When Joseph was brought out of prison and brought before Pharaoh, can you imagine Joseph standing there, making Joseph grand advisor of Egypt, the brothers standing there that had him put in prison, how they must have felt at that moment. Joseph never sought revenge. He didn't have a vengeful nature. He left it to the Lord. Joseph was forgiving of his brothers who treated him so abhorrently. This is a strong lesson for us today.
1 ¶ And the famine was sore in the land. This is a famine going on in the known world at the time. Joseph had stored up seven years of food to save people according to God's inspiration, and he is basically feeding the known world at that time. Joseph became the most powerful man in the world at that time, and what he said was law.
2 And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, Go again, buy us a little food.
3 And Judah spoke to him, saying, The man did solemnly warned us, saying, You shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. This Judah is back in the picture after he married a heathen woman who died and he had children from her, living a desolate life. Now he speaks up. Joseph said “don't come back to Egypt unless you bring your youngest brother with you.â€
4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy us food:
5 but if you will not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, You shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. Judah repeats Joseph's warning to them. You reap what you sow. These guys are under pressure now. They're getting paid back for what .................. |
