I have been preaching through Genesis for the last two years. Many excellent sermons along the way. You can check them out at YouTube at our channel titled “Mercy Seat Christian Church.”
In verse 18 of chapter 42, the Scripture reads: “Then Joseph said to them (his brothers while he is now second in command in all of Egypt) the third day, ‘Do this and live, for I fear God.’”
Notice that life is connected with fearing God. Notice also that Jospeh says this as a magistrate – as a government official. Joseph wanted to assure them that he was a just man who ruled in the fear of the Lord. Joseph never forgot the Lord, even though he had been in Egypt for over twenty years now and had enculturated with the Egyptians to an extent. He even had an Egyptian wife. But what he was taught regarding the Lord as a child and a young man still stuck with him. He knew right and wrong.
Though he was speaking roughly with them, he wanted them to understand that he feared God, and would therefore act justly in his actions towards them.
Matthew Henry says of Jospeh’s statement “for I fear God” — “Note, with those that fear God we have reason to expect fair dealing. The fear of God will be a check upon those that are in power, to rest ...
