Genesis 46:1

Genesis 46:1 says, And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.  While Israel was on his way to Egypt, he stopped at Beersheba to offer sacrifices to God, referred to as the God of his father Isaac.  Beersheba was a place where Abraham and Isaac had worshipped God, and Israel was seeking God's guidance in whether or not to go to Egypt. him.  God had forbidden Isaac to go down to Egypt when there was a famine in Canaan.  This may have been what Israel, or Jacob, was thinking about when he consulted God as the God of his father Isaac.  Wherever we are going or whatever we are doing, we need to stop and make sure that it is where God wants us to go and what He wants us to do.  If we are followers of Christ, we look to God as our God and not just the God of our fathers.  We must have that personal relationship.  Also, just because God has closed a door to someone in the past doesn't mean that it is closed to us.  Verse two states, And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.  God spoke to Israel in visions at night, but God called him Jacob twice.  He responded by saying,"Here am I."  Matthew Henry says God called him Jacob to remind him of his lowly estate at this point.  Whenever God calls us, we can only answer, "Here am I."  We can also be certain that God knows everyone who is a follower of Christ.  Verse three declares, And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:  God identified Himself to Jacob.  God then told Jacob not to fear going down into Egypt, because God would be with him and make him a great nation.  Things may not have been going well for Jacob, but God had not forgotten His promise to Him.  When things are not going well for us today as followers of Christ,, we can be certain that God has not forgotten us.  Like Israel, or Jacob, we simply need to worship God.  Verse four adds, I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.  God said He would go with Jacob to Egypt and that He would also bring him out again.  Though Jacob died in Egypt, his bones were returned to Canaan, and his descendants returned also.  As followers of Christ, we can be certain that He will be with us wherever we go and He will bring us home to heaven.  Jacob would also be comforted by Joseph, whom he had thought was dead.  Verse five states, And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.  Israel and his family loaded up and headed to Egypt.  Once God told Israel to go, he didn't wait any longer.  We need to be the same way.  Verse six adds, And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:  They took everything they had with them.  As followers of Christ, we must bring everything we have to Him.  Verse seven says, His sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.  Along with all his possessions, Israel brought all his family.  It would be ideal if we could bring all our family to a saving relationship with Christ, but it is a decision that they must make on their own.

Genesis 45:14

Genesis 45:14 says, And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.  Joseph and Benjamin hugged each other and wept tears of joy.  Benjamin believed that Joseph had been dead all these years, since I am sure he was not a part of the plot to sell Joseph into slavery.  We should be just as joyful when someone who was dead in sin comes to life in Christ.  Verse fifteen adds, Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.  Joseph then kissed and wept with all his brothers, even though they had sold him into slavery.  We should rejoice just as much when one person comes to Christ as we do when another one does, even if one of them has harmed us and the other hasn't.  Joseph and his brothers then talked with each other.  Once we are reunited with God through Christ, we need to talk with God always.  Verse sixteen declares, And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, Joseph’s brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.  When Pharaoh heard the news about Joseph's brothers, he was pleased.  Though Joseph was powerful, he was still under Pharaoh's authority, so he needed Pharaoh's blessing.  No matter how powerful we may think we are, if we are followers of Christ we are still under God's authority and need His blessing in all that we do.  Verse seventeen adds, And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;  Verse eighteen continues, And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.  Pharaoh told Joseph to have his brothers return home, load all their possessions, come to Egypt and Pharaoh would give them the best of the land.  When we come to Christ, we must come with all that we have and God will give us the best of land, which is our heavenly home.  Verse nineteen states, Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.  Pharaoh said that this was a command to Joseph, and he was going to provide the means for everyone to return.  We are likewise commanded by God to call everyone to Him, and He will provide the means for them to get there, which is the cross of Christ.  Verse twenty declares, Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.  Pharaoh said that Joseph's brothers were not to be concerned about their stuff, because the land of Egypt was theirs.  We should never attempt to hang on to the things of this world if they get between God and us.  Verse twenty-one states, And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.  Joseph's brothers were given everything they needed to get home and back to Egypt.  They could have still gone and not returned though.  God gives every person what is necessary to come to Him, but it is always possible to not accept His gift of salvation.  Sometimes, the things of the world just seem to be more important to people.  Verse twenty-two adds, To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.  Joseph gave each brother enough to meet their needs, but to Benjamin he gave much more.  I believe this was still a test to see how the other brothers would react.  God will meet the needs of each individual, and there is never a need for us to be jealous if it seems someone else is being blessed more.  Verse twenty-three continues, And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way.  This simply tells us that Joseph made sure that his father would have ample provisions for the trip, just as we know that God will provide us with everything we need to come to Him.  Verse twenty-four says, So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.  Joseph sent his brothers away with it warning to not fall by the way.  As followers of Christ, we need to be careful that we don't fall out by the way.  When we are born again through Christ, we are forever saved, but we can still fall into sin along the way if we are not careful.  Verse twenty-five states, And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,  His brothers did as Joseph told them to do.  Verse twenty-six adds, And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not.  Their father would not believe that Joseph was alive.  Of course, Joseph's brothers, except Benjamin I believe, had known it was possible that Joseph was alive all this time, but I doubt they expected him to be in a position of such power.  Verse twenty-seven adds, And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:  We are told that his sons told Israel what Joseph had said and he was revived.  They still didn't tell him what they had done to Joseph all those yerse before.  When a person accepts Christ as their Savior, they should be revived, and they don't need to know the sins of any other Christian.  And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.   Israel said he had heard enough and knew that Joseph was alive and that he would go see him before he died.  When a person hears the good news that Christ is alive, it should be enough.  Then, the only way that anyone who hears the good news can be saved is if that person goes to Christ while he or she is still alive.

