God knew what it would take to bring Joseph to a place where he would stand there and manage a nation. God imparted wisdom and favor to Joseph. And Joseph kept himself humble; no matter what the circumstances, he kept himself humble. I believe because Joseph went low, God elevated him. When Joseph needed wisdom, he went to God for his wisdom. When Joseph needed strength, he went to God for his strength. When he needed comfort, he went to God because he lived in a land filled with evil. He lived in a nation filled with people who worshiped everything but God and he would have to maintain his faith in the midst of it, and God knew that he would.

Here we are; we’ve been through the seven years of plenty. Now we are moving into the famine, the most difficult season of Egypt that would bring forth the fulfillment of the covenant promise. It does not matter what is going on around us, we have got to hold onto our promises. We have got to hold onto what God has spoken. We have got to maintain a life of integrity, because God is in control no matter what we think, no matter what it looks like around us. God is in control and He will impart to us all that we need to endure. When Joseph saw his brothers, his heart longed for them. We are talking about 23 years, nearly a quarter of a century later. They did not even recognize him; he was 17 when they threw him in a pit and then pulled him out and sold him. They did not even recognize him now, but he recognizes them; and spending the last two decades in a heathen nation, he probably longed for the fellowship of people who loved God. But he also longed for them because here was a connection to his father. Instead, he had to keep himself composed.

He must’ve wondered, Have they changed? Are they still the same way? What will the interaction be like? What does Joseph do? He sends them through trials. They are accused of being spies, even threatened if they don’t return with Benjamin to prove their innocence. Jacob refuses. Joseph, we know, sent them back with their money. Simeon is left behind in jail, waiting for the brothers to return. Imagine the thoughts that went through their minds during this time…

Supplies are running low, they were pleading with their father, “Listen! If I do not bring back Benjamin, you can slay my two sons!” Those who once sold Joseph into slavery, desperate to see the family saved, secretly knew judgment had come. The same boys who were not concerned about their father’s grief decades before were now, as fathers, forced to lay down the lives of their own children as collateral should they not return. It seems the lessons learned while watching your father grieve at your own hand run deep.

Months later the food is dried up. “We have to take Benjamin back with us, Dad. He has got to go with us or we will all die.” Jacob finally agrees and off they go to Egypt with Benjamin, the money and, I’m sure, terror and dread of what they will face when they arrive. Back in Egypt, the brothers are face-to-face with Joseph and they have no idea. Second in the land, he could have jailed them all right then. He could have done anything he wanted, but he was a man of integrity. He preserved them. 

Except for one last test. Joseph sends them back home with their grain, with their money, but puts a cup in Benjamin’s sack. Temporarily confused, relieved, they head home. Next thing they know, they are surrounded by men riding horses, accusing them of stealing. “Who stole my Lord’s cup?” “None of us!” they said. They were each banking on the integrity of the other. An exhaustive search reveals the cup is in Benjamin’s sack! They all know that if they do not go back to their father with Benjamin, he will die of a broken heart. They must do something! Finally, after 23 years, the very brothers who were selling Joseph into slavery are crying out for mercy. “Take us, I will die for him! Take me, imprison me! But you cannot—if I do not come back with my brother, our father will surely die!”

Willing to give their own lives for their brother, something they should have been willing to do almost a quarter of a century ago, Joseph can bear it no more. All he wants to do is embrace his brothers. He sends all the Egyptians away. Then, he runs up to his little brother, Benjamin, and just hugs him. Benjamin was so young when Joseph was sold. I can imagine the confusion and fear they were all going through. The brothers must have been terrified when they realized it was Joseph and the power he wielded. However, Joseph was a man of integrity. Joseph understood the sovereignty of God and tried to explain it to his brothers. God had sent him there to save them!

God had a plan in place and in order to fulfill and keep His covenant promise to Abraham, Joseph had to endure these trials. God knew that Joseph would endure and while it was a quarter of a century later, He knew that Joseph would be reunited with his family. Through it all, Joseph maintained a life of integrity. God knew he would survive the pressing that would take place in his life.

Much of the suffering we see Paul write about is the suffering that takes place due to external circumstances and it’s actually a pressing—almost like a pressing of grapes into wine, to squeeze out and bring forth the juice from that fruit. It’s an intense, but necessary pressing that takes place. That is the kind of pressing that Paul writes about when he talks about suffering for the gospel.

When he writes about enduring temptations he’s referring to that which comes from within. When he talks about enduring trials, he’s referring to struggles that force us to make a moral decision on whether or not we will follow the path of the Lord. In every single opportunity that we read about, Joseph follows God. God knew Joseph could endure this. Very few people have endured such unjust suffering in their lives and ended up second in command of a nation, or because they went low and submitted to God in and through the affliction, were elevated by God to a position of saving the nation.

I look at what we go through as intercessors standing in the gap for the Nation. We have to remember that God is in control. We have suffered loss, we have suffered illness, we have suffered injury, and we have watched our children suffer greatly. But God is using the intercessors to save a nation.

To be continued next week…

Blessings & Love,
Ricci Wilson