JOSEPH REVEALS HIMSELF We said that the first encounter referred to our enjoyment of fellowship in the passions and crucifixion of the Lord Christ; the second encounter referred to burial with the Lord, while the third encounter referred to our being raised with the Lord Christ, who revealed Himself as the Grantor of life and the Conqueror of death. 1- Joseph reveals himself to his brothers 1-15. 2- Inviting his father and brothers to come to live in Egypt 16-24. 3- Israel hears about Joseph 25-28. 1- JOSEPH REVEALS HIMSELF TO HIS BROTHERS “Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all who stood by him, and he cried out, ‘Make everyone go out from me.’ So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it. Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph, does my father still live? ‘But his brothers could not answer, for they were terrified in his presence” (Gen. 45:1-3). Judah recited the conversation between him and his father Israel, by which he demonstrated how the absence of Joseph had a deep effect on his father’s soul, and could not be easily taken away, and was the reason why the old man got greatly attached to Benjamin, his youngest son. And how that motivated Judah to offer himself a surety for Benjamin, lest he sees the evil that would come upon his father, if he does not bring the lad back to him. Before those emotional words, together with his flaring yearning in his heart toward his father, Joseph could not restrain himself, and cried out, ‘Make everyone goes out from me.’ And then, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, while weeping aloud till the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it! In the first and second encounters, Joseph managed to control his emotions; although his heart was yearning for his brothers, that he wept in his private chamber. But now, he could not restrain himself any more, and he could not help revealing his identity to them, after driving strangers outside! The first encounter took place in the presence of many, so was the second. But, in the third encounter, Joseph did not reveal himself except after driving all strangers outside. So was the case with the first encounter with Christ the Lord by the cross before a multitude, and on his burial, before the Roman guards. But on His resurrection, He did not reveal Himself except to His own, who yearn to the resurrected life. In other words, crucifixion and burial were realized in public, to proclaim His salvation to all mankind. But as far as the mystery of resurrection is concerned, it was not to be enjoyed except by those who wish to recognize its mysteries, and to enjoy His risen life, as the resurrection of the Lord Christ, is the mystery of Christ’s transfiguration, the Conqueror of death, and His revealing Himself to His Church, that enjoys life with Him and abiding in Him. The Holy Bible says: “The Egyptians and house of Pharaoh heard it,” they heard Joseph weeping and crying out. But they could not understand what was going on inside. Was he weeping out of joy, of astonishment, or grief?! They were like those guards by the tomb, who saw a splendid light, and felt an earthquake, but were unable to comprehend the mystery of the resurrection of the Lord Christ, having been from outside! I say that they were like the companions of Saul of Tarsus, who saw a splendid light and heard a voice from heaven, but could not enjoy seeing or 4 comprehending the voice of the Risen from the dead; the encounter has been for Saul alone. “Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph,’” as though he is symbolizing the Lord Christ, who proclaimed from heaven, “I am Jesus, whom you are prosecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (Acts 9:5). And as Joseph’s brothers were terrified from that encounter, Saul was likewise terrified and confused! I wish that we hear the voice of Joseph, whom we sold out by our sins, saying: I am Joseph your brother, who loved you, and offered you all compassion, yet you sold me out for vain silver! I am Joseph, whom you subjected to humiliation! “But now, do not therefore be grieved nor angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life” (Gen. 45:5). We sold him for vain silver; but He was crucified to grant us eternal life. I say: Let us not fear the encounter with our Lord Jesus, the risen from the dead, as He is very tender, even in His admonition to us! As he proclaimed himself to them, he asked them: “Does my father still live?!” (Gen. 45:3). He already knew that his father still lived, but he was wondering how he could sustain the severe blow! Could he be hoping for eventually seeing him?! He is as though revealing to us, that what occupies the mind of the new Joseph, as He encounters us through resurrection, is to present His atonement sacrifice to the Father, who “lives,’ and yearns to grant life to everyone. “His brothers could not answer him, for they were terrified in his presence” (Gen. 45:3). What was the cause for their terror? They saw Joseph as though he died and rose again! They did not expect to see him again, especially with such great glory. They probably remembered Joseph’s dreams that they despised and mocked; and are now realized so magnificently! Or they probably assumed that they fell in the lion’s den, the one whom they mercilessly cast to death, is risen again with great authority! They might have fallen back, because of that horrible situation. But in amazing tenderness, and in order to root out their fear, Joseph said to them: “Please come near me” (Gen. 45:4). Through sin, we distance ourselves from our Joseph, yet, as we hear His voice, and receive the work of His resurrection in us, we “come near Him;” and as the apostle Paul said: “But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off, have been made near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). And in order to motivate them to approach Him, not only with their bodies, but also with their hearts, he said to them: “Do not therefore be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life” (Gen. 45:5-8). He exposed their transgression, by saying: “I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt” (Gen. 45:4). However, he hastened to offer them the way out, that God made use of that evil, for his and their good. Two years have already passed in that famine, and there are still five more years to go. And now, God has sent him to preserve their life all along those years, so as not to die. With the same concept, Christ the Lord proclaims to His own, that, although they sold Him, and delivered Him to death, two years of famine have already passed for the world, and there remain five more years of famine, till the end of days. The Word of God sustained the world in the Old Testament, and now, He is sustaining it in the New Testament, until the life of famine passes, and we enter into eternal fulfillment. How beautiful it is, to meditate in God’s plan and ordinance, as He transforms everything to the good, even if our brothers intended to get rid of us by selling us into Egypt! “God has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt” (Gen. 45:8). 5 It was the old custom for Pharaoh, to call his first minister, his father, as he leaves everything in his hands, like a son delivers his life in his father’s hands. And, as Pharaoh represented the world of the Gentiles at that time, Christ the Lord became a father to the Gentiles, a master on their life, and a ruler over their bodies (the whole earth), as well as over their spirits. Such is how the true Joseph cares for the foreign Gentiles, by gathering them to Himself, as members of His body. “Hasten and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me; do not tarry, You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks, and your herds, and all that you have. There, I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine” (Gen. 45:9-13). Joseph was not thinking of the past, in a sick human way, but with a spiritual insight, that is actually a divine gift. Instead of rebuking his brothers for the evil they have done to him, and for the affliction they cause him to pass through along the past years, he could see the mighty hand of God, and His supreme plan for his salvation from death, and that of his father, his brothers, and their children. He did not waste time in talks, but concentrated on serious work, saying: “Hasten and go up to my father.” It was not the time to talk, but to act, and be saved from death that threatened the world for five more years to come! As to the land of Goshen, chosen by Joseph, for his father and brothers, and all their children, it is located north-east of the Nile Delta, where the province of ‘Sharkieh’ is today. It is also called ‘Rameses’ (Gen. 47:11), and a very fertile land for pasture, where the children of Israel sojourned, herding Pharaoh’s and their flocks, up till their time of affliction! He counted his glory as his father’s and his brothers,’ saying to them, “You shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt” (Gen. 45:13). Contrary to what many people do, as they get rich and dignified, to disregard their own folks, and treat them with haughtiness. Joseph felt that what he achieved was not his own doing, but was God’s, for the sake of his father and his brothers, to live and be glorified. By that he became an image of the Lord Christ, who forsook His glory for our sake, then got glorified again, by the glory that was His, before the world was (John 17:5), so as to lift us up with Him in His glory, as heirs to the inheritance. 2- INVITING HIS FATHER AND BROTHERS TO COME TO LIVE IN EGYPT When Pharaoh and his servants heard the news, they were very pleased (Gen. 45:6); as they all loved him. Pharaoh has been very generous, when he demanded from Joseph: “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this, load your beasts and depart. Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land. Now you are commanded - do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours” (Gen. 45:17-20). The best of the land of Egypt, and the fat of the land, that Pharaoh wished to give to Joseph’s brothers, for the love of their brother, beloved to him, refer to the mysteries of the kingdom of God, and to riches of heaven, that became ours from God, through the New Joseph, beloved to the Father. He commanded them to take carts from the land of Egypt for their little ones and their wives, to come to enjoy the goods 6 of the land of Egypt, that are to be theirs. What are the carts that will carry us, but the redeeming works of God, and the media of salvation, together with supplications and prostration, that flare the heart to set forth by the Holy Spirit, not to enjoy the riches of the land of Egypt, but those of heaven itself. An instance of these divine carts, is the sacrament of Baptism; of which St. Gregory the Theologian says: [Enlightenment is Baptism; enlightenment is a boat that sails toward God, sailing with Christ, Head of religion, and consummation of mind. Enlightenment is the key to the Kingdom of heavens; restoration of life; freedom from servitude; and loosening of bonds1.] As to the second cart that sets with us to glory; It is the sacrament of the Eucharist. It is described in the Syrian Liturgy of Adam and Marie: [This sacrifice by your ministers... Let it be for the forgiveness of our transgressions and our sins; a great light of resurrection from the dead; and a new life in the kingdom of heavens.] Thus you could say that the works of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church, are like divine carts, capable of lifting us up to the Father’s bosom, though abiding us in our Lord Jesus Christ. If we go back to Pharaoh, we find him saying: “Now you are commanded” (Gen. 45:19). Pharaoh assumes that any of his commands, for the benefit of Joseph and his family, as though it is from Joseph himself; the same way as any of Joseph’s commands, for the benefit of Egypt, as though it is from Pharaoh. I may say, that what God the Father commands to grant us, is in Christ; and what Christ grants us, is through God the Father. How sweet are “Do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours” (Gen. 45:20). Surely, it was not easy for the elder Israel, his children, grandchildren, and