Genesis 42:6
6 Since Joseph was governor of all Egypt and in charge of selling grain to all the people, it was to him that his brothers came. When they arrived, they bowed before him with their faces to the ground.
Genesis 37:5-7
5 One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. 6 “Listen to this dream,” he said. 7 “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!”
Most folks believe that Joseph’s dreams were identical, but they were not. In Joseph’s first dream, only the stalks of grain representing olderJoseph’s brothers bow to him. The beauty of scripture is that God exactly communicates to us His intentions.
Genesis 42:7a
7 Joseph recognized his brothers instantly,...
Imagine this moment. Joseph’s brothers were lost to him up to this moment, but God! In his great mercy, God is fixing the unfixable, healing that was broken. How great God is!
Genesis 42:7b
...but he pretended to be a stranger…
In the remainder of the text, Joseph conducts a fact-finding. Is his younger brother alive? Is their father still alive. By carrying out this pretense, Joseph is able to ascertain the well-being of the remaining members of his newly rediscovered family.
Genesis 42:21-22
21 Speaking among themselves, they said, “Clearly we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn’t listen. That’s why we’re in this trouble.”
22 “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy?” Reuben asked. “But you wouldn’t listen. And now we have to answer for his blood!”
Proverbs 6:16-17
16 These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to [h]Him:
17 A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,....
Imagine for a moment that time, thirteen years, and distance have separated you from a terrible secret that you thought would never be uncovered. Then, imagine that that in a moment, you are uncovered, found out. Imagine the feeling of dread that must come over you as you are confronted by your darkest sin. As Joseph’s pretense continues to develop, he has inadvertently brought about a moment of deep shame for his brothers. But how many of us understand that God lives us so much that he’s willing to allow us to undergo difficult moments of self-revelation and then, repentance, in order to restore into healthy fellowship with Him. Guilt can be a burden. But if we confess our sin, God is faithful to relieve us of our guilt and restore our sense of intimacy with Him.
Genesis 42:23-24a
23 Of course, they didn’t know that Joseph understood them, for he had been speaking to them through an interpreter. 24 Now he turned away from them and began to weep…
II Corinthians 7:10
10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow.
Now imagine the mix of emotions that Joseph must be experiencing as he becomes aware of his brothers' remorse over their actions against so very long ago. Imagine, for a moment, how really restorative confession and forgiveness really is. What a great, great God we serve.
Genesis 42:25
25 Joseph then ordered his servants to fill the men’s sacks with grain, but he also gave secret instructions to return each brother’s payment at the top of his sack. He also gave them supplies for their journey home.
In this closing verse, Joseph continues his pretense, but he also makes certain that his entire family is provided for. God’s plan for Israel’s provision is so much greater than just grain or gold. God's intention to heal, to restore is gradually unfolding. Neither Joseph nor his brothers could have known the mercy or grace that God revealed to Joseph, the brash, youthful dreamer so very long ago….
I Corinthians 4:5
5 So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.
Selah,
wb
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