“But he [Joseph's steward] said [to Joseph's brothers concerning the money they found returned in their grain sacks], ‘Peace be with you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.’” ~ Genesis 43:23, NKJV
When reading the account of Joseph's brothers and their reunion with the brother they sold into slavery, one observes an interesting dichotomy in Joseph's actions. On the one hand, he speaks to his brothers roughly and accuses them of being spies; on the other hand, he returns their money to them, holds only one brother as surety rather than all the brother except one (as he claimed he would), and supplies provision for their journey. Why? Was Joseph's heart one of revenge, or one of love? I am convinced that the latter is true. Who primed Joseph's steward with the explanation he gave regarding the returned grain money? Surely the steward's master. When the man assures them, “Peace be with you, do not be afraid,” I think we are getting a glimpse of Joseph's heart for his brothers. His desire for them was peace and blessing - as shown by the lavishness he heaped upon them when they returned to Egypt with their youngest brother Benjamin. He wanted to take care of his father, provide for his brothers, and comfort his family. Yet he had to deal with the fact that his brothers had also kidnapped him, bound him, sold him into slavery and almost certain death (ignoring his pleas for mercy), and finally deceive their father concerning his fate. Once Joseph's brothers knew who he was and the power he held, Joseph would lose any opportunity to learn the truth about their characters. Had they changed or hadn't they? Could they be trusted? Did they treat Benjamin - Rachel's other son - better than they treated Joseph? Before he revealed himself to his brothers, Joseph set up a test for them using Benjamin. The transformation he would witness is incredible, and it would overcome Joseph to the point where he could no longer bear to hide his identity. With the test over, he would then be free to let his actions further the desires of his heart - to bring peace and freedom from fear and extravagant blessing to his brothers and to his family. In this way, Joseph reminds me of the Lord. He loves us more than Joseph could ever love his siblings. He is richer than Joseph, more powerful than Joseph, more extravagant than Joseph. His desire is to do for us according to the love of His heart. But because He loves us, He cannot bless us or give us peace if our behavior is evil. That would bring harm to us, not good, by rewarding practices that do not deserve to be rewarded and thereby encouraging us to sin. So He might put us in fear, or make our lives difficult, in order to bring us back onto the right path - where He can heap His favor upon us. Joseph's brothers did not enjoy the test he set up for them. I can't imagine Joseph enjoyed it, either. Certainly God doesn't, when He tests or chastens us. But the end He has in mind is always our good, and we are blessed when we trust in and obey Him.
by Rebecca...
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