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Finally!
After several chapters of agony, Joseph is finally reunited with his brothers. There is much we could discuss but I want to focus on the response of Israel/Jacob.
In Genesis 42:36, Jacob said, “All this has come against me.” How many times have each of us thought the same?
He thought he had lost his favored son Joseph and was now facing the possibility of losing Benjamin as well. The waves of self-pity came crashing down. Complaining is the natural response to uncontrollable circumstances that cannot be immediately resolved.
And the truth is, we do it all the time. Loss of control leads to a loss of hope. We slip into our personal coping mechanism to get through the turmoil and pain. It’s easy to look at Jacob’s struggle in hindsight and question his lack of faith and trust. I don’t believe this story is here for us to criticize Jacob. It’s here because Jacob represents us.
Here in Genesis 45, Israel’s response is a response of gratitude.
“It is enough!”
Jacob/Israel now had a testimony. He had seen God work the impossible. His dark, paralyzing thoughts were turned to unthinkable faith and joy. This is God’s promise to those who persevere with faith. At some point, whether here or in the life to come, God will turn all suffering and pain into joy and blessing.