Benefits of Reconciliation

Becoming confident that his brothers’ attitudes had changed, Jacob had risked letting them know who he was and what he thought, opening the possibility for reconciliation.  Unless someone took the first step, it could not happen.  His initial effort was met with considerable suspicion, because of his brother’s sense of guilt.  It took considerable effort on his part to convince them he was willing to forgive them.   Eventually they were convinced he was sincere and reconciliation took place.  Given the chance, eventually the relationship would grow to be better than it had ever been, but it could not happen until the brothers acknowledged their own part in the separation and they understood Joseph had forgiven them.  Efforts at reconciliation usually fail because people refuse to be honest about what happened and take responsibility for their actions. 

The effects of reconciliation were apparent to everyone, as Genesis 45:16-19 tells us.  “And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan; And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.  Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.  Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.”

People who really care about us will also care about those we care about.  They will be excited to see our relationships grow.   Pharaoh and his people cared about Joseph and were excited that he was reunited with his family.  Pharaoh did everything he could to encourage the relationship, asking Joseph’s brothers to move to Egypt, promising to give them a place to live and food to eat.  In fact, he told them to not worry about their stuff because he would supply whatever they needed.  He even supplied transportation.   

Joseph’s brothers agreed, and Joseph made sure they had everything they needed, and included some gifts of his own. In Genesis 45:21-24.  And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.  To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.  And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way.  So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.”  He warned them not to fall back into their old ways and get into a fight on the way home.   

After twenty two years of believing Joseph was dead, Jacob had trouble believing he had been found alive, as Genesis 45:25-46:1.  “And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not.  And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived: And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.  And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.”

Finally convinced Joseph was alive, Jacob went back to Beersheba where he had been raised and worshipped God, thanking him for restoring Joseph to him.  God encouraged him to go on to Egypt, reminding him of his promise to Abraham in Genesis 15, more than two hundred years before.  Genesis 46:2-describes what God told him.  “And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob.

And he said, Here am I.  

And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:  I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.” 

Confident of God’s blessings, Jacob then resumed his journey to Egypt in Genesis 46:5-7.  And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.  And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:  His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.”  Jacob’s entire family was reunited in Egypt as a result of their reconciliation.  People who will not make the effort to obtain n reconciliation deprive themselves and others of the blessings they could have had.