Scripture
And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. Genesis 42:7
Observation
Famine has stricken Israel and Jacob sends his sons to Egypt to purchase food. Famines seem to play an interesting role throughout the book of Genesis. Anyway, as they arrive in Egypt, they are brought before Joseph. He recognizes them, but he hides his identity from them.
Why? He is not angry with them nor does he seem to hold a grudge. Why would he hide his identity?
Application
Many people see Joseph having some fun with his brothers in a sort of revenge, or pay back for what they had done to him as a boy. In fact, I believe Joseph is trying to find out if his brothers have faced up to what they had done and were now different people.
In the next few chapters we see Joseph’s attempts not only to find out whether or not repentance has happened, but its depth and whether the repentance has had an impact on their character.
It brings to my mind the concept of repentance and restoration. In order for my relationship with God, which was broken by my sin, to be restored – I must repent.
Prayer
Lord, I am so thankful that even though I have messed up and sinned, you continue to lead me to repent and change my life. Thank you that you are a forgiving God.
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1 comment:
Sooften we judge people by their past. They used to be like...... you fill in the blanks. We somehow have the idea that we have some part in the reclaimation of another person. It is so strange since we don't recognize how far short of the ideal of Jesus's life we are. Since we don't know how to change ourselves. Since we don't want others to judge us by our past. When GOD buries a person's sin it is not up to us to go on explorations to find where it was buried. It is not up to us to put on deep sea suits to see if we can find some remant of that past. We are asked to rejoice even as all of heaven does.
perhaps if we did more rejocing we wouldn't have time to search for others pasts.
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