Verses 1–5: Drama intensified during the seven-year famine plaguing Egypt and the Middle East as Jacob and his household ran out of food from their first visit to Egypt. He urged his sons to buy more, but Judah reminded him of Joseph's warning: unless Benjamin came with them, they couldn't buy grain.
6–10: Jacob (renamed “Israel” by God) feared the worst, blaming his sons for Joseph's demand to see Benjamin: “Why did you bring this trouble on me . . . ?” (v. 6). But Joseph had questioned them closely, and his brothers didn’t recognize him, the one they had betrayed and sold into slavery; they had no way of knowing he would insist on seeing Benjamin. Despite this, Judah reassured his father: he would take on a lifetime of blame if Benjamin didn’t return with them.
11–15: Desperate for food, Israel knew that if his sons didn't return to Egypt, his entire household would starve to death. So, reluctantly, he agreed to let them go with Benjamin. They loaded their bags with gifts from Canaan—honey, spices, nuts and more—and doubled the amount of silver they mysteriously found returned to their packs on their last voyage home.
16–22: When they arrived in Egypt, Joseph’s steward escorted them to his home for a midday meal. They feared Joseph’s actions weren't friendly, but instead a plot to attack them, enslaving them for the missing silver of the previous trip. They appealed to the steward before entering his house, assuring him that they'd brought enough silver to repay any they owed, still baffled by its appearance in their sacks.
23–25: The steward surprised them by telling them to keep it—that God had blessed them with the extra silver. Even greater, their brother Simeon was ushered out to them. The steward fed their donkeys, provided them water to wash their feet from the journey, and left them to prepare their gifts for Joseph’s arrival.
26–30: When he appeared, Joseph received their offerings, and inquired after them and their father. They gave him a favorable report, then bowed low to pay him honor, just as his childhood dream foretold. At the sight of Benjamin, Joseph was moved so deeply that he had to leave the room, and wept; he couldn't contain his grief in seeing his younger brother again. After washing his face and pulling himself together, he returned to his brothers for the meal.
31–34: He seated them around a table from oldest to youngest, to their amazement. Joseph ate at his own table, and his servants at a separate table as well due to an Egyptian custom prohibiting dining with shepherds. Once again, they were brought low before him. Despite this, Joseph blessed them, especially his only full-blooded brother, Benjamin, who received a portion of food five times that of the others. After so many years, Joseph finally enjoyed time with his family, even though his identity remained hidden.
Genesis 44
Verses 1–13: After the meal, Joseph instructed his steward to fill his brothers’ sacks with food and the silver they had paid, and to place Joseph’s silver cup in Benjamin’s bag. When his brothers left the next day, Joseph had him chase after them, accusing them of stealing it. Baffled again, they insisted on their innocence, claiming that anyone found with the cup would be put to death and bind them all in slavery. Instead, the steward agreed only to this: the one found with the cup would alone become a slave—no one would die. They quickly lowered their sacks, and the search began, from oldest to youngest. Of course, the cup was found with Benjamin, right where it was planted. The steward threatened to take him back to Egypt as a slave, and his horrified brothers tore their clothes in agony. What else could be done? They reloaded their donkeys, and returned to Egypt.
14–17: Once again Joseph’s brothers bowed before him, but this time in desperation for Benjamin’s fate. Joseph didn't miss the opportunity to test their hearts again, and harshly accused them of repaying his kindness with thievery. Undone, Judah spoke for all of them, believing that God was exposing their past treachery toward Joseph. He offered himself and all his brothers in slavery again, but Joseph protested. He would only take Benjamin as a slave.
18–34: Cautiously, Judah pulled Joseph aside, fearing his wrath. He recounted his family’s entire ordeal. He had told Joseph on their first visit to Egypt about the strong bond of love between Israel and Benjamin. He pled fervently for Benjamin’s release, determined to take his place as Joseph's slave. Otherwise, he exclaimed, Joseph would bring Israel's “gray head down to the grave in misery” (v. 29). So now, the ones who had sold him, their brother, into slavery so many years ago, were offering to enslave themselves on behalf of his younger brother. God had indeed redeemed their lives and character. But how would Joseph respond? Stay tuned . . .
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