(Part Two)
When we last left the brothers, there was famine in the land.
If you missed part one, Here is the link:
Joseph has gone through a lot since being sold into slavery. He has now risen in the ranks and is in the Pharaoh’s court. He is in charge of Egypt. Egypt has been storing grain and selling it to the whole world. Irsrael and his family are starving.
“When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, ‘Why do you just keep looking at each other?’ He continued, ‘I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die’.”
Genesis 42:1-2 (NIV)
I can just picture the father looking at his kids and saying that. Don’t just sit around here, go do something! Quit watching the tv and playing those video games. All of you go, but Benjamin. The last time I sent my youngest with you, he never returned.
Meeting Joseph
The brothers (minus Benjamin) go to Egypt to try to get food. Joseph is the governor of Egypt and they must meet with him. He is now an adult. He recognizes his brothers, but they don’t recognize him. They give him silver to pay for the grain. He accuses them of being spies. They tell him they are innocent and have another brother. He is the youngest and stayed behind with the father. Joseph arrests them and keeps them for three days. He tells them that they can go back and take grain to the family, but must return with the youngest brother. One brother must also stay in jail in Egypt.
Reuben said “Remember when I told ya’ll not to do that stuff to Joseph? It’s coming back to bite us now.” Joseph keeps the brother named Simeon and the rest return with the grain to their father. Joseph also had the silver returned to them in the sacks with the grain.
The Brothers Return Home
The brothers go to their father and tell him what happened. As they are unloading the grain, they find the silver. This makes them scared because they don’t know how it got there. Israel says to them “No way you are taking Benjamin! Joseph is gone, Simeon is gone and now you want the youngest? Not happening!” Different brothers beg their father, but he won’t budge.
They eat up the grain they bring back and Israel says go back to Egypt and buy us more grain. Judah says “Dad, remember we were told that we can’t do anything without Benjamin?” Israel says “Why did you tell him about your brother?” The sons say “Look, Dad, the dude kept asking us questions about our family. How were we supposed to know he’d ask to see Ben?” {You know they called him Ben). Judah steps up and says “I’ll take the blame if we don’t come back with Simeon and Ben. We’ve wasted too much time already”.
Let’s stop a minute. Judah was the one whose idea it was to sell off Joseph. Do you think maybe he’s feeling guilty? I would think so, but he steps up and does the right thing. He says:
“Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die. I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life. As it is, if we had not delayed, we could have gone and returned twice.”
Genesis 43:8-10 (NIV)
Judah is taking on a big oath. Remember about making a vow or oath? He is also (I believe) in essence renouncing any blessing or birthright he would receive.
Going Back to Egypt
Israel tells the sons to make a gift basket featuring the best sweets in the land and double the amount of silver. Israel says “May God have mercy and the man in Egypt have mercy on you. If I have to mourn, then I’ll mourn”.
They go to Egypt and Joseph sees that Ben is with them. He tells his party organizer to prepare a big banquet and take all the brothers to his house. They are scared because they believe Joseph knows about the silver in the sacks and he wants to capture us.
They go to the party organizer and say we found this silver in our sacks, we are returning it along with more silver and a lovely gift basket. He said “Don’t worry about it. God gave you the silver. I received payment the first time.” He then brings out Simeon and now all of the brothers are together.
When Joseph comes home they give him the gift basket. He sees Ben and has to go find a place to cry. He is so happy to see his little brother.
The Silver Cup
Joseph tells his employees to fill up sacks of grain for the family and put silver in the top. “Take Ben’s sack of grain and put my special silver cup in his sack.” The family set out to return home when the party organizer comes up and says:
“Why have you repaid good with evil? Isn’t this the cup my master drinks from and also uses for divination? This is a wicked thing you have done.”
Genesis 44:4-5 (NIV)
They tell him they haven’t stolen anything and if they find something stolen in the sacks, then that brother will put to death and the rest of the brothers will be slaves. Here they go again being hot-headed and not thinking things through.
Lo and behold they find the silver cup in Ben’s sack. They go to Joseph and say we are all slaves, not just Ben. Joseph says, “Now why would I punish all of you when only one is guilty? Ya’ll go back home and leave Ben here. ” They said “We can’t return without Ben, it will kill our Dad”.
The Big Reveal
Joseph tells everyone to leave and reveals himself to his brothers. They are scared, but he tells them
“I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”
Genesis 45:4-7 (NIV)
God has blessed me! There is more famine coming! I will take care of all of you and our father. Go get everything you own and bring your families to live here. Go get Dad! I want to see him. Joseph gives them money, food, and fancy carts to take back with them.
They take all of the stuff Joseph has given them and they tell their father that Joseph is alive and he wants them all to move to Egypt. Israel doesn’t believe them. They continue to tell him about Joseph and when he sees the carts his spirits lift and he says:
“And Israel said, ‘I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die’.”
Genesis 45:28
We will find out what happens in the next post.
If you would like to read the scripture it begins in Genesis 42-45. The link to the beginning of the scripture is below. You can choose the version of the Bible to read on the page.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2042&version=NIV
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