Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.”
For years Jacob believed his son Joseph was dead, and he spoke of death and dreaded the grave. Now he reaches Goshen, finds Joseph alive and exalted, and says he can die content. What changed?
The Name Used Here Is "Israel"
The verse does not call him Jacob. It calls him Israel. One writer says why the Spirit of God marks this moment with that name:
William KellyJacob had not yet reached the end of his journeys, and not the end of his sorrows either. Of all the fathers he had the most varied experience, as Isaac had the least. So he said later to Pharaoh: "Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life." Yet God's governing hand used this painful experience to bless his soul. The Spirit of God marks that here by the name "Israel" — a name not only given to him, but used of him in the story itself. We find it again years later, when he took another journey that mattered even more (Gen. 46:1, 30; Gen. 48:2).
Greatness That Did Not Cool the Affection
Joseph now had power and splendour in Egypt. The meeting shows what it had not done to him:
William KellyJoseph for his part got his chariot ready and went there to meet Israel his father. When he came before him, he fell on his neck and wept there a good while. The affection was great on both sides. Worldly splendour had not weakened the love that bound father and son together in the promised land.
A Man Who Dreaded the Grave, No Longer Afraid
Jacob had talked about death for years, and the grave frightened him. Now he speaks of dying with no fear in the words. One writer explains the change and applies it to us:
Hamilton SmithThis man had always been speaking of death and dreading the grave. Now he has no more fear of death, because Joseph is alive. As we see that Christ is risen, and as we gaze on His face and learn His love, our souls will be delivered from the fear of death.
Israel May Die, Because Joseph Lives
Jacob is ready to step aside now that his son is alive and honoured. One writer makes that a lesson in giving Christ first place:
L. M. GrantIsrael's words to Joseph carry great significance. Israel may die, for Joseph lives! This is the same principle John the Baptist speaks of in John 3:30: "He must increase, but I must decrease." When the Lord Jesus has His place of supreme honour, the nation of Israel will be content to be brought to nothing. How good for us if we learn this lesson well, glad to see the flesh put in the place of death so that Christ may be exalted.
Discipline Finished, Joy Full
God gave Jacob proof before He gave him joy. One writer traces what that discipline was for:
The Bible TreasuryThe Lord always makes sure of His work. He stoops to our weakness and gives us evidence. So here: Jacob is first convinced by evidence that the mercy is real. Then, once he has Joseph back, his relief is complete. The cup is full! The heart was already broken and subdued. Now it is satisfied. It has received back what it lost, straight from God, and with greater honour and glory to Him. Discipline has done its work, and we find that fullness of joy is the great desire of God's heart for us.
A Preview of a Later Reunion
One writer reads Jacob's history as the story of his nation in small. This moment previews something still ahead:
The Bible TreasuryJacob lost his son Joseph for a time, and did not see him again until Joseph was exalted in glory. In the same way, the Jews will not see their Messiah again until He appears in glory. Israel's joy when he saw Joseph (Gen. 46:30) leads our thoughts on to the godly remnant in Jerusalem, when the child Jesus was brought into the temple. Simeon put it like this: "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation." (Luke 2:29-30.)
Summary
- Seeing. The verse turns on one thing. Israel has seen the face of the son he thought was dead.
- Seeing removes fear. The man who had spent years dreading the grave stops dreading it, because the one he loves is alive.
- Seeing reorders self. Israel may die, for Joseph lives. When Christ has supreme honour, the flesh is content to be nothing.
- Seeing satisfies. The cup is full: discipline had done its work, and fullness of joy is what God was aiming at all along.
- Seeing is still coming. Jacob saw Joseph only when Joseph was exalted in glory. So Israel will see their Messiah when He appears in glory, as Simeon saw God's salvation.