(Genesis) Genesis 45:1-4

Now, that brings us to chapter 45, and this incident just continues right on here, and here is where Joseph now reveals himself to his brethren and identifies himself with them. Now, notice this in verse 1 of Genesis 45, "...then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him, and he cried." This time, he couldn't get out of the room. He just broke down and began to weep.

And no one knows why except Joseph. His own brethren at this time do not know. And the servants that are there, the Egyptians, didn't know.

And now Joseph is going to clear the room. He says, "'Cause every man to go out from me.' And there stood no man with him while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren." And there's coming a day when the Lord Jesus, as we said last time, is going to make himself known unto his brethren. He came the first time.

He came unto his own. His own received him not. And they delivered him to be crucified, but the day is coming when he comes the second time.

He'll make himself known unto them, and one shall say unto him, "'What are these wounds in thine hands?' Then he shall answer, "'Those which I was wounded in the house of my friends.'" Make himself known in that day to his brethren. In that day, while there'll be open, we're told, a fountain for cleansing in Jerusalem. That is a family affair, and that is the time that he makes himself known to them, the Lord Jesus.

What a picture this is. Now after the others got out, poor Joseph, he's just so charged with emotion here. I'm sure you can visualize the pent-up emotion of Joseph at this point.

And we're told here, "...he wept aloud, and the Egyptians in the house of Pharaoh heard." They couldn't understand what had happened over at Joseph's palace. He couldn't conceal his feelings. Now will you notice the reaction of his brothers.

"...and Joseph said unto his brethren, "'I'm Joseph. Doth my father yet live?' And his brethren could not answer him, for they were..." The word, trouble, that we have in our translation is really not strong enough. "...for they were terrified at his presence." I tell you, if you think they were afraid before, they really are afraid now.

About 23 years before, they had seen him and the last they saw of him, they had sold him to the Ishmaelites. Believe me, they feel now that he'll want to get revenge. They're absolutely afraid.

They're terrified, but there was no basis for their fears. Will you listen? "...and Joseph said unto his brethren, "'Come near to me, I pray you.' And they came near, and he said, "'I'm Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.'" I'm your brother. And this is the dramatic moment of this incident.

Can you imagine how they feel about it?