Joseph: Reunited With His Family Series

A popular television feature is to find a situation where a family has been separated because of war or some tragedy. The show does research to find out where the missing family members are. Then they reunite the family on television.

It certainly makes for a moving experience with tears and obvious deep-seated emotions of those how have been separated reuniting. No episode could ever compare with Joseph and how he was separated and reunited with his family.

Joseph was separated from his family at the age of 17 not because of war, but because of the wicked jealousy of his own brothers. In their jealousy they sold Joseph into slavery and presented his ornamented coat to their father. They dipped Joseph’s coat in blood to make Jacob think his son Joseph had been killed when in reality the other older sons sold him into slavery.

As a faithful servant Joseph was in charge of Potiphar’s household soon after he reached Egypt as a slave. Joseph refused the advances of Potiphar’s wife, so she falsely accused Joseph of rape in retaliation. Joseph refused to sin against God and have a sexual affair with Potiphar’s wife.

This moral stance landed Joseph in prison for 13 years. He was a prisoner with a free conscious. God orchestrated Joseph to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. Suddenly Joseph found himself in charge of the affairs of all of Egypt, the worlds superpower at the time.

After Joseph received the charge of Egypt there were 7 years of prosperity. In wisdom Joseph prepares for 7 years of famine that is coming. God warned Joseph about this through Pharaoh’s dream.

Joseph’s brothers take their first trip to Egypt (Genesis chapter 42)

When Jacob’s family reached the brink of disaster because of the famine, the Patriarch sent 10 of his sons to Egypt for help. All 10 of them knew the real story about Joseph. After 20 years from this wrong their conscience was beginning to be pricked. What if they saw that slave boy they betrayed? Little did the brothers know what was in store for them.

Joseph’s 10 brothers may not have recalled the dreams of 20 years earlier, but when they arrived in Egypt the dream was coming to pass. They unknowingly bowed down to their younger brother Joseph.

Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. (Genesis 42:6)

Joseph accused them of being spies and put them in prison for three days.

Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. 9 Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.” (Genesis 42:8-9)

He told them to leave Simeon and bring back the youngest boy Benjamin, Joseph’s full brother, the son of his mother Rachel.

Joseph said to them, “It is just as I told you: You are spies! 15 And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. (Genesis 42:14-15)

Joseph is using an interpreter to talk with his brothers so that they do not suspect he is not originally from Egypt. He has to leave their presence and weep because he is overcome with emotion.

On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: 19 If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households. 20 But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do.

Joseph was using an interpreter and had to leave their presence and weep. (Genesis 42:18-20)

Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.” 23 They did not realize that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter. (Genesis 42:22-23)

The 9 brothers are sent home to explain everything to their father. Their hearts sink when they find the silver is placed back in their sacks of grain that they purchased. They report all the incredible happenings to their father.

Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!” (Genesis 42:36)

The Brothers make their second trip to Egypt (Genesis chapter 43)

When Jacob’s family was running out of food and soon to starve, he sent the brothers back to Egypt. This time they made the trip with Benjamin. They made it clear that they would not return from Egypt without Benjamin.