Joseph 2: "Reunited, and It Feels So...."

Genesis 42-46

The dream of Joseph that his brothers would one day bow before him has now come true. Fortunately for them, Joseph is not the ambition-driven man that he once was. When they sold him into slavery, the brothers showed Joseph who had the power and he was powerless. Now it is reversed and they are the powerless. And Joseph does let them feel that, as he calls them spies and forces them to be held accountable for what they did to him, as he forces them to get Benjamin to him. At the same time, he sends the brothers back with grain and the money they brought to pay for it. They fear they will be seen as thieves, but actually Joseph is not only a vehicle of accountability, he is a vehicle of grace. More than that, Joseph has missed his family, even his pesky brothers and most especially his father and little brother, Benjamin. Most of all, Joseph has become aware of the plan of God. God has used the whole situation(his dreams, his inflated ego, his being sold into slavery and false imprisonment for attempted rape, his placement in prison by the cupbearer who would one day tell Pharaoh of his interpretive powers, and his being miraculously put in power)so that he could provide for his family during the famine. Looking back, it all makes incredible sense. At the time of each part of it, none of it made sense. God was working his purpose out, sometimes with his cooperation and sometimes in spite of him. As you look back at your own life, what is the big picture of God's role in your life? Take a few moments to reflect and thank God.

The reunion of Joseph with his brothers is powerfully told. Joseph is heard wailing over his brothers by Pharaoh's servants. Pharaoh himself is pleased that they have been reunited. The brothers now experience the power of forgiveness and reconciliation. Joseph calls for the entire family to move with Jacob to Goshen and settle there for the last five years of the famine. Biblical history says they would be there much, much longer than that. In my own life, I have discovered that God uses my sins and mistakes, the sins and mistakes of others as part of getting his plan done. The question is who we will become in the process. Joseph could have used his great power and sent his chariots to bring little brother and dad to Egypt. He could have under false pretenses made the charge of spying stick and put all ten of his older brothers in prison, and perhaps even had a slave sale with them (that would have been a true turnabout!). But the truth of Joseph's wailing is that he needed his brothers and they needed him. Can we let go of past hurts and choose to forgive and allow God fully to use what has happened to us "for good?"

This is a study on spiritual gifts and God has developed in Joseph the gift of mercy. We have seen in him knowledge, administration, discernment, and mercy, but the full use of those gifts are set free in him as he walks with God and is reconciled with his brothers. I continue to be impressed and moved by this great story. How about you?