Read: Genesis 43
The last
chapter ended with Jacob refusing to let the nine brothers take Benjamin to Egypt
with them to release Simeon. As time
went by the famine continued and they ran out of grain once more. Jacob asked them to return to Egypt and buy
more grain (v. 2) but the brothers knew that there is no way that they would be
able to buy more food without Benjamin at their side (v. 3). They pleaded with Jacob to let them take
Benjamin with them on this second trip (v. 5).
Jacob responded poorly to these circumstances and showed poor leadership
of his family. His initial response was
to ignore the problem and keep Simeon in prison in order to keep Benjamin
safe. But when they ran out of food he
began to ask why his sons were so honest with the Governor of Egypt (v.
6). Judah stood up to his father! They had only told the truth in response to
very direct questioning (v. 7). What
kind of father rebukes his sons for telling the truth? Jacob’s ways of deception were deeply rooted in
him. Judah pledged to keep Benjamin safe
and offered to be liable for any harm that came to him (v. 9). Here we see Judah emerging as the leader of
his family. In chapter 42 Reuben offered
his own children but here we see that Judah offered his own life! What a
difference! Here we see a glimpse of
substitutionary sacrifice and Judah’s line would eventually become the line of
the Messiah! Jacob then suggests that
they sweeten the pot by bringing presents for the Governor and that they return
the money from the first purchase of grain showing that they were honest men. Finally, he consented to let them bring
Benjamin along (v. 11-13). Jacob then
prayed and gave Benjamin over to the care of his sons and his God (v.
14-15).
Joseph’s
brothers arrived with the gifts, the extra money and Benjamin. Joseph responded by arranging for the
brothers to be brought into his house for a festive meal. At the invitation, the brothers believed that
were being brought into the house to be made into slaves because of the money
that was returned in their sacks the first time (v. 18). They responded by pleading with the steward
of Joseph’s house and telling him of the returned money showing willingness to
pay it all back (v. 20-22). The steward
replied that they should not be afraid and that God had supplied for them (v.
23) and he brought Simeon out to them.
They were then given the opportunity to wash up (v. 24) and prepare for
Joseph’s arrival (v. 25). Can you
imagine how nervous these brothers must have been as they waited for the
Governor?
When Joseph
arrived the brothers brought their gifts into the house for him (v. 26) and bowed
to the ground. Joseph inquired about the
welfare of their father (v. 27) and they replied, telling Joseph that their
father was well (v.28), continuing to bow.
Joseph then saw Benjamin, which moved him to tears and he hurried out to
find a place to weep (v. 30). This was
the brother that had the same mother as him!
After he had his emotions under control he came back out and they began
to serve the food. Joseph did not sit
with his brothers because “Egyptians” could not eat with Hebrews. He was continuing to conceal his
identity. Then, Joseph placed them
around the table according to their ages, which amazed the brothers (v.
33). They were given food to eat from
Joseph’s table but Benjamin was given five times as much as the other brothers
(v. 34).
Prayer and Journaling
1. Judah
was unwilling to accept his father’s excuses and he took the leadership of the
situation by doing what was best for everyone – finding a way to get Benjamin
to join them on their journey to Egypt so that they could all get food and
live! He was not thinking about himself,
in fact, he even offered his own life as a substitute if something happened to
Benjamin. Judah was thinking Biblically. Judah was loving his family. Love is doing what is best for others even if
it means a personal cost! Ask the Lord
to show you someone in your life that is tough to love. Then ask God to show you how you can do what
is best for this person (this will always be aligned with God’s Word). Pray that you would have wisdom in following
through on this and acting in a loving way.
2. Joseph
had to control his emotions in order to do what was right. The goal was to bring his brothers to
repentance and stimulate their spiritual growth. Acting in love may be acting contrary to our
feelings. Pray that you would grow in
reacting in godly ways to the circumstances in your life and not letting your
emotions rule you. Pray that you would
do what is right instead of doing what makes you feel better.
3. Joseph
was always doing what was best for his brothers even though they had harmed
him. This is a great example of loving
your enemies and doing good to those who mistreat you (Matt. 5:43-48). It can be hard to love people who have been
hurtful towards us.
-
Ask the
Lord to show you a time in your life where someone was hurtful toward you that
caused you significant pain.
- Ask Him
to show you to define how this has made you feel.
- Ask Him
to show you any lies that you believed about this person.
- Ask Him
to show you the truth about this person.
- Ask Him to
show you how He feels about this person.
- Ask Him
to show you how you can forgive and show love to this person.
