The Lord turns our sorrow into joy!

Because Joseph spoke to his brothers through an interpreter

when he was the prime minister of Egypt,

his brothers didn't realize that Joseph could understand

what they were saying to each other.

They said to one another, “We are being punished for what we did to our brother.

We saw his deep distress when he pleaded with us for his life, but we wouldn't listen.

That's why we're in this trouble now.”

Reuben, the oldest brother, said to them, "Didn't I tell you not to harm the boy?

But you wouldn't listen.  Now we must pay the price for his murder."

Joseph, after hearing these words, left them for a while and wept.

Then he came back to them.

Later, when they returned to Egypt with their youngest brother Benjamin,

Joseph saw him and was deeply moved.

He hurried out and looked for a place to weep.

He went into his private room and wept there.

Later, when Joseph heard his brother Judah's words,

he could no longer control his emotions in front of his attendants.

He cried out, "Have everyone leave my presence!"

So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers.

And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him,

and word of it quickly carried to Pharaoh's palace. It's a world filled with sorrow.

However, we look to Jesus in faith, who bore our sorrows for us

(Isaiah 53:4).

When we do, the Lord will turn our sorrow into joy,

 remove our garments of sorrow,

and clothe us with garments of joy

(Psalms 30:11).