Bible Readings

Reading 34: Through Joseph, God tests the sons of Jacob

Read Genesis 42:1–43:34.

The famine affected many nations but Egypt had grain. Though Jacob had many servants, he entrusted the critical task of getting food for the entire household to his sons. But Jacob kept Benjamin home. He was Joseph’s younger brother, the second son of his beloved wife Rachel. Having lost Joseph, Jacob didn’t want to lose Benjamin too.

The brothers arrived at the city where Joseph was and were brought before him. He recognised them but they didn’t recognise him because they last saw him when he was 17. He was now 39 and dressed as a high-ranking Egyptian official. And he purposely spoke through an interpreter, giving them the impression he was Egyptian.

Why didn’t Joseph reveal himself? Because of his visions, he knew he would meet his brothers again but seeing them for the first time in over 20 years made him emotional. Joseph also knew all eleven brothers had to bow before him and Benjamin was missing. So he used the opportunity to test his brothers, to see if they were repentant.

Four times Joseph accused them of being spies. But they denied it by giving him details about their family, even admitting that one of their brothers was now dead. Joseph, of course, knew they were referring to him.

Initially, Joseph wanted to prove their story by imprisoning all of them but one, but he changed the test and held on to one brother—Simeon, the second oldest. Why not Reuben the oldest? Perhaps because Reuben had exclaimed that he had tried to convince the others not to harm Joseph. But by their general regret, Joseph was starting to see that they were indeed repentant.

With Simeon in custody, the others returned home with grain. Joseph continued to test their consciences on the way home, this time with kindness, for he had returned all the money they paid for the grain. The brothers panicked when they discovered the money and thought God was punishing them (because they feared the Egyptians would think they didn’t pay for the grain). Unlike in the past, the brothers were now sensitive to God’s actions in their lives. They hadn’t been like this when Joseph was at their mercy!

Jacob reacted in fear when he was told what had happened. He had lost Joseph, and now Simeon (so he thought) and he wasn’t about to lose Benjamin. He said that everything was going against him! His faith in God, which had grown strong over the years, was severely shaken up by this test.

Though Simeon remained in custody, Jacob refused to let any of his sons return to Egypt for fear of losing more sons. But the food they bought eventually ran out.

Now the brothers demonstrated their responsible nature. Judah promised his father that he would be responsible for Benjamin. Years earlier, he had promised Tamar he would pay her for sex, but didn’t fulfil that promise. Now, he promised to keep Benjamin safe or be held forever responsible for anything that may happen to Benjamin. Judah was a changed man.

The brothers took a double payment as well as gifts for Joseph. They confessed to Joseph’s household manager about earlier returned payment, only to be told their earlier payment had been received. The brothers must have wondered what was going on.

Joseph arranged for a meal with his brothers and upon seeing his full brother Benjamin for the first time in over 20 years, he was overwhelmed. Then Joseph shocked his brothers by arranging them around the table in their birth order! There was more nervousness as Joseph gave Benjamin five times more food. Joseph was hinting to them who he was. But could they figure it out?

There are three lessons we can learn. First, notice Yahweh at work. He started with giving Joseph visions of his future and now they were about to be fulfilled. Though there were many people and personal choices involved, God was overall directing the way. This is true for our lives too. We can always ask God in prayer where He is directing our lives.

Second, can we be like Joseph and restrain ourselves from taking advantage of a superior position? If someone has hurt us in the past, can we trust God to deal with it rather than us using human means?

Third, can we be humble and repentant like Joseph’s brothers when faced with an unresolved sin from the past? They were willing to face whatever discipline God had for them. Are we also able to do that?