Day 6

With that, Joseph hurried out, for he was so overcome with affection for his brother that he was on the verge of tears. So he went into a private room and wept there. Genesis 43:40

If you thought things with brothers Esau and Jacob got a little messy, then wait until you hear what happened between Joseph and his brothers.... 

Joseph was the 11th son of Jacob and was deeply loved by his father. Joseph’s older brothers were very jealous of him; they felt he was favored by their father. One day, Jacob gave Joseph a coat made of many beautiful colors; this made his brothers green with envy. Things took a dramatic turn and most of Joseph’s brothers plotted to kill him! In the end, they didn’t kill him, but they did sell him into slavery for 20 shekels of silver. The very naughty brothers stained Joseph's coat of many colors with blood from a goat and made their way home. They used the blood soaked coat to trick Jacob into believing that Joseph had been killed by a wild beast! Jacob's heart was broken. 

After being sold into slavery, Joseph was taken to Egypt. After a very interesting series of events, Joseph became a close and valuable advisor to the Pharaoh. He prepared Egypt to survive a period of famine. Back home in Canaan, Joseph’s brothers and father were starving because of famine. 

After hearing Egypt had food, the brothers journeyed there to buy grain. They had no idea that Joseph had risen to great power! The brothers were brought before Joseph at the Pharaoh’s palace; they didn’t recognize him, but Joseph recognized them! While giving them grain, Joseph tested the brothers to see if they were sorry for what they had done. 

The next time the brothers gathered in his presence, Joseph looked upon them with overwhelming love and forgiveness. Tears of joy poured from his heart. He fed his brothers a luxurious banquet and then revealed himself as the brother they had once left for dead. Can you imagine that reunion? 

Much like we learned in the story of Jacob, God works within the heart of families. Siblings don’t always get along, and sometimes, bad choices are made that hurt one another. God chose Joseph to be an instrument of His mercy, and He chooses YOU to do the same in your family. Joseph’s story reminds us of God’s unending mercy, the power of forgiveness, and the gift of family reconciliation.