Are you able to keep a secret? How excited do you get when you know it is about time to reveal something wonderful? Do you become so overjoyed you feel as though you will burst? Isn’t it great to unveil a big surprise you have been holding inside for a while?
Keeping secrets can be difficult. Especially if it is wonderful news you want to share with others. There are many occasions for which we hold back news until we feel the time is right. But that doesn’t make it easy. We anxiously await the time to reveal our news.
Joseph wanted so badly to tell his brothers who he was. He had withheld it from them when they first visited Egypt to get food. When they returned with their youngest brother, he again did not reveal himself to them. Finally, when they returned a third time due to Joseph having had his servant play a trick on them, he could contain himself no longer. Joseph burst with joy and tears.
Most of us have not experienced a life like Joseph’s. We have not spent years and years away from our family. Having spent three years in Okinawa while serving in the Marine Corps and having only seen my mother twice in that time, I can only get a small taste of how Joseph felt.
Yet, we all can understand just a bit. We hold back from telling our family and friends about expecting a child until we have them all gathered together. We may not tell our family about a big promotion or job change immediately. Keeping Christmas, birthday, or wedding gifts secret can be very challenging for us. We want to give them to the person right away. Now, imagine those feelings and multiplying them by an order of magnitude.
I pray we all remember the joy that comes from revealing a wonderful secret. I pray we experience tears of joy. I pray each one of us get a glimpse of Joseph’s joy. Remember the joy. Know that true joy comes from God. Experience tears of joy. Be overwhelmed with joy.
Genesis 45:1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
Marty Pressey 