V1 – By now, the brothers must have started to build an emotional connection to Joseph, not because they know this is their brother but because they start to notice that these happenings are unique. First, the return of the money in their bags the first time, then the feast at the palace. He even arranged them according to their ages at the table at the feast. And increasingly, He is treating them with more and more kindness. I think the sensitive ones must have started noticing… “there is just something with this whole Egypt thing.”
You see, I feel that God does the same thing for all of us. He knows how to use different situations and events to bring us to Him. We even start noticing, through the conviction by the Holy Spirit, that there is something going on. Whether in our events or daily activities or any other area.
The most important thing is to know that God cares about man’s relationship with Him and his relationship with Him. So, He draws us closer, sometimes very quickly and sometimes, slowly by slowly. He wants us to know and realize that He is calling us. He wants us to come to know Him.
See how Jesus prays in John 17:3 NLT:
And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.
God’s ultimate goal is that we may know Him, which is eternal life. The Lord wants us to know Him, and He draws us closer to Him. His Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, righteousness and judgement. He is present like a shepherd, always guiding our way. He uses his rod and his staff to ensure we come to the way and remain in the way and focused on Him.
Psalm 23:4b says:
Your rod and your staff, protect and comfort me.
I see these actions Joseph takes as a rod and staff. When they finally come to the realization of who it is who has been doing these doing to them, that it is Joseph, they will obviously break down in tears. The same thing Jesus wants of us. The most important thing is to realize that Joseph, like Jesus, is doing these things out of love. He has a deep longing to be reunited with them and to help them because He now has the power to help them. This is the same thing the Lord wants because he knows that our lives are only in Him. We will only be saved through Him.
(Lord, help me see you and realize when you are calling. You are always doing this, drawing this soul closer to you, Almighty, omnipotent and sovereign God. My heart humbles before you and desires to humble before you forever. Lord, have your way in me, do whatever you wish with me. Order life events, order my ways, order what happens with my life, because I know in all these things, you are drawing me closer to you, into deeper obedience to you, Master. Help me. I humble.)
V2-17 – Just see how Joseph is obviously very crafty in dealing with them. He plans events knowing clearly what the outcomes will be. He even says in
Genesis 44:15 NLT
‘“What have you done?” Joseph demanded. “Don’t you know that a man like me can predict the future?” ‘
It’s just proof of How elaborate his plan is. He clearly has a plan. Joseph now has the plan to keep some of the brothers so that He can have a ransom, and so He can have the power to demand more. But remember, his ultimate goal is to reveal himself to them and to have them stay close. How much more our God. How much more elaborate are his plans to save me and you.
V18-34 – Judah steps up and keeps his word which He had given to his father before. And He ensures to narrate the whole story to Joseph so that Joseph can truly understand their plight. Two lessons I see here:
Lesson 1 – Keep your word when you give it. Otherwise, don’t give it. And don’t say things beyond you. Jesus teaches a radical teaching of truthfulness in
Matthew 5:37 NLT:
Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.
Another teaching on speaking is this:
James 4:13-15 NLT
Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.
Lesson 2: Learn to tell the full context and story. Give people a full picture. That’s exactly how Judah does it. He tells the whole story to Joseph