Genesis 47:11–12

They were shepherds, it is true, keepers of cattle from their youth — people the Egyptians detested. But what of that? "He is not ashamed to call them brothers." He acknowledges them in front of the king, and the king has the same mind toward them: he acknowledges them too, he honours them, and he wants them to treat his whole land as open to them. So they get the best of the land, in Goshen in the land of Rameses, and Joseph feeds them and their households.

A district in Goshen in Lower Egypt, east of the Nile, in which Jacob and his descendants were placed, and in which they built a treasure city of the same name for Pharaoh. It was from there that the Israelites began their march out of Egypt. No one can identify the site today, and it is disputed whether the district or the city took its name from the Egyptian kings called Rameses.

Pharaoh, on the throne, has the same mind. He makes the power and resources of Egypt bring him down there, so that all the good of Egypt might be theirs. Joseph is the source, and the one they are closest to, but the authority and power and resources of Pharaoh are in the same mind... Israel still, however, has his own portion, and a separate place in the world in Goshen, and in the best of it.

This pictures the Lord Jesus restoring Israel to great blessing under subjection to His authority, for we are also told that he nourished them with food (vv. 11-12). How wonderful it will be for Israel in the millennium to be settled for good and richly supplied! Of course the history here is only a picture, for Israel soon after found itself in bitter slavery to the Egyptians.

For this type looks at a far wider circle of blessing than Canaan. In the same way, the rejected Son of man is to receive dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him... But this in no way hinders the special honour and nearness of Israel.

Let the day be as bright as the day of the Egyptian Joseph was to Israel — faith knows that "the polished surface" will soon break up. Circumstances never give faith its object. The word of God does that. We must not let circumstances and appearances take the eye of faith off its object... The house, swept and garnished as it is at present, promises much. So did the land of Rameses and the friendship of Pharaoh, in the days of Genesis 50. But such promises are idle words in the ear of faith; it pays them no attention.

Joseph's brothers (and father) picture the nation of Israel receiving rich blessing on earth under the reign of the true Joseph. Asenath — that is, the church — receives no such portion. She enjoys a better lot: she is united with Joseph, who is head over all things... The church is not the earthly nation under the king's reign. She is the heavenly wife of the One who wants her to share His exaltation.

Food for the inner man comes only from Him, just as the sons of Jacob found none in Canaan. Their father heard of it in Egypt, for the fulfilment of God's purpose, and sent them there. Joseph had provided for a starving world, and his heart longed to supply his father and his brothers. They had sold him away there, and they knew so little of him. They meant evil against him, but God meant it for good, to preserve them a posterity in the earth and save their lives. How much more was this true of the greater than Joseph!

They were shepherds, it is true, keepers of cattle from their youth. Egypt held such people in disgust. But what of that? "He is not ashamed to call them brothers." He acknowledges them in front of the king. The king himself is of one mind with Joseph toward them. He acknowledges them also, and honours them, and tells them to treat the whole of his land as open before them. So they are placed in the best of the land, in Goshen in the land of Rameses, and Joseph feeds them and their households.

But people were not only saved by Joseph, they prospered under Joseph. We see this set out in the history of Israel and his sons. The Lord Jesus does a great deal more for His people than save them from the world's famine. He brings us into a good land, a heavenly country, and blesses us with spiritual blessings. As we enter into those spiritual blessings we shall grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This pictures the Lord Jesus restoring Israel to great blessing under subjection to His authority. We are also told that he nourished them with food (vv. 11–12). How wonderful it will be for Israel in the millennium to have a settled home for good, with plenty for all! Of course the history here is only a picture. Israel soon afterwards fell into bitter slavery under the Egyptians.

Joseph's brothers (and father) are a picture of the nation of Israel receiving rich blessing on earth under the reign of the true Joseph. But Asenath, that is, the church, receives no such portion. She enjoys a better lot — united with Joseph, who is head over all things.

For seventeen years they had received Joseph's generosity. They had been the special objects of his loving care. And yet, when a crisis arises, it becomes clear that they have no personal knowledge of Joseph. They know something of his greatness and glory. They know the great work he has done. They know that every blessing they enjoy is owing to his position and his work. But they had no personal acquaintance with his mind and heart. It is as if they said, "We know what he has done for us, but we do not know how he feels about us."

Joseph's service brought him reproach and misunderstanding. In the end he had the joy of fellowship with them, and Joseph "provided … his brothers … with food" (Genesis 47:12). Paul cared for all the churches. Timothy had genuine concern for the saints. Epaphras prayed earnestly. They are a few of those who sought the welfare of the brothers — a happy service open to all.