| “So he [Joseph] sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way” (Genesis 45:24). |
| Joseph had told his brothers who he was, and had been very kind to them. He told them to go home and bring their father down to Egypt, and that he would look after them. He even gave them wagons to take home, so that their father could ride comfortably down to Egypt, instead of having to ride on the back of a donkey or a camel. |
| However, when Joseph sent his brothers home, according to our verse for today, he said to them, “See that ye fall not out by the way.” This simply means, “Make sure that you do not get fighting among yourselves on the way home.” Isn’t it sad that Joseph had to say that? Why would he need to tell them something like that? They had just been shown every kindness, and could look forward to coming down to Egypt and being looked after by Joseph. Why would they get to quarreling among themselves? |
| Joseph knew his brothers very well, and knew that they tended to have frequent disagreements. They might start fighting over who was to blame for selling Joseph into Egypt, and perhaps even fighting about who would have the best place in Egypt. Joseph knew they needed this warning. |
| It is also true for us who are Christians. We have been redeemed with the blood of Christ, and are on our way to heaven. God has provided everything for us along the way, and promised to look after us until we are safely home there with Him. Yet how many times Christians seem to find something about which to quarrel with one another. It is not a good thing, for people in the world see this, and then tend to make fun of us. The Lord Jesus could say to His disciples, “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). Let us take care to display that love before the world around us. |
