What a Day

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

WHAT A DAY

Gen 43:26-34

26 When Joseph came home, they presented to him the gifts they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground. 27 He asked them how they were, and then he said, "How is your aged father you told me about? Is he still living?" 28 They replied, "Your servant our father is still alive and well." And they bowed low to pay him honor. 29 As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother's son, he asked, "Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?" And he said, "God be gracious to you, my son." 30 Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there. 31 After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself, said, "Serve the food." 32 They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, for that is detestable to Egyptians. 33 The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment. 34 When portions were served to them from Joseph's table, Benjamin's portion was five times as much as anyone else's. So they feasted and drank freely with him.

NIV

Although they were all brothers, sons of the same father, Joesph, and Benjamin were the only two whose mother was Rachel, the first love of Jacob. This is why he showed favoritism to Joseph with the special coat and did not want Benjamin to be taken to Egypt, again showing favoritism. However, we have come to the place where Joseph sees his brother Benjamin and is overcome with joy so that he leaves their presence and weeps. We also are aware they bowed again presenting their gifts. Joseph's dream has certainly been fulfilled. Is our lesson from the joy of seeing a brother, and the tears of joy, or is our lesson from bowing to the ground presenting our gifts? Maybe our lesson comes from the feast, and the favorite brother, and son of the father, getting five times worth of portions.  We can envision our first moment in the presence of our Lord. Would we not bow low to the ground? How could we presume to stand in his presence? He is the Lord of lords, the King of Kings, the Ruler of heaven and earth, the bright and morning Star, the Lamb of God, our Savior and Redeemer. We would most certainly bow to the ground before him. He may tell us to stand up or be seated at the banquet table. When that happens there will be no separation from each other, as the Egyptians and the Hebrews were, as one was detestable to the other. We can imagine, the more refined society of the Egyptians looking at shepherds as a low-class bunch of scum, in dirty clothes no less. However, we believe, who accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, no matter our religious background, what denomination we split ourselves into, no matter what culture, wealth or lack of it, race, or any other differences we may have sorted out for ourselves, they will all melt away as we seat next to one another rejoicing and feasting at the wedding banquet with our Lord. There will be no tears, but we will be filled with gladness and laughter, as our portions will forever be the same, as we know our Heavenly Father does not show favoritism. We are sure Joseph was overjoyed to see the face of his brother, that was a special day for him. However, what a day that will be, when our Jesus we will see, when we look upon His face, the one who saved us by His grace when He takes us by the hand and leads us to the promised land, what a day, glorious day that will be!