THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
In our discussion from yesterday, we reflected on Joseph's wisdom and the profound unkindness he exhibited toward his brothers. Not only did he refrain from reminding them of their past actions, but when they returned to their father, he encouraged them to refrain from blaming each other for their misdeeds. Instead, he urged them to set aside any anger and maintain harmony. Now, let us examine the events that followed, specifically the return of Joseph's brothers to their father and Jacob's journey to Egypt. Upon hearing about Joseph, Jacob was rejuvenated, almost returning to the vitality of youth. Who can adequately express the joy that Jacob experienced when he discovered that Joseph was alive and had risen to such a high position?
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It is well known that unexpected good news brings immense joy. When he learned that the son he had mourned as lost to wild beasts was now the governor of all Egypt, how could he contain such overwhelming happiness? Great joy often shares the same overwhelming effects as profound sorrow; it is not uncommon for individuals to weep tears of joy or even faint when encountering someone they believed to be lost. To make our discussion clearer, let us revisit the scriptural passages. "And they went out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father, and told him, saying, Joseph is alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt. But his heart was troubled, for he did not believe them." As I mentioned, the report of Joseph seemed too astonishing for Jacob to accept, leading to turmoil in his heart as he suspected his sons were deceiving him. They had previously brought Joseph's robe, soaked in goat's blood, declaring that he had been killed by beasts, and now they claimed he was alive and in authority in Egypt. Jacob’s spirit was troubled as he pondered, "What can this mean? If the earlier account is true, then this new revelation must be false; and if this new claim is accurate, then the earlier version cannot be." He was particularly disturbed that he had heard one story from his children only to receive a completely different message.