What kept Joseph’s brothers from turning on their father like they did on Joseph ?
They were far away taking care of their father’s sheep.
They didn’t care to be honest, truthful to Dad.
They kept an image, a pretense of ‘respect’—farthest from truth.
Where did this whole story leave these brothers in their relation to God ?
They had a ‘form of godliness . . .’
Did their relationship with their father indicate their relationship to God ?
They maintained a show of respect for their father (they ran his business—they did take care of his flocks—they did not steal and run off with them).
But they did not hesitate to lie to Dad.
If they could not honor their father, how could they honor God ?
They couldn’t honor him with honesty, because they hated Joseph so thoroughly, because Joseph was Daddy’s favorite and showed (flaunted) it.
They had a “form of godliness, but denied its power”.
I suppose, that form of godliness left them with enough fear ? to not do anything to their father.
But wait, they nearly killed him with their lie—a lie presented through action.
And all the brothers went along with it, even the ones who wanted to spare Joseph—because they had to.
What happened when Joseph revealed himself as ruler in Egypt ?
I wonder if they told Dad the truth, the whole truth, when they got home.
I wonder how much of the truth of the past they told Dad.
Telling Dad the truth of what they did to Joseph could be harder than meeting Joseph after all the years of holding their secret, holding their lie, withholding the truth.
Even after their shakedown in Egypt, it could have been easier to doctor their lie with another lie to Dad, and say Joseph must have escaped the wild beast that left his multi-colored coat all bloody.
They did admit to each other, in Joseph’s hearing, that their troubles in Egypt were because of what they did to Joseph.
But one more cloud, heavy dark cloud, hung over their consciences—would Joseph tell Dad the truth when they all got to Egypt ?
And that wasn’t the end of their living in fear for many more years—what will Joseph do to them when Dad is gone—inevitable—and then Jacob died.
Was their relationship with their little brother ever ‘restored’, ever established—even when Joseph did nothing for revenge.
“You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good, to save many people alive [including you brothers].”
– – –
When you’re scared to death, fearing for your life, is it harder or easier to say, “I’m sorry.” ?
Is it easier to never be sorry, never repent, if you don’t HAVE TO ?
“The goodness of God is supposed to lead you to repentance.”
– – –
I wrote this out of my own life experience, identifying with Joseph.
Speak Your Mind