??“Your master's cup？We haven't stolen your master's cup! You can search every sack and see for yourself!” Do you remember what Joseph's steward found when he searched those sacks？Yes, that's right, the silver cup was found in Benjamin's sack! With great anguish and fear all the brothers got on their donkeys and turned back toward Egypt. Bowing down before the accusing eyes of this harsh Egyptian ruler, they feared for their very lives. But you and I know this Egyptian ruler was Joseph, and he is putting his brothers through one last test. Had their hearts changed since the time they had treated Joseph with such cruelty？Joseph did not wonder for long. As he saw his brothers pleading with tears for their brother Benjamin, he realized they were different. In Genesis 45：l we read：Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. Joseph said, “I am Joseph! Is my father really still alive？” But the brothers could not answer him, because they were so shocked with surprise and fear. Joseph called to them, “Come near to me, please. I am really Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But do not be grieved or angry with yourselves that you sold me as a slave. God sent me before you to save your life.
??Don't you think it is strange that Joseph was telling his brothers not to be grieved or angry with themselves for what they had done to him？Really and truly, Joseph was the one who should be very grieved and angry! After all, it was Joseph who had been treated so badly. But Joseph had forgiven his brothers. So, he didn’t have any anger. Joseph tried to explain to his brothers that he had been able to see God work all these evil things out for good. If Joseph hadn't gone to Egypt, then he would not have been there to tell Pharaoh the dream and warn him of the famine. There would have been no food stored up in Egypt, and everyone would have died, including Joseph and all his
??brothers. “God sent me before you to save life.” Joseph told them several times.
??Oh, you can be sure there was lots of crying and hugging when the brothers finally got over their shock and realized this was indeed their brother Joseph! Then Joseph began to tell them he wanted them to go home and bring their father, and all their families and belongings and move to Egypt. The famine was going to be bad for another five years and Joseph wanted to be able to care for all of them. Joseph gave them money, wagons, new clothes, plenty of food for the journey. How kind and generous Joseph was to all of them! He loved them so much, it seems he wanted to show them every way he possibly could!
??How much like our wonderful God Who loves us! He not only made us, and all things, but He shows in so many ways how much He loves us! What wonderful provision He has made for us...food, clothes, parents, His protection. But most wonderful of all is that He is willing to forgive us our sins and allow us to come and live with Him in Heaven some day. Did you think that everyone goes to heaven when they die？Well, God wants everyone to be in Heaven, but the truth is that there will be many, many people who will miss Heaven. Those who RECEIVE the Lord Jesus, God's Son, into their lives will have their sins forgiven and go to Heaven someday. Those who REJECT the Lord Jesus will not
??have their sins forgiven, so they cannot ever go to Heaven. I Cor. l5：3 &4 tells us about it：...how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Can you think of a greater way for God to show His love for us than to send His dear Son to die for our sins？Joseph was showing his love for his family every way He possibly could!
??You can imagine what happened when the brothers returned to Canaan and tried to convince old Jacob that his son Joseph was not only very much alive, but the 2nd in command in Egypt! It took some time for old Jacob to believe this incredulous story, but finally he himself began to pack up to go with the family to Egypt! Genesis 45：28 says, And Israel (or Jacob) said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive：I will go and see him before I die. What a wonderful reunion Jacob had with his favorite son! Joseph had the joy of showing his dear old father all his wealth and position. And Joseph made sure his father and brothers and all their families settled in the best of the land, Goshen. There, Joseph cared for every need of the family. Old father Jacob was able to enjoy his long-lost son for l7 years, and then he went to be with the Lord in Heaven. Oh, and then those brothers started having a guilty conscience all over again! In Genesis 50：l5 we read, And when Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will....hate us, They thought Joseph was only being kind to them because his father was watching. What do you think？??The brothers all got together and went before Joseph and fell down before him and said, “We are your servants.” But Joseph had not changed. He meant it when he forgave them. He said to this brothers, “Don't be afraid of me：am I in the place of God to punish you？You thought evil against me, but God turned it into good, to save many people's lives.” The Bible tells us Joseph spoke kindly to them and continued to care for them.
