Joseph and His brothers, pt 1

Today's reading is from Genesis 41 & 42.

God's purposes in Joseph's life begin to unfold. Pharaoh's dreams become the tool that opens the prison doors and moves Joseph from a prison cell to Pharaoh's Prime Minister. Dreams are a part of most people's lives, but it seems so obvious that God is the instigator of these dreams and they become the vehicle for Joseph to become known. What I love is Joseph's remark to Pharaoh, that He, Joseph, doesn't know how to interpret dreams, but God does...his character has been forged in those years of prison.

Then in the next chapter the famine brings Joseph's brothers - except for Benjamin, his own brother - down to Egypt. They haven't changed that much over the years, so Joseph knows immediately who they are. Joseph has changed. He was probably a teenager when he was sold into slavery, and now he is in his 30's...and not only that but he is dressed in the garb of Egyptian royalty, so his brothers do not recognize him. His accusations of treachery are just a vehicle to make sure they haven't done to Benjamin what they did to him. As the brothers travel back home, minus Simeon, the discovery of their silver in the bag only further confuses them and their explanation to their father, Jacob, leaves us at the end of the chapter in limbo.

It's hard to not think the chickens have come home to roost. They are all finally getting what they deserve; but that would be a mistake. It is not about the brothers, it is about God's purposes being fulfilled for the sake of the nation of Israel and the Kingdom of God.

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