Joseph and His Brothers
A guest post by Chad Ramsey.
Members of a family should love one another. This is natural and proper.
The apostle John made this point when he encouraged Christians to “love one another” (1 John 3:11), but he warned, “not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous” (verse 12).
Unlike Cain, we are to seek the best for both our physical and spiritual families. Therefore, John added:
“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (verses 14-15).
Brothers Who Did Not Love Each Other.
Examples of brothers treating one another with spite are more common in Genesis than examples of loving behavior.
Cain murdered Abel (Genesis 4:8); Ishmael mocked Isaac (Genesis 21:9); Jacob took Esau’s birthright and stole a special blessing intended for him (Genesis 25:29-34; 27:18-29); and Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery and lied about his demise (Genesis 37:28, 31-32).
Very little brotherly love is depicted.
Joseph’s Love for His Brothers.
Thankfully, Joseph did not treat his brothers with hatred or contempt when given the opportunity. Not knowing Joseph was still alive, the brothers eventually made their way to Egypt to buy grain (Genesis 42:3).
Joseph, who was in charge of the famine relief program, recognized them and made inquiries of them (verse 8). Although he questioned their intentions (verse 14), he provided them with grain, money, and “provisions for the journey” (verse 25).
When the brothers returned a second time with Benjamin in the group, Joseph hosted a feast at his house (Genesis 43:16). He did not yet reveal his identity. Instead, he sent them away with the grain they sought but also framed Benjamin by placing his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack (Genesis 44:2). This was done to test his brothers.
Instead of abandoning Benjamin, Judah, who years earlier suggested the brothers sell Joseph into slavery—Genesis 37:26-27, offered to take Benjamin’s place and be punished in his stead (Genesis 44:18-34). Summarizing the event, Gangel and Bramer wrote:
“Judah’s intervention on their behalf showed the great love he had for his father and the loyalty he had to Benjamin. It also demonstrated that the brothers were not willing to repeat the act they had committed against Joseph many years before. They were not perfect, but they were showing signs of repentance and change” (Genesis, 350).
Joseph had seen enough. He revealed himself to his brothers and credited God saying:
“God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance” (Genesis 45:7).
Growth had taken place. Old wounds were healing. Jacob’s family was about to be restored.
Gangel, Kenneth O. and Stephen J. Bramer. Genesis (Holman Old Testament Commentary). Edited by Max Anders. Nashville: Holman Reference, 2002.
Chad Ramsey preaches for the Gloster Street Church of Christ in Tupelo, Mississippi. You can access their Bible classes and Chad’s sermons on Gloster Street’s YouTube page.
Chad was - and still is - “my preacher” from when I spent my high school and early college years at Gloster Street. I’m thankful to be able to share some of his writings with you.
