Sunday, Sept. 8
Genesis 44:3 – 45:24 Read it here
Joseph puts his brothers to a final test, setting it up to appear that Benjamin stole a valuable cup from him.
Not only is Benjamin Joseph’s only full brother (the others have different mothers than he does), but he also looks to be Jacob’s new favorite. If the brothers hold the same resentment toward him they had earlier held toward Joseph, they aren’t likely to protect him.
Joseph finds, though, that the brothers are changed now. Whether it is for love of Benjamin or love of their father, they are willing to sacrifice their own freedom to protect him. So now, at long last, Joseph reveals to his brothers who he really is.
And rather than being angry with them for their betrayal, he says he is grateful that they provided the opportunity to save their lives from the famine. God, he said, had a purpose for him to be sold into slavery in Egypt.
Pharaoh learns that Joseph has been reunited with his family and, in gratitude for all Joseph has done, insists that Joseph’s family be given gifts and move to Egypt.
The defeat and indignity of being sold into slavery is well in the past and this looks like a bright new future. We know, though, that the one who came to Egypt as a slave ended up with wealth and honor. We also know that the current invitation, surrounded with wealth and honor, will one day lead back to slavery.
Whether things look bad or good at the moment, we don’t ever know where they are leading.