1Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me!”
So none of them were with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians and Pharaoh’s household heard him.
3Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?”
But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence.
4Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so.
“I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt! 5And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you. 6For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. 7God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God, who has made me a father to Pharaoh—lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
As we studied yesterday, Judah’s address was so moving that Joseph cried out!
“But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence.”
The Lord had both parties exactly where they needed to be to forgive each other.
The brothers who sinned were terrified and Joseph was so overwhelmed with emotion he could no longer restrain himself.
“I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt!”
Joseph had aged twenty two years and his appearance and clothing were so different that his brothers didn’t recognize him. Perhaps Joseph revealed birthmarks or scars to prove his identity?
Let Spurgeon’s commentary sink in!
“How wonderfully those two things meet in practical harmony – the free will of man and the predestination of God! Man acts just as freely and just as guiltily as if there were no predestination whatever; and God ordains, arranges, supervises, and over-rules, just as accurately as if there were no free will in the universe.” (Spurgeon)
“Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God, who has made me a father to Pharaoh—lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.”
Joseph gets it and he explains to his brothers that God ordained, arranged, supervised, and over-ruled his life and position in Egypt!
The brothers acted freely and were guilty of sinning against Joseph but God used that sin to save this family and to keep His Promise!
Mind blowing isn’t it?
Can you read your bible and find the promises God made to you?
Re-read Spurgeon’s commentary but insert yourself!
“How wonderfully those two things meet in practical harmony – the free will of (your name) and the predestination of God! (Your name) acts just as freely and just as guiltily as if there were no predestination whatever; and God ordains, arranges, supervises, and over-rules, just as accurately as if there were no free will in the universe.” (Spurgeon)
Blessings, David
No comments:
Post a Comment