Genesis 43:24

Genesis 43:24 says, And the man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.  The brothers probably didn't know what to think by now, especially after being treated so roughly before.  Verse twenty-five states, And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.  They got the present ready for Joseph, because they heard that they were to eat with him.  The present was not what was going to save them, but Joseph's love and mercy were.  They had come to him on his terms.  When we come to God, no amount of presents will save us, but God's love and mercy will.  We must come to God on His terms, which is through the cross of Jesus.  Verse twenty-six says, And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.  Joseph's brothers gave him the present and bowed all the way to the ground.  They may have laughed when Joseph told them his dreams years before, but since the dreams were revelations from God, they were now seeing them fulfilled.  People today may laugh at God's word, but no matter how many years pass, it will come true.  Verse twenty-seven states, And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?  Joseph asked how they were doing, and then he asked if their father was still alive.  Like Joseph, God is always concerned with the welfare of His people.  Verse twenty-eight says, And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.  They told Joseph that their father, his servant, was alive and in good health.  Still, at this time their father was in need materially.  We may be doing well in life materially, but if we do not know God in a personal relationship through faith in Christ, we will be suffering spiritually.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.  Joseph saw Benjamin, his mother's other son, and asked if Benjamin was their younger brother.  Joseph may have wanted to see if they felt about Benjamin as they had felt about him all those years ago.  When we do come to God, we must have a change in attitude towards the world and the people around us.  Verse thirty declares, And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.  Joseph was overcome with emotion and sought a place to weep where his brothers wouldn't see him.  These were tears of joy.  Verse thirty-one adds, And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.  After Joseph got his emotions under control and washed his face, he went back out and called for the bread, or meal, to be set.  I believe that God waits to share the Bread of Life with those who come to Him today through faith in Christ as Savior and Lord, and that He weeps tears of joy when this happens.  Verse thirty-two states, And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.  The Egyptians ate separately from Joseph's brothers, because the Egyptians felt that it was an abomination to eat with the Hebrews.  There are still many people who look down on and don't want to be associated with those who are Christians today.  Verse thirty-three adds, And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another.  Joseph sat his brothers according to their age, from the oldest to the youngest.  Joseph's brothers marvelled at this.  We should never marvel that God knows everything about every person in the world today.  Verse thirty-four states, And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin’s mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.  They were all given food, but Benjamin was given five times as much as the others.  I believe this was done to see if the other brothers would be jealous of Benjamin because of this.  When God blesses someone materially more than He seems to bless us, we cannot act out of jealousy toward them.  Even if Benjamin had five times as much, they all had plenty to meet their needs, and God will always provide enough to meet our needs today.  We cannot confuse material things with God's blessings, but must simply be satisfied with what He does provide for us.