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H. G. Wells, in his book The Soul of a Bishop, relates a conversation between an angel and the bishop who asks to be told the "truth". Placing his hand on the bishop's bald head, the angel asks, "Could this hold it?" Perhaps we should go a step further and ask, "Would we recognize it?"

Mankind has always had problems seeing God and comprehending his presence. God has always had the problem of revealing himself to humankind in a way that we could comprehend him and recognize him. The incarnation, "God becoming human", was God's answer to his problem and our answer to his problem. God "took on the form of man," and "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us."

This story from Genesis about Joseph who became ruler of the world in his day was a prototype of what would take place with the revealing of God in the Messiah. Though he lived in their midst in Canaan, Joseph's family, did not recognize his greatness; neither did they recognize his human identity when they saw him as the ruler of Egypt. They failed to recognize that Joseph was the remnant of Israel which would enable them to live on and who would save them from death and oblivion. But, let us examine more closely this Epiphany text.

We humans have two serious difficulties:

I. Recognizing God In Our Midst

In the story of Cinderella every child is taught how even the meek and ignored person may be transformed into a person of importance who can save the whole family from oblivion and poverty. "Cinderella" shows how the meek and lowly can be elevated to royalty and importance. Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters could not recognize her identity at the royal palace nor in the royal coach. The point of the story is that a servant girl was in their midst, looking like a beautiful princess, and they did not recognize her. Often we do not recognize greatness and royalty even when it is among us.

We have a similar story in Genesis 45:3-11, concerning Joseph. It is the last part of one of the greatest dramas, one of the greatest "rags-to-riches" stories recorded in history. Recall: Joseph was the most complete prototype of Christ in all the Bible. Joseph and Jesus had the following similarities:
1. No word or reproof against them.
2. Favored son.
3. Rejected by family and brothers.
4. Severely tempted but resisted.
5. Taken to Egypt.
6. Sold for price of a slave.
7. Unjustly accused.
8. Exalted a ruler after suffering.
9. Called "Remnant of Israel".
10. Sent to save and preserve life.
Note that Jesus, like Joseph, "came unto his own but his own received him not." His brothers rejected his dreams and mission. In fact, they thought him "beside himself."

Joseph, rejected by his brothers, is sold to foreigners. He is unjustly accused and placed in solitary confinement in a maximum security prison. He is exalted, in a matter of minutes, from the dungeon to royalty and ruler of the world. The famine brought his brothers from Canaan to acquire food for survival. They recognized the power and importance of Joseph as a mighty ruler and feared him, but they did not recognize him as Joseph their brother. They recognized his kingship, but not his humanity nor his kinship to them. Remember that back in Canaan they had not recognized the royalty in this brother named Joseph. The point of the story is that, had Joseph not revealed and disclosed himself and his identity to them, they would never have recognized his true identity. Karl Barth taught, "By God alone can God be known."

For Epiphany this is perhaps the most appropriate Scripture in the Old Testament. For Epiphany is to teach us that God always has to disclose himself; otherwise we would never recognize or know him. This Epiphany lesson reminds us that God our King is revealed to his half brothers (gentiles) as well as to his whole brother Benjamin (the Jew).

Kings, by nature, ruled from their thrones, hidden behind their motes. They were regarded as divine, not human and unaware of the problems of life that inflict mortals. Mere humans did not feel kinship with kings of rulers. I love the old story of the young king who left his throne to live incognito among his common subjects, believing that, if he were to rule them and save them, he must be in their midst. That is the meaning of "Emmanuel": "God is with and among us." Wesley said it best in his hymn "Veiled in flesh and Godhead see." "So Joseph said to his brothers, Come near to me, I am your brother Joseph."

II. Recognizing Our Remnant and Savior

Our other difficulty is recognizing that Jesus is our Savior. In verse eleven Joseph says, "I will provide for you" and in verse five he says "God sent me before you to preserve life." His power, royalty and might is for the one purpose of carrying out God's plan to save us and provide for us.

Joseph's brothers were afraid of Joseph and thought he intended to harm them and punish them. They could not conceive that he intended only good for them; that He would save, not destroy them; and that he would provide for them, not take away.

Back in Canaan, Israel and his children were living on the edge of disaster and extinction. Joseph's brothers had made their last desperate attempt and had failed. Now they were prisoners of a foreign king. The loss of Joseph and now Benjamin would bring final despair to their father Israel. Without hope that a Savior would yet come, without hope that God would provide a small remnant to continue Israel, there was only despair. This story demonstrates how God provides a remnant (verse seven) and a means of solution, so that we need never give up hope. When there seems to be no way out, God acts. This hope is what will keep Israel going and his "remnant" alive. According to the Bible, pessimism is another name for atheism. The dictionary gives pessimism the same definition. If you are a pessimist, it is because you have ignored God's plan to save us and provide for us.

In 2 Kings appears the story of Elijah's servant who looked over the city walls and, seeing the enemy, came to Elijah saying there was no hope, only despair. Elijah fell to his knees and prayed, "O Lord, God, open the eyes of my servant." God opened his eyes and he looked over the wall again and now he saw the valleys and hills encircled by the chariots and horses of the Almighty God. There is a difference in the eyes through which we see, whether eyes of faith or eyes of despair. The "remnant" mentioned in this seventh verse is explained also in the Old Testament hope that out of the root of Israel and Jesse his descendant will come forth the great ruler and savior.

Several years ago, a retired judge gave me some ugly old roots in a burlap sack. I threw them in the garage where they remained all winter and all the next year. In the spring, with little faith, I dug some holes and put them in the ground. That summer, my home was encircled with the most beautiful calla lilies I had ever seen. When there seems to be no hope from an old snarled, chopped up root, there will spring forth life and joy.

And Joseph said, "God sent me before you to preserve you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors." (Genesis 45:7) May we recognize God in our midst and find that He is our hope.