Getting real

Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there. (verse 30)

Read Genesis 43:16-34

When I was growing up there used to a saying that ‘real men don’t eat quiche’! I always struggled with that, because I love it, so I call it egg pie! It’s a silly thing really. There also used to be a culture in Australia of ‘real men’ don’t cry! Here we see Joseph a ruler of Egypt, all powerful and wanting for nothing. Yet when his younger estranged brother turns up, the real Joseph emerges and he is overwhelmed with emotion. All those years apart and it wasn’t Joseph’s fault or doing either. Joseph hid his hurt and pain like so many of us. He suddenly became real with what was going on inside of him. What about you? Get real with God today, friend. Jesus came to set the captives free and to give out the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. (Isaiah 61)

When have you cried with joy?

Lord Jesus, ‘In you is gladness, amid all sadness, Jesus sunshine of my heart. By you are given, the gifts of heaven, you the true Redeemer are. Amen.

by Dean Mills, in ‘Time Out with the Shepherd’  (ACR, Australian Church Resources, 2017)

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