father, also because of his God-given dreams, his ten half brothers bitterly hated him and were extremely jealous, even to plotting to kill him. Instead, however, they sold him as a slave to be taken down to Egypt. They took his long garment, soaked it in blood and showed it to their father, who concluded that his boy had been devoured by a wild beast. They certainly showed a terribly bad heart attitude both to Joseph and their father.—Gen. 37:2-36.

22, 23. How was their heart attitude put to a searching test, and with what result?

²² Years rolled by. Under God’s maneuvering, Joseph was made food administrator in Egypt. After the foretold earth-wide famine had set in, Jacob had to send his sons down to Egypt twice to buy cereals. Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. On the first occasion it so happened that the ten sons revealed a troubled conscience over Joseph. But was it a real change of heart? On the second occasion the situation was so arranged by Joseph that a severe test was put on his brothers. It was made to appear that Benjamin had stolen Joseph’s sacred silver cup! Joseph, still unrecognized, sternly demanded that Benjamin be kept as his slave. The others could return home. At this point Judah, with the evident support of his brothers, made one of the most heartstirring and spontaneous appeals ever spoken and, mark you, to an apparently hard and hostile listener! Judah was at great pains to explain exactly how much Benjamin meant to his father. He concluded by saying that he himself should become Joseph’s slave, so that young Benjamin could return home with his brothers. He then uttered that impassioned cry that came from his heart: “How can I go up to my father without the boy along with me, for fear that then I may look upon the calamity that will find out my father?”—Gen. 44:34.

²³ There was not the slightest doubt about their change of heart! Joseph was greatly moved and wept aloud as he made himself known to his brothers. But let us look at the other part of the drama, where Jacob was waiting back home.

24. How did Jacob react to the news concerning Joseph, and what did this prove on his part?

²⁴ We can picture the old father anxiously waiting and wondering as the days and weeks dragged by. Would he ever see his beloved Benjamin again? Was he going to lose him, as well as Joseph? At long last he was told that his sons were in sight and would shortly arrive. He waited in his tent. We can imagine the scene. He would greet his sons, each one in turn, but keeping young Benjamin close by his side. But what was this they were saying? That man in charge down in Egypt was none other than Joseph? Impossible! Why, if that were so, Joseph would at least have got a message through to him long ago. So he likely reasoned. However, his sons urged him to come and see what they had brought back. Well, he could not refuse to do that. With a heavy heart, he went out and surveyed all the food stocks and other supplies, to say nothing of all the silver and clothing given to Benjamin. But when he saw the wagon sent specially to take him down to Egypt, that did it! It was so luxurious and comfortable. Just the thing! It was not only a visible link, it was the visible means of transport to take him to his long-lost Joseph. Gripping the side of the wagon, and overwhelmed with conviction and deep feeling, he exclaimed: “It is enough! Joseph my son is still alive! Ah, let me go and see him before I die!”—Gen. 45:25-28.

25. (a) What do these things reveal regarding Jehovah? (b) How can we show that we are truly his children? (c) What course is still open to those who have strayed?

²⁵ Jacob felt just like the father in Jesus’ illustration who rejoiced over his son who “was dead but has become alive, and he was lost but has been found.” (Luke 15:32) Joseph, of course, had not gone astray like the prodigal son, but the main thing emphasized here is the deep fatherly love shown in each instance. As for the One who caused these things to be enacted and recorded in his Word, surely his own heart of love must be greater and deeper than that of those who serve merely as illustrations! If we are truly his children, we will want to “reflect . . . the glory of Jehovah,” and show these same qualities of love and patience and mercy, and use every occasion to imitate our Father in heaven. (2 Cor. 3:18) But if maybe we have strayed, surely we cannot fail to turn to him and respond to the appeal and incentive he has so kindly provided! Do you not agree? Would it not be fine if it could be said of you, as Peter wrote, that “you were like sheep, going astray; but now you have returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls”?—1 Pet. 2:25.

‘The Greatest Contentment I Ever Knew’

NOT long ago a mother and her two daughters showed up at a Kingdom Hall in Nashville, Tennessee, for the Watchtower study. At one time the mother had been active in Jehovah’s service but had drifted away. She asked if someone would again study the Bible with her and her daughters. Arrangements were made, and good progress has been shown.

This dedicated sister also had a brother in Georgia who had fallen away from the truth. Her oldest daughter wrote to him, and he replied: “It is usual when one has his shortcomings called to his attention to feel a flare of resentment, but I can assure you this is not the way I felt in reading your letter. Mostly, I think, I felt very much ashamed that I have allowed myself to stray so far from the truth and from Jehovah’s organization and his people. The happiest and greatest contentment I ever knew was in working with Jehovah’s people. I sincerely do feel a great loss and know that I must take steps to join myself to them again. This I must do; because there is certainly no happiness or contentment in anything else in this world. I do not say that I do anything really bad perhaps, but I am inactive. In fact, so much so, I just don’t feel that Jehovah’s spirit is on me anymore. It is almost heartbreaking to realize that I have let this happen to me. But I know that Jehovah knows my heart . . . I know too that it only takes effort on my part to overcome this sluggishness.”

A week later he wrote again, saying that he had had a busy week: “I began by going to the Watchtower study on Sunday. This started the week off right and pleasant. I think I can give some credit here because your letter set me to thinking . . . Well, any way, I went to the book study on Tuesday, to the ministry school on Thursday and enrolled again, and then yesterday I had two wonderful hours in service.” Yes, he was happy to be back.

Others, too, who may have become inactive can likewise regain that happiness and contentment that were once theirs. There are many thousands of active Witnesses who will be glad to help them.