Genesis 45:11

Joseph also promises to provide for them during the five years of famine still to come. So Joseph returns great good to his brothers for the evil that they had shown him. The goodness of the Lord Jesus is greater still. He has been treated far more shamefully than Joseph was, yet He will bless Israel — His brothers by natural descent — in overflowing grace in the coming age!

His brothers had thrown him into the pit, the Gentiles had flung him into prison. The world is desperate and his brothers are in need. Will Joseph seize that moment and use his power to take revenge? Nature might act like that, but grace will take another way. Joseph will use his position of supreme power to bless everyone. But while he shows grace, he will still uphold righteousness. Need will force a cry from the Gentiles, and they must submit to Joseph before they receive the blessing. Repentance must come before blessing for his brothers too.

Joseph is lord of all, with the riches of glory at his disposal for everyone. Even so, only those who "come" get the blessing. If all power is in his hands to bless, all grace is in his heart to draw people to himself — the blesser. Joseph says in effect to his father, "I want you," for it is not only "Come," but "Come down to me."

If Jacob will only come, the days of his wandering will be over, for Joseph says, "You shall dwell in the land of Goshen." Distance and estrangement will be no more, for "you shall be near me." Care and want will be driven away, for "there I will provide for you." Still the Lord of glory can say, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The soul that comes to Him finds an end to the days of wandering feet, an end to the loneliness of the desolate heart, and an end to the famine of the distant land. In the company of Christ there is rest for the conscience, satisfaction for the heart, and food for the soul.

Notice the faith and wisdom of Joseph. In Genesis 45:10 he had already sent the message about Goshen, before he had said a word to Pharaoh. Goshen was the outlying part of Egypt. There they could best keep their old occupation, and there they were least exposed to the idol worship and moral corruption of that land.

Finally, the message carries a word of warning. There is untold blessing for those who come; there is immediate danger for those who delay. So Joseph's word is "Do not tarry … so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty." The danger is far greater if we treat lightly that far greater message that comes from the Lord in glory! Well may the apostle ask, "How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?"

This leads the soul on to that glorious time when the Son of Man will take the government into His own hand, by divine appointment, and rule over the whole redeemed creation… The house of Israel will be fully restored. His gracious hand will nourish and sustain them, and all the earth will know the deep blessedness of being under His rule.