Joseph Knew Them
Gen 42:7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.
Jesus knows them that are His. The Bible says they were already given to Him before the foundations of the earth. Joseph can recognize His family although many years have passed. He knew what they had done to him and their wicked thoughts. Joseph could recognize their features and their way of dressing, their way of speaking … in Egypt they were strange … but not to Joseph. If the brothers of Joseph had perhaps changed their clothing to fit better with Egypt … learnt their language and accent and hide their own … if they had borrowed some attributes from Egypt … perhaps supposing this will help their mission … if they had done these things, Joseph who was not expecting to see them in his palace may not have recognized them and they may have just come and gone … with food, but never knowing that Joseph was alive and well.
How peculiar are you in Egypt? How easy is it to identify you as a Christian? Many say what we wear does not matter and how we look does not matter … and that it is what is in us that counts. I pray this is so but suspect otherwise. Joseph did not know his brothers by some inspiration … he could recognize them because they dressed as their father had taught them to dress … with the same manners as they had been trained to exhibit. Joseph knew these mannerisms and ways and knew they were not Egyptian … He also knew these were the ways of the tribe of Canaan. This caused him to look again at their faces and complexion … they did not have strange tattoos, nor did they swear like desert men.
Also consider that Joseph was not recognizable because he had completely changed his clothes and appeared to them as an Egyptian. Our appearance affects our recognition. There is a major lesson here. We are a peculiar people, a chosen nation, a holy priesthood … do we communicate this identity or are we easily confused with others. A day comes when Jesus says He knows us not because we say so but because internally and externally we are truly like Him … we love His teachings and obey his words. There are many who profess Him, but to whom He says …I knew you not.
Song.
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart,
in my heart. In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart, in my heart.
Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart,in my heart,
Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart,
in my heart. In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart, in my heart.
Lord, I want to be more holy in my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be more holy in my heart, in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be more holy in my heart, in my heart.
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart, in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart, in my heart.
Prayer: O Lord, Help me to be different – peculiar … like Jesus. Amen
The Songs of Joseph is an integration of encouragement scriptural devotions, prayers and a compendium of songs of mercy, salvation, new beginnings and victory. We can expect as we trust and obey that our end will indeed be ultimately glorious because God works His marvellous agenda. Be blessed as you read and sing along, daily. Edited by Bolade Apampa
