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1 Joseph couldn't hold himself in any longer, keeping up a front before all his attendants. He cried out, "Leave! Clear out - everyone leave!" So there was no one with Joseph when he identified himself to his brothers. 2 But his sobbing was so violent that the Egyptians couldn't help but hear him. The news was soon reported to Pharaoh's palace. 3 Joseph spoke to his brothers: "I am Joseph. Is my father really still alive?" But his brothers couldn't say a word. They were speechless - they couldn't believe what they were hearing and seeing. 4 "Come closer to me," Joseph said to his brothers. They came closer. "I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But don't feel badly, don't blame yourselves for selling me. God was behind it. God sent me here ahead of you to save lives. 6 There has been a famine in the land now for two years; the famine will continue for five more years - neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 God sent me on ahead to pave the way and make sure there was a remnant in the land, to save your lives in an amazing act of deliverance. 8 So you see, it wasn't you who sent me here but God. He set me in place as a father to Pharaoh, put me in charge of his personal affairs, and made me ruler of all Egypt. 9 "Hurry back to my father. Tell him, 'Your son Joseph says: I'm master of all of Egypt. Come as fast as you can and join me here. 10 I'll give you a place to live in Goshen where you'll be close to me - you, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and anything else you can think of. 11 I'll take care of you there completely. There are still five more years of famine ahead; I'll make sure all your needs are taken care of, you and everyone connected with you - you won't want for a thing.' 12 "Look at me. You can see for yourselves, and my brother Benjamin can see for himself, that it's me, my own mouth, telling you all this. 13 Tell my father all about the high position I hold in Egypt, tell him everything you've seen here, but don't take all day - hurry up and get my father down here." 14 Then Joseph threw himself on his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. 15 He then kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Only then were his brothers able to talk with him. (Genesis 45:1-15 The Message Bible)
A blessed and wonderful Wednesday, ConCafe Family! May the joyous love of God pour forth out of heart, dear Reader, and into the acts of kindness and compassion you share with others. Pray for one another, pray for the needs of the church, and pray for your needs. Lift God high in your prayers. If this sound a bit familliar, it is because it now arrives on its proper date! From our church, FUMC-Gonzales we have these prayer requests: Prayers for Mr. Stan Bias. Stan has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Also, Ms. Norma Fink has asked that we pray for her grandson, Josh Fletcher, who fell and broke his collar bone and will be having surgery. No change on my brother-in-law, Mr. Hector Rosales. His brother, Mr. Jose Armando Rosales, is recovering well after a surgical procedure. Thank you for your prayers!
The Bible is an honest book. All pimples and wrinkles, scars and sores, are presented in real time in real life. They paint a picture of real life and the drama and tensions that life sometimes brings with it. In today's passage we see the drama of Joseph's family presented in full honesty of what was going on in the lives of those whom one would expect better behavior from; Joseph, after all, was sold into slavery after the desire to kill him was nixed by one brothers. Not quite the family drama one expects from the first families called by God to establish God's people. We catch up with Joseph as he has come to the point of revealing who he truly is to his brothers. Joseph, we will remember, was the second youngest son of Jacob, and the firstborn of Jacob's favorite wife, Rachel. The youngest son was the younger brother of Joseph as he was the second born of Rachel. Joseph's journey took him to Egypt where he became the governor of Egypt, second only to Pharoah; for his blessing from God allowed him to save Egypt from famine and hunger. This famine was worldwide thus the presence of Joseph's brothers; they had come to seek food to save themselves and their father. The drama is awesome in the way Joseph toys with them, but today's passage is the great reveal, for he could not contain himself any longer.
"God was behind it," says Joseph to this brothers; instead of hating them and killing them, he understands the why behind all that happened to him. And now in his position of power he uses it for the good of his people. Instead of harm that he could have meted out to them, he offers protection and privilege. All the while, the brothers are in shock and cannot speak, for they knew they deserved death, but once Joseph revealed all he intended, and saw him weeping with his little brother, they were able to speak with Joseph.
What in your life presently do you not fully understand? What could be in the big picture behind all things thus far? We may not see Him yet, but like Joseph, God may be behind it and one day we will fully understand and fully appreciate all they received. Our responsibiilty at this point is to fully be patient and prayerful, trusting God and knowing God will bless us and keep us during this time.
PRAYER: Loving God, bless our journey. Grant us vision and patience for all that we may be enduring right now. Help us to bless others in the meantime. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Bless someone with the joy that blossoms from patience.
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