slaves, to leave back their land, despite what they experienced because of the famine, unless they look forward to the promise, that “the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.” Likewise, it would not be easy for us to forsake what we have in the land of our sojourn, unless God opens our sight to behold the eternal glory set for us, if our hearts depart to there. The apostle Paul, as his spiritual eyes were opened to behold that glory, says: “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. But indeed I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:7-8).The apostle Paul found in the Lord Christ, the Pearl of high value, for which he sold everything with joy and happiness. In Him, he discovered abundance of riches, so he forsook everything, setting forth with his heart and all his feelings; he found in Him all true satisfaction. Getting back to Joseph, we find him, in amazing love, in order to assure them that he forgave all the past; he gave them carts, and to each man changes of garments, but to Benjamin he gave 300 pieces of silver and five changes of garment; and he sent to his father 10 donkeys loaded with grain, bread and food, as provisions for the journey from Canaan to Egypt. As he sent them away, he said to them, “See that you do not become troubled along the way” (Gen. 45:24); fearing that they would start to blame one another for what they already did to him. It is not any more a time for rebuke, but for hastening to come back together with their father, wives, children, and all their possessions. What are these garments, given by Joseph to his brothers, but the union with the Lord Christ; to be with and in Him; to hide in Him, and have Him as a Garment to .٨٥٦ ¡ 1 للمؤلف: الحب الإلهي، ص ٨٥٥ 7 cover us eternally; and by Him, we should have the right to enter into the bosom of God, His Father. As to the silver that was given by Joseph to his younger brother Benjamin; it is the word of the Gospel, delivered by the Lord Christ to His Church or to humanity, as a younger brother. And as we said before, in our interpretation of the Book of Judges1, that the figure 300 in Greek, is represented by the letter ”T” namely the cross; It is as though the 300 pieces of silver taken by Benjamin, is receiving the fellowship of the cross and passion, together with the Lord Christ, through preaching of the joyful word of the Gospel. As to the five changes of garments, given to Benjamin, They are the sanctification of our five senses, to carry the features of the Lord Christ, and to be sanctified on His account, by His Holy Spirit. All what the True Joseph granted us, is but “food for the journey” (Gen. 45:23); But what is beyond that food, is an enjoyment of things that “Eye had not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man; the things that God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). What we get here, is a pledge and provision for the journey, until we reach the glory, in order to enjoy the divine gift. 3- ISRAEL HEARS ABOUT JOSEPH “Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father. And they told him, saying: ‘Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.’ And Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them. But when they told him all the words that Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived. Then Israel said, ‘It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die’” (Gen. 45:25-28). The men went up out of Egypt, and came to their father, who, hearing about his son, his heart stood still; the situation having been beyond the control of the old man. And as he slowly regained his composure, and confirmed the truth of what they said, through seeing the carts, his spirit revived anew, and counted it as the greatest divine gift, to see his son Joseph before he dies. The carts did not preoccupy him, nor the glory, that his son has reached, but said, “I will go and see him,” as though proclaiming with the Psalmist, “Whom I have in heaven but you? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides you” (Psalm 73:25). Origen has a long comment on this text, we shall quote some of it, with some comment of our own: (1) He comments on the phrase, “They went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan” (Gen. 45:25), saying that the Holy Bible has never mentioned a going down to holy places, but going up to them; and vice versa2. If Egypt was blessed by the presence of Joseph in it, to turn into a source of satisfaction; Yet, in the Old Testament, it has been a symbol of love of the world; That is why it is said: “they went up out of Egypt;” went up out of the world, toward the heavenly Canaan. We can say that the land of Egypt has been far more blessed by the coming to it of the Lord Christ Himself, together with His mother and St. Joseph. (2) Origen believes that the word “revived” in the phrase “The spirit of Jacob their father revived,” came in Latin as was enlightened; as though Jacob, away from Joseph, has been like a quenched lamp, that was lighted by life, as it is said, “The life 1 Cf. our Commentary on Judges, chapter 7. 2 In Gen. hom 15:1. 8 was the light of men” (John 1:4)1. We can say, that our souls, are like Jacob, when they are far from the true Joseph, the spirit in them are quenched (1 Thessalonians 5:19); and when we recognize Him as being alive, namely, risen from the dead, our souls get enlightened inside us, with the joy of His resurrection working in us. If Jacob longed to end his life with seeing Joseph alive; he is representing humanity that longed to enjoy the Lord Christ, risen from the dead, so as to die with hope. (3) Origen says that Israel was astonished to hear that Joseph was “governor of all Egypt;” namely a conqueror over every sin of lust, adultery and defilement2. Let us unite with our true Joseph, and carry in Him all victory, to become truly, not governors of one, two, or three cities, but over our whole body (our symbolic Egypt). By Him we control the mind, and live sanctified in senses, and emotions, and walk respectfully. 1 In Gen. hom 15:2. 2 In Gen. hom 15:3.
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