Page 28 - Living Light 90

THIS WEEK’S BIBLE INSIGHTS ARE BY:
Derek Tidball and are based on Genesis 45
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ON THIS WEEK’S MAJOR THEME:
Genesis 45 in full. Our emotions: Romans 13:3-14, Colossians 3:5-14, Ephesians 5:18. The providence of God: Proverbs 15:3, 16:1-4, 33. Salvation: Ephesians 2:1-10.
1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.
3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with
yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no ploughing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.”
25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.
Sunday September 28 - The dam bursts
Then Joseph could no longer control himself... and he wept bitterly...
Genesis 45:1-2
The pent-up emotions of the last months, even of the last years, finally erupted. Joseph had played the long game. He’d recognised his brothers when they first visited Egypt to acquire food and shed tears in private (Genesis 42:24, 43:30). Now, months later, was the time for him to reveal who he was. As he did so, his emotions overwhelmed him. Not surprising, perhaps. But think of it – from his early days in Egypt, through the Potiphar’s wife incident and in prison he is portrayed as a highly disciplined individual. As Pharaoh’s right-hand man, he needed to be. But now he reveals that he’s human.
God made us emotional beings – that’s part of our wonderful make-up. Love, joy, sorrow and sadness enrich lives. Weeping is often an important step towards healing, especially when loss is involved. Jesus wept at his friend Lazarus’ tomb (John 11:35) and over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). But we need wisdom in handling our emotions. They need both expressing and disciplining. Suppressing them only leads to unhealthy explosions or internal depression. But their uncontrolled expression is often destructive and a sign of our sinful nature. Part of God’s transforming work for many of us has to do with the Holy Spirit refining our emotions. Colossians 3:7-10 is one passage which clearly makes the point.
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Loving God, may I love you with all my being and may you transform me in every part of my life, including my emotions, to be the mature person you intended me to be. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY