#genesis44

Genesis 44:1-34 (King James Version)

This morning I read the rest of Joseph’s story (Genesis 42 to 45) and his story is a really encouraging one. I think it’s so cool to see how God worked firsthand in Joseph’s life from beginning to end. 

Joseph went through great hardships in his life... from being betrayed by his own blood, sold as a slave to a foreign country, and then being imprisoned for something he didn’t do. If I was in his shoes, I would be in so much despair and sorrow. I would probably cry every night. But God didn’t fail to reveal himself in Joseph’s life. 

From those hardships came good things. He became someone of authority and power. He had found favour in Pharoah’s eyes and was put in charge of the land of Egypt. What a breakthrough. 

But how Joseph saw his hardships is something to note. 

“And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.” - Genesis 45:5-8

Even Joseph knows that through his sufferings come a greater purpose and plan. He didn’t show bitterness or hatred towards his brothers for what they have done to him. Instead he showed forgiveness and mercy. He showed great hope in God through his hardships. He didn’t know what God’s exact plan was at that time, but God was faithful. And I think it’s so encouraging to know that we can find glory in our sufferings. Because “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5). 

But one thing I still wonder about. Why did Joseph hide his identity from his brothers? Why did he go through so much trouble to put his brothers through this test? We all know that he truly missed his brothers (since he kept on crying by himself) so why did he do it? What purpose did this serve? Did he wanted to see if his brothers truly changed? Hmm... what thoughts do you have?