Long time passed since Joseph’s brothers returned from Egypt. The food they brought from Egypt was reaching its bottom. Livestock probably died out of hunger. Jacob was filled with pain by the destructive sight. Jacob’s sons knew they had to go back to Egypt for more food. However, they could not bring up the subject. Instead, the father brought up the subject.
It is written in verses 1-5: 1 Now the famine was still severe in the land. 2 So when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.” 3 But Judah said to him, "The man warned us solemnly, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you will send our brother along with us, we will go down and buy food for you. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, because the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’”
Judah represented his brothers and repeatedly told their father that they must bring Benjamin to Egypt in order buy more food. The brothers were in dilemma. If the brothers did nothing, they would starve to death. If they went to Egypt without Benjamin, they would be killed by the second-in-command. What would you do in this situation?
It is written in verse 6: 6 Israel asked, “Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had another brother?”
The father held a grudge against his sons for telling the truth. What an absurd father! He passed his responsibilities on his sons and when problem arose, he blamed them. The sons replied to their father in verse 7.
7 They replied, “The man questioned us closely about ourselves and our family. ‘Is your father still living?’ he asked us. ‘Do you have another brother?’ We simply answered his questions. How were we to know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?
The brothers told their father that they would not have told the truth if they knew the intentions for asking the questions. The brothers probably were frustrated too. There was nothing they could do. An important message here is this: God’s providence is there when unintended circumstances arise. Do not hold a grudge on your neighbors when unexpected circumstances arise. God is at work.
Verse 8 says, “Then Judah said to Israel his father, ‘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.’” Judah made a decision for they did not have much time.
It is written in verses 9-10: 9 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. 10 As it is, if we had not delayed, we could have gone and returned twice.”
We discover Judah’s sacrifice and determination. He promised to be responsible for Benjamin; if Benjamin was harmed, Judah will carry the blame for the rest of his life. Just as Jesus’ sacrifice saved humanity, Judah’s sacrifice resulted in the happiness in the family. Judah surely changed. Judah suggested selling Joseph as a slave instead of killing him. We were able to glance at Judah’s loyal side. However, he was not able to demonstrate complete loyalty; he sold his brother and took the money. He prevented Joseph’s death, but at the same time, he played the lead role in selling Joseph as a slave. However, in the end, Judah was rewarded with blessings because of his sacrifice. 1 Chronicles 5:2 says, “and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph)” Even though Joseph had the rights of the firstborn, Judah became the highest among his brothers and was blessed with the throne. Instead of becoming the leader among the family, he became the leader of a nation. Through Judah, David was born, and in the future, Jesus was born. Genesis 49 says that Judah will be praised by his brothers and that the ruler’s staff will not depart from him. Judah’s sacrifice to guarantee the safety of Benjamin led to a great blessing. For this reason, I think God is pleased when we guarantee our life to God. I pray that you would sacrifice your body, your heart, and your soul to God.
Let’s take a closer look at the attitude of Jacob. Jacob had to depend his son Benjamin to his sons.
Verse 11 says, “Then their father Israel said to them, ‘If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift— a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.”
Jacob’s way of survival was bribery. Whenever circumstances swift Jacob to meet someone, he always took a bribe with him. He did so when he had to meet his brother; he took 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 female sheep, 20 male sheep, 30 camels, their offspring, 40 female cow, 10 male cow, 20 female donkey, and 10 calves to his brother. Bribery was Jacob’s conduct of life. In other words, Jacob was accustomed to the way of worldly life.
Verse 12 says, “Take double the amount of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake.”
Not only did Jacob send them silver they were returned but he told them to take double the amount of silver. Instead of depending on God, he used worldly methods. Immediately living by God’s method is difficult after living many years by the world’s method. It is understandable. However, this behavior becomes the barrier in fulfilling God’s will and living the life of faith. We must get down on our knees and pray that we would change. We will not experience the work of God if we continue to live our life by worldly methods. Verse 13 says, “Take your brother also and go back to the man at once.” Jacob eventually gave bribes and his son Benjamin. Sending Benjamin away was a great determination for Jacob that gave him tears. In the perspective of salvation theology, giving up brings salvation. Many people still have not accepted Christ or have a misty faith because they do not give up and sacrifice clearly and definitely. Giving up is difficult. Giving up the life of the past is especially difficult. However, faith is giving up. One must give up in order to gain. To pick one woman to marry means to give up the rest of the woman on earth. If you still have an eye on another woman, then you bring destruction to the family. How can you make a choice and gain without giving up? We commonly try to hold onto both God and the world. However, this worldly thought makes us lose both. People suffer living a sinful life of the world, but they cannot entirely give up the world. They will not be able to gain anything. What happened to Jacob who forcefully gave up his goods and his son? Jacob discovered God. Then he finally gained emotional freedom. It is written in verses 14-15: 14 And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.” 15 So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver, and Benjamin also. They hurried down to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph.
