Genesis 45:12

When the brothers came, they came before the governor himself, not a lesser official. Of course they had no idea that they were bowing down to their brother Joseph, though Joseph recognised them. He spoke roughly to them and asked where they came from. Genesis 42:23 tells us he spoke to them through an interpreter. He knew their language perfectly well, but he would not give them the least hint that he might be known to them.

With wonderful skill and infinite love, Joseph makes himself known to his brothers. He drives away their fears. He delivers them from being taken up with themselves. He relieves their anxiety by filling their sight with himself and his glories, and by occupying their thoughts with his gracious words. "Look," says Joseph, "your eyes see … that it is my mouth that speaks to you." Fear driven off, grief eased, cares banished, love can flow without hindrance.

Joseph was the long-desired son of his mother Rachel. He took his name from her (Genesis 30:23-24) — Joseph, meaning "adding" — and the name pointed to another son, the son of his father's right hand. For Benjamin figures in that day of earthly power and glory. Joseph is the vessel of divine wisdom in humiliation. His brothers despised him and made him suffer, and sold him to Gentiles who punished him still more. Yet, unknown to Israel, he was raised to the right hand of power, for unmeasured blessing to both Israel and the Gentiles, and married to a Gentile wife.

Only one discovery will roll away the burden of guilt: the One against whom we have sinned knows it all, and has fully forgiven it all. The knowledge of our hearts, however necessary, will bring no rest to the soul. We may mourn over the past and wear ourselves out over our sins. But no discovery of evil in our hearts will bring comfort to the soul. No repentance, however real, and no sorrow for sin, however sincere, will bring it either. For rest and peace Jesus must make Himself known. Then we discover with great delight that His heart is full of grace for a man who is full of sin. With full knowledge of all our sins, there is nothing but love in His heart towards us. Then we can rest — but we rest in what He is, not in anything we find in ourselves.

And what could be more touching than his closing words? "… And tell my father all my glory in Egypt, and all you have seen; and hurry, and bring my father here quickly." Not content with this, "he fell on his brother Benjamin's neck and wept. Benjamin wept on his neck. He kissed all his brothers and wept on them. After that his brothers talked with him." Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks — not only he with them, but they with him.

Joseph no longer spoke to them through an interpreter. He no longer hid himself as with a veil from his repentant brothers. "Your eyes see," he said, "that it is my mouth that speaks to you." And so Israel's eyes will see the King in His beauty, and the veil will be taken away. Jehovah Jesus will return to them with a surer and readier love than the love with which Joseph fell on his brothers' necks and kissed them.