The Condition of the Heart (Genesis 45: 1-15)
1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.
3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.[fn]
8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11 I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’
12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”
14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.
Joseph had somehow maintained a soft heart. Even after all that he had been through, he still loved and felt affection for his brothers. Upon seeing them he was kind and gracious. His heart wept not only because of the release of vindication, but because he had longed for his family all those many years. It is remarkable how God had formed him, how he had given impetus, direction, perseverance, and above all, hope. Now all was well. The fulfillment of the promise was emotionally overwhelming. He cried and hugged Benjamin.
So often our experiences in a troubled world jade us and make us calloused. For some reason, most people do not have the necessary vision which keeps us tender. People hurt us. And when it happens enough, we turn our backs on those people that God has put into our lives. It hurts to be disappointed. And we take this out on those who surround us by being distant and cold, not knowing that, by doing so, we ultimately hurt ourselves.
We are social beings. God has created us to live in community. There we can flourish, if only we remained malleable to God’s calling. If we would consider how sad it is that we have competitive tendencies which pit us against one another, how we possess a propensity to think that the world should revolve around us, how we are inclined to wander ourselves into surprising mistakes, we might take a different track. Pity is a form of love. Mourning over other’s shortsightedness and giving grace instead of angst while realizing that we are all merely humans living in a fallen world might serve as a balm to sooth our souls. Humility is important. It allows us to forgive trespasses, which leads to appreciation, which disarms and leads to intimacy, which leads to growth in feelings of wellbeing.
The fruits of the spirit are really the tools needed to succeed in the world. God imparts in us virtues which help us navigate relationship. But because God is the source doesn’t mean that we have no part in the matter. We are responsible for sharpening our tools, wielding them responsibly, learning the skill of knowing when and how to apply them, and, above all, submitting our attitudes to a God who yearns to make us whole.
Know this: in your experiences God is leading you to a spacious place where you can breathe freely and see and appreciate how God has brought about blessings. He is not responsible for everything that happens to you, but be assured that he has foresight and power necessary to turn everything to the good. Joseph admitted freely an insight which was wrought by his experience: that sometimes when people act they intend harm, yet God allows it for the good.
The Pharisees of Matthew 15 resented Jesus and his deeper meaning of the law probably because it exposed them. Their learned perceptions and experiences had made their life source run cold. Grudgingly, they acted out of duty thinking that is what defined them. Jesus revealed their own barren inner state and the superficiality of their religion. They were bitter, not realizing that what defines a person is the condition of the heart. “For out of the heart comes evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander” (Matthew 15: 19). Likewise, out of the heart comes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5: 22-23). These are gifts of God given to all who remain open to his transforming power.
We have a choice. Strengthened by the joy of salvation we can find our way. Don’t get immersed in negativity. Trust in God’s providence the way Joseph did. He discovered goodness amidst the bad. His faith in a God who could create something out of nothing sustained him.
What’s holding you up right now? Are you living by the world’s standards under your own power? Or are you living by God’s standards under the power of the Holy Spirit? God knows what you need and he will provide. He wants you to thrive as a witness even amidst tribulation. He wants you to feel joy and contentment. He wants you to feel whole and have a sense of wellbeing.
Today, if you hear God’s voice, recommit to him. Know with assurance that someday you will bask in the glory of pure light. You will see clearly and praise God from the core of your being. You will know the experience of seeing God’s goodness in the land of the living. For anyone experiencing trial right now, fear not, for help is on its way.