Through GenesisSýnishorn

RESPONSIBILITY & FAMILY

Now Joseph had a perfect opportunity to take revenge on his brothers, but he did what he did maybe to test his brothers. The first time they came, he did not see his brother, Benjamin. Maybe he wanted to find out if they had treated Benjamin the same way they had treated him.

The second time he gave them an opportunity for them to leave Benjamin in Egypt and he was moved when they pleaded for Benjamin and he revealed himself. When he revealed himself, the first thing Joseph did was established that it was the same Joseph whom they sold. I believe he mentioned it to make himself authentic as it was a secret only he and the brothers knew.

To the rest of the family, he was no more (that was what they told him when they came on the first journey). His intention was not to make them feel guilty. This intention comes through his next statement where he says don’t be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves. He reveals God’s purpose of providing for them rather than his dream of being their ruler.

He immediately takes charge and does what he needs to provide for the family. The task he gave them was to go tell their father he was alive and bring his father to Egypt. That's a punishment by itself for the brothers to actually go tell their father after all the drama they created saying he was dead to now confess their wrong actions. I wonder why Joseph did not make the quick journey to bring his father to Egypt? Understandable because of his position in managing the world crisis at that time. Or was it just to give his brothers time to digest the whole thing?

We see the proud, arrogant brother being responsible here in the same way we need to act responsibly with our siblings. There should be no jealousy, hatred, or manipulation between siblings.