約瑟和他不信主的哥哥們的故事，在四十五章到四十七章裡，終有一個喜劇收場。經過兩次確鑿的證據之後，約瑟要他們再回到埃及，回來後，約瑟再也不能獨守這個秘密，在那樣一個傷懷的情景裡，他向哥哥們表明了眼前的這個人就是當年被賣為奴，九死一生的弟弟。約瑟以宰相之尊，大可報復一番，然而他卻以德報怨，認定這一切都是上帝在幕後掌管，使他在惡劣的環境中還能得到上帝的慈愛。最後，雅各遷到埃及，和滿堂的子孫共渡餘生。

        「主權」是一個重要的詞彙，也是每一天都會觸及到你生命的聖經觀念，這意味天下沒有一件事不是在祂的旨意裡。我們生命中每一個經歷，從最大的快樂到至深的痛苦，都是上帝為著某一種特殊的目的而在祂的應許之內發生的。約瑟深知這個真理，所以在歷經多年的痛苦之後，他還能對出賣祂的哥哥們宣告：「差我到這裡來的不是你們，乃是上帝」（45：8）上帝甚至能在這樣的景況下工作。回想一下你的過去，找出一件事來代表當時的情況，似乎是上帝失控了，也許是親人的去世，或是失業，或是一個意外事件，如今回顧這個痛苦的記憶，請寫下：「當時，上帝仍然同在。」並用你自己的話，依照你的情形，為「主權」下個定義。（比方說：主權就是在我失業的事上，上帝有一個目的，祂不曾忘記我，祂有更好的安排在後頭呢！）

        上帝為什麼要以色列人搬到埃及？
        在此不難看出上帝要雅各一家搬到埃及的智慧，在埃及，猶太人依然是一支獨來獨往的民族，因為雅各和他兒子們都以牧羊為業，那是埃及人極其憎厭的一種職業，如此一來，便造成兩族通婚的天然障礙，所以四百年下來，猶太人得以在此理想的情況生養眾多。

我們要感謝上帝，祂總是讓事情好轉超過我們所想像的！

English

        Chapters 45-47 contain the exciting conclusion to the story of Joseph and his unsuspecting brothers. After twice planting evidence on his brothers that would insure their return to Egypt, Joseph finally can contain his secret no longer. In an emotion-packed scene, he reveals that he is the brother they sold into slavery. At last in a position to avenge his ill treatment, Joseph instead shows kindness, acknowledging that God was behind it all to bring much good out of his difficult circumstances. Jacob moves to Egypt to spend his remaining years with his united family.

        Sovereignty is a big word, but it is also a Biblical concept that touches your life every day. God is sovereign. That means nothing takes Him by surprise. Every experience in life, from the most pleasant to the most painful, has been allowed by God for a special purpose. Joseph learned this important truth, though it took years of mistreatment to drive the point home. Addressing his brothers who sold him, he declared, "It was not you that sent me hither, but God" (45:8).
        Think back over your life and select one event that stands out as a time when it appeared that God had lost control of the situation. Perhaps it was a death in the family, or the loss of a job, or an unexpected accident. Now across that painful memory, write the words, "God was there." Write out a definition of sovereignty in your own words and make it speak to your own sit¬uation. (For example: "Sovereignty means that God has a pur¬pose in my losing my job. He hasn't forgotten about me; He just has something better in store!")

        Why God Moved the Jews to Egypt
        It is not difficult to see the divine wisdom in moving Jacob's family to Egypt. In Egypt the Jews would have to remain a separate, distinct people, for Jacob and his sons were shepherds, an abominable occupation to Egyptians and thus a natural barrier to intermarriage. For 400 years die Jews would multiply under these ideal conditions.

We should be thankful that God always turns out to be bigger than we thought.