4572. 'I am God Shaddai' means a state of temptation is past, and now there is Divine comfort. This is clear from the meaning of 'God Shaddai' as temptation and subsequent comfort, for the ancients had called Jehovah or the Lord 'God Shaddai' whenever they referred to Him in connection with temptations and the comfort that followed these, see 1992, 3667. Therefore 'God Shaddai' means a state of temptation that is past, and now there is Divine comfort. The reason why it is past is that previously, in particular when he wrestled with the angel, Chapter 32:25-end, and when he met Esau, Chapter 33, 'Jacob' represented temptations; and the reason why now there is comfort is that the joining of good and truth within the natural is effected by means of those temptations. The actual joining together brings that comfort since such a joining together is the end in view of the temptations. Indeed whoever attains that end receives comfort, as much as he has suffered severely in the means to that end.

[2] In general it should be recognized that every joining together of good and truth is effected by means of temptations. The reason for this is that evils and falsities offer resistance and so to speak engage in rebellion, and by every means try to prevent the joining of good to truth, and of truth to good. This conflict takes place between the spirits present within man, that is to say, between the spirits governed by evils and falsities and the spirits governed by goods and truths. Man experiences that conflict as temptation within himself. When therefore the spirits governed by evils and falsities are conquered by the spirits governed by goods and truths, the former are compelled to depart and the latter receive joy from the Lord by way of heaven. This joy is also felt by the person concerned as comfort; he feels it within himself. Yet the joy and comfort do not come because a victory has been won but because good and truth have been joined together. Joy is present within every joining together of good and truth, for that joining together is the heavenly marriage, in which the Divine is present.

5876. Verses 3-5 And Joseph said to his brothers, I am Joseph. Is my father still alive? And his brothers could not answer him, for they were filled with dismay at his presence. And Joseph said to his brothers, Draw near to me, I beg you. And they drew near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. And now, do not be grieved, and do not have any anger in your eyes, that you sold me here; for God sent me before you for the bestowal of life.

'And Joseph said to his brothers' means that the internal celestial imparted a power of perception to the truths in the natural. 'I am Joseph' means a revelation. 'Is my father still alive?' means the presence of spiritual good from the natural. 'And his brothers could not answer him' means that the truths in the natural were not yet in a state of being able to talk. 'For they were filled with dismay at his presence' means turmoil among them. 'And Joseph said to his brothers' means the perception by a new natural. 'Draw near to me, I beg you' means a more internal communication. 'And they drew near' means the effect. 'And he said, I am Joseph your brother' means a revelation made by means of influx. 'Whom you sold into Egypt' means the internal which they had alienated. 'And now, do not be grieved' means anxiety in the heart or will. 'And do not have any anger in your eyes' means sadness in the spirit or understanding. 'That you sold me here' means that they had alienated [it by banishing it] to the lowest parts. 'For God sent me before you for the bestowal of life' means the spiritual life they received as ordained by Providence.