Genesis 50:15

Back in Egypt, one last test confronted Joseph. His brothers sent him a message. It showed that they had never quite trusted his generous attitude towards them. They felt it was too good to be true. They suspected it was a kindness put on for the sake of his old father, Jacob. If that had been so, now was the time for the true Joseph to reveal himself in paying off the old score.

But it was not his father standing between them that caused Joseph to show kindness to them for their ill treatment. What moved him was his relationship to God. He had shown them the kindness of God. In a higher way, the Lord Jesus has shown the love and grace of God to sinners who had rebelled against Him. More than that, Joseph's words to them had only been good (ch. 45:4-8). Could they not simply trust his word?

They remember that when Joseph was only a boy of seventeen "they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him." So now they conclude, "It may be that Joseph will hate us." Conscience recalls how wickedly they had acted towards Joseph. So now they say, "He will pay us back for all the evil that we did to him." They judge his thoughts by their thoughts, his heart by their hearts, and his acts by their acts.

Joseph had saved their lives with a great deliverance (Gen. 45:7); he had put them in possession of "the best of the land" of Egypt, and he had provided them with bread (Gen. 47:12). For seventeen years they had received Joseph's generosity. They had been the special objects of his loving care. Yet when a crisis arises, it becomes clear that they have no personal knowledge of Joseph. They know something of his greatness and glory. They know the great work he has done. They know that every blessing they enjoy comes from his position and work. But they had no personal acquaintance with his mind and heart. It is as if they said, "We know what he has done for us, but we do not know how he feels about us."

And worse, they try to hide their own unbelief and mistrust of Joseph. They pretend they are only carrying out the dying commands of Joseph's father. It is impossible to believe that Jacob left any such command. They have completely forgotten that Joseph forgave all their sad past, and now they beg to be forgiven. Joseph had shown them grace and love all along. Still their uneasy conscience holds on to the thought that Joseph has something against them.

He had forgiven them freely and fully. He had spared their lives when they were entirely in his power. How could they suppose that after so many years of kindness he would turn on them in anger and revenge? It was indeed a grievous wrong. No wonder that "Joseph wept when they spoke to him." What an answer to all their unworthy fear and dark suspicion! A flood of tears! Such is love!

We know something of the glory of the Person of Christ. We know something of the power of His work. We enjoy the benefits that flow from His finished work on the cross and His present service in the glory. But when some little crisis arises in our history, it becomes clear how little we know of His heart, and so how little confidence we have in Him personally.