seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Genesis 45:45 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.
3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.
3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.
It's hard to describe this scene. All that pent up anguish. All that pent up guilt. Can you imagine?
Here's what blueletterbible.org says about it.
This probably means that Joseph said he was Joseph and showed his brothers that he was circumcised. Jewish legend says the brothers could never believe this high Egyptian official was Joseph unless he showed he was circumcised.
Because of the punishment they anticipated, the great emotion of Joseph, his manner of revelation, and the total shock of learning Joseph was not only alive but right in front of them, the brothers were dismayed. The ancient Hebrew word for dismayed (bahal) actually means, "amazed" or "frightened" or even "terrified."
Jewish legends say the brothers were so shocked that their souls left their bodies and it was only by a miracle of God their souls came back.
Because of the punishment they anticipated, the great emotion of Joseph, his manner of revelation, and the total shock of learning Joseph was not only alive but right in front of them, the brothers were dismayed. The ancient Hebrew word for dismayed (bahal) actually means, "amazed" or "frightened" or even "terrified."
Jewish legends say the brothers were so shocked that their souls left their bodies and it was only by a miracle of God their souls came back.
Bible-commentaries.com describes the scene.
Then he bursts out in tears. It is hard to imagine what the brothers' first reaction to this outburst was. Kings and presidents are not supposed to burst out in tears. The fact is reported to Pharaoh's palace. The NIV says: "And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh's household heard about it." Most commentators agree that this probably does not mean that Joseph's residence was so close to the royal palace that his voice could be hear. Probably the fact that Joseph cried for unknown reasons was reported. The KJV and RSV are probably more correct. KJV reads: "And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard."
Not only does Joseph lose control over his tears, he also is temporarily unable to screen his words. "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" is what comes out of his very heart. "I am Joseph!" is clear; he reveals his identity to his brothers, but why ask if his father is still alive? There was no reason to doubt that the brothers had told the truth about Jacob. If Jacob would have been dead, Judah's moving speech would have been empty rhetoric. Joseph does not really ask for information, but at the height of his outburst he says: "I want my Daddy!" Here is a full-grown man, who has never severed his emotional bonds with his father. But then who has? Everybody needs the assurance of loving protection that only a father can give to his child. We need that from birth to adolescence, but we never outgrow it. Many people never experience the warmth of motherly love that makes them understand that they are loved. Many also grow up without the safe feeling of having a strong father who loves and guards and answers to our feeling of insecurity and uncertainty. Once we have grown into adulthood those lacks take their revenge upon us. We grow up without understanding what is lacking, but our subconscious knows and we go through life without the equilibrium of a healthy youth in which we received the right signals from our parents. This emotional lack contributes to a lack of spiritual understanding. Because it is through what our parents tell us, I am not talking about words but attitudes, that we understand who God is.
Not only does Joseph lose control over his tears, he also is temporarily unable to screen his words. "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" is what comes out of his very heart. "I am Joseph!" is clear; he reveals his identity to his brothers, but why ask if his father is still alive? There was no reason to doubt that the brothers had told the truth about Jacob. If Jacob would have been dead, Judah's moving speech would have been empty rhetoric. Joseph does not really ask for information, but at the height of his outburst he says: "I want my Daddy!" Here is a full-grown man, who has never severed his emotional bonds with his father. But then who has? Everybody needs the assurance of loving protection that only a father can give to his child. We need that from birth to adolescence, but we never outgrow it. Many people never experience the warmth of motherly love that makes them understand that they are loved. Many also grow up without the safe feeling of having a strong father who loves and guards and answers to our feeling of insecurity and uncertainty. Once we have grown into adulthood those lacks take their revenge upon us. We grow up without understanding what is lacking, but our subconscious knows and we go through life without the equilibrium of a healthy youth in which we received the right signals from our parents. This emotional lack contributes to a lack of spiritual understanding. Because it is through what our parents tell us, I am not talking about words but attitudes, that we understand who God is.
Dysfunctional family.... these are intimate looks into one really messed up bunch of people.
