Seventh Day Baptist
Christian Education Council
PO BOX 1678
Janesville, WI 53547
—Genesis 42:6-25
by: Dorothy Noel.
Joseph had the ultimate power in this situation. He had the chance to give his brothers what they deserved. They had sold him into slavery, and now he could do the same to them, if he so chose. But instead, when he heard his brothers recognize the guilt of their past, he wept (v.24). Instead of punishment, Joseph chose to love his brothers, providing for them and ultimately not even taking payment for the food. While he did test them by keeping Simeon prisoner, he recognized that God is the ultimate judge and did not take punishment of his brothers into his own hands. We do not have to take on the task of punishing others for their offenses. That is God’s job. Ours is to choose to love.