Have you ever used the phrase, “It was a dream come true!”? Today’s reading is literally a dream come true for Joseph; not in the sense that he longed for this day to come where his brothers would bow before him, and his own father would pay him homage (which he did by sending expensive gifts). It was a dream come true because back in Genesis 37, over 20 years before this event, Joseph dreamed of his brothers, father, and mother bowing to him. These dreams were what precipitated his brothers’ hatred of him, and fueled their choice to throw Joseph in the pit and then sell him into slavery. These dreams were what caused Israel to rebuke Joseph (something that probably rarely happened). Yet here the dreams that God had given Joseph were fulfilled.
The brothers were driven by necessity. They had once again run out of food. It is a sad reality that they were driven to return by hunger, and not by concern for their brother Simeon, who had been imprisoned in Egypt. Or perhaps it is better said that Israel would not send Benjamin even if the cost was another of his sons. Judah stepped up as the leader of the brothers at this point. Reuben was the oldest, and he had failed to convince Israel. Simeon was next, and, well, he was in Egypt. Levi was third, and Israel did not trust him because of the slaughter of the men who raped Dinah. Judah was fourth. He also displayed a greater character than his brothers at this point. (Simeon had offered Israel to kill one of his sons if he did not safely return Benjamin, but Judah simply takes responsibility. “I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him.”)
As Israel acquiesces, he returns to his shrewd ways and sends gifts. These lavish gifts indicate that the famine was not necessarily caused by lack of rain, but perhaps by some kind of blight or pestilence.
Joseph still did not disclose himself to his brothers. In fact, he was testing them. Simeon, who was held in captivity was returned and the whole group was brought to dine before Joseph. Notice that they ate before him, that is, in his presence, and not with him. They ate the food he provided from his table, but they did not share his table. He truly is lord over his brothers, yet he is also their brother. He knows these guys, and he does not trust them. These are, after all, the men who had plotted to murder him.
He told the servants how to arrange them, placing them exactly in order of their birth. This amazed the brothers. How could he possibly get all eleven of them in order? Indeed, Joseph must have seemed almost godlike to them! He also arranged for Benjamin, his only full brother, the other son of Jacob’s favorite wife, to receive five times more than any of the other ten. He was trying to provoke their jealousy, much as they had been jealous of him. He wants to know how they’ll respond. Have they changed? Do they regret what they did to him? Have they repented?
Which leads me to think about our relationship with God. He does not wonder if we’ve repented, or if we’re sorrowful for our sins. He judges from the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts. However, when we repent and confess, it guides us to recognize our own sorrow for our sin. Which is a good thing because, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psa 51:17 NIV) He has provided a feast for us as well, giving us Jesus’ body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins, but He welcomes us to His table. He welcomes us, not to test us but to lavishly give us salvation that goes far beyond what we think or can imagine through faith in Jesus.
Father in Heaven, You know my heart, You see my sin, and You still love and forgive me for Jesus’ sake. Help me to live in that forgiveness and show a genuine change of heart in regard to my sin out of the love You have poured out on me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
The brothers were driven by necessity. They had once again run out of food. It is a sad reality that they were driven to return by hunger, and not by concern for their brother Simeon, who had been imprisoned in Egypt. Or perhaps it is better said that Israel would not send Benjamin even if the cost was another of his sons. Judah stepped up as the leader of the brothers at this point. Reuben was the oldest, and he had failed to convince Israel. Simeon was next, and, well, he was in Egypt. Levi was third, and Israel did not trust him because of the slaughter of the men who raped Dinah. Judah was fourth. He also displayed a greater character than his brothers at this point. (Simeon had offered Israel to kill one of his sons if he did not safely return Benjamin, but Judah simply takes responsibility. “I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him.”)
As Israel acquiesces, he returns to his shrewd ways and sends gifts. These lavish gifts indicate that the famine was not necessarily caused by lack of rain, but perhaps by some kind of blight or pestilence.
Joseph still did not disclose himself to his brothers. In fact, he was testing them. Simeon, who was held in captivity was returned and the whole group was brought to dine before Joseph. Notice that they ate before him, that is, in his presence, and not with him. They ate the food he provided from his table, but they did not share his table. He truly is lord over his brothers, yet he is also their brother. He knows these guys, and he does not trust them. These are, after all, the men who had plotted to murder him.
He told the servants how to arrange them, placing them exactly in order of their birth. This amazed the brothers. How could he possibly get all eleven of them in order? Indeed, Joseph must have seemed almost godlike to them! He also arranged for Benjamin, his only full brother, the other son of Jacob’s favorite wife, to receive five times more than any of the other ten. He was trying to provoke their jealousy, much as they had been jealous of him. He wants to know how they’ll respond. Have they changed? Do they regret what they did to him? Have they repented?
Which leads me to think about our relationship with God. He does not wonder if we’ve repented, or if we’re sorrowful for our sins. He judges from the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts. However, when we repent and confess, it guides us to recognize our own sorrow for our sin. Which is a good thing because, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psa 51:17 NIV) He has provided a feast for us as well, giving us Jesus’ body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins, but He welcomes us to His table. He welcomes us, not to test us but to lavishly give us salvation that goes far beyond what we think or can imagine through faith in Jesus.
Father in Heaven, You know my heart, You see my sin, and You still love and forgive me for Jesus’ sake. Help me to live in that forgiveness and show a genuine change of heart in regard to my sin out of the love You have poured out on me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
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