Placing Others Before Self

MEMORY SELECTION: “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” —Philippians 2:3

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Genesis 43 and 44

IN OUR previous lesson we left Joseph still in prison. However, during the intervening years, perhaps a decade or so, much has occurred, and we will attempt to trace the thread of historical facts that has transpired.

Having gained the confidence of the prison-keeper, and having assumed responsibility for all the prisoners, as well as other duties, Joseph next began to impress his masters with his ability to interpret dreams. First Pharaoh’s servants, and then later on Pharaoh himself began to ask Joseph for an explanation of their dreams. Pharaoh became so influenced with Joseph’s gift of interpretation that he placed him in charge of building the storehouses to conserve the grain during the seven years of plenty.

Those years of plenty have now passed, and we are now well into the foretold period of famine. The first time that the brothers came to get grain, Joseph questioned them about his father and younger brother Benjamin. To pressure his brothers into returning with Benjamin, Joseph had Simeon imprisoned. The others returned home to find their father unwilling to allow Benjamin to leave him. The lengthening famine, however, forced Jacob to permit his younger son to accompany his brothers on their second trip.

Although they no doubt set out on their journey with a great deal of distress concerning the safety of Benjamin, as well as the release of Simeon from prison, their fears proved to be unfounded. Joseph had instead prepared to greet them with a dinner at which he would be present. And when they arrived Simeon was brought to them unharmed. When Joseph appeared, robed as an Egyptian prince, they all bowed themselves to the ground and presented him with the gifts of honey and spices they had brought with them.

With tears of joy Joseph received his brothers and inquired about the health of his dear father. And are we, too, not touched with emotion as we ponder the sentiments of this occasion, as recorded in the 29th and 30th verses, which read, “And he lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin his brother, his mother’s son, and said, Is this your youngest brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. And Joseph made haste; for his heart yearned over his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.” (ASV) He then returned to the dinner which had been prepared, and from his own private table sent portions of food to his eleven brothers, who had been seated according to their age and birthright. And, as a mark of special favor, Benjamin received five portions instead of just one.

Having received the favors and their grain, the eleven brothers started out for home, but not without a testing from Joseph as to their probable change of heart. A silver cup was placed in Benjamin’s sack and was soon found by Joseph’s servants, who had been ordered to track them down and bring them once again to him. Although Joseph knew of their innocence, he pretended to reprove them, and demanded that Benjamin remain as his slave while the others were free to return to their father. As an evidence of their change of hearts, they all volunteered to remain as slaves, but their willingness was denied. Then Judah, who had pledged to his father regarding the safety of Benjamin, proposed to remain as a slave in place of his younger brother, explaining to Joseph that his father had set his heart on the young man, and that he could not return without him. Joseph’s heart must have been touched with evidence that his brothers had indeed learned good lessons from all of their experiences, as they were all free to return to their father.

We are all impressed, are we not, by Joseph’s tenderness, and the fact that he did not judge his brethren according to what they had done to him in the past, but instead by evidence of their heart condition at the time. This seems to illustrate that the future judgment of the world will take into account the weaknesses of the flesh and that all evidences of repentance will be encouraged.

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