Bible Study Online Article
From the first day when Joseph's brothers had unexpectedly re-entered his life, we could see how Joseph's agenda in regards to his brothers -- would constantly change? When Joseph first met his brothers after they had plotted to kill him and then changed their mind and instead -- sold him. Joseph's agenda at first: was to find a reason to seek revenge against his brothers. This would be tricky, being that Joseph was obedient to the Almighty God and he didn't want to lose favor with Him. But God was with Joseph during this whole process and little did Joseph know, God was leading him the whole way. It would seem that every time Joseph would get ready to give in, when it came to seeking revenge against his brothers; God would allow some information to find his ears that would give him pause. For starters, God would allow Joseph to find out that his little brother Benjamin was still alive and because of this small but important information, Joseph's agenda would change away from his brothers as an whole; and solely unto Benjamin. Now instead of seeking revenge against his brothers, he would use them to bring Benjamin from his father's house down to Egypt. I wasn't easy, but after this was done, Joseph's agenda would change again, for now, he wasn't going to let Benjamin leave. So he devised a plan that would frame Benjamin in such a way, that he would have to stay in Egypt. But there was something he wasn't counting on: his brother's passion for the well-being of their father. For Joseph's brothers knew that if they returned back home without Benjamin: surely their father's well-being would be affected in a way that would be detrimental. But first, Joseph's brothers had to keep Benjamin alive from the crime that he was allegedly found guilty of. Now understand, Joseph wasn't going to kill Benjamin, for this whole situation was designed by Joseph so that he could keep his little brother there with him in Egypt. But Joseph's brothers didn't know that, for we must also remember that Joseph was still unknown to them. And all they saw was -- Zaphenath-Paneah the Revealer of Secrets; and he was angry that Benjamin had stolen from him. Plus we must not forget that while they was on the road and Joseph's chief steward had rode out to accuse them of stealing; it was Joseph's brothers who had set the condition that if anybody was found to have what the chief steward was accusing them of; that person would be put to death: "If any of your servants are found to have it; he would die; and the rest of us will become my lord's slaves." (Genesis 44:9) This would be the statement that was on Judah's mind when he spoke these words to Zaphenath-Paneah the Revealer of Secrets: "What can we say to my lord? What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants' guilt. We are now my lord's slaves: we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup." After hearing this, Joseph responded by saying: "Far be it for me to do such a thing! Only the man that was found to have the cup will become my slave. The rest of you, go back to your father in peace." Well this news would make things better: But overall, the news is still bad? Benjamin, although a slave gets to stay alive; and the rest of Joseph's brothers have been released; and they can go back home in peace. But they can't go back home without Benjamin and Judah explains why: "Please my lord, let your servant speak a word to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, though you are equaled to Pharaoh himself. My lord asked his servants, 'Do you have a father or brother?' And we answered, 'We have an aged father, and there is a young son born to him in his old age. "His brother is dead, and he is the only one of his mother's sons left, and his father loves him.' Then you said to your servants, Bring him down to me so I can see him for myself.' And we said to my lord, 'The boy cannot leave his father; if he leaves him, his father will die.' But you told your servants, 'Unless your younger brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.' "When we went back to your servant my father, we told him what my lord had said. Then our father said, 'Go back and buy a little more food.' But we said, 'We cannot go down. Only if our youngest brother is with us will we go. We cannot see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.' "Your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons. One of them went away from me, and I said, "He has surely been torn to pieces." And I have not seen him since. If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in misery.' "So now, if the boy is not with us when I go back to your servant my father and if my father, whose life is closely bound up with the boy's life, sees that the boy isn't there, he will die. Your servants will bring the gray head of our father down to the grave in sorrow. Your servant guaranteed the boy's safety to my father. "I said, 'If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!' Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord's slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return home with his brothers. How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come upon my father." Within Judah's statements, Joseph learns that his father was deceived when it came to his disappearance. For now he knows that his brothers had lied and told his father that he was killed by a wild beast. Now he knows why his father never came looking for him: he never knew the real story when it came to his brothers betraying him. But that was the past, never mind how hurtful it may have been. What Joseph see now, are nine men who are very concerned about their aging father; and how they can't go back home without Benjamin, for it would burying their father in a season of sorrow. Be as it may, will this display of concern and passion be enough to get Joseph to abandon his agenda: when it comes to his little brother Benjamin?
Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty **YOUR CURRENT SERIES WOULD BE HERE** 84) Joseph's Dark Dreams Interpretation 85) Joseph the Overseer of Egypt 86) Joseph the Revealer of Secrets 88) The Seven Years of Abundance 90) Joseph the Egyptian Prime Minister 91) Joseph the Temptation of Revenge 93) The Confessions of the Ten Tribes 98) Joseph's True Agenda Revealed 99) <-CURRENT PAGE->  CrossDaily.com Web Search where you can VOTE FOR THIS SITE & other great ones. Christian search engine, directory & voting index. You'll find Bible, chat, churches, jobs, music, reviews, software, theology, & more. See the best sites!
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