DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Genesis 43:26-31; 45:1-16 (4/16) 1st
Self
Disclosure: Genesis 43:26-32; 45:1-16, especially vs. 5: “Now
then be not grieved, and let it not seem hard to you that ye sold me hither,
for God sent me before you for life.” There are a dozen chapters of
Genesis between yesterday’s reading and today’s reading. They tell of jealous plotting by Jacob's
older sons toward Joseph their younger half-brother, the sale of Joseph into
slavery in
Today's reading describes how Joseph disclosed his identity to his
brothers, doing so slowly, one step at a time, preparing them for reunion. Beloved of the Lord, consider how God
reveals Himself to us - a little at a time, as we are able to bear it. The parallel is noteworthy when one
recalls how the Lord Jesus, God Incarnate, discloses Himself to us, His
beloved. As Joseph watched for
respect and compliance, so the Lord does with us. Note the restraint both of Joseph and of
our Lord as increasingly they disclose themselves, and note that full
disclosure always occurs privately, as an intimate encounter between loved
ones.
Joseph watched to see if his brothers respected and complied with his
will (vss. 26-29). They prostrated
themselves, honoring his position.
He noted that they had met his demand to bring the youngest brother,
Benjamin, with them. Now, consider
the Lord Jesus. During His
ministry, He took three years to prepare His disciples. From the multitudes who flocked to Him,
and even from those who followed after Him, the Lord carefully chose those whom
He knew would be reliable witnesses to His Resurrection (Mk.
3:9,13,14-19). The New Testament
records that no more than 600 persons actually ever “saw” the risen
Lord (1 Cor. 15:5-8). Even of those
600, not all were ready even to believe what plainly was manifested before
their eyes (Mt. 28:17).
Next, note how Joseph restrained himself as he provided his brothers
with more and more information about himself. He carefully orchestrated the moment
when finally he said, “I am Joseph,” even repeating the fact so
that what they saw would make sense to them (vss. 3,4).
One needs to read earlier, in Genesis 41:28-44:34, and follow Joseph's
meteoric rise from slave status to ruler in
Finally, Joseph cried out, “Dismiss all from me” (vs.
1). For his self disclosure, Joseph
chose a private, intimate setting.
With only his brothers present, he showed them that “God sent me
before you for life” (vs. 5).
He repeated this three times (vss. 5,7,8). Likewise, after the Lord Jesus rose from
the grave, He appeared repeatedly to His disciples over forty days, but always
in select, small groups, to bring them into a full knowledge of Himself as
Savior, Lord, and God - and always in intimate settings. And so He does today as He comes among
His own in intimate gatherings of His Holy People, ever revealing Himself to
us, His own Body, the Church.
O Christ, we have the memorial of Thy death, we have seen the type of
Thy Resurrection, we have enjoyed Thine inexhaustible delight, which also be
Thou well-pleased to vouchsafe to us all.