* We see Joseph crying four times.

* 1) Genesis 42:24 - When Rueben reminded his brothers he told them not to sin against Joseph.

* I’m sure Joseph never knew Rueben stuck up for him.

* 2) Genesis 43:30 - When he saw his brother Benjamin.

* He hadn’t seen his only full brother in over a decade.

* Joseph plants a cup in Benjamin’s bag to keep Benjamin with him while his brothers went back to Canaan.

* 44:17 - Joseph’s brothers offered to be his slaves along with Benjamin.

* I think Joseph would have just kept Benjamin there if the brothers would have left, knowing they were not changed men.

* 3) Genesis 44:33 - When Judah offered himself in place of Benjamin.

* His willingness to sacrifice himself for Joseph’s brother broke Joseph’s heart.

* Genesis 45:1-2 - Look at the power of sacrifice:

* ** An entire family was positively affected - all Judah’s brothers moved their families to Israel.

* ** The truth was revealed - all this time Joseph was holding a secret, but the minute sacrifice entered the picture he couldn’t hold it in any longer.

* 4) Genesis 50:17 - When he was misunderstood.

* ** Joseph lived by faith, trusting that what they meant for evil God meant for good.

* ** His brothers lived by fear, trying to scheme their way into Joseph’s good graces.

* This broke Joseph’s heart.

* vs 18-21 - I’m sure Joseph remembered his dream.

* When he had the dream as a boy his focus was on himself.

* God had humbled Joseph to be the man who could handle his brothers bowing down to him.

* Instead of harboring a grudge against them he looked to God and recognized God placed him in the position of a powerful provider.

* It’s all because he chose to focus on goodness of God and not the frailty of his brothers.