Introduction:
A. How many of you have regular family reunions?
1. They can be interesting times, right? All the relatives in one place - telling the family stories and the family secrets.
2. Here are a few family reunion pictures I thought you might enjoy.
3. Picture: Transporting everyone to the family reunion can be a challenge.
4. Picture: Some people are truly embarrassed to be part of the family.
5. Picture: Some people really hate family reunions.
6. Picture: Other people find family reunions to be rather awkward.
B. There are other kinds of family reunions that are wondrously emotional.
1. When families are reunited after many years of separation, the scene can almost defy description.
2. When the Iron Curtain was suddenly drawn across Europe after World War II, many people were separated from their families.
a. Periodically stories were reported about people who had escaped the Communist regimes and were then reunited with their families in the West.
b. Those reunions always defied description, and a picture was truly worth a thousand words, as arms were thrown open wide, as they ran to one another, and embraced like they would never, ever let go.
3. We’ve seen similar pictures during our present war against terrorism.
a. Thousands of our soldiers have been separated from their families for months, and some for even years.
b. Sadly, some of them do not return to their families alive.
c. But those who do return are wondrously welcomed, and the family reunion is so sweet.
C. A scene not dissimilar from those I’ve just described is about to occur in our story of Joseph.
1. The emotions that surround this reunion are difficult to put into words.
2. Last week we witnessed all the brothers of Joseph’s family, who had been separated for more than two decades, were reunited, and oh, how the tears flowed.
3. Today we will witness the reunion of an aged father and favorite child.
I. The Story
A. Let’s bring our story up to date.
1. Through an incredible series of events that we have followed with great interest these past weeks, Joseph was brought to the point where he revealed his identity to his brothers.
2. They now knew not only that their brother Joseph was alive, but that he was the prime minister of Egypt.
3. Even more important, Joseph had forgiven them for all of the wrongs of the past.
4. The desire of Joseph’s heart was to see his father and to get all of his family to move to Egypt so that he could graciously and generously provide for them.
B. And so today, we pick up the story at the point where the news of all these happenings had reached the ears of Pharaoh.
1. The Bible says: When the news reached Pharaoh's palace that Joseph's brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, 18 and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’
“You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20 Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.’ ” (Gen. 45:16-20)
2. When Pharaoh heard about the news and heard about Joseph’s desire for his family to join him in Egypt, the Pharaoh agreed wholeheartedly.
3. Pharaoh promised to give them the best of the land of Egypt.
4. Additionally, Pharaoh generously offered wagons to make the transport easier.
5. Imagine the affection and respect that Pharaoh and the Egyptians had for Joseph that would elicit such a generous offer.
C. The Bible says: So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. 22 To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes. 23 And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don't quarrel on the way!” (Gen. 45:21-24)
1. So Joseph’s brothers did as Pharaoh directed.
2. Can you imagine how thrilled they must have been?
3. They had come to Egypt with such anxiety and dread, and now they left with a spring in their step and a smile on their faces.
4. As they returned to Canaan in a time of famine, they had plenty to eat, they didn’t have to walk, and they wore new Egyptian suits.
5. Notice Joseph’s parting directive – “Don’t get into an argument on the journey!”
a. He knew his brothers, well, didn’t he?
6. Centuries may come and go, but human behavior in families remains pretty much the same.
D. Look at what happened when they pulled in the driveway at home:
1. The Bible says: So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. (Gen. 45:25-26)
2. Keep in mind that Jacob knew nothing of what had transpired.
a. They hadn’t given him a telephone call from Egypt, nor did they use their cellphones on the way home – of course, you’re not supposed to call or text while you are driving!
3. So the last time Jacob had seen his sons, he must have wondered if he would ever see them again.
4. And Joseph, he had no hope that he would ever see him again!
5. But here came his sons with shocking news.
a. Not only did they return from Egypt loaded with food, new clothing, and new wheels, they also came with the news that Joseph was alive.
6. The text says that “Jacob was stunned.”
a. Some translations say, “His heart fainted.”
b. the Hebrew literally means, “His heart grew numb.”
7. At first Jacob didn’t believe his sons – not too surprising, right?
a. It’s a bit ironic that Jacob had believed his sons when they lied to him, but now he disbelieved them when they were telling the truth.
E. The Bible says: But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “I'm convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.” (Gen. 45:27-28)
1. After hearing more of the story and examining the evidence, Jacob had to recognize that his sons were telling the truth – Joseph was alive!
2. With this realization, Jacob’s inner spirit was revived.
3. If my son is alive, then I will go to see him – that was going to be quite a trip for a one hundred and thirty year-old man!
