Welcome, dear readers, to “Daily Word for Spiritual Edification”! I thank God for every one of you and pray that you do not lose the hunger for God’s Word, His wisdom and the fellowship with Him, for God is the source of life.Yesterday we discussed the life of Joseph. Before revealing himself to the brothers, Joseph wanted to test the content of their hearts. He did it through several trials.
«So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon.” Then the man did as Joseph ordered, and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house. Now the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, “It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may make a case against us and seize us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys.” (…) So the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave the donkeys feed. Then they made the present ready for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they would eat bread there. (..) So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. And they sat before him, the firstborn according to birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another. Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him» (Genesis, 43:15-18, 24-25, 32-34).
Joseph intentionally gave Benjamin a larger portion, 5 times bigger than the rest of the brothers. He also gave Benjamin five different set of clothes for the journey back home and a lot more money than he gave the other brothers: «Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. He gave to all of them, to each man, changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments» (Genesis, 45:21-22).
Joseph tested them, but this time they did not pay attention to him being more interested in their youngest brother and showing more favour to him. And it showed Joseph that his brothers had really been changed and become different people. There was, however, one more trial left that we read about in Genesis, 44. «And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack. Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain money.” So he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. As soon as the morning dawned, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys. When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far ff, Joseph said to his steward, “Get up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? Is not this the one from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed practices divination? You have done evil in so doing.’” So he overtook them, and he spoke to them these same words» (Genesis, 44:1-6).
Joseph did all of this to prevent Benjamin from leaving and to see the reaction of his brothers. When the brothers were on the way home, Joseph’s servants caught up with them. When they found Joseph’s cup in Benjamin’s sack (that was intentionally placed there) it was announced to them that everyone was free to go except Benjamin. Joseph’s brothers were desperate and went to Joseph to ask for their brother. One of the brothers – Judah – was willing to take Benjamin’s place in prison, so that Benjamin who was the apple of their father’s eye could go homer. (see Genesis, 44:15-34). Many years ago it was Judah’s idea to sell Joseph into slavery: «So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” And his brothers listened» (Genesis, 37: 26-27).
Now we see Joseph acting as a defender instead of accuser and the one with ulterior motives who was willing to sell his own brother for a profit. Now the content of Joseph’s brothers’ hearts had changed. There was no more envy, deceit, evil intentions, anger and resentment in their hearts. They were sorry for what they had done with their brother Joseph. Seeing it, Joseph revealed to them his true identity: «Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, „Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it. Then Joseph said to his brothers, „I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. And Joseph said to his brothers, „Please come hear to me”. So they came near. Then he said: „I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. Bu now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt»(Genesis, 45: 1-8).
Changed people think and act like God. How do you react when you see obvious success and prosperity of those whom you call your brothers and sisters? Are you able to be happy along with them? If you are able to be happy seeing the success of others, then you will also experience success, – it is one of God’s spiritual laws. I wish you God’s abundant blessings!Pastor Rufus Ajiboye
