12 28 25 Ani Yosef

Over the years, I have read through the Scriptures, placing myself into the position of each character, trying to imagine how they felt and thought during the story. This year, in yesterday's Torah portion, I was inserting myself into the event of Joseph's revelation of himself to his brothers.

And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph (ani Yosef); doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
(Gen. 45:3)

I imagine that everyone in the room could have heard a pin drop when Joseph spoke those two Hebrew words to his brothers: Ani Yosef—"I am Joseph." Their mouths fell open, and their jaws nearly hit the floor. Their eyes bulged as they strained to recognize their younger brother hidden beneath the Egyptian garb. Confusion and despair rushed over them from head to toe in an instant. Through their veins, they experienced a sudden realization that the man who stood before them—the second most powerful man in Egypt—was the one they had betrayed over twenty years ago. The next few seconds played out as if in slow motion as they began to process those two words. Their minds rewound for a moment and zoomed in on his lips as he spoke, "Ani Yosef." Did he really just say what we think we heard? It probably seemed like an eternity as millions of thoughts, fears, and regrets all collided in their minds simultaneously. Time stood still as the implications of the simple statement firmly landed on each one of them. "We are so dead," they probably thought to themselves. "The ghost of Joseph has come back to haunt us and take us down to the grave with him." "This explains why he has been so cruel to us. We are doomed."

Oh… yes, he said, "Is my father still alive?" But they could not answer. They were speechless. They were still in shock at the realization that Joseph was still alive and all the potential ramifications of that moment. The Torah tells us "his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence." I can only imagine! Rather than beginning as a joyous family reunion of estranged brothers, the reunion with Joseph was initially infused with terror. With this revelation, would he simply execute them for their coldhearted betrayal of their younger brother?

Each boy had their own mindset. Imagine with me: Levi and the boys glancing at each other in guilt while remorse flooded over them. The event did not appear to be stacked in their favor, so they immediately braced themselves for the full impact of the wrath of Joseph. But it never came. He probably even had to repeat himself: "Is my father still alive?" Judah blinked. Reuben gasped and exhaled deeply. Benjamin cocked his head in bewilderment as he attempted to process all that had taken place over the last few weeks. "Is my father alive?" Joseph asked again, his voice cracking, choking back the tears beginning to roll down his face. They still could not answer him. So Joseph began to comfort their fear, saying:

"I'm your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. For God sent me before to preserve life."
(Gen. 45:4–5)

It is obvious that Joseph's response is atypical. He does not respond negatively, and he does not retaliate. He does not have bitterness toward his brothers. He sees everything that happened to him as part of a larger plan that God was weaving together over the many years of his misfortune in order to create something larger and more elaborate than a peaceful life for himself. God was using Joseph throughout his difficult life to accomplish His purpose in the earth, though he did not understand why at that time. And he was constantly good despite the circumstances!

Joseph found himself—as the Scripture tells us—"he kissed all his brothers and wept over them" (Gen. 45:14). Because Joseph's eyes were constantly on God's gracious sovereignty, he did not look to man as the one who controlled his destiny or his happiness. Yes, his brothers did something awful to him with ill intent, but he did not let that be his filter for the rest of his life. His filter was God's goodness. Therefore, his heart could never be bitter (marah) toward his brothers. They were merely tools in the hands of God to bring about His great purposes. In this case, it was the salvation of the world.

How could Joseph be bitter at that?

As we head into this incredibly special day, the next time things do not go our way, or we get frustrated, or we are mistreated, let us look outside of ourselves and imitate Joseph. We can either allow someone else to control us, or we can control ourselves under God's sovereign plan. No, we probably will not understand our situation any better, but we can make the choice to overcome our flesh and find comfort in the goodness of our Creator.

Shalom,
Alan

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