On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: if you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined where you are in custody, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households, and bring your youngest brother to me. So your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so.

It is interesting that Joseph invokes the fear of God as a surety for his promise that his brothers will live. It indicates a mutuality of understanding between him and his brothers. A vow to an unknown deity is meaningless for there is no agreement on the value of the vow. In this case, there was a mutuality of understanding for Joseph stated that he feared Eloheem, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.

Why didn't this cause the brothers to begin to suspect something strange? Why was this Egyptian familiar with the God of their ancestors and their father?

Today's readings in the Psalms:

Morning: Psalm 45

Mid-day: 119:9-16

Evening: Psalm 121

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