Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Why did Joseph demand Benjamin’s presence? He knew from his dreams (Genesis 37) that he would see his brother Benjamin again. And his father. Perhaps, knowing how much Jacob/Israel treasured the children of his wife Rachel, Joseph was hoping his father would come with Benjamin. We know from his later emotional reaction he was desperate to reveal himself and be reunited with his whole family. But like everything else in Joseph’s life, he did things God’s way. In order to be truly repentant, the brothers needed to demonstrate the fruit of repentance (Matthew 3:8). The brothers needed to be brought into a situation where they could demonstrate that they had truly changed.

Back home, they were going through the grain and Israel wanted them to get more from Egypt. The brothers refused. The Egyptian governor had been clear: bring their youngest brother, or they would never get food. Israel bemoaned the brothers telling the Egyptians about Benjamin. They pointed out that they were being questioned intently. They had no reason to hold anything back. They hadn’t even imagined that Benjamin’s presence would be required. We also learn of new questions Joseph asked – or that the brothers are lying about to get their father to agree (it isn’t clear). If they don’t get food, they all will starve. Israel finally relents. First, remembering how gifts worked with Esau (Genesis 32), he has his sons pack gifts of the best of the land of Canaan for the Egyptian (Joseph). Second, Judah swears (again rashly and foolishly) to forever bear the responsibility if anything happens to Benjamin. Third, Israel tells them to take back the money that was in their sacks plus new money for more grain. Off they went.

Joseph (the Egyptian) saw their arrival and had his steward take them aside so that they could lunch at his palace. The brothers did not interpret this as favour, but thought they were going to be arrested. They immediately confessed they had their money returned – not their fault – and had brought it back plus more to get new grain. The steward told them the God of their father must have done it because he recorded and received their money himself. They were reunited with Simeon – who had been in prison MUCH longer than a trip back home to fetch Benjamin. He had to have known his father had been stubborn about Benjamin. Would he resent the lad? How would he treat him? They were escorted to lunch.

At lunch the brothers were at one table. Joseph was at another table. And the Egyptians were at a third table – completely separate. We learn that to eat with Hebrews was an abomination to the Egyptians. They despised the Hebrews. This tells us why Joseph wasn’t castrated even though he was an official close to Pharaoh. He never would be able to ascend the throne, so he wasn’t a threat. You have to ask though, why were they despised? There weren’t that many in the world at the time. I believe the answer is Abraham. When he lied about his wife being his sister (Genesis 12). The Egyptians were horrified at his morals and selfishness. He got kicked out of the country. Shortly after that started the clock on the family being afflicted by the Egyptians. They started despising them then and it only grew with time.

At lunch, the brothers were seated in order of their birth (four different mothers and overlapping pregnancies). If you put eleven people at a table there are 39,916,800 to seat them. The chances are slim it would happen by accident. Benjamin was given preferential treatment (more food than the rest). Would the brothers be jealous? Would they treat him like they had Joseph? Had they changed? They spoke to Joseph (who was emotional) and they were also put up for the night – VERY unusual. Joseph then set a test before them. Would they abandon Benjamin? Joseph’s steward had his instructions. In the morning they were sent on their way.

“So then, please let your servant remain in place of the boy as a slave to my lord, and let the boy go up with his brothers.” (Genesis 44:33).

They must have been feeling pretty good. They’d gotten Benjamin, proved they weren’t spies, and were on the way home. I wonder when they saw the soldiers? Was it surprise or slow-growing dread? The steward arrived and accused them of stealing his master’s divination cup (Joseph didn’t practise divination, but Egyptians in his position did so it helped establish Joseph’s identity as an Egyptian.). They denied it. The steward insisted. They rashly declared it was not true and if it was the thief could be made a slave. The steward agreed and their sacks were searched. All had their money (again) and… Benjamin had the cup. Would they abandon him? Tell their father another lie? What to do? They tore their clothes, packed up their stuff, and returned with Benjamin to Joseph.

