Finally, after twenty-one years, Joseph was able to contact his father, Jacob, and let him know he was alive and well. Earlier, I had asked the question in a study, why didn’t Joseph try to contact Jacob earlier: Joseph and Lessons Learned. Whatever reason we may offer for such a thing can only be a matter conjecture. The text simply does not elaborate on the question of why contact was never made, even knowing Joseph was a very powerful man in Egypt. Contacting his family, would have been a simple matter for such a powerful man in Egypt. Nevertheless, it was not done.
In my earlier study I offered the explanation that it was probably a matter of faith for Joseph. I theorized that he had learned the lessons of his fathers who tried to help the Lord do what he promised he would do for them. Every time their help was offered, some other problems arose, because of the human effort that sought to do what God promised, he would do. Human effort can never replace the work of God. Joseph seems to be the spiritual work that the Lord brought out of the lives of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is the fruit of their walk with the Lord. Joseph waited on God to do as he promised him in his dreams (Genesis 37:5-11), and now the time has come!
Therefore, Joseph did as Pharaoh had commanded and gave his brothers wagons for their provisions and carriages for their wives and young ones and for their father, Jacob, to bring everyone and everything of theirs to Egypt, where they would live in safety and in prosperity (Genesis 45:21; cp. verse-19).
It has been customary in the cultures of the East that men of high rank gave gifts of clothing and money to ambassadors or other persons they wished to honor. The article of clothing would be an expensive, sheetlike robe which needed no alterations, and it was worn on formal occasions, and when appearing before important people like Pharaoh. Joseph wished to impress upon his brethren how welcome and how honorably they would be treated in Egypt upon their return. They would appear before Pharaoh, and they would have the formal costume, whereby they wouldn’t feel ashamed in his presence. To each of his ten brothers he gave two changes of apparel, but to Benjamin, Joseph’s mother’s son, he gave five changes or raiment, plus 300 pieces of silver.
One may question Joseph’s obvious display of favoritism, but he had already tested his brethren in this regard. They no longer had any bigotry toward Rachel’s sons. Rachel was Jacob’s favorite wife, and he had a right to treat her and her sons with favoritism, because he chose her and her alone. His other three wives were chosen for him. Why wouldn’t he embrace Rachel as his favorite, and, therefore, his sons by her? Such favoritism doesn’t demean the love he had for his other sons, and they should have realized that earlier. They’ve learned from their error, and they’re no longer jealous of such displays of honor.
If one wishes to be more favorably regarded, he must behave more honorably to gain the respect from the person he holds in high esteem. Judah did so, and this caused Jacob to divide the family blessing and the right of the firstborn between him and Joseph. A natural inclination toward favoritism can be overcome through the honorable efforts of one who does not have that natural affection.
Joseph sent his brethren away and reminded them not to fall from the joy they now shared. In other words, don’t fall into fear that they would be mistreated upon their return to Egypt. The evidence of Pharaoh’s friendship was the good of the land, which would be theirs, and the evidence of Joseph’s love for them was the changes of raiment that he gave each of them. Moreover, he sent gifts to his father, as well. Jacob sent a gift to “the man” when he sent his sons to Egypt. Therefore, Joseph sent a ‘gift’ to Jacob to express his love for him and to impress upon him that he was, indeed, alive. So, the brothers went up out of Egypt to the land of Canaan and to their father (Genesis 45:22-25).
At first, Jacob’s heart fainted upon hearing that Joseph was yet alive. He was stunned and couldn’t believe for the joy of hearing it (Genesis 45:26; cp. Luke 24:11, 41). Nevertheless, he was encouraged, when he saw the wagons, and when he was told all that Joseph had told them, and his spirit revived (Genesis 45:27). Therefore, he said “It’s enough! My son, Joseph, is alive, and I will go to see him before I die (Genesis 45:28).
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