Come to Jesus
Genesis 45:1–13
Come near to me. Genesis 45:4

Joseph called his brothers when they would have preferred to run from him, and he called effectively. Joseph had told them who he was, and they were terrified. But he commanded them to “come near” to him; and although they must have feared that it was because he wished to harm them, to their surprise they discovered that it was not an angry master who so called, but a loving brother. Joseph had turned them from sin; they were changed men. Now he was calling them with the sweetness of a powerful and embracing love.

So also is Jesus calling you. If you hear his voice, it is because he has already made you one of his sheep. And though he could have judged you while you were yet in your sin, he has turned you from it—it is why you hear him—and now he wants you close to him.

How does Jesus call? Like Joseph, who is a type of the Lord at this point also, Jesus usually calls in secret. It is when the attendants are put out and the Lord is alone with you in the quiet of your soul that you hear the still, small voice of God. Are you quiet now? Are you listening?

Second, I am sure that Joseph called his eleven brothers by name. Later on we are told that “he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck” and that “he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them” (vv. 14–15). Can we imagine his doing that without calling their names? He would have cried out, “Come here, Benjamin. Judah, don’t be afraid; come. Come to me, Reuben. . . . ” So on with all the brothers. Jesus calls you in the same manner. Do you hear him calling? He is not calling your neighbor. He is not calling the person seated next to you. He is not calling your husband or your wife or your children or your parents. He is calling you. Hear him. Respond to him.

Finally, he is calling you as your brother, just as Joseph called his brothers: “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt” (v. 4). You have done that and more to Jesus. But that is of no account now. Jesus is calling you as your brother, who loves you and is willing to provide for you both now and for eternity. It is not hard to win a brother’s love. It is not hard to enjoy a brother’s true affection. The Lord is here. He is calling. Can you not respond to his call and draw near to him as you have never done before? He is telling you of his love. All he has done in your life has been for love. Can you not tell him you know that and love him too?

Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865 

Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.