4. So from that moment on, Jacob must have had only one objective – seeing his son.
F. The Bible says: 1 So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!”
“Here I am,” he replied. 3 “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes.” (Gen. 46:1-4)
1. I wish I could say that Jacob inquired of God before he began his journey, but he did not.
2. I am happy to say that at least Jacob stopped along the way and offered a sacrifice, probably asking for God’s blessings on the journey and thanking God for the news about Joseph.
3. It must have been a great moment when Jacob was given a vision in the night from God.
4. This was a major moment not only for Jacob and his family, but for all Israel.
5. Here is an early prophetic reference to Israel’s great Exodus from Egypt.
6. God told Jacob the wonderful news that He would accompany him to Egypt, and that He would bring him back.
a. That’s is certainly good news – I don’t want to go anywhere without God’s presence!
b. Notice that God didn’t give him many of the details.
c. He didn’t tell him how long he and his family would be in Egypt – over 400 years.
d. Nor did he tell him how big his family would be when they would come out of Egypt – somewhere between 1 and 3 million people.
7. God also confirmed the news that Joseph was alive – Joseph would be the very son whose hand would close Jacob’s eyes when that time would come.
8. Death is a reality. It is not a morbid thing for Jacob to hear the God of all creation speak of his death.
9. What a comfort it must have been for Jacob to know that God knows and sees all things, and that when the time of his departure was to arrive, Joseph would be present, taking care of his very last needs.
G. The Bible says: Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel's sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him. 6 They also took with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan, and Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt. 7 He took with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring. (Gen. 46:5-7)
1. Now after having been assured of God’s blessing, Jacob and his sons headed out for Egypt, with all their wagonloads of wives and children, and grandchildren, and all their possessions and livestock.
2. What a caravan it must have been!
3. It must have looked a bit like the Clampetts packing up the truck and moving to Beverly!
H. The Bible says: Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When they arrived in the region of Goshen. (Gen. 46:28)
1. We can only imagine their awe as they marched into the land of Egypt – a land of efficiency, beauty and cultural magnificence.
2. And we can only imagine what the Egyptians must have thought when they saw what appeared to be “a bunch of hillbillies” coming into the land.
3. Maybe the Egyptians pointed and laughed, but little did they know that Jehovah God was with Jacob and his family, and guess who would be laughing 400 years in the future?
I. The Bible says: Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time. (Gen. 46:29)
1. Joseph had been waiting for this glorious day for a very long time.
2. I wonder if he paced his chamber every night as he waited for his brothers to return with his aged father, fearing that his father might not survive the journey.
3. He may have wondered if his stubborn old father would even believe his brothers and come.
4. So finally the day came when the report came that the caravan he’d been waiting for could be seen on the horizon.
5. Judah, the transformed one, traveled on ahead to get directions.
6. Joseph jumped in his chariot and went out to greet his father.
7. And then came that wonderful moment – a scene that words fail to do justice.
a. Joseph threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time.
8. Pause and let the wonder sink in…
a. After more than two decades, Jacob once more held the son that he had given up for dead.
b. And after all that Joseph had been through, he embraced his aged father – the man he missed so much and feared he would never see again.
c. There the two men stood, surrounded by family, locked in an embrace, shaking with sobs of joy.
9. What a grand family reunion.
II. The Application
A. In thinking of this glorious family reunion, my mind turns to the ultimate family reunion that should be the hope of every child of God.
1. The Apostle Paul describes it this way: 13Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
2. The Apostle John describes it this way: 1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev. 21:1-4)
1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. (Rev. 22:1-5)
B. What a comfort this brings!
1. What a moment that will be and what an eternal existence we will share.
2. Someday all of God’s people will join together in the presence of the living God.
3. We will be reunited with the people of faith who have gone before us.
4. And we will finally be with our God to dwell and reign with him forever!
5. There are no words sufficient to describe the scene.
6. However, hymn writer, James Black did a great job with these words so many years ago:
“When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
When the roll is called up yonder, When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
C. On that “great getting’-up morning,” the entire family of God will be reunited forever in the presence of the Lord.
1. On that great day, it won’t matter how much money you made, or where you vacationed.
a. It won’t matter how much you struggled or had to suffer.
2. The only thing that will matter is that you knew the Lord and loved the Lord and were faithful to the Lord.
3. The only thing that will matter is that you receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of God.
4. Is your name on the Lord’s family roll call?
5. If so, then you can look forward to that ultimate and final family reunion.
6. If you name is not on the family roll, what are you waiting for?
7. To be invited to the ultimate family reunion – first you have to be a member of the family – God’s family.
a. John 1:12 – Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – members of God’s family.
b. Gal. 3:26-27 – You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.
8. The family reunion in heaven is one I plan to make – how about you?
Resources:
Joseph: A man of Integrity and Forgiveness, by Charles Swindoll, Word Publishing, 1998