Joseph was the picture of a stormy and offended ruler. He demanded to know the reason for their infamous treatment! By the way, this is the fourth time the brothers bowed down to Joseph like in his dream and the second time with the proper number of brothers.

Judah – who had been the ringleader in selling Joseph to slavery, who had married against the wishes of his family, who had not raised good children, who had slept with his daughter-in-law, and who had lied to his father for twenty-two years – stepped forward. He spoke about all the stuff Joseph didn’t know. The story they told their father about Joseph’s disappearance. How their father took it. All the grief and the desperation to hold onto his last child of his favourite wife. About how Judah had put his life on the line over it. Behind him his brothers were standing unified. Not abandoning Benjamin. Not being selfish. Considering their father’s feelings. Being responsible. And then Judah begged Joseph. He begged to be allowed to take Benjamin’s place (John 15:13) for the love of his brother and the love of his father whose grief Judah could not bear to witness – remember by this time the events with Tamar had definitely happened and he’d suffered the loss of two sons of his own. He could sympathize with Israel. Judah couldn’t watch his father drink another cup of grief.

It was too much for Joseph. He ordered the Egyptians out and collapsed into a puddle of repressed emotions. Twenty-two years of longing and wishes and grief and desperation to show himself. For the first time he spoke without an interpreter. The young seventeen year old boy had turned into a thirty-seven year old ruler of a nation. This man spoke in Hebrew and said “I’m your bro! How’s Dad?” They were understandably shocked. Also, it was Joseph. Who they had wronged. And he had the power of an Empire behind him to pay them back. Their drawers may have gotten wet.

Joseph assured them he was not upset. He wasn’t bitter. He hadn’t been trying to pay them back. He was pure in his motives and thorough in his love for them. He told them God had let them do what they did to save Joseph from their murderous intent. That God let the path be trodden in order that He might use it to save not only the family and the family line, but also Egypt and the nations surrounding her. Joseph instructed them to go get their father and bring him to Egypt. They hugged and they cried and they spent time together. (I wonder what they said? We’re not told.).

This whole scene was big. Joseph wasn’t angry or malicious. But he was pointing out that they could not run any longer from the consequences of what they had done. Israel had to be told. They should be the ones to do it, but it WOULD be done. Joseph showered them with gifts (favouring Benjamin) for themselves and their father.

Pharaoh was told of what was happening because that emotion Joseph let out? It was heard throughout his household and Pharaoh heard about it. Both he and everyone else close to Joseph were happy the brothers had come to Egypt. This shows that at NO time did Joseph talk trash about his family. He NEVER got angry or bitter. If he had, then these people would NOT have been glad. Egyptians (especially in this era) had a high sense of justice. They would NOT have let this slip. Instead, they welcomed his brothers with an overflowing cup of joy. Pharaoh told Joseph to send wagons with the brothers so his father’s journey would be smoother (and that of the women and children). He sent a message that those in Canaan should come down to Egypt. To not even worry about bringing their stuff because the best of Egypt would be theirs for the asking.

The brothers are sent off with an admonition from Joseph not to ‘quarrel’ along the way. A tongue-in-cheek warning not to accost Benjamin for getting more stuff? A humorous reminder of their struggles as kids? A warning not to get lost on the way home or ‘forget’ to tell Israel about him? Maybe a little of all three?

They went home. What would Israel have thought when he saw the caravan? I can’t believe he wasn’t at the roadside daily watching for Benjamin’s return. Once home, they told him the deal. The whole deal. He didn’t believe them. I’m sure they had to go over it more than once. But in the end Israel believed. He stood up, got determined, and declared he WOULD see his once-lost son before he died! (Luke 15:24). Another dream was about to come true.

Summary

Key Players: Joseph, Judah, Pharaoh

Key Themes: Repentance, Reunion, Restoration

Key Verse(s): Genesis 43:2, 6, 8-14, 26, 29, 34; 44:6-10, 16-17, 33-34; 45:1-3, 12-13, 17-20, 24, 28