Honestly

DEVOTION

GENESIS

HONESTLY

Gen 42:6-21

6 Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph's brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. 7 As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. "Where do you come from?" he asked. "From the land of Canaan," they replied, "to buy food." 8 Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. 9 Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, "You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected." 10 "No, my lord," they answered. "Your servants have come to buy food. 11 We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies." 12 "No!" he said to them. "You have come to see where our land is unprotected." 13 But they replied, "Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more." 14 Joseph said to them, "It is just as I told you: You are spies! 15 And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 16 Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!" 17 And he put them all in custody for three days. 18 On the third day, Joseph said to them, "Do this and you will live, for I fear God: 19 If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households. 20 But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die." This they proceeded to do. 21 They said to one another, "Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that's why this distress has come upon us."

NIV

Stopping in the middle of this whole narrative seems a little odd, as the whole brings us to a reunion with great joy. But for now we are in what appears to be a slight payback by Joseph. With the arrival of ten of his brothers to purchase food, they bow low to the ground, just as in his dream that was given to him. At that moment Joseph could have said, “See, I told you many years ago, when I was with you, that you would bow to me”.  But he did not as it seems he wanted to punish them a bit. That seems a little out of character for Joseph. Yet this also seems to be all about Joseph wanting to see his full brother Benjamin. All the rest are half-brothers because although they all had the same father, there were three other mothers, none of which were Josephs or Benjamins. Their mother was Rachel, Jacob’s true love.  Yet it still seems Joseph is mistreating his brothers, accusing them of being spies. He is also holding back his identity as their brother who is no more. Their response to how they are being treated by, who they think is a powerful Egyptian ruler, is our lesson. They remembered what they had done to Joseph and they have carried the guilt their actions. They remembered how Joseph pleaded with them not to do this harm to him. They remembered how his pleading meant nothing to them and they still sold him off to slavery. They remembered the horrible pain they caused their father with their lie, to cover up their true actions. They believed it was God paying them back. Yet they kept up telling this Egyptian ruler, they were honest men. They had no idea he was actually Joseph, so he could not possibly know they were lying about being honest. Even in their distress they could not bear to be honest. What would this ruler think of them if they told him they were once twelve brothers, but they sold one of them into slavery and they do not know his whereabouts at this time?  But alas they could not be honest. This surely should teach us about being honest about our actions. We should be transparent with each other, at least within our own family, but when confronted by others, it would behoove us to remain true to honesty as well. It seems we all might be a little guilty of building facades, especially in the world, pretending all is well, when things might be going a little awry. But do we also build those facades within the household of faith? Do we think the world or other believers think we should always be so blessed everything always go perfectly for us? Is that the façade we have built? What good is faith if everything is always perfect? What need is there of faith? Our faith is tested when we are in distressful times. How we respond to those times is when others can see faith in action. Joseph knew they were not being the honest men they claimed to be. Let us not live our lives deceptively before others so they, like Joseph, know we are not being honest. Honesty is always the best policy.