Judah went ahead to tell Joseph, who jumped in his chariot and met his brothers and father on the way. He had already negotiated with Pharoah for them to have the best land in Goshen.
Can you picture the parade? Jacob with his sons carrying him, the “little ones,” the wives, Pharoah’s wagons coming over the hills to Egypt. Jacob’s descendants alone were 70 people, plus wives and servants, and Egyptians who drove the wagons. Can you imagine Joseph’s emotions as he saw them coming over the hill?
Then the “presentation.” The parade stops as the Joseph’s chariot comes closer, the sweating horses breathing hard. The brothers lower the chair Jacob has been carried on. Joseph in full dress steps out of a chariot second only to Pharoah’s. He bows low before his father, trying to control his emotion.
Then emotion breaks loose as Jacob stands in unbelief this is really happening. Joseph throws himself towards him and “fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while.” What an embrace!
Joseph remembering slavery, betrayal, prison, taking on a new life in Egypt with a new family, unbelievable but empty success…
Jacob remembering a precious coat covered in blood, sons committing unthinkable sins, mourning for years, letting go of his youngest son, hearing from God and “setting out” in faith…
And then the embrace…physically feeling Joseph, now a man, now a ruler, now Jacob’s salvation.
No wonder Jacob said, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.” He was probably thinking that if he lived any longer, he would probably mess things up again.
Jacob was satisfied. He had met with God and God was with him. Now his beloved son was with him. God was going to fulfill his promises.
That was enough.
