I don't know about you but when something goes wrong my first inclination normally is the blame game. If you would have done this then that wouldn't have happened. Or, if you would have just listened to me, then we would have this. Joseph knows there is a chance for the blame game with his brothers.
In Genesis 45, Joseph reveals who he really was -- Joseph son of Israel -- and the brothers were "stunned," "speechless." They were not only in front of the person that could provide for them they were also in front of the judge and jury for their behavior towards that person. Joseph, however, doesn't mention one word of what took place in the past except for "don't be angry with yourselves." I think this is so because Judah (the tribe where Jesus came from) offered take the place of Benjamin in jail. Quite a stark contrast to the last encounter with a brother (selling Joseph into slavery).
Joseph tells them to get his father and says, “Don’t quarrel about all this along the way!” Joseph knew there would be the blame game. He stopped it. And, he had the authority to because he had forgiven his brothers of their debt completely. This brings me to marriage and our response to our spouses.
In the story of Joseph -- while literal -- it is also depicting God's plan for all of us. Judah offers himself for Benjamin (as Christ did for us). Joseph, acting as king, forgives them all (as God did for us). And, then says, no blaming.
If you think for a moment that God has canceled your debt and then says this in Eph. 5:21: "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." No blame game for what the other did.
1. How does what Christ did for you impact how you submit to your spouse?
2. Read 1 Pet 2:21-31 and just pray and ask God to guide your thoughts and practices re Eph. 5:21.
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