Joseph's grieving the loss of his father. His loss is different than his brothers because he never thought he would ever see Jacob again. Joseph lost his father before when he was sold away, and those years can never be recovered. But God gave them another chance at life together when Joseph opened his house to his family, rescuing them from the famine. Their reunion was moving and their time together was sweet. But now that time is over. Jacob is dead, and the brothers are reeling. They want to ensure that Joseph wasn't just being good to them for Dad's sake-so they lie.
Ever been there? Moments of doubt when fear comes creeping in. Thoughts of "You aren't good enough!" or "It was too good to be true" hit you in a wave of emotions. They have a good life in Egypt, and they want to keep it that way. Anxiety and doubt dominate the thoughts. Personally, I can relate to the brothers in this story.
But Joseph is a conundrum!
"When Joseph received their message, he wept." Joseph, despite being thrown into a well then sold into slavery by his brothers, wept. Despite being falsely accused of rape, being left to rot in a prison, even after being lied to and lied about, he wept. And when Joseph rose to power, wanted for nothing, and held his betraying brothers' future in his hands, he wept.
His brothers doubted him. His brothers didn't get it. I don't fully understand it. His mercy was unexplainable. His forgiveness was beyond comprehension. His love was unconditional. In other words, Joseph was just like Jesus.
May we be like Joseph, and be a conundrum to those who don't know the love and mercy of a Savior, and may we be like his brothers, who marvel at the goodness of the one who controls our destiny.
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