Genesis 45:24

Then Joseph, as he sends them away, gives them one last word of warning. "See that you do not fall out by the way," he says. And how we need this caution — brothers and sisters alike. Literally it is, "Do not quarrel on the way." We need to exercise a spirit of forbearance with one another. Otherwise we will never get on together. See how even such eminent servants of Christ as Barnabas and Paul fell out by the way. "And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other" (Acts 15:39). How sad, and how humiliating! May the Lord keep us! We have it in us. The hateful flesh is there, always ready to assert itself the moment the Spirit's restraint loosens.

In sending them away, Joseph told his brothers not to quarrel on the way (v. 24). He knew their character, and the Lord Jesus too knows the natural character of Israel, which is all too sadly reflected in ourselves, even the church of God.

They received bounty beyond all their thoughts. In the presence of it only one thing suited them — the obedience of faith. They did exactly as Joseph commanded. So he sent them off to their father with the instruction, "See that you do not fall out by the way." There was rightly a little sting for their consciences in this. They had fallen out badly over Joseph many years before. As forgiven men they were now to show an entirely different spirit.

Finally, Joseph sends out his brothers with the warning word, "See that you do not fall out by the way" (v. 24). In His last words in the upper room, the Lord is equipping His disciples to be His witnesses. Three times He urges them to love one another (John 13:34; 15:12, 17). Sadly, we have fallen out by the way. The Galatians by their legality fell out by the way, for the apostle has to say, "You bite and devour one another" (Galatians 5:15). The Corinthians by their carnality fell out by the way. The apostle writes, "There is quarreling among you" (1 Corinthians 1:11) … Had love prevailed, there would have been no room for legality or carnality. Neither would have divided the servants of Christ or spoiled their service to the Lord.

The wagons had plenty of carrying capacity, and there was plenty of food and clothing. One would think there was no room left for quarrelling. Joseph's greatness and grace should have filled their conversation, since every turn of the wagon-wheels brought them nearer to their brother. And has this no voice for us? Is not the Holy Spirit given to each believer alike? Are the Scriptures not the common possession of all believers? Is not Christ in glory and His heavenly resources the undivided portion of all? To ask the questions is to answer them.

There is the ever-present danger of falling out by the way. Long ago the Lord could ask His disciples what they were discussing on the way. They were silent, because on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest (Mark 9:33-34). Look behind all the disputes that have ever taken place among the people of God. Whatever the subject of the dispute, the root cause will probably turn out to be the same: someone wanted to be great. Otherwise, whatever the difficulty, there would be no need to fall out. We shall be at peace among ourselves only as we count each other better than ourselves.