It's a Front
“Joseph couldn’t hold himself in any longer, keeping up a front before all his attendants. He cried out, “Leave! Clear out—everyone leave!” So there was no one with Joseph when he identified himself to his brothers. But his sobbing was so violent that the Egyptians couldn’t help but hear him.” Genesis 45:1-2 MSG I think that we are all familiar with the idea of putting up a front to mislead others. Whether it's to impress, sell an idea, present a false self, or pure deception. We get it, we have all been there in some way. Have you ever thought it's possible to front yourself? It might seem like some sort of metaphysical sap, but before you check out, just hear me out. When we experience betrayal, hurt, hate, heartbreak... The list goes on and on. I think there is a possibility that in many cases we actually desire for reconciliation. Inhibitions, emotions cloud and bury our true needs. Joseph does so much to initially concealing his identity, and send his brother on wild goose chases. His twisting plot summits in Genesis 45, and he breaks down. I love Eugene Peterson's wording in The Message, "Joseph couldn’t hold himself in any longer, keeping up a front..." Yes, he had an act going, but he wasn't sobbing because he had to come out of character! He broke because deep down, somewhere under the hurricane of emotion he needed and wanted to forgive them. Maybe, it could be the same for us. Just maybe, your not as angry as you think you want to be, maybe you just want to fix it. Jesus wants to fix it for you. http://bible.com/97/gen.45.1-2.msg
