THURSDAY - 12TH OCTOBER, 2023
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO
THE BEGINNING OF THE DRAMA
Read Gen. 42:5-28
Genesis 42:7, KJV
"7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food".
Brethren, this is the beginning of the drama. Joseph saw and knew his brethren! He not only saw but he knew them. If he had seen and had not known them, they might have been free of the drama to follow but that didn't prove for them. What follows is that he makes himself strange to them. He refuses to show himself to them as he that they could be acquinted with. Rather, he disguises himself by not letting his identity known or become unravelled. He made himself strange to them!
Where he could have spoken in Hebrew, he didn't. He rather speaks the Egyptian language and have it interpreted to them. Where he ought not to have taken interest in their cause or matter, he rather probes and digs deeper. He calls them spies! He behaves rudely to them. The fact that Joseph saw and knew them brought them all these untold 'sufferings' or let me call it, 'recompense' that they faced without knowing it was Joseph who was trying to examine them and see if there's still any wicked way in them. All those acts he put up are the Joseph's pranks.
What are you doing there that can go into the future to await you? You ought to be careful and discontinue from such. That day as Reuben would testify, he told them that they must not touch him but they did (22). Thirteen years down the line even without knowing it's the same boy they had mishandled, Joseph's brothers meet him face to face. Then, the Bible recorded, "and he saw them and knew them!"
Some of you, you did your rubbish back then in secondary school. Don't think there are those who can't recognize you now though you have grown differently in appearance. There are those you bullied who if they should see you now will still recognize you. Some might see you and not know you but those your sinful life and unruly acts have affected negatively or destroyed can't but see you and remember you for the indelible injury you gave them. Even without having met you, they see your face in their minds often and regret ever meeting you. That's because you were their link into misbehaviour and sin. Joseph couldn't have forgotten his brothers even if they forget him. Do you know why? Through them, he has all his unforgettable memories. Is it of being sold into slavery and being kept in chains or of ascending to the majesty of greatness? He can't just forget! How will he forget that day when he begged at the top of his voice that he should not be sold? His cry was not different from Jesus' who cried in Gethsemane that the cup would pass over Him yet without any saving from the Father? He just had to drink the cup in the company of grace given Him. All the same, Joseph was pushed away and kidnapped into another land. But this act of his brethren was to be remembered. It happened that they'll visit Egypt where Joseph now rules and reigns. At such time when Joseph could do with them like he desires (though dealt with them in forgiveness and unrevengefullness), they came to Egypt to buy grains and the Bible records that when Joseph sees them, he recognizes them.
But I hope you note that they didn't recognize him one bit. Do you know why? None of them could have envisioned Joseph wouldn't have died indeed. As in, that's the lot of sold slaves. However, this one is the Lord's. The Lord has need of him. He's saved for a purpose. What's this teaching up to? Teaching and telling you to treat your neighbor like yourself. The reason is because even if distance separates you today, the gap will be closed tomorrow and when it does, those you have suffered, maltreated, abused etc would meet you and recognize you also. Even in the absence of revenge, you still don't want to face such past. The unfortunate part is to bear the sword like Joseph and then seek to trouble you. God can deliver you but you'll sure have some regrets. For this reason, live as testimony in the community of men that you might have clear conscience to say like Samuel, "whose ox have I taken from you? (I Sam. 12:3)."
PRAYER: Lord, I refuse to give to any a negative experience that'll be indelible to them. Only remembered by what we've done. My remembrance is sweet.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Jeremiah 19:1-21:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-28; Psalm 82:1-8; Proverbs 25:9-10
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