??Our dear Joseph lived to be ll0 years old and was greatly respected not only by his family, but by all of Egypt. Well, we must say goodbye to Joseph here, but if you know the Lord Jesus, just think! Joseph will be one of the members of the family of God we will meet in heaven!
??Because not only did Joseph forgive his brothers, but God forgave Joseph of all his sin. How about you, if you know the Lord Jesus, will you this week do some “spring cleaning” in your heart？Look to see if there is any boy, or girl, relative, teacher, parent that you are not forgiving. Matthew 6：l4, For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6：l4. God has forgiven you of your sins, and He wants you to forgive others of their sins against you.
??If you have never believed on the Lord Jesus as your Saviour from sin, how much He loves you and wants to be your Saviour! Like Joseph was mistreated and hated at first, so the Lord Jesus was hated and beaten and nailed to a cross to die. But as with Joseph's life, God turned it to good to save the lives of many people. Now He is in heaven and just as Joseph wanted to forgive, and love and care for his family, so the Lord Jesus longs to forgive your sin and make you His child. What wonderful love and care we have as His children! The Bible says in Galatians 3：26 Ye are the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Faith means believing. What must you believe？Believe that you are a sinner, separated from God. Believe that Jesus is God's Son and that He died willingly to take your punishment for sin. After His death on the cross, He was buried and rose the 3rd day. Believe that when you ask Him, He comes in to forgive your sin and make you His child forever!
??“你主人的杯子？我们可没有偷你主人的杯子！你可以搜我们的口袋，自己看！” 你还记得约瑟的管家搜查出什么了吗？对了，那杯子竟然在便雅悯的口袋里被搜出来。约瑟的弟兄们又气又怕，骑上他们的驴，回到埃及。他们在这个严厉的埃及长官面前俯伏于地，为他们的命运担忧。但是我们知道这个埃及长官就是约瑟，他正在最后一次考验他的哥哥们。自从他们上一次无情地对待约瑟，他们的心有没有改变呢？约瑟还没有来得及想象很久。当他看到他的哥哥们流眼泪为小兄弟便亚悯求情，他就知道他们已经变了。在创世记第45章第1节我们读到：“约瑟在左右站着的人面前情不自禁，吩咐一声说：“其他的人都要离开我出去！”约瑟和弟兄们相认的时候，没有一人站在他面前。约瑟对他弟兄们说：“我是约瑟，我的父亲还在吗？”他的弟兄们不能回答，因为在他面前都很惊惶。约瑟又对他们说：“你们靠近点，我真的是你们的兄弟约瑟，就是你们卖到埃及的。现在，不要因为把我卖到这里就怨恨自己。这是神差我在你们以前来，为了要救你们的性命。”
