Joseph reveals himself to his brothers

At last, Joseph revealed his true identity to his brothers as he emotions burst out. Clearly, Joseph had no ill feelings towards them, on the contrary he was glad to be reunited with them. Despite the injustice done towards him, Joseph's mind was thinking "for God sent me before you to preserve life" regarding his position in Egypt and role during this famine. This must have been  typical of Joseph's frame of mind throughout his trials and hardships. He was able to look towards God and make the most of his situation, and in doing so he was able to be led and guided by God.

It is truly amazing to consider the position of Joseph in Egypt. Joseph himself acknowledged "God has made me lord of all Egypt" and "He has made me a father to Pharaoh". Interesting to note that perhaps Pharoah was also younger than Joseph and yet was humble enough to delegate immense power over to Joseph, and not arrogant as most self-proclaimed divine despots were. When Pharoah learnt of Joseph's family, he made a clear invitation for the whole of Joseph's family to settle in "best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land".

Further on, we will see of Israel's enslavement as other Pharoahs came to power. One may wonder why God let this happen. If we read further beyond Israel's deliverance out of Egypt 400 years later, and we see God used Israel to conquer and wipe out the inhabitants of the land of Canaan. These inhabitants were corrupted beyond redemption in God's eyes. Seeing the corruption in Canaan over 400 years earlier, God deliberately pulled Israel out of Canaan via Joseph and the Famine and relocated them inside Eygpt, albeit enslaving them for a certain period. Hence God not only saved Israel from famine, but put them in Egypt so the Israelites were not corrupted by the Canaanties. When the time came, God used them to cleanse the land. Although this sounds pretty harsh for a just and loving God, there are good reasons to believe the the Canaanties were not just humans, but instead they were hybrids between fallen angels and humans. The bible tells us that they were giant beings, unlike normal humans. They may indeed be similar to the Nephilim before the Great Flood.


Genesis 45

Joseph Revealed to His Brothers

 1 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.
3 Then 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. 4 And 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. 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
9 “Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry. 10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine.”’
12 “And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you. 13 So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.”
14 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. 15 Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him.
16 Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well. 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. 18 Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land. 19 Now you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. 20 Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”
21 Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. 22 He gave to all of them, to each man, changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments. 23 And he sent to his father these things: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father for the journey. 24 So he sent his brothers away, and they departed; and he said to them, “See that you do not become troubled along the way.”
25 Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father. 26 And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” And Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived. 28 Then Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”