Genesis 45:1

Genesis 45:1 says, Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.  When Joseph could no longer stand to keep denying who he was, he sent everyone else out and so he could tell his brothers who he was.  Verse two says, And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.  Joseph cried so loudly that the Egyptians outside could hear him.  Since Joseph had sent them out, they must have really wondered what was wrong with him.  There is nothing wrong with getting emotional when something good happens in life, especially the coming of a brother or sister into the family of God, even if they are only spiritual brothers and sisters.  Verse three declares, And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.  Joseph told his brothers who he was, and asked if his father was still alive.  When Joseph told his brothers who he was, they were troubled in his presence, or afraid in other words.  Joseph had already accused them of being spies, and now they may have been afraid that he was going to punish them for what they had done to him.  If we have harmed others and they are then in a position of power over us, we may be afraid of them, but if they are Christians, we have no reason to be.  Since we are sinners, we may be afraid to come to God fearing that He is just waiting to punish us, but like Joseph with his brothers, He is simply waiting to forgive us and restore us to Him.  Verse four adds, And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.  Joseph told his brothers to come close, and reminded them of what they had done to him.  I believe that they would have really gotten nervous at that statement had he not continued.  Verse five states, Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.  Joseph told his brothers to not grieve, because God had been at work through the situation so that lives could be saved.  God is still at work through His people today in what may seem like a bad situation, so that people can be saved spiritually.  Verse six continues, For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.  The country was now two years into the famine, and there were still five years to go.  Joseph being restored to his brothers did not change the conditions in the world, just as someone being restored to God spiritually today does not change the physical or material facts of life.  Verse seven says, And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.  Joseph said that God sent him ahead to preserve the prosperity of life physically, just as Jesus has gone on ahead to preserve the life spiritually of all who accept His salvation by faith.  Material or physical hard times may last, just as they would in Joseph's day, but if we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, our spiritual hard times should be over.  Verse eight declares, So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.  Joseph basically told them not to worry about what they did to him, because God had worked through the situation to place Joseph in a position of power in Egypt.  I know that some people would say that God caused all this to happen, but I believe that God worked through the situation for the good of all those involved.  If God indeed caused everything to happen, then no one could be held accountable for their actions.  I don't believe that we can claim that God causes everything to happen, good or bad, and still be held accountable when we do something bad.  We have to have the free will to choose right or wrong.  Verse nine declares, Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not:  Joseph told his brothers to hurry to their father and tell them that he was alive and in power in Egypt.  We should likewise make haste to tell the people of the world that Jesus is alive and in power over spiritual life and death today.  Verse ten adds, And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:  Joseph told them to get their families and return to Egypt, where there was plenty of food.  God calls us today to come to Him and to share the good news of Christ with all the world, I believe by beginning with those who are closest to us.  Verse eleven says, And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.  Joseph said that his brothers and their families should come to Egypt so they would be nourished during the five years of famine.  When we come to God through Christ, He will nourish us through the years of spiritual famine in the world, no matter how long they last.  Verse twelve continues, And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you.  Joseph said that his brothers had seen with their own eyes that he was the one who had spoken to them.  I believe that his brothers must have now recognized Joseph.  Before we can come to Christ for salvation, we must first recognize Who He is.  Verse thirteen concludes, And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither.  Joseph told them to tell their father all that they had seen and to hurry back with him to Egypt.  We also need to tell people of the world today about the power of Christ to redeem them and invite them to come to Him with an urgency that they do so as quickly as possible.

