“Now the famine was severe in the land. So it came about when they had finished eating the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, ‘Go back, buy us a little food.’ Judah spoke to him, however, saying, ‘The man solemnly warned us, “You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.” If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food.’ Then their father Israel said to them, ‘If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and carry down to the man as a present, a little balm and a little honey, aromatic gum and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. Take double the money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was a mistake.” (v1-4,11-12)
When the nine brothers return to Joseph they have Benjamin with them. Joseph seeing his younger brother is with them, invites them into his home for a feast. It says that Joseph was so moved by Benjamin that he had to excuse himself and go weep in private before returning to eat. Simeon is returned to them and they are all generously served at Joseph’s table, though Benjamin receives a portion 5 times larger than the other brothers.
Having the benefit of the larger picture, we realize that Joseph is extending huge amounts of love and grace to his brothers – he gave them food (returned their money), taught them a lesson in mercy, and is lavishing hospitality upon them. He asks about their well-being, their (and his) father’s well-being, and goes out of his way to see and bless Benjamin.
Now, imagine Joseph’s behavior from the brothers’ perspective, because they still don’t realize this is their brother. Keep in mind Joseph has been in Egypt approximately 13 years now – he not only looks but sounds Egyptian (in the last chapter it mentioned they spoke through an interpreter, so he is speaking Egyptian, not Hebrew). It’s no wonder Israel thought their money was returned in error – the behavior of Zaphenath-paneah (Joseph’s Egyptian name) must have seemed extremely odd to them.
Where else do we see behavior that is so extremely counter-expectation that it boggles the mind and is hard to understand? “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Php 2:5-8) Jesus was so counter-expectation that people did not recognize Him for who He was – the Messiah, Son of God. Even up until His death they used the title “King of the Jews” in a mocking way, not actually believing it to be true, because He spoke and behaved so differently from what they expected. Who would have expected the Almighty God of the Hebrews to be the most humble, caring and compassionate carpenter from a spat-upon town? Clearly, nobody.
Even today, those who show the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control) can be mocked and misunderstood by the world, because these behaviors are so radical to the common culture.
My takeaway today is that I need to become more radical – not in a burn-the-flag rioting kind of way – in a love those who hate me and bless those who curse me kind of way. I want to learn how to speak and act in a way that is in alignment with Jesus, not this world. Jesus says that we hated because we are foreigners here: “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (Jn 17:14)
Father God, please remind me each day that I am not from this world, I am a citizen of heaven. Please remind me how to speak and act as if that is true, and when I encounter resistance, to fully rely on You for strength.
~ Conqueror in Training