Wednesday, April 20, 2005 Lenten Fast
Apostle Zaccheos, Bishop of Caesarea
6th Hour: Isaiah 58:1-11 1st Vespers: Genesis 43:26-30; 45:1-16 2nd Vespers: Proverbs 21:23-22:4
Genesis 43:26-32; 45:1-16 LXX, especially vs. 5: "Now then be not grieved, and let it not seem hard to
you that ye sold me hither, for God sent me before you for life." There are a dozen chapters of Genesis between
yesterday's reading and today's reading. They tell of jealous plotting by Jacob's older sons toward Joseph their younger
half-brother, the sale of Joseph into slavery in Egypt, Joseph's growth into spiritual maturity, Pharaoh's discovery of
Joseph's wisdom, and Pharaoh's placement of Joseph in control over all of Egypt. They record Joseph's management of
the country during famine, the history of how Joseph's brothers came to him providentially for food, the story of his
brothers' failure to recognize him, and of Joseph's demand that they bring him his younger brother, Benjamin, on their next
trip from Canaan.
Today's reading describes how Joseph disclosed his identity to his brothers, doing so slowly, one step at a time, preparing
them for reunion. Beloved of the Lord, consider how God reveals Himself to us - a little at a time, as we are able to bear it.
The parallel is most noteworthy when one recalls how the Lord Jesus discloses Himself as God Incarnate to us, His
beloved. As Joseph watched for respect and compliance, so the Lord does with us. Note the restraint both of Joseph and of
the Lord as increasingly they disclose themselves, and note that full disclosure always occurs privately, as an intimate
encounter between loved ones.
Joseph watched to see if his brothers respected and complied with his will (vss. 26-29). They prostrated themselves,
honoring his position. He noted that they had met his demand to bring the youngest brother, Benjamin, with them. Now,
consider the Lord Jesus. During His ministry, He took three years to prepare His disciples. From the multitudes who
flocked to Him, and even from those who followed after Him, the Lord carefully chose those He knew would be reliable
witnesses to His Resurrection (Mk. 3:9,13,14-19). The New Testament records that no more than 600 persons actually ever
"saw" the risen Lord (1 Cor. 15:5-8). Even of those 600, not all were ready even to believe what plainly was manifested
before their eyes (Mt. 28:17).
Next, notice how Joseph restrained himself as he provided his brothers with more and more information about himself. He
carefully orchestrated the moment when finally he said, "I am Joseph," even repeating the fact so that what they saw would
make sense to them (vss. 3,4).
One needs to read several earlier chapters to see how Joseph held back his true identity in order to prepare his brothers
when he disclosed himself (Gen. 41:28-44:34). Also, recall the comment of Cleopas and his companion when they
recognized the Lord in the breaking of the bread: "Did not our heart burn within us...?" (Lk. 24:32). Think of the number
of times that the disciples were given pertinent data about the Lord Jesus' Divinity: in healings, in stilling the waves, in
discussing Who the crowds thought He was, at His Transfiguration, in the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Let us be
aware: "Christ is among us! He is and He ever shall be!"
Finally, Joseph cried out, "Dismiss all from me" (vs. 1). For his self disclosure, Joseph chose a private, intimate setting.
With only his brothers present, he showed them that "God sent me before you for life" (vs. 5). He repeated this three times
(vss. 5,7,8). Likewise, after the Lord Jesus rose from the grave, He appeared repeatedly to His disciples over forty days, but
always in select, small groups, to bring them into a full knowledge of Himself as Savior, Lord and God - and always in
intimate settings. And so He does today as He comes among His own in intimate gatherings of His Holy People, ever
revealing Himself to us, His own Body, the Church.
O Christ, we have the memorial of Thy death, we have seen the type of Thy Resurrection, we have enjoyed Thine
inexhaustible delight, which also be Thou well-pleased to vouchsafe to us all.