From Brokenness to Reunion: What Joseph’s Story Reveals About Christ

April 13, 2026/Daniel Rowlands/
Image Credit: Jean-Charles Tardieu, Joseph Recognized by His Brothers (1788); image from Wikimedia Commons.

Image Credit: Jean-Charles Tardieu, Joseph Recognized by His Brothers (1788); image from Wikimedia Commons.

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Broken relationships among friends and family are painful. Some may never be repaired, but others carry the hope of reunion—the hope of being together again. Whatever broke the relationship lingers in our memories, often overwhelming the thoughts of better times past. In these cases, reunions are rare and seemingly without hope. But by faith in Christ Jesus, there is hope.

God shows his goodness even in the midst of our sinful failures.

The relationship of Joseph and his brothers (Gen. 37-50) is one important narrative about broken relationships and the overarching good purpose of God in using human sinfulness to bring about blessings when things seem hopeless. The reunion of Joseph and his brothers reminds us of God’s goodness in spite of our sinful failings. It reminds us that God will heal our broken relationship with him, which began in the garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, in spite of our sinfulness.

The strained relationship between Joseph and his brothers was brought about by jealousy (Gen. 37:1-11). Joseph’s brothers first observed that their father Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons. Then Joseph, the youngest of the brothers, dreamed that one day all his brothers would bow down to him. The result? They hated him and plotted to kill him, ultimately selling him into slavery. This brought Joseph to Egypt where he rose to become the second most powerful ruler in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh (Gen. 41:40).

Much later, after years of famine, Joseph’s brothers were sent by their father Jacob to Egypt to buy food. This brought them to their brother Joseph, whom they did not recognize, but Joseph recognized them. Ultimately, Joseph provided his family with food, and through this process his entire family, who thought Joseph was dead, relocated to Egypt. The reunion of Joseph, his brothers, and especially his father was glorious (Gen. 48).

The reunion between Joseph and his brothers was a reunion made in heaven!

The broken relationships that seemed to be without hope of reunion were soon healed, nevertheless, but not without stress on the part of the brothers who jealously sold Joseph into slavery. After their father died, the brothers feared Joseph would take revenge upon them for what they had done to him (Gen. 50:15), so they pleaded for forgiveness. Yet, Joseph said to them,

“Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. (Gen. 50:19-21)

Jealousy and enmity broke their brotherly relationship, but forgiveness and kindness according to the good and loving plan of God restored it. Literally, it was a reunion made in heaven! And even though his brothers meant evil against Joseph, God used their sin to bring about great good—that many people should be kept alive.

God planned the greatest reunion imaginable through the crucifixion of his Son, Christ Jesus.

The story of Joseph and his brothers is much like our own. As a result of the Fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden, all humanity’s relationship with God was broken. The penalty of death hangs over the head of every single person (Rom. 6:23a), not only as a result of Adam’s sin but also due to our own particular sins as well (Rom. 3:23). Yet, God graciously brings about a reunion through Christ Jesus, who, being perfectly obedient and sinless, gave himself to pay the penalty of our sin by dying on a cross.

Even this was God’s perfect plan, much like how God planned to save many through the sinful acts of Joseph’s brothers. Scripture declares this very fact through the preaching of Peter at Pentecost,

“…this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” (Acts 2:23)

God planned the greatest reunion imaginable through the crucifixion of his Son, Christ Jesus, even though lawless men did it!

In Christ God has healed our broken relationship with him and unites us to him.

God healed the relationship between humankind and himself through faith in our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. Saving faith in Christ means our reunion with God our Father has already begun—and it is a glorious heavenly reunion!

Not only can God heal our own broken relationships with family and friends, but most importantly he has healed our broken relationship with him. So enjoy reunion with God and with friends and family with whom you may be estranged. Remember that even these painful separations are healed by God, bringing us all back together and uniting us by his love, which we then show to each other.

This article was originally published under the title “Reunion Made in Heaven” in Beautiful Christian Life’s May 2025 newsletter, “Reunion.”