Joseph, the man so greatly honored at the end, could well say, “I fear God,” for it was what had characterized him all through his life. It was only the echo of his first recorded words spoken in Egypt when he met the tempter with, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Gen. 39:99There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? (Genesis 39:9)). Joseph’s brethren thoroughly lacked this kind of fear; Joseph sought to create it. When they first came down to buy corn, they were boldly protesting their rectitude and faithfulness — that they were true men and pleading innocence to such a gross charge as being “spies.” He told them that he feared God, bringing them into His presence who is light, and their darkness was immediately revealed, their consciences reached, and real fruit produced. What a change! What a contrast! “We are true men” is the language of verse 11; “we are verily guilty” is the confession of verse 21. Greater extremes there could not be — ”true” or “guilty”; it is the bringing in of God that made the difference. What a state was theirs! And matters would only grow worse till all was out in the presence of Joseph. Before there could be communion, the sins or failures must be confessed. These men had to do with one who knew their history and sin, but of communion with him they knew nothing till their consciences were reached — until he had revealed himself, and all their sin being admitted, was forgiven.
The Fear of a Bad Conscience
Bad consciences made these wretched men to be cowards! Their asses were laden with corn, and provision was given them for the way, but in stopping to give their asses provender at an inn, one spied his money in his sack, and exclaimed, “My money is restored.” Had they been “true men,” surely they would have found in this a cause for joy and thankfulness. But, rather, we read, “Their hearts failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?” (Gen. 42:2828And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us? (Genesis 42:28)). This was not the fear of God that Joseph had; their fear was the fear of a bad conscience. They feared because they were offenders; he feared lest he should offend. Theirs was the fear of distance from God; his was the fear of nearness enjoyed and communion too much valued to be lightly treated. Theirs was the fear of judgment; his had a quality in perfect conformity with the favor in which he stood. May God increase this pious fear in all His own who know the nearness and want to keep it in all its sweet enjoyment!
The Wounds of a Friend
Joseph had been wounding his brethren, but they were “the wounds of a friend” that he gave them, and much better than kisses, while they were in such a state. It was the divine tact of his patient serving, and he wisely wounded that such a cure might be effected that would leave them forever thankful for the wound. Nature might have suggested two other courses to Joseph. Self-vindication would have prompted him to tell them how bad they were, and now that he had got the preeminence above them, he would exercise it in their destruction. Or nature might have wrought in its other character, displaying nothing but honey.
Fear of God and Fear of Man
Had Joseph dealt with his brethren in the first manner stated, with judgment but no grace, instead of there being produced the “fear of God,” it would have only produced “the fear of man,” which we are told “bringeth a snare.” On the other hand, if love is displayed at the expense of truth, while wrong remains unconfessed, it only reflects discredit on its possessor. Joseph was not going to make peace at the expense of righteousness.
There can be no real peace which does not have a basis of righteousness, and in both righteousness and peace, the moral dignity of Joseph is grand to a degree. In those three words, “I fear God,” there was real moral power. The “fear of God” is the Christian’s high road to truest gain and is all we need to meet the difficulties along our path. If we let this go, the road that I have named “the fear of God” is replaced by the road of “the fear of men or circumstances,” where unbelief yields sorrow and disappointment.
But to return to Joseph’s brethren, they passed on to Jacob their father and told their story, and when the sacks were opened in his presence and “they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.” Jacob manifested the same character as his sons, and he was full of fear, unbelief and forebodings of calamity. Poor Jacob! When these things came to him, did he pray? No. “All these things are against me” is his woeful cry, for he did not see the hand of God in any of it. But God was working in all these things for that end which presently made Jacob weep for very joy, and then if he looked back, what a waste must have met his view! All that he had done had only tended to hinder, rather than to facilitate, the fulfillment of God’s purpose.
F. T. Heath (adapted)