"I am Joseph." from Genesis 45:3
The revelation of Joseph's identity to his brothers is one of the most exciting and dramatic stories in all of literature.
When it was about time for Joseph's brothers to return to buy more grain, I can imagine Joseph looking for them every day and wondering if this would be the day they would return. Jacob hesitated about sending his sons back to Egypt for as long as he could because they had to take Benjamin with them if they were going to get any more grain. Jacob was very much afraid that something would happen to Benjamin as it had to Joseph. But, he finally gave permission for them to go, and the brothers traveled back to Egypt and faced Joseph again. Joseph released Simeon from prison and sent him to meet his brothers for lunch at Joseph's house. The brothers were seated in order of their ages, from oldest to youngest. They were astonished at this.
The brothers received their grain and started on their journey home. Shortly after they left, Joseph sent his steward to intercept them and accuse them of stealing a special cup of Joseph's. The steward said that whoever had the cup would become a slave in Egypt, but the rest were free to go home. The cup was found in Benjamin's sack, where the steward had put it earlier. All the brothers returned and stood before Joseph once again. Joseph reiterated what the steward had told them, that the one who had the cup in his sack--Benjamin--would remain in Egypt as a slave, but the others could go free. Then Judah spoke up and begged Joseph to allow him to take Benjamin's place as a slave and allow Benjamin to return to their father with the other brothers. Joseph could see by Judah's willingness to sacrifice for Benjamin that the brothers had changed.
Joseph was so touched that he went aside and wept. Then he sent all of his servants out of the room. When they left, he announced to his brothers, "I am Joseph."
The brothers who had ignored Joseph's pleas for mercy and sold him into Egypt were terrified, and well they might have been. Joseph had a great opportunity to get even with his brothers, to have revenge. Instead, he responded with mercy, forgiveness, and grace. He told his brothers to go home and bring their families to Egypt, where he would care for them during the famine.
How do you think you would have responded if you had been Joseph? Is there anyone in your life who needs to receive the mercy, grace, and forgiveness that God has given you?
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