Genesis 45:25-28 – Good News

Many, many years have passed since Joseph is home in Canaan. His brothers have sold him into slavery and through a series of God-ordained events he becomes the second most powerful person in all of Egypt. One day his brothers appear at his door, not recognising him, asking for food, and Joseph puts them through a series of tests to see if they have changed at all. But time and the powerful working of God in their hearts have turned his jealous brothers into more humble and caring men. So, Joseph reveals himself for who he is and urges his brothers to return to Canaan and bring back his father, Jacob.

When the brothers return, each of them probably pushing and shoving the other to be the first to shout out the good news to their father, Jacob does not believe them. It is too much for him to take in. It would have been joy enough for him to hear that Simeon has been released and Benjamin has come safely home, for no doubt he is worried about them, but to hear that Joseph is alive is too good to be true. Lacking faith in God, we often find His good news too good to be true.

Eventually Jacob is convinced, especially when he sees the carts sent for him. It doesn’t matter to him that Joseph is ruler of Egypt; he is happy just to know that Joseph is alive. He is also happy that he can go and see Joseph before he dies. He realises that death is near to him. It’s good for us to realise the nearness of death, so that we can think what we need to do before we die, do it with all our might, out of a heart filled with love for God, and a thankful spirit for all He has given us.