Those of you who are following along with us on our Bible reading plan for the year will know that we are in the middle of Joseph’s story right now, Genesis 37-50. This morning we read Genesis 43-45, which continues the in the episode of Joseph’s reunion with his family after years of captivity, slavery, and leadership in Egypt.

After our time of Bible-reading this morning, I asked the students to imagine what this reunion would be like from the point of view of the brothers. So imagine: imagine that you, because of your wickedness, have betrayed your brother– betrayed him unto death. Imagine that years after committing this crime, you find yourself in great need, and so you go for help to the most powerful man in the world. Imagine that this man turns out to be your brother, come back from the dead. Imagine that, rather than pouring out wrath on you, he forgives you. Not only so, but he invites you to share in his wealth. Imagine that he redeems you and your family from poverty and famine and death, to share in his honor. What would that be like? What would it produce in you? How would such a thing affect the course of your life?

Amazingly, there is no need to imagine, is there? “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Hebrews 2:14-15).