A Concord Minute: Family matters

“Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.” - Genesis 45:1-3 ESV

God loves families and family matters as evident with Joseph and his brothers. In Genesis 42-44, Moses captures the family matters between Joseph and his brothers in Egypt. There is a famine across the Ancient Near East and northern Africa. Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, sends his sons to Egypt to buy grain and supplies. Joseph, now the right hand of Pharaoh, recognizes his brothers who sold him into slavery. Instead of bringing down the hammer of God upon them, Joseph tests his brothers. See Genesis 43-44 for context. Joseph tests his brothers to see how they would respond in defending their youngest brother, Benjamin. Would they act like they did to Joseph or will they back Benjamin up?

In Genesis 45, the ruse is over. Upon the brothers’ return and repeated begging for Benjamin’s life, Joseph cannot contain his secret. Joseph cannot let the game continue. His heart has softened; the walls have come down. He sends everyone out of the hall except him and his brothers and weeps uncontrollably before them. Not even Pharaoh himself was deaf to the cries and shrieking coming from Joseph’s mouth. Joseph breaks down. He shouts out to his brothers: “I am Joseph!”; the brothers are speechless. Talk about family drama!

The point with this drama? Just as Joseph was merciful to his brothers, so, too, the Lord was merciful to the tribe of Israel through Joseph. Though the brothers tried to kill Joseph, their evil actions led to Israel’s endurance of the famine. God preserved Joseph so that all of Israel would also receive grace, mercy and peace. Joseph would bring God’s people into a good land - Goshen - to thrive! The family of God would be preserved. Joseph was God’s instrument to preserve Israel’s life. Jesus does something quite similar for you.

How do Joseph’s actions mirror Jesus’ actions for you? Here in Genesis 45, we see God dealing in family matters, working salvation, life and forgiveness of sin. So, too, in your life, God deals in family matters, specifically through his own Son, Jesus. Before your birth into your own family, Jesus was sent before you to preserve for His father a family that includes you. Jesus with outstretched arms as our crucified and risen brother welcomes you into the family of God. Jesus joyfully deals in family matters because family matters to Him.

The Rev. Matthew Berry is pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Sikeston, Missouri. Based in Sikeston’s Historic North End, Concordia is a member congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), a theologically conservative, biblically sound, Christ-centered church.