It is a beautiful thing to choose love instead of hate. To choose to serve someone instead of serving yourself. To genuinely care for others instead of just caring for yourself.
We were created to love, serve, and care for others. When Adam & Eve sinned in the garden the image of God was marred and we all have been raised up (inherently - since we were born) in Adam (selfish emotions, serving ourselves, being selfish). Then we put our faith in Christ, that which was marred is made alive again in us, and Holy Spirit teaches us to love, serve, and care for others.
Joseph is a beautiful picture (prototype) of Jesus. Let me say, Joseph fell short like the rest of us, but some things in the Scriptures really express the heart of Jesus. For instance, what we read today.
It started before they left Egypt, “Then Joseph gave a command to fill their sacks with grain, to restore every man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. Thus he did for them.” Genesis 42:25
Then we see here that: “When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon.”” Genesis 43:16
“Then he asked them about their well-being, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”” Genesis 43:27
“Now his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. And he went into his chamber and wept there. Then he washed his face and came out; and he restrained himself, and said, “Serve the bread.”” Genesis 43:30-31
“Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.” Genesis 43:34
Joseph was blessing those that had cursed him. He was loving those that didn’t love him. He gave them their money back and fed them in the middle of a famine. When they returned, he asked about his father, wept when he saw Benjamin, slaughter an animal to feast with them and then it says, “So they drank and were merry with him.”
Joseph’s heart stay tender even when he could have made the excuse for it not to be. He could have said they deserve what’s coming to them, let me take vengeance on them. None of that was present in Joseph’s heart. He chose to love, serve, and care about them.
Do you have someone in your life that has wronged you? Someone who hates you for no reason? Do you treat them poorly? Are you willing to lay down your life for the sake of their healing? Would you break bread and be merry with them?
Those are hard questions I know but a lot of times Believers and followers of Christ are still acting like the first Adam instead of like the person they are supposed to be following. Jesus on the cross (after being beaten beyond recognition) said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!”
Choose to love instead of hate. Choose to serve someone instead of serving yourself. Choose to genuinely care for others instead of just caring for yourself.
- To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.