??你有没有觉得奇怪？约瑟竟然劝他的弟兄们，不要因为以前所作的就怨恨自己。说真的，约瑟才应该又怨又气，因为约瑟曾遭受这样无情地对待。但是约瑟已经原谅了他的弟兄们。他一点都没有生气。约瑟向他的弟兄们讲述他是怎样看见神把坏事变成祝福。如果约瑟没有来到埃及，他就没有机会为埃及王解梦，并告诉他将要来的饥荒。那埃及就不会积蓄粮食，所有的人都会饿死，包括约瑟和他的弟兄们。约瑟好几次告诉他的弟兄们，神差我在你们以前来，为了要救你们的性命。我们可以肯定当约瑟的弟兄们惊醒过来，认出他真的是他们的兄弟约瑟，他们一定哭了好久，又互相拥抱。然后约瑟告诉他们回家把父亲，以及全家所有的人和财产接到埃及来。因为还要有五年的饥荒，约瑟想好好地照顾他的全家。约瑟给他们预备了路上用的钱，车辆，新衣服，还有好多吃的东西。约瑟对他的弟兄们真是又慈爱又大方。他太爱他们了，恨不得为他们作一切。
??这正是像那位爱我们的神！他不仅造了我们，和地上的万物，他还在很多方面告诉我们他爱我们。他为我们有那么丰富的预备：我们的食物，衣服，父母等等，他还保守我们。但是最好的就是他愿意饶恕我们的罪，让我们有一天可以和他一起住在天上。当我们死的时候，每个人都可以去天堂吗？嗯。。。神当然想让每个人都去天堂，可是事实上有很多人不能去天堂。那些接受了神的儿子，我们的主耶稣基督的，他们的罪得到赦免，就可以去天堂。那些拒绝主耶稣的人，他们的罪没有得到赦免，就不能去天堂。哥林多前书第15章34节告诉我们：就是基督照圣经所说，为我们的罪死了，而且埋葬了，又照圣经所说，第三天复活了。还有什么比让他的儿子为我们的罪死更好的方法，来告诉我们神的大爱吗？??你看，约瑟也是尽他所能地显出他对家人的爱！当约瑟的弟兄们回到迦南地，他们试着劝说父亲雅各，约瑟不仅还活着，并且作埃及全地的第二大官。雅各开始不信他们说的看似荒唐的故事。最后他也跟家人一起收拾行李准备去埃及。创世记第45章28节告诉我们：以色列(就是雅各)说：“罢了！我的儿子约瑟还在，趁我未死以先，我要去见他一面。”这是一个多么美好的时刻，雅各与他最爱的儿子相聚在一起！约瑟高兴地给他亲爱的父亲看他所拥有的财产和地位。约瑟使他的父亲，弟兄以及全家居住在全埃及最好的地方，就是歌珊地。在那里，约瑟照顾着全家所有的需要。
??年老的父亲雅各快乐地与他这个曾经失去的儿子一起住了17年，然后他就到天上与主在一起了。他死了以后，约瑟的哥哥们又一次良心不安起来。在创世记第50章15节我们读到：约瑟的哥哥们见父亲死了，就说：“约瑟会不会还怨恨我们。他们以为约瑟对他们好是因为他们的父亲。
??小朋友们，你怎么认为呢？约瑟的哥哥们又来俯伏在他面前，说：“我们都是你的仆人。”但是约瑟已经真心地原谅他们了。他对他的弟兄们说：“不要害怕，我怎么能代替神呢？从前你们的意思是要害我，但神的意思原是好的，要保全许多人的性命。”
??圣经上说：约瑟仍然用亲爱的话安慰他们，照看他们。我们亲爱的约瑟活了110岁。不但他的家人尊敬他，连全埃及的人都尊敬他。好了，我们得对约瑟说再见了。但是如果你认识主耶稣的话，请你来想一想。有一天，我们在天上会遇见约瑟，因为他也是神家里的一个成员。不仅因为约瑟原谅了他的弟兄们，神也原谅了约瑟的罪。那你呢？如果你认识主耶稣，这个星期，你要不要在你的心里作一个大扫除呢？看看你的心里有没有原谅别的小朋友，你的家人，父母，或者老师？
??马太福音第6章14节说“你们饶恕人的过犯，你们的天父也必饶恕你们的过犯。神已经饶恕了你的过犯，他也想让你饶恕那些得罪你的人。如果你还没有相信主耶稣是你的救主，把你从罪中拯救出来，你知道他有多么爱你吗，多么愿意成为你的救主吗！像约瑟一样，他被人虐待，被人憎恨，被人打，甚至被人钉死在十字架上。但也像约瑟一样，神的意思原是好的，要救许多人的性命。现在他在天上，像约瑟饶恕，关爱和照看他的家人一样，主耶稣很愿意饶恕你的罪，使你可以成为他的孩子。作为他的孩子，享受他的慈爱和看顾是多么好啊！
??圣经在加拉太书第3章26节说：你们因信基督耶稣，都是神的儿子。信就是相信。相信什么呢？相信你是一个罪人，与神隔离。相信耶稣是神的儿子，他情愿为我们的罪死。他死在十字架上，而且埋葬了，第三天复活。相信当你请求他，他就来原谅你的罪，让你永永远远作他的孩子。 |