Good Morning.
And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down before him to the earth. (Genesis 43:26)
Upon their return to Egypt, the brothers are told to go to Joseph’s house for a noon meal. Initially they were fearful that this was because of the money that had been left in their sacks on the previous visit. They were afraid that they would be accused of theft and then incarcerated. Those fears were soon relieved and they were reunited with Simeon. When the governor of Egypt walked in, they all bowed themselves to the earth before him just as he had been shown in a dream many years before. In fact, with Benjamin present, this marked the first time all 11 had bowed to him thus fulfilling the prophecy. When he saw his “mother’s son,” he was overcome with emotion and had to leave the room.
Seeing that Joseph is a picture of the Messiah, this reaction makes me wonder whether Messiah is moved in this manner at the prospects of His family being restored? The Gospel of Luke records that:
Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” (Luke 19:41-42)
In this case, He wept because they would not receive Him and, therefore, not be reunited. So we know that His heart is moved at the thought of His people being restored. As we have said previously, that the family of God might be one is exactly why He came to die. But does the Bible have anything to say regarding God’s reaction on that day when the kingdom is restored? There are several verses that speak to this but through Zechariah, the Almighty said this:
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zechariah 3:16-17)
It encourages me to know that God is longing for the day when we are reunited just as we are — only perhaps even more so. If He is looking forward to this restoration so longingly, then I can know that He will be diligent to see to it. It will happen! In the meantime, we must do all within our power to see to it that all those He brings across our path would have the opportunity to hear the call and be summoned to His table. If His heart is to see all of His children as one, then let that be our heart as well.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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