before them.

Or maybe he also knew the prophecy given to his great-grandfather that the descendants of Abraham would be 400 years in slavery in Egypt. In this case, realizing that after his, Joseph's reign, an era of oppression of the sons of Jacob may come, it turns out that he deliberately introduced future generations into a period of humiliation, fear, and suffering?!

A lot of things are not clear. Many of the actions of God's children are similar. They create problems. Although, on the other hand, there are a lot of comments that 400 years of slavery made the people in some way better and more spiritual. For it is said in the letter to the Romans that "everything works together for the good of God's elect." That is, God achieves fruit in us, if, even if we make mistakes, we are sincere or align our heart to sincerity, and bear good fruit. Then, after that, everything begins to act for the Good. This is what the New Testament teaches us, and this gives us reason not to lose heart. Indeed, in the result, the Eternal is stronger than the temporal. And it is said: “If only for this life we have hope in Messiah, we are of all people most to be pitied.” 1 Corinthians 15:19 NIV

And this is something that is important for us to understand and appreciate. We are not always right. And others around us, even highly respected people, are not always right. And we make mistakes. But we must learn, and we must improve. In the end, standing before the Throne, we will give an account for everything. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…” Hebrews 12:1 NIV

Sincerely, Leon Mazin

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