Selfie
Genesis 42:18-28
Did Joseph have a change of heart?
On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: if you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here where you are imprisoned. The rest of you shall go and carry grain for the famine of your households, and bring your youngest brother to me. Thus your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they agreed to do so. They said to one another, “Alas, we are paying the penalty for what we did to our brother; we saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this anguish has come upon us.” Then Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you not to wrong the boy? But you would not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.” They did not know that Joseph understood them, since he spoke with them through an interpreter. He turned away from them and wept; then he returned and spoke to them. And he picked out Simeon and had him bound before their eyes. Joseph then gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to return every man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. This was done for them. They loaded their donkeys with their grain, and departed. When one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his money at the top of the sack. He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back; here it is in my sack!” At this they lost heart and turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?” - Genesis 42:18-28
Joseph was obviously touched by what his brothers had said.
Reuben was the voice of reason, chastising his brothers for not having listened to him. And Joseph wept.
Of course, they didn’t know it was Joseph, and he hid his reaction from them. At this point, Joseph does something we and they didn’t expect. He secretly gives them back their money.
What is Joseph’s motive here?
Is he feeling remorse for treating them badly, or is he being crafty?
The brothers trembled. Why? They were afraid that it was a trap to have them killed. They feared Joseph would send his men to accuse them of stealing the money.
Joseph knew his brothers well. They abandoned him, so what would stop them from abandoning their brother Simeon?
But his father would not let them keep the money. He would send them back.
Joseph exhibits the type of bravura that many of us would love to have. He rises up to a position of power from the absolute bottom of the barrel and manages to keep his sense of duty to family and friends.
He is clever, resourceful, and persistent. He kept the faith when a lot of us would have given up.
He shows compassion even as he seeks revenge.
So, is this the type of person we want to be?
Maybe. Or maybe he just reminds us to be better versions of ourselves.
That can be a challenge sometimes.
More to come...