Genesis 44:23

Genesis 44:23 says, And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.  Judah continues to tell Joseph about the brothers discussion with their father, and about how important Benjamin was to him.  Verse twenty-three states, And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.  Then Judah reminded Joseph of his command to them.  Joseph would not see them again without Benjamin, so the brothers were in a bind.  Sometimes, we may find ourselves in a similar situation, caught between what our family or friends want us to do and what God wants us to do.  Verse twenty-four adds, And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.  Judah said that they told their father Joseph's demand.  When confronted with a troublesome situation, we as followers of Christ can only tell others what we believe God has instructed us to do.  Verse twenty-five says, And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food.  Judah said their father, Israel, did not really listen to their concerns, but told them to go buy a little food.  People today may not want to listen or may not care when we tell them what God has instructed us to do.  Verse twenty-six continues, And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man’s face, except our youngest brother be with us.  Judah said they told Israel that they couldn't return without Benjamin, and we likewise should stand firm when it comes to doing what God has instructed us to do.  We cannot not compromise or ignore God's directions to us.  Verse twenty-seven states,  And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons:  Once more Israel was placing a priority on Rachel and her sons.  Verse twenty-eight declares, And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:  Their father, not just the father of Joseph and Benjamin, said that one son, Joseph, was killed.  Then verse twenty-nine adds, And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.  Israel said the if his other sons took Benjamin and something happened to him that it would kill him.  Israel still wasn't very concerned about his other sons, who would have either starved or have been in danger of being imprisoned or worse if they returned to Egypt without Benjamin.  We need to be careful that we do not put one person above another when it comes to following God's will.  Verse thirty states, Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad’s life;  Then verse thirty-one adds, It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.  Judah told Joseph that if they returned without Benjamin that they would be responsible for their father's death.  The brothers accepted the fact that Benjamin was more important to their father than they were, but they still wanted to do what was best for him.  Even if we feel that we have a reason to feel bitter toward someone else, as these other brothers had a reason to feel that way toward their father and Benjamin, we cannot allow this attitude to keep us from attempting to do what is right in God's eyes.  Verse thirty-two states, For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.  Judah said that he became a surety to his father that if he didn't return with Benjamin that he would bear the blame.  We cannot be a surety for anyone else before God, but we can point them to Jesus Who is.  Verse thirty-three continues, Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.  Judah offered to remain as a bondsman to Joseph if Joseph would allow Benjamin to return to his father.  Though we can never take on the responsibility for someone else's sins, I wonder how much we are willing to sacrifice for that person to come to our Heavenly Father.  There was definitely a change in the attitude of the brothers toward what they would have had to have seen as the favorite son.  Verse thirty-four concludes, For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.  Judah asked Joseph how could he return to his father without Benjamin.  We should likewise put concern for others above our own concerns when it comes to leading them to Christ.

