Genesis 45:3

am Joseph.

Weeping was the preface to this revelation, but it comes sudden and startling. How It must have confounded the guilty brethren. The Egyptian ruler was the brother whom they had sought to destroy. Remorse, fear,. deep sense of guilt, doubt, reverence and hope would all be mingled together. We are reminded of Christ's revelation to Saul of Tarsus, " Who art thou, Lord?. am Jesus whom thou persecutest,"

Doth my father yet live?

The first words are. revelation of his affection. No reproaches, no threats, no denunciation, but an affectionate inquiry concerning his aged father. This is to confess them brethren by acknowledging that their father was his father. Often those who have risen from lowly state to great exaltation try to conceal their parentage, but Joseph exhibited no such weakness.

His brethren could not answer him.

They were speechless with amazement and fear. It is not wonderful that they were bereft of their senses. The revelation came upon them like. thunderbolt. It would have been less confounding had it not been from. deep sense of their own sin. The wicked flee when no man pursueth. The Adam and Eve who had sinned hide themselves in the thickets of Paradise. These brethren were covered with confusion on finding themselves in the presence of the man whom they had hated without. cause, had so deeply wronged and tried to destroy.