'Then
Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried
out, “Make everyone leave my presence!” So there was no-one with Joseph when he
made himself known to his brothers.' Genesis 45:1
As Judah finished pleading for Benjamin
to be set free, expressing his willingness to take his place, explaining that
to return home without him would kill their father, Joseph could not contain
his emotions any longer. All previous conversations had been through an
interpreter. The brothers had no idea that Joseph, all dressed up in his
Egyptian regalia, was their long-lost brother. It was time to disclose to them
who he was. He needed privacy and so he ordered all his officials and servants
to leave the room.
Joseph's words were accompanied by
floods of tears. So loud was his wailing that everyone outside the room heard
it and news got back to Pharaoh's household,(v 2). You can imagine the gossip
that travelled along the Egyptian grapevine! It must have been a terrible shock
for the brothers to suddenly hear this 'Egyptian' speaking fluently in their
mother tongue, never mind what he had to say. Having previously kept them at a
distance, Joseph drew his brothers close to him (v 4), repeating himself in an
effort to convince them that he was indeed their long lost brother. They were
terrified, not without good reason, but he reassured them of his goodwill and
his desire that they didn't condemn themselves for what they have done. Joseph
saw all that had happened as being part of God's plan to save many lives.
Despite all the injustice he had experienced, Joseph bore no ill will or
animosity towards his brothers. What a lovely spirit, something of the Spirit
of Jesus, surely?
When we are totally surrendered to God,
desiring that he fulfil his purposes through us, whilst we might not understand
the difficulties and sorrows we experience, we can rest assured that God knows
what he is doing. As with Joseph, troubles can be there to test us and build
our character and prepare us for some particular service,and our consistent
faith and trust in times of trouble so often is God's means of touching others
and revealing that the Lord is with us. God bless you all.
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