We come to the emotional climax and resolution of the story: the reunion of Joseph and his father, Jacob. And it is indeed emotional. Outside of Gethsemane and the crucifixion, there is no other scene in the Bible with such emotional depth. When Joseph meets his father, he "fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while." He does not say anything; he weeps. The scene is crucial in the overarching story of God's redemption, preserving the seed of the Messiah. However, our God is the God of details, personal details. The love and reunion of a father and son are just as important to Him. And this moment of restoration cannot happen without prior repentance and forgiveness, a picture of our reconciliation with our Heavenly Father in Christ.
But something is missing in the story. Strangely, we are not told that Israel weeps. It is as though Jacob's twenty years of grief—thinking that Joseph was dead—have left him without tears to give. He then declares he is ready to die—content that he has seen his son. Yet, that is not God's will … at least not yet. Interestingly, Jacob had had 17 years with Joseph before he disappeared. Now, he will have another 17 years before he dies.
Joseph then coaches the family on their upcoming interview with Pharoah, for he knows that much is at stake. He knows if his brothers say they are shepherds, it will push the Egyptian's button. Joseph knows how they will react. Pharoah will be polite, for Joseph's sake, but he will want his family to keep their distance, for they despise shepherds. This will lead to Joseph's goal: settlement in Goshen, the perfect place.
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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.
