Love and Tears

In all of Joseph’s trials, he complained very little and he had plenty to complain about, especially where his bothers were concerned.  They wanted him dead because they were jealous of the relationship between him and their father.  Jacob and Joseph loved each other deeply.  Joseph carried that love for family through his life.

I know we have a concept that real men don’t cry, but Joseph was a real man, in every sense of the word, he also cried.

In Genesis 42 the brothers are at Joseph’s mercy and needing food.  They do not know Him but he knows them.  He has every right to let them starve or have them imprisoned.  Instead he turned away from them and wept (Genesis 42:24).
Later we are told,  Joseph hurried out for he was deeply stirred over his brothers, and he sought a place to weep; and he entered his chamber and wept there (Genesis 43:30).
After dealing compassionately with his brothers, he fell on his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.  He kissed all his brothers and wept on them, and afterward his brothers talked with him (Genesis 45:14-15).
And then in a reunion, Joseph fell on his father's face, and wept over him and kissed him (Genesis 50:1).   When Jacob died, Joseph grieved.

Seven times Joseph cried but not a one of those times was it over his circumstances.  His weeping came from love for his family.  Why do you cry?

Becky DeBerry