Image from keyway.ca
Now Joseph was governor over the land; it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke harshly to them. "Where do you come from?" he said. They said, "From the land of Canaan, to buy food." Although Joseph had recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. Joseph also remembered the dreams that he had dreamed about them. He said to them, "You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land!" They said to him, "No, my lord; your servants have come to buy food. We are all sons of one man; we are honest men; your servants have never been spies." But he said to them, "No, you have come to see the nakedness of the land!" They said, "We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of a certain man in the land of Canaan; the youngest, however, is now with our father, and one is no more." But Joseph said to them, "It is just as I have said to you; you are spies! Here is how you shall be tested: as Pharaoh lives, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here! Let one of you go and bring your brother, while the rest of you remain in prison, in order that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you; or else, as Pharaoh lives, surely you are spies." And he put them all together in prison for three days. On the third day Joseph said to them, "Do this and you will live, for I fear God: if you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here where you are imprisoned. The rest of you shall go and carry grain for the famine of your households, and bring your youngest brother to me. Thus your words will be verified, and you shall not die." And they agreed to do so. (Genesis 42: 6-20)
Happy Friday to you and yours, dear Friend! As we pray this morning, I ask prayers for a little baby abducted in San Antonio. King Jay Davila was taken from his mother's car as she had gone inside a convenience store to pay for gas. He has been missing now about nine days. We can only imagine her anguish and we pray the Lord would convict the abductor, believed to be the baby's father, to bring him back safe and sound.
I trust you have been keeping track of this Joseph story; it is quite interesting and deals with all sorts of human conditions, the major one in today's could be revenge. The world has many clever sayings about revenge, but the Bible teaches us another path, which is exactly what we have read today. The ten older brothers of Joseph had sold him into slavery because of his dreams, one of which came true in the above underline verse. He had dreamed that ten sheaves would bow down to him; and what do you know? It came true. Joseph plays it cool and has some fun, albeit some serious fun. The famine had finally hit Israel and their desire to stay alive has the old man, Jacob, sending his ten sons to Egypt to buy some food. And this was their request. Joseph wanted to see his father and his youngest brother and so sets up the rest of the story in that way.
If you read the rest of the chapter, you will discover more twists and turns that Joseph does, all of which might have driven some of us crazy. He returns their money back in the sacks of grain. Once they discover this they are scared of what to do. When they return, with the money and more, they bring their youngest brother with them as they had promised; only to have them return again with their money and this time the very cup of Joseph. But it ends in an emotional way. Joseph was so glad to see his brothers, even if they had sold him into slavery, and especially glad to see Benjamin, his youngest brother, and finally the dad. He, with the Pharaohs' permission to move to Egypt; which sets up another new story altogether. But, for now, a man who could have easily ordered his brothers killed for their evil action, instead rejoices in having seen them again, and though he put them through the paces, finally reveals himself and provides for them in a grand way.
How do we respond? Some of us have been harmed or hurt in some way, and the training the world has given us makes us ready to respond with anger and vengeance, but here we see a better way; of peace and provision. Joseph never quit being a man of God, and neither should we. We should respond in ways that confuse the world and may confuse those who have hurt us; but in all things we seek to glorify God.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help us to be better brothers and sisters to all people. Let us look beyond political lines, and anger issues, and hurts and pains that others have brought us; and allow us to live a life that blesses all people. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show someone how loving you can be today! Repay good for evil.
Eradio Valverde
