“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” – Hebrews 10:24 (NLT)
The men had travelled a long distance and had arrived in Egypt tired and worn. But their mission to purchase food for their families and livestock during a severe famine was foremost on their minds and required that they hasten the business and return home. They had heard that there was corn in Egypt and had come in haste at the urging of their aged father.
The Egyptian leader who spoke with them had enquired about their journey and seemed genuinely interested when they spoke of their father and youngest brother back home. He asked questions, and they disclosed that one other brother was dead and their father had grieved for a long time over his death.
They had no way of knowing that their ‘dead’ brother (Joseph) was talking to them. They had sold him as a slave to merchants who were travelling to Egypt and had lied to their father that he was dead. (Genesis 37:18-36).
Joseph loved his brothers despite their cruelty and longed to make himself known. But not yet. He needed to know whether the years had softened their hatred and selfishness because of the father’s unrestrained demonstrations of love toward him. He himself had loved them and often shared the dreams he experienced, which made them jealous of him.
But genuine love is powerful because it chooses self-giving over self-protection. In Genesis 45:1-15, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers and began weeping uncontrollably because of what he had regained – his family.
Friends, love suffers long and remains kind (1st Corinthians 13:). Love overcomes every imaginable evil and restores faith. Love conquers all. But “Most important of all…love covers a multitude of sins.” (1st Peter 4:8 – NLT).
Read: Psalm 63:3; 1 John 4:18
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 21:1-7; Matthew 27:11-44; Exodus 11; Exodus 12