“The boy cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.” Genesis 44:22
When the brothers arrived back in Egypt, Judah stepped forward and spoke to Joseph. He still did not know that the governor is his own brother. As Judah made his case, he referred to his ‘father’ fifteen times! Put yourself in Joseph’s shoes listening to Judah say all this. He could only come to one conclusion: Judah had changed. Now he truly loved the father.
But Joseph discovered something else. As Judah begged, “Please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers,” he saw his love for the loved and favored son (Gen. 44:33).
What a remarkable transformation! No doubt Joseph thought, “Judah was the one who proposed selling me as a slave twenty years ago; now he is ready to become a slave in order that his brother may go free.”
Unable to control himself any longer, Joseph began to weep. He sent everyone out of the room except for his brothers, and he revealed his true identity. “I am your brother, Joseph” (45:4).
Do you want to know and experience more of the love of Christ? Stop grieving the Father and start loving the Son. The Holy Spirit pours out the knowledge of the love of God into the hearts of those who stop grieving the Father and start loving the Son (Eph. 3:14-19).
Do you want to experience more of the love of God? What one step could you take today?
