Joseph, Son of Jacob! Part II
Yes, man will forget us but God will never forget us (Matthew 28:20). Now Pharaoh had a disturbing dream and no one in Egypt could help him interpret it. The wine server remembered that Joseph was able to correctly interpret dreams. So Pharaoh called Joseph from prison, and he was able to tell Pharaoh the dream and the interpretation. Joseph said that seven years of plenty are coming to the land before seven years of famine. So Pharaoh appointed Joseph to take charge of everything in Egypt except the seat on the throne. Two observations here, the first is that the dream was from God in order for Joseph to get out of prison and begin heading to the top. The second is Pharaoh’s observation that Joseph was most suited to take charge because the Spirit of God was in him!
The famine hit the entire Fertile Crescent, North Africa and Canaan. So Jacob asked his sons to go to Egypt and buy food lest they die. When the brothers of Joseph arrived he recognized them but they did not recognize him. Fourteen years had passed since Joseph was sold into slavery. He must have grown a beard and all of the royal clothing must have disguised him well. He, being human, had a field day with tricks to play on them with two purpose in mind. The first purpose was to have them tell the truth about his father and his brother Benjamin. The second was to make sure that they would come back and bring their brother Benjamin. So, he first accused them of being spies, in order to keep them longer. He then held one of them until they brought Benjamin to show that they were telling the truth.
Joseph ordered the servants to give them more than they asked for and to put their money back in their bags. When Jacob heard that another son was kept in Egypt and that Joseph wanted to see Benjamin, he began to wail thinking that he might lose the only other son of Rachael, and at his age it would have been impossible for him to bear. But the brothers insisted and promised to bring all the sons back from Egypt.
When Joseph saw them with his brother Benjamin it was his brightest hour in fourteen years. He could not help himself from crying in the other room. He then washed his face and came out to them. Now Joseph ordered the servants to prepare the biggest feast and had invited his brother to dine with him. Fear had come upon them when they knew what was going to happen, they were going to dine with the Emperor.
I must have read this story a hundred times in forty five years and I still get emotional about the scene when Joseph tells his brothers who he is. So at this point he could not hold it any further, he sent all the Egyptians out of the palace and said to his brothers I am Joseph you brother. Do not be angry with yourselves, it was God who brought me here. He began crying so loud from joy that all of Egypt heard him. They all fell at his feet and could not believe what they were hearing. He asked how his father was and that he wanted to see him. They would now have to face their father and tell him the truth that Joseph was alive!
When Jesus hung on the cross, He asked the Father to forgive His executioners, and He said it out loud. But Joseph’s actions clearly showed his forgiveness to his brothers who sold him into slavery. The next post will continue the drama with their father and all the rest. I thank Christ for creating the family unit and the special love that belongs within it.
The famine hit the entire Fertile Crescent, North Africa and Canaan. So Jacob asked his sons to go to Egypt and buy food lest they die. When the brothers of Joseph arrived he recognized them but they did not recognize him. Fourteen years had passed since Joseph was sold into slavery. He must have grown a beard and all of the royal clothing must have disguised him well. He, being human, had a field day with tricks to play on them with two purpose in mind. The first purpose was to have them tell the truth about his father and his brother Benjamin. The second was to make sure that they would come back and bring their brother Benjamin. So, he first accused them of being spies, in order to keep them longer. He then held one of them until they brought Benjamin to show that they were telling the truth.
Joseph ordered the servants to give them more than they asked for and to put their money back in their bags. When Jacob heard that another son was kept in Egypt and that Joseph wanted to see Benjamin, he began to wail thinking that he might lose the only other son of Rachael, and at his age it would have been impossible for him to bear. But the brothers insisted and promised to bring all the sons back from Egypt.
When Joseph saw them with his brother Benjamin it was his brightest hour in fourteen years. He could not help himself from crying in the other room. He then washed his face and came out to them. Now Joseph ordered the servants to prepare the biggest feast and had invited his brother to dine with him. Fear had come upon them when they knew what was going to happen, they were going to dine with the Emperor.
I must have read this story a hundred times in forty five years and I still get emotional about the scene when Joseph tells his brothers who he is. So at this point he could not hold it any further, he sent all the Egyptians out of the palace and said to his brothers I am Joseph you brother. Do not be angry with yourselves, it was God who brought me here. He began crying so loud from joy that all of Egypt heard him. They all fell at his feet and could not believe what they were hearing. He asked how his father was and that he wanted to see him. They would now have to face their father and tell him the truth that Joseph was alive!
When Jesus hung on the cross, He asked the Father to forgive His executioners, and He said it out loud. But Joseph’s actions clearly showed his forgiveness to his brothers who sold him into slavery. The next post will continue the drama with their father and all the rest. I thank Christ for creating the family unit and the special love that belongs within it.
posted by Rev. Alfred Batarse, PhD. | 12:20 PM
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