"And Joseph commanded the steward of his house saying, 'Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's opening.' And he did according to the word Joseph had spoken." Gen. 44:1, 2b; NKJ

The story of Joseph and his brothers is both cruel and, at the same time, immensely heart- warming and one of the great sagas of the Bible. The brothers could no longer bear the favoritism shown by their father Jacob toward Joseph, so they conspired to kill him. Rather than kill him, they sold him to Midianite traders enroute to Egypt, who sold him to Potiphar, captain Pharaoh's guard. The famine in Canaan drove the family to Egypt in search of food. With the hand of God upon him and the favor of the king, Joseph is promoted to second to the king. He was in control of everything but the throne on which Pharaoh sat. The story ends with Joseph not only forgiving his brothers, but showering them with extraordinary favor. May we do likewise!