The earnestness of Judah’s speech finally breaks Joseph, who has up to this point been behind a series of plots to seemingly heist his only full brother Benjamin from the rest of his family. Instead, all his brothers return to Egypt and Judah offers to take Benjamin’s place in consideration of the promise he made to Israel to protect the boy. In reaction to the speech, Joseph sends all the Egyptians away, of no consequence it turns out because he cries so loudly that they can hear him anyway. He reveals his identity to his brothers and inquires of the health of his father. Understandably, his brothers have a hard time putting words together in response.
Before we pass this, let’s not too lightly consider the release that comes with the putting away of all charades and letting the truth loose onto the world; not in anger, but in the unburdening flow of forgiveness. Where God has blessed nearly every other area of his life, Joseph remained at risk here. In fact, where the promise of being a blessing to the nations was being fulfilled in Joseph’s work for Pharaoh in the midst of the famine, that promise would have failed his very family had he not relented here. I wonder, certainly, whether there are risks within us, fellas, where you’re holding back forgiveness that is now a persistent burden on you and a barrier to the gospel to your enemy. Jesus has us pray for our enemies in part so that WE may accept them as family when the gracious work of the Good News changes the heart of the people who have been against you. It is not only a prayer for our enemies, it is a prayer for ourselves.
Recognizing that his brothers may have a hard time 1.) believing it’s really him and 2.) accepting that Joseph would truly forgive them, he explains that they need not be distressed or angry, all has been done at the hand of God. It makes you wonder at what point Joseph comes to this realization. It kind of feels like it happened just then, in reaction to what Judah has said. The whole comedy of errors that led to this back and forth with his brothers culminated in a family reunion, a clear comeuppance to his brothers, the blessing of Joseph and the nations through him, and an outcome sets up the background for the prophecy of affliction of Abraham’s lineage laid out in chapter 15. Clearly, this all was bigger than Joseph and his family.
With the famine continuing, Joseph invites his brothers to go grab everyone and bring them back to settle in Goshen, some solid herding ground outside of prime Egyptian influence (but ultimately close enough to be a concern for the next Pharaoh.) Pharaoh hears about Joseph’s brothers (ahem, loud weeping is a ready-made gossip point) and reacts very favorably, lending wagons and such to go pick up everybody. He also says it’s unnecessary to bring all of your crapola, Pharaoh has plenty of the best stuff here in Egypt and they are welcome to that. What a turn of events for Israel’s family.
All is agreed and Joseph sends them on their way, giving each of the brothers a change of clothes, except for Benjamin, who gets 5 changes of clothes and 300 shekels (don’t forget, Joseph was sold for a mere 20 shekels). Perhaps this difference is why Joseph warns them not to quarrel on the way home. (Maybe the lingering impressions of his brothers hasn’t quite died, eh?)
They arrive in Canaan and, like his sons before him, Jacob has a hard time believing the news. But with more story telling and the demonstration of donkeys and such that were sent with all the Egyptians prime pieces as evidence, Jacob is convinced. In the midst of all the gifts, Jacob is content with the simple fact that Joseph is alive and he desires to see him again before he dies.