Unexpected Hospitality

There are times when another person goes above and beyond to show me a warm welcome and hospitality. In fact I believe that some people have a gift of hospitality. They can make you feel like royalty in their presence.

Josephs brothers are going back to Egypt a second time to buy food because of the severe famine that Egypt was prepared for thanks to Joseph. Their older brother Simeon had been in custody the whole time they were gone. Joseph had made it clear to them that they are to bring their younger brother back when they came. He had also put their money back in the sack with the grain they came to buy the first time. They were really on edge about this Egyptian ruler. They had no idea he was their brother whom they had sold into slavery so many years before.

When they show up the second time, Joseph prepares to have them over to his home for a meal. They are a bit nervous and paranoid that something bad is happening. They reach out to Joseph’s steward whom I think knows something is up. Check this out….

19 So they went up to Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20 ‘We beg your pardon, our lord,’ they said, ‘we came down here the first time to buy food. 21 But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver – the exact weight – in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back with us. 22 We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food. We don’t know who put our silver in our sacks.’

23 ‘It’s all right,’ he said. ‘Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.’ Then he brought Simeon out to them.

24 The steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet and provided fodder for their donkeys. 25 They prepared their gifts for Joseph’s arrival at noon, because they had heard that they were to eat there.

33 The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment. 34 When portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as anyone else’s. So they feasted and drank freely with him. (Genesis 43:19-25; 33-34 NIV)

I am amazed at Joseph’s cool, collected behavior. It is obvious that he loves his brothers and misses his family, but he is playing his part well prior to the big reveal. He is obviously drawn to his kid brother, with whom he had a special bond.

I find it interesting that he invites them to a meal in his house. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed some of the best, heart felt conversations over a meal. It’s crazy when we have guests over and we just talk and share over the meal, but when we move to the more comfortable living room, the conversations are not as intimate – or so it seems. There is something about share life-giving resources with one another that makes for good conversation. I’m impressed by Joseph’s behavior toward his brothers who meant to harm him so many years ago. He had obviously forgiven them. I can learn from this type of forgiveness and love that leads to restoration.

Pressing On!

Dwayne