Walking in worship
So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen (Genesis 45:13).
“Do not quarrel on the way” (Genesis 45:24, ESV).
Joseph was loved by his father, Jacob. But he was hated by his brothers. They cast him into a pit and sold him into slavery, and Joseph suffered injustice and imprisonment. In all this suffering, he was faithful to God, and God was with him. God took him out of prison to become the saviour of the great nation of Egypt and to save his own family. God was foretelling, at the start of the Bible, a coming Saviour, His Son Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus came to His people Israel. Rejected by them, betrayed by Judas for money, Jesus was handed over to the Roman rulers to be crucified. Joseph came out of prison, a picture of resurrection, to become a saviour. Jesus defeated death and is the Saviour of the world. Egypt bowed the knee to Joseph. God has promised that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (see Philippians 2:10-11).
At the end of Genesis 44 Joseph’s brothers were in fear of judgement from Joseph, the lord of Egypt. But at the start of Genesis 45 Joseph declares, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” (v. 3, ESV). Then he says those beautiful words, “Please come near to me” (v. 4). This scene overflows with the love Joseph had for his father and his brothers. And it gives our hearts a remarkable impression of the wonder of the love of Christ.
Joseph sends his brothers back home to bring Jacob to Egypt with the words, “So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen.” This morning, as we remember the Lord Jesus, we can sense the Lord saying to us, in the words “Remember Me” – “Please come near to Me.” And we have a fresh opportunity to speak to the God and Father of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. We contemplate His glorious Person and the depth of His love in saving us.
Have you ever thought about what Joseph’s brothers told their father Jacob? Each one would have their own experiences of being in Joseph’s presence and realising what he had done for them and the majesty in which he stood. They would combine their impressions and bring joy to the heart of their father. Once, God opened the heavens to declare, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Now we, God’s children, speak to our Father in heaven of the Person who fills His heart and ours.
But Joseph also said to his brothers, “Do not quarrel along the way.” Worship can soon be forgotten as the pressures of life put our relationships under stress. It is essential to the Lord that the oneness we express in worship is also expressed in our daily lives. We read powerful Scriptures, sing beautiful words, and speak Spirit-given thoughts as we remember the Lord. This is not to last for a brief hour, but it should shape our lives and make us tender-hearted, loving one another and showing to the world that we are one in Christ Jesus.
