約瑟再也不能偽裝下去了，遂向那些膽顫心驚的哥哥們揭露他真實的身份。他對種種事件的解釋（創45：5－8），足以顯示多年來支撐他度過這些痛苦的屬靈透視力。為了遵守上帝給亞伯蘭的預言（創15：13），祂要雅各留在埃及，所以以色列全部的人口（共七十人）都遷往歌珊定居，在那裡成家立業，往後四百年中，漸漸形成大國。

        這個對比顯然是極明顯的！一位裝束樸實世居帳蓬的老牧人，蹣跚的走進世上最有權勢國王的宮中，法老願意接見雅各，當然是尊重約瑟的緣故，而雅各這位看似微不足道的老人，卻為國王祝福（創47：7~10）。
        法老顯然不知道，這位祝福他的以色列不是別人，而是上帝的王子！雖然法老自以為了不起，最後還是漸漸消聲匿跡，甚至被人遺忘，連名字也不曾留在歷史上！但這位老牧羊人卻一直受到尊崇，歷久不衰。上帝的百姓都被稱為「以色列之子」，日後上帝稱自己為「雅各的上帝」，而那位「要統治雅各的家到永遠」的萬王之王，也是從雅各家系而出的。
        外表能夠欺騙人。像雅各一樣，在世人的眼中你也許不像個舉足輕重的人物，但事實上你是的！你的重要性不是因為你自己做了什麼，而是由於基督在你身上所施行的作為（就像雅各一樣）。在一張紙上，看看能不能以十個方式完成這句話：「因為我是上帝的孩子，所以我是。」然後今天就活出君王後嗣的身份來吧！

你做這個……祂做那個！
        「把我賣到這裡……上帝差我……。」（創45：5），從這句話可以看到上帝的國度，回顧過去，約瑟可以很清楚看到兩種力量－人類的與上帝的－在上帝的計畫裹互相交織。

上帝衡量一個人是否偉大的時候，量的是他的心，而不是他的頭。

English

        Joseph, no longer able to maintain the masquerade, reveals his true identity to his terrified brothers. His explanation of recent events (45:5-8) reveals the spiritual perspective that sustained him through years of heartache and uncertainty. In keeping with the prophecy given to Abram (15:13), God assures Jacob that a sojourn in Egypt is divinely approved. And so the entire Jewish population (70 in number) moves to Goshen, which will become home for the fledging nation for the next 400 years.

        The contrast must have been striking. Into the court of the most powerful king on earth hobbled an old man dressed in the rough garb of a Bedouin tent dweller. Pharaoh was granting an audience to Jacob out of respect for Joseph. And Jacob, the seemingly insignificant old man, blessed the king (47:7-10)!
        Pharaoh didn't know it, but he was being blessed by none other than Israel, the Prince of God. For all his supposed importance. Pharaoh would subsequently fade into oblivion. Even his name would disappear from historical records. Yet this old shepherd would continue to occupy a place of honor throughout the centuries. God's people would be called the "children of Israel," and God would identify Himself henceforth as "the God of Jacob." From Jacob's line would come the King of Kings, who "shall reign over the house of Jacob forever."
        Appearances can be deceiving. You. like Jacob, may not look like a V.I.P. in the eyes of the world. But you are. Your importance, like Jacob's, does not stem from what you have made of yourself, but what Christ has made of you. On a sheet of paper, see if you can complete this sentence 10 ways: "Because 1 am a child of God, I am _____." Then live out your identity today as a child of the King!

"You Did It ... He Did Itl" —
        The words "ye sold me ... God did send me" (45:5) form a classic statement of God's providence. Looking backward, Joseph could clearly see both elements—human and divine—at work in God's plan.

When God measures the greatness of an individual, He puts the tape measure around the heart, not the head.