Do you have a reverential awe of the living God?  This is rightly “fearing” Him.

Joseph told his unsuspecting brothers that “I fear God.”  His brothers did not recognize him as their mistreated and maligned younger brother.  He did not reveal himself to these ten men–yet.  But he did reveal that he feared God.

Joseph desired for his younger brother, Benjamin, to come to Egypt.  Joseph tested his ten older brothers… had they matured and changed over the years?

Joseph did not reveal that he could understand their language and so they talked quite honestly and frankly to one another.  They talked about the time just before they sold him into slavery, how he had pleaded with them and was greatly distressed but they ignored his cries.

Rueben reminded them of what he had said… “Do not sin against the boy” but you didn’t pay attention to me.

Joseph heard all of this and it tore him apart.  He left the room and wept.  He had a broken heart.

When Joseph came back, he bound Simeon before the eyes of the brothers and put him into prison.  There he would stay until Benjamin came to Egypt.

Then Joseph gave them another test, he had their grain sacks filled and all of their money returned within those sacks.
(Genesis 42:18-25)

Joseph really did fear God with a healthy reverential fear.  Do you?

(NASB) Psalm 27:1
“The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?”

Joseph chose to turn to the living God as his Light and his Salvation… and his life was one which was filled with fearsome events but God gave him success.

Is the Lord your Light and your Salvation?
If so, you have nothing to fear – no circumstance or person.

Is the Lord the Defense of your life?
If so, you have nothing to dread – not death, or life, or any person or circumstance.

~ Take it to heart ~

In whom do you trust and believe?  Can you say the following with a firm conviction?

(NASB) Psalm 27:1
“The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?”