Title: Great Salvation (Genesis 45:1-8)
Contents Among the characters in the Bible, the person who most resembles Jesus is Joseph, the son of Jacob. They were almost killed by their brothers, and they were sold abroad as slaves and suffered all the hardships they had. This is the model of the Lord's great salvation for sinners who deserve death.
1. Joseph unable to hold back his tears (verses 1-2)
He must have thought about the past when he suffered in a foreign land because of his brothers' jealousy and hatred for 22 years, and his love for blood exploded when he saw the brother he wanted to see. This is a scene where separated families are reunited. In fact, it was the brothers who committed evil who had to fill this house with cries of repentance and bitter groans.
They should have wept, thinking about the most difficult situation where we can kill them, get revenge, and there is no escape from them, but Joseph wept instead of them. This is similar to the image of the Lord weeping for the poor people, thinking of the fear and punishment suffered by sinners who have been three days in the tomb after Jesus died. Just as Joseph's tears saved his brothers, Jesus' tears of mercy saved sinners from eternal torment in hellfire.
2. Joseph reveals his identity (verses 3-4)
I am Joseph, and the brothers who heard this said that they were astonished in front of him and did not say anything. And he clearly remembers the sins of his brothers. I am your brother Joseph. Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt and thought was dead, became the prime minister of Egypt and became the master of people's lives all over the world.
As the prime minister who has the right to life and death for his brothers, who will die of starvation if he does not give him food during the seven years of famine, he reveals his identity in front of them and clearly remembers their sins.
how surprised
They must have thought for a moment. At first he tried to kill his brother Joseph, and then either starved or threw him into a deep pit to be eaten by ferocious animals. How wicked sinners were Joseph, in a position to avenge the murderers suffering with guilt.
3. Joseph who gives great salvation to forgive sinners (5-6)
Don't be sad because you sold me here, don't be mournful. (5 The cruel act you did to your innocent little brother, how much suffering a young life caused as a result of that evil act. It is the common man's belief that he deserves death.
However, Joseph, who has the heart of the Lord, can see the great figure of comforting his brothers so that they do not worry or lament because they are too shocked and fall into despair because of their guilt. How much misfortune was brought to both families by one policeman's revenge.. For the forgiveness of our Lord, He died on the cross for sinners for their sins.
4. Joseph avenges his enemies with love and blessings (7-8)
God sent me before you to save lives. is a God of love, a God of great salvation, a God of love who repays evil with good and blessings instead of curses
While we were still sinners, He gave His only sons to die on the cross as the price for our sins. Whoever believes in Jesus will not perish but have eternal life, but also the great salvation of God, who gives us eternal, glorious and abundant blessings in heaven and on earth. Showing grace and great love. If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; in so doing you will heap coals of coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:20-21).
God showed that He is a loving God who forgives, saves, and blesses us, sinners like Joseph's brothers, through Joseph's love, wisdom, and wisdom to know God's will, and to repay revenge rather than revenge.
In this evil age, let us also become luminaries, loving our neighbors as ourselves.