Today's Thought

Today’s thoughts from Genesis 42 – 44

 

It is the time of famine in the land that Joseph had predicted and it has reached as far back as his home land, his family is without food and his father sends all but Benjamin to Egypt to buy grain for the family. Egypt is the only place with grain thanks to the diligent management of Joseph.  When Joseph sees his brothers they do not recognize him but he knows who they are.  Joseph sets out an elaborate plan that will test the hearts of his brothers as well as reunite him with his youngest brother.  This testing takes months and once again we see the favoritism that Israel shows to his son Benjamin the only remaining son of Rachel the wife he loved the most.  He willingly lets one son sit in prison in order to protect the son Benjamin.  It isn’t hard to understand the animosity that the brothers would have held for Joseph and maybe even for Benjamin.  The brothers clearly believe that these tests are a punishment for what they did to Joseph, so it is obviously still very much apart of their mind all these years later the betrayal and evil that they did to their sibling.  While at this point in the story Josephs full reasoning for this elaborate plan is not known, it falls very much in line with what human nature would drive anyone to do.  Joseph wants to be restored to his family but he is rightfully cautious in his dealings with his brothers.

 

These stories aren’t just fascinating because of their interconnectedness with the relationship of God to his people, but because they speak so clearly to the way in which we all still engage one anther today.  Hopefully we learn from the stories rather than repeat them.

 

Rob