Salvation of Jacob's Family

Genesis 42. The rest of Genesis (ch.42-50) involves "The Salvation of Jacob's Family". Today is the beginning of that process, and that process begins with repentance. Some have questioned as to why Joseph didn't immediately reveal his identity. Joseph's last memory of his brothers was their cruel treatment of their own flesh and blood. So Joseph will test his ten brothers to see if they are still evil and treacherous or have they changed over the years? In fact in Genesis 42:15, Joseph will test them to see if they had been as cruel to Benjamin as they had been to him. Benjamin was his only full brother, and he wanted to see him face to face.

This whole experience brought the ten men to the place where conviction was starting to germinate in their hearts. True reconciliation requires sincere repentance and humble confession of sin. From a human point of view, Joseph would have been happy for "instant reconciliation", because then he could have seen his father and his brother Benjamin much sooner. But like a skilled physician, Joseph was patient, knowing this was the correct way to bring about true and sincere reconciliation.

God Himself is the skilled physician of our hearts and would be happy for "instant reconciliation", but He knows true and sincere reconciliation requires repentance. The first word of the Gospel is "repent" (Matt.4:17, Mark 1:15). Repentance first. Then comes reconciliation. This is true in all relationships.