# 457 The Weeping of Joseph Part 1

The Book of Genesis

Day 457

Ge 50:15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him."  16 So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, "Before your father died he commanded, saying,  17 'Thus you shall say to Joseph: "I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you."' Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

When will these brothers ever have peace? As long as Jacob was alive, they felt protected, but now with their father gone, what would stop Joseph from getting his revenge on them for their dastardly deed?

The Hebrew word here for “hate” means “to lurk for.” So the brothers were fearful that Joseph would be “lurking” for them. Lurk is a fearful word isn’t it? You get the idea that something is out there……stalking, ready to pounce when you least expect it. That’s not a fun way to live is it? Yet, the brothers still haunted by their guilt, felt that Joseph was capable of lurking for them.

Notice that they didn’t go directly to Joseph with their concerns, rather they sent messengers, complete with a confession accompanied by a lie. Jacob never said any such thing to his sons! No wonder Joseph wept! He saw right through their tainted confession!

Let’s face it, if this was a genuine confession, it would evoke joy, not tears! What did Jesus say in Lu 15:7? "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”

Then there is the story of the Prodigal son! The son who squandered his inheritance on riotous living, comes to the end of himself, returns home to his father with a true confession, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight and am no longer worthy to be called your son.” Did the father weep at his son’s confession? NO! He brought out the fatted calf and celebrated, “For my son was dead and is alive again!”

No, weeping is not the proper response to legitimate confession of sin, so it must’ve been something else that caused Joseph to weep. We look a little deeper into this next time.

In the meantime, if you are in a situation of sinful living, learn from this! Come to God with an honest confession on your lips, for God is not afraid of your honesty. Know that, with a sincere confession you can turn God’s grief into pure joy by simply and honestly admitting your sins, and then repent of them. Then receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. The new Lord of your life and the salvation of your soul!