A
Weekly Meditation of Pastor Chang (
<The
Characteristics of Spiritual Leaders> (43)
(The Greatest
Statesman in the Human History ¨C the Life of Joseph in the Bible) (7)
When the first seven years of great harvest
was over, the second seven years of famine came. This famine was very severe
which cover the entire
When Jacob¡¯s 10 sons arrived in
As soon as Joseph said that they were spies,
these 10 brothers were terrified. Joseph put all of them in jail for 3 days,
then, released them. After knowing his father and young brother were still
alive and well, he instructed one of his brothers should be a hostage, until
they brought their youngest brother to come again to prove their innocence.
These brothers from now on recognized their own sin which sold their brother
Joseph now had chased them back. The conversation among the brothers, of
course, Joseph heard about and understood. He could not control, he went out to
cry.
After they went back, these 10 brothers
discovered that their money still remained in their food bags. They were more
terrified. When they arrived home and reported to their father, Jacob felt
strange too. Soon after the food was gone, Jacob asked his sons to go to
purchase more. But no one dared to go, unless their father agreed to let
Benjamin to go alone. Finally, Jacob was forced to give in. But the brothers
promised to bring their youngest brother home safely. When they arrived, Joseph
treated them well with good banquet and gave them more good food to eat but
gave Benjamin 5 times more.
Next day, Joseph instructed his servants to
fill up 11 brothers¡¯ bags with grain and food. Besides that, he ordered his
servants not only returned their money back to them secretly, but also put an
official silver cup of Joseph inside the bag of Benjamin. After their left the
city, Joseph urged his servants to chase them back and arrest the one who had
the cup. All of them were terrified. This was a way that Joseph tried to
testify his brothers. Finally, all of them came back to ask for pardon. Judah,
this fourth brother, did a very good job in terms of bagging Joseph to replace
his youngest brother.
At that moment, Joseph could not control
himself any more. He instructed his servants all should leave; then, he
identified himself to his brothers. One can imagine how surprised his 11
brothers were. They cried to each other with tears. It was 22 years! Because of
hatred, they were separated for such a long time. Now they could be united
together again, but the dreams of Joseph had been totally fulfilled that was
the most terrified part of his brothers.
But let us see how did Joseph comfort his
brother, he said to them, ¡°And now do not be distressed, or angry with
yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve
life¡ God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to
keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God;
He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his house and ruler over all
the
Joseph also instructed his brother went back
to