Genesis 45 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. …

The story of Joseph is a great story about the perception of identity. His brothers had one perception about who Joseph was in relation to his place in the family and the observations of the treatment of the father towards him. Siblings do not make it easy on a child if they perceive favoritism. Jacob had twelve children born to him by four women. Jacob’s true love was Rachel, and Joseph was the first born of that love. I doubt Joseph’s brothers gave that any consideration in their perception of Joseph.

His brothers had opportunity to come to know Joseph for who he truly was, but ignored the signs of that identity because of the jealousy and hatred they felt. Likewise Jacob’s love for Joseph was not bound in who Joseph was but rather what his mother meant to him. None of them looked at Joseph for who Joseph truly was.

Psalm 44:21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

God knows you. Even if no one else sees you for who you are.