Genesis 42

I do not believe that we serve a vengeful God. I don't think He's the sort of being that even thinks "I'm going to make sure they are punished, or even have a penance for the wrong they do to others." So when Joseph's brothers were in need of Joe's help, it wasn't God working through a karma of sorts - He was simply using their misfortune of the time to bring them all back together. 

Let that sink in for a moment, because it's a weighty statement.

God

Uses 

Our 

Misfortunes

To 

Bring 

Us 

Back 

Together.

His brothers, who once banded together to stand against Joseph, now banded together in the midst of their hunger to go humbly to ask for food. 

Joseph, though such an incredible instrument of God, is still completely human. I feel that in the way he reacts to his brothers - if he wasn't human, surely he would have the excitement and love of God and embrace them immediately. Instead, Joe's reaction is cold and calculated. He makes a plan, like we so often do, and doesn't get that immediate joy of reuniting with his brothers. 

But ohmygoodness, how the tables are turned.

Do you remember when Joe's brothers put him in a pit, and then sold him to a passerby? Joseph just locked his bros in PRISON, and they didn't even recognize him. God stayed with Joe every step of the way. Even when he didn't realize it, and even when he forgot about it. God was there, walking with hi all the way to the head of Pharaoh's household. 

The guilt Joseph's brothers feel is overwhelming. 

They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.” (Genesis 42:21 NIV)

They credit all of this trouble as payback for what they did to their brother so many years ago. They take it with a heart full of feeling like they deserve the misfortune and prejudice from Pharoah's employee. But God surely doesn't see it that way. He doesn't look at them with eyes of anger, or even eyes of disappointment. He looks at them with eyes of love, and excitement that they're getting closer to having this burden of guilt off their chests. He saw them like he saw us. 

Beautifully broken. 

When parts of Joe's plan start to come together, the brothers get scared. The silver in their sacks of grain unnerves them. They come home to daddy Jacob and tell him everything that happened in Egypt, hoping for a word of consolation or protection. Their father, however, is angry. Who wouldn't be? That's two sons that the brothers have lost, now. Jacob must have felt like he was seriously struggling, and felt a bit hopeless as well. 

Reuben, the leader, takes some credit. He promises to bring back one of the two brothers he lost. 

And he ends up getting more than he bargained for.