Show Love in Victory – Part Two

As today’s scene opens, we see Joseph crying aloud, so loud that the other members of the household heard him.  But why is he crying?  Here’s a little background.

Joseph, having risen from slavery to Governor, and having completed his job of preparing for the famine, the famine which he, through God given dream interpretation, predicted, is now in charge of distributing grain during a famine.

The famine has affected the areas around Egypt and as these areas heard of Egypt’s plenty, many of them went to Egypt asking for grain.  Among these countries were Joseph’s home country Canaan.  Joseph’s father Jacob sent all his son’s, except for Benjamin, to Egypt to ask for help.

Can you imagine the look on Joseph’s face when he looks up from his seat of power and sees his brothers?  His brothers who harassed and bullied him and had sold him into slavery about 20 years earlier.  His brothers who are now kneeling before him in submission and respect asking for food to save their home.

Joseph was shocked but he managed to maintain his composure.  He decided to keep his true identity from his brothers and to put his brothers through several tests to see if their hearts had changed.  Joseph needed to see if they had grown into good men and if they regretted what had done to him.

Joseph held one brother in prison while the others went home to get the remaining brother.  Before they left, Joseph had their money, which they had paid to get their grain, put back in their sacks.  This made them appear to have stolen their money back.  This was forgiven and the brothers were sent back home with grain a second time.  This time Joseph had his silver cup placed in their sack. [Genesis 44:1 & 2]  Once the brothers had been gone a while, Joseph sent his steward to catch up with them and accuse them of stealing the cup.

When the cup was discovered in the sack of the youngest brother all the brothers were upset and tore their clothes.  They were nonetheless brought back to Egypt to face Joseph.  When they all stood before Joseph, he told them that the youngest brother who had the silver cup would remain in Egypt as Joseph’s servant.  When Judah heard this, he plead for his brother and even offered himself in exchange.  This was the opposite of how he had treated Joseph those many years before.  [Genesis 37:26 & 27]

At this Joseph begins to cry aloud and today’s scene opens.

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