Time had passed. It had been twenty years since his brothers sold Joseph into slavery. During that twenty years Joseph had served as a household steward, endured prison over a false accusation, and eventually been elevated to the role of vizier. Seven years of plenty had gone by, during which time Joseph oversaw the preservation of grain in anticipation of famine. Then the famine came. It was this famine that forced Joseph’s brothers to go to Egypt to secure grain and thereby sustain their lives. Joseph was but a teenager when he was sold into slavery. Now he was the second most powerful man in the world. With the arrival of his brothers, Joseph had the opportunity to exact revenge. But vengeance was never a motive in Joseph’s heart. His faith in God and his godly character protected him from such petty things. Instead, Joseph took the opportunity to test his brothers, to see if their hearts had softened over that period of twenty years. By testing his brothers, Joseph could ascertain whether or not they were ready to enter into the blessings of God. By testing them, Joseph would also help his brothers see that God is still worthy of our faith—God had meant all of these events for good (Genesis 50:20). Joseph would administer three tests. He tested his brothers’ honesty (Genesis 42), jealousy (Genesis 43), and loyalty (Genesis 44). In the end, Joseph’s brothers received forgiveness and Joseph achieved reconciliation. Genesis 42 presents the first test, the test of honesty. When we’re honest with ourselves and others, we’ll experience God’s blessing. Three words capture an overview of this chapter—circumstances, conviction, and challenges. |
