# 458 The Weeping of Joseph Part 2

The Book of Genesis

Day 458

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.

The brothers, concerned that Joseph may now take vengeance upon them for selling him into slavery, send messengers to him. They come with lies on their lips, saying that before he died, Jacob “commanded that Joseph forgive his brothers of their sin.”

Is this the reason Joseph wept? Did he know that they were lying? If so, he had good reason to cry and weep over his brother’s sad state. After all, lying is one of seven things the Lord hates! Pr 6:16-19 says, “These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:  17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,  18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,  19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

Did you notice that lying showed up twice in this list?

Pr 12:22 reminds us: “Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.”

In Hosea 4:1-3,  The “Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: He says, “There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land.  2 By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed. Therefore the land will mourn”

Lying brings forth tears and perhaps that’s why Joseph wept!

In Eph 4:25 we are reminded to be truthful: “Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.”

We are family! Just like Joseph and his brothers, and lying to one another should be enough to make us weep. How can one part of the body trust another part of the body or help it, if it is being fed false information? And just who do liars think they are kidding” Ps 90:8 says, “You have set our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.”

Oh Lord, help us to put away our lying lips!