As Joseph continues his talk with his brothers, he reiterates that God had sent him ahead of the brothers to save a posterity, which reminds us of one of the important themes in Genesis and the story of Joseph: seed.
The theme of "the seed" begins in creation. But after the Fall of man, there are obstacles in fulfilling the command to be fruitful and to rear a godly seed. First, God declares war between the seed of the Serpent (Satan) and the Seed of the woman (the coming Messiah). The war begins with the birth of two boys. And it is ugly. The first conflict is sibling rivalry, which ends in murder. With the brothers' repentance and Joseph's ministry, their rivalry is put to an end. Second, barrenness. God decreed two kinds of multiplying: one, have children (Gen. 1:28); two, pain in bearing children (Gen. 3:16). An aspect of this pain is not being able to have children. The patriarchs' wives have trouble conceiving. But as God makes a covenant with Abram, He promises to "multiply" them Himself. In his mercy, he gives these wives children. Joseph was born of a previously barren woman, and God uses him to overcome another barrenness: the barrenness of the land, famine, and thereby save the seed, his family.
Through his speech, there is one thing that is present but unspoken. He cannot tell them about God's mercy unless he is merciful. He cannot point them to the purpose of God's providence unless he acknowledges God's providence. And he cannot tell them not to be grieved or angry unless he himself is not bitter—he has forgiven them. How could he forgive those who hated him, nearly killed him, sold him into slavery? Joseph gives us the answer: God's providential rule.
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Kurt Snow serves as a ruling elder at Covenant Reformed Church of Sacramento (RCUS). He served as a member of the Board of Governors of City Seminary of Sacramento from 2000 to 2020.