Genesis 44:13

Genesis 44:13 says, Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.  Joseph's brothers were very upset, but instead of going on, they went back to the city.  They were not going to abandon Benjamin, even if it cost them.  We cannot abandon our brothers and sisters in Christ if they are in trouble, especially if they are being falsely accused.  Verse fourteen states, And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.  Joseph's brothers once again fell before him, as his dream had foretold.  Verse fifteen declares, And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?  Joseph asked his brothers what they had done that he couldn't divine, or figure out.  Of course, in this case Joseph already knew what the situation was, but he was waiting to see what his brothers would say.  We also may at times be placed in a situation where people are just waiting to see if we will be truthful with them.  Verse sixteen states, And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.  Judah asked how could they clear themselves when God had found them guilty of iniquity, even Benjamin, though Benjamin wasn't guilty of the same thing.  When we sin, we can only confess our sins to God and ask His forgiveness, because we are all guilty of sin.  Verse seventeen declares, And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.  Joseph said that Benjamin was to remain as his servant and the other brothers could go free.  How much concern do we have for those around us who are imprisoned by sin, even if it isn't the particular sin they are accused of?  We cannot be content to be set free by Christ and have no concern for other people.  Verse eighteen says, Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.  Judah begged Joseph for permission to speak, since he recognized Joseph's position.  As followers of Christ, we do not have to beg God for permission to speak to Him, and His power is much greater than any person's will ever be.  Even as lost sinners, we don't have to beg God to listen, but simply have to come to Him humbly by faith in Chest.  Verse nineteen adds, My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother?  Verse twenty continues, And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.  Judah told Joseph that they had answered his question about their family, but he adds a little more about Benjamin.  Of course, Benjamin's brother, Joseph, was not dead as they thought.  Still, though Benjamin may have been treated with preference as the other brothers thought Joseph was, they were not going to abandon him.  We likewise should learn from our past sins and not commit them over and over again.  Verse twenty-one goes on, And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.  Judah reminded Joseph that he had demanded that they bring Benjamin to him, and they had done so, even if they had waited to do so.  We must likewise bring the lost to God is they are to find salvation.  Verse twenty-two concludes, And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.  I believe that this was Judah's acknowledgement that Benjamin was more important to Israel than the others were.  Fortunately for us, there are no favorites with God.

Genesis 44:1

Genesis 44:1 says, And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s money in his sack’s mouth.  Joseph once again had his brother's money returned to the top of their sacks.  We might think that they would have checked this time before they left, but they didn't.  If we find ourselves placed in a compromising position once, through no fault of our own, we might want to check things out if we find ourselves in a similar situation again.  Verse two adds, And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.  Not only did Joseph have the money returned, but he had his cup added to Benjamin's sack.  This would make Benjamin even more guilty than his brothers were, and would give Joseph an opportunity to see how the other brothers would react in this situation.  We cannot feel that someone else is more guilty of sin than we are because we view their sin as greater than ours.  Verse three states, As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.  Joseph's brothers were sent away at daybreak.  It is possible that they were never given a real opportunity to check the sacks, and they may have been afraid that they would insult Joseph if they asked.  Still, they should have done so, and so should we when there is a possibility that we may be placed in a compromising situation.  Verse four adds, And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?  Joseph didn't allow his brothers to go home and discover the money and cup.  He sent his steward to overtake them and ask them how they could reward Joseph's good to them with their evil toward him.  Verse five continues, Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.  Joseph told the steward to accuse one of the brothers with stealing his cup.  Once more, I don't believe that Joseph was doing this out of spite, but to truly test the character of his brothers.  Would they feel the same way toward Benjamin as they had toward Joseph all those years ago?  Verse six states, And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.  Joseph's steward caught up with them and repeated what Joseph had told him to say.  The steward had little choice in the matter without bringing trouble to himself.  We today may be caught up in a situation where we seem to have little choice to do something that we know is wrong, but we need to stand for what is right no matter the cost.  Verse seven says, And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:  The brothers had to be totally confused about what they were being accused of, just as we should be totally confused if we are falsely accused of doing something wrong today.  They swore by God that they had done nothing wrong.  Verse eight adds, Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks’ mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord’s house silver or gold?  The brothers said they had returned the money they found, so why would they now steal Joseph's silver or gold.  Of course, just because a person has been honest in dealing with us in the past doesn't mean that they always will be, though the brothers were in both situations.  Verse nine declares, With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord’s bondmen.  The brother's were so sure of their innocence that they said if the cup was found in the possession of one of them that he should be put to death and the others would be Joseph's bondsmen.  We should never make statements without first knowing all the facts, and if we are going to make statements in God's name, then we should certainly seek His guidance first.  Verse ten states, And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.  The steward said that the one that the cup was found with would be Joseph's servant, and the rest could go free.  We should never be willing to allow someone who is innocent to suffer as long as it doesn't cost us anything, especially our brother's and sisters in Christ.  Verse eleven declares, Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.  The brothers were impatient to prove their innocence.  They should have remembered what had happened before prior to being so quick to act in what I believe was indignation.  We should never allow pride or anger to dictate our actions.  Verse twelve states, And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.  The sacks were searched in the order of their age, and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.  The other brothers could have gone away free by sacrificing Benjamin, whom I believe was still being treated as more important than the other brothers by their father.  This was Joseph's big test of them.  We have to ask if we would allow someone that we feel is being treated better than us to be falsely accused and convicted if it didn't cost us anything.  Hopefully, we will stand for what is right no matter the cost to us personally.

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.