It is not every day that we stop and wonder just what grosses God out. The writer of Proverbs spells it out very clearly in these verses.

While the writer gives to us a whole list of seven things to consider, I was challenged by the first thing God hates—“haughty eyes”.

With the arrival of Joseph’s brothers in Egypt a long story of testing begins. Joseph recognized his brothers, whereas they, not surprisingly, didn’t recognize him. When they bow down, he sees the fulfilment of his dream in Genesis 37:7. Joseph, now in command of the situation, needs to test them. In the process the brothers experience what Joseph had experienced at their hands, and Joseph gradually finds out the truth about his family, which he needs to know before he can respond to them with justice.

Joseph gives his brothers back the money they paid for the grain, and he gives them additional food for their journey home, but he still keeps one brother in prison. It is obvious that he doesn’t trust them to keep their promise to bring Benjamin, their youngest brother, to him.

It is not until they have eaten through all of their grain and are once again facing starvation that Jacob finally allows his older sons to take Benjamin with them, and he sends many extra gifts along and a double payment for the grain, hoping this will appease the governor of Egypt.

When the brothers get to Egypt, they are summoned to Joseph’s house where they fully expect to be arrested.

Judah had many years earlier gone along with his brothers in the cover-up of Joseph’s disappearance, allowing his father to believe that Joseph had been killed. Now, in the previous chapter, and in this one also, we see Judah taking full responsibility for his youngest brother, Benjamin.

He had told his father that if he did not return with Benjamin, then he, Judah, would forever carry the blame.

Finally, the deception is over! We feel the relief and Joseph’s emotion.

Joseph tells his brothers that it wasn’t really them who “sent” him to Egypt; it was God (v 8). Pause and think for a moment about this amazing statement. Joseph can see the “big picture.” He is not absorbed in his own situation, or filled with resentment about the past.

This is one of the so-called “royal psalms,” celebrating God’s appointment of David as king, and giving him victory. It anticipates the reign of Jesus Christ and life “forever and ever” (v4).

David is bursting with joy. This was not the time for a private “thank you,” but a public proclamation, a press conference, declaring God’s strength and power.