Genesis 42:24a. And he (Joseph) turned himself about (away) from them, and wept;
One more day…yes one more glorious day in the life! So, let’s live it to the full; enjoy all the benefits that our great God has bestowed on us, while we give Him the utmost in thanks and praise! And all God’s people shouted in LOVE and gratitude: ‘Blessed is He that was crucified for us; that defeated hell, death and the grave on our behalf! Praise His Holy Name! Amen!’
Ah mih people, Jesus did so much for us that the least we can do in return is praise Him and walk according to His desires. Thus, as the psalmist would say: ‘This is the day the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!’ (Ps. 118:24) And we can do that because as Bruh Paul writes: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!’ (Phil. 4:13) And with those scriptures under our belts, let’s move on to the continuation of the amazing saga of Bruh Joseph down in Egypt land.
So the drama has intensified. We saw Bruh Joseph yesterday accuse his brothers of being spies when they came down to Egypt during the famine to buy food, then lock them up in prison for three days. Then the Bible tells us: ‘And Joseph said unto them (his brothers) the third day, This do and live; for I fear God. If ye be true (honest) men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses. But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.’ (Gen. 42:18-20)
Wow! Bruh Joseph was really being tough on his brothers! And I don’t believe it was so much vindictiveness or vengeance, but more so to teach them a lesson, that what goes around comes around. That hopefully in their tough times they would learn some useful lessons in humility and godliness. Now hear what happens after Bruh Joseph gave them that last ultimatum.
‘And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought (pleaded with) us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake not I unto you, saying, Do no sin against the child (boy); and ye would not hear? Therefore, behold, also his blood is required.’ (Gen. 42:21-22)
And isn’t it strange, after all that time, that the brothers experienced guilt over the shameful manner in which they had treated their brother, and no doubt through God’s prompting, thought that might be why they were then undergoing such tough times themselves. Meanwhile, the scholars say: ‘The experience of being put in prison caused the brothers to discuss their guilt concerning Joseph, which may have been Joseph’s purpose in testing them.’ But who knows?
And the drama is further ramped up, for apparently that discussion of their guilt took place in Bruh Joseph’s presence. And the Good Library informs us thus: ‘And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.’ (Gen. 42:23) That’s why friends, we have to be ever so careful as to what we say when strangers are around.
But this next verse shows the real Bruh Joseph. ‘And he (Joseph) turned himself about (away) from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and continued (talked) with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.’ (Gen. 42:24) Yes friends, that’s known as tough LOVE, where we discipline from a place of LOVE and not from vengeance. And that’s exactly how our heavenly Father disciplines us, for if He did it from vengeance none of us would be alive to tell the story.
And this note from the scholars on that verse is certainly interesting. They say: ‘Hearing their conversation, he (Joseph) turned from them and wept. Certainly this does not characterize a man of hate.’ It certainly doesn’t! That’s why this episode of the story ends the way it does.
‘Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn (grain), and to restore every man’s money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them.’ (Gen. 42: 25) That shows no hatred whatsoever on Bruh Joseph’s part, but rather mercy, forgiveness and compassion. ‘And they laded (loaded) their asses (donkeys) with the corn, and departed thence. And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender (food) in the inn, he espied (saw) his money; for, behold, it was in his sack’s mouth. And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them (their hearts sank), and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?’ (Gen. 42:26-28)
Oh mih bredrin, isn’t that the very same question so many of us ask when we find ourselves in tough circumstances? It certainly is! But oftentimes it’s not what God is doing to us, but the consequences of our poor decisions coming back to haunt us, just like they were with Bruh Joseph’s brothers. But we’re quick to blame everything on someone else, be it God or Satan, our friends or family, without considering that it might be our own fault.
Unfortunately though, that situation is very rampant in today’s society, where no one wants to accept responsibility for their failures, mistakes or wrongdoings. And that’s one of the reasons why our society is in such a terrible mess, and fortunately, (smile) or not, we believers have been tasked with cleaning up the mess, for if we don’t, our world will sink even deeper into the mire of sin and ungodliness in which it’s now ensconced. And we certainly don’t want that to happen.
So please, let’s come together and do what we’ve been commissioned to do by our Lord and Leader, Jesus Christ nuh; that’s spread the good news of His kingdom all around the world. And for those of us who are sincerely trying our best to do just that, let’s go home now declaring (awright!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful, unassailable, invincible position in Christ Jesus.
As one strong voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And would you believe that if we endure right down to the very end with Christ, that that future will be even more glorious than we can imagine? Well, that’s the gospel truth my fellow saints! So please, let’s make plans to meet at the very end with Jesus nuh! Much LOVE!
…tough consequences are…usually the result of bad decisions… Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
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