Jacob finally began to pray. He finally says that the God Almighty wants to grant them grace. Jacob learned to pray when he gave up Benjamin. The statement coming out of Jacob’s mouth is unimaginable, “If I am bereaved, I am bereaved”. Jacob was entrusting Benjamin on God; he was confessing the fact that he cannot determine to kill or save Benjamin. Queen Esther made the same confession and prayer. She trusted God and the faith saved God’s people. It is written in verses 16-17: 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare dinner; they are to eat with me at noon.” 17 The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph’s house.
Queen Esther made the same confession and prayer. She trusted God and the faith saved God’s people. It is written in verses 16-17: 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare dinner; they are to eat with me at noon.” 17 The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph’s house.
Unimaginable events were occurring. Joseph saw Benjamin. If the brothers did not bring Benjamin with them, he had to send his brothers to jail. Joseph was so happy, he ordered feast for his brothers. However, the invitation brought fear to his brothers. It is written in Genesis 43:17-18: 17 The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph's house. 18 Now the men were frightened when they were taken to his house.
They thought, “We were brought here because of the silver that was put back into our sacks the first time. He wants to attack us and overpower us and seize us as slaves and take our donkeys.” The sinners are always filled with fear whether they are greeted with good or bad news because they fear their sins have been revealed. The innocent are upright. I pray that you would be one of the people who are upright. I hope you would have freedom rather than the heart of fear and uncertainty. The brothers did not know Joseph was the second-in-command. Joseph knew his brothers did not steal the money. If the brothers did not steal the money, they had to be upright, but they were uncomfortable in the situation because of the sins they committed in the past. Human’s nature is fear and uncertainty. Fear of death and future. Verse 18 teaches us that if we do not depend on God, we will be in fear. When we are anxious, we have ominous imagination. In verse 18, the brothers react with fear. The brothers thought they were being taken away for stealing the money. They go further and think they will be seized and taken as slaves. Misfortune is not given but created by oneself. Negative thoughts block one’s own future. Do not have negative thoughts; it is not real. The truth is you did not depend on God. Depend on God and your future will brighten up and be blessed. Joseph’s brothers were in fear and confessed that they did not steal the money. It is written in verses 19-23: 19 So they went up to Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20 “Please, sir,” they said, “we came down here the first time to buy food. 21 But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver—the exact weight—in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back with us. 22 We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food. We don’t know who put our silver in our sacks.” 23 “It's all right,” he said. “Don't be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.
Suffering brings truth out of people. Adverse circumstances make people innocent. Joseph’s brothers in the past murdered, they were jealous, and they argued. However, when they faced death, they confessed the truth. When we are progressing favorably and are at peace, we do not confess our sins. In the other hand, when people encounter circumstances that are difficult to resolve with their own hands, they become honest. They reveal their weakness. This is the reason for suffering and trials. God is interest in making us honest, righteous, and clean. God works with us through trials and sufferings. In those moments, we become honest and speak the truth. The problem of Christians today is superficial faith. They live by their own desires as they simply come to church without much meaning and lightly believe in Christ. True and deep confession is important.
Deuteronomy 8:2 says, “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.” Why did God make 600,000 Israelites suffer for 40 years instead of leading them to the Promised Land flowing with honey directly? God had 2 purposes. First, God wanted to make them humble through their sufferings. Second, God wanted to teach them obedience; God wanted to test their obedience. Test is not bad. We must be tested so we can reach the next level. God tested us so we can take another step forward in our faith. Making us prosper and healthy is easy for God; God does not make us suffer because He is not capable. God wants us to be humble and obey.
23 “It's all right,” he said. “Don't be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24 The steward took the men into Joseph's house, gave them water to wash their feet and provided fodder for their donkeys.
This is the blessing as a result of humbleness and obedience. The second-in-command told them that the money was theirs and not to fear. God compensates us for our honesty. God gave them the money, returned Simeon to them, and they feet were washed. I pray that we would experience the grace from being humble and obedient.
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