June 8

The Kindness that Saved a Nation

  The story of Joseph and his coat of many colors is well known. Genesis 37 tells the account of Joseph and his brothers in a family where their father, Jacob, favored Joseph, his youngest son. Joseph had a dream when he was 17 years old that he ruled over all his brothers. Unfortunately, he told them of his dream, and the brothers, who already hated him because of their father's favoritism, then despised him even more. They loathed him so much that some wanted to kill him. But instead of murdering their brother outright, they sold him to a passing band of Midianite traders who then took Joseph to Egypt. The brothers returned home with Joseph's many-colored coat they had soiled with the blood of a goat, and told their father that Joseph had been devoured by a wild beast. Of course, they never expected to see Joseph again.

  But God had a plan for Joseph's life as well as his brothers'. Because the hand of God was on him, in a very long and dramatic journey, Joseph rose to become the "Ruler of Egypt," second only to the Pharaoh himself. (Genesis 41) God then sent seven interminable years of famine on all the civilized Earth. But because Joseph had interpreted Pharaoh's dream and knew about the famine in advance, he was able to prepare for it, and through his remarkable, God-inspired intelligence, he saved the land of Egypt. This famine spread well beyond Egypt into all the surrounding nations, including the land of Joseph's family. Hearing of the success of Egypt and its abundance, Jacob sent his sons there to buy life-giving food so that his household would not perish. The moment they arrived, Joseph immediately recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize this most influential man who was second in command of the most powerful nation on Earth.

  Joseph's position was such that he could easily have ordered them struck down on the spot just by his order. But instead, the Word records, "Then he fell on his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. He kissed all his brothers and wept on them…." (Genesis 45:14-15) Joseph's heart was filled to overflowing with forgiveness and kindness for his brothers – the same ones who wanted to kill him – the same brothers who sold him into slavery. For, just as Joseph had been filled with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit of grace that saved an entire civilization, so he was also filled with the fruit of kindness and love.

  On this eventide, let us consider the kindness of Joseph and its astonishing result. If we have unforgiveness in our hearts, even for unspeakably terrible deeds that have been levied against us, our Lord Master has given His children the power to overcome evil. He has granted us the power to forgive by the Spirit Who lives within us. He has also, likewise, conferred to us the awesome power of unconditional kindness – the first fruit of love!