Genesis 43

The hunger did not stop. The need for food became more and more intense in the land of Canaan. Jacob had not yet met the great man in Egypt who had so frightened his sons. It was too easy for him to say to his boys, “Go again, buy us a little food.”

Reuben, the eldest, had spoken to his brothers about their sin against Joseph. He was ready to repent. Joseph knew this because he heard the honest conversation between the brothers when they had presumed that he could not understand their language. He chose the next oldest brother, Simeon, to be the ransom for the rest. Simeon had been forced to stay behind. We do not hear from Levi at all in this episode. It is the fourth son, Judah, who plays the critical role in this chapter and the next.

But now Judah speaks to Jacob, his father, with a plan that finally secures Jacob's agreement, allowing young Benjamin to be taken to Egypt in accord with the demands of the man holding Simeon hostage all this time. What is it that Jacob finds persuasive? Judah convinces his father that getting food from Egypt has become a matter of life and death for them all. Most of all, Judah, the ancestor of Jesus, places his own life on the line for the lives of everyone in this family. He says, “I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.” This is the way of true sacrificial love. Judah is willing to die so that the family can eat and live. This is what Christ has done for the church.

Jacob must agree with Judah. What else can he do? Can he stand by and simply watch his grandchildren die? He sends Benjamin with his older brothers. He is brought to trust his God in the tough choice between his concern for the survival of his entire family and his fear for the life of Rachel's youngest son. He must take this risk in order to gain food. But he does this in the sight of God, saying, “May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother (Simeon) and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” He is not happy, but he must trust God for the future that is ahead of him.

Benjamin was not only a favored son of Jacob; he was also the beloved full brother of Joseph. And now Joseph is actually brought to see his younger brother again. On this great occasion, despite Joseph's love for his brother causing him to be greatly moved when he sees the boy, he continues to play his part as the demanding ruler from another world, while he waits for a fuller expression of repentance from his other brothers.

As this difficult drama continues, Joseph has his brothers brought to his house for a banquet. They are more frightened and perplexed by this kindness than by his earlier rough speech. What is he up to? They decide that they better explain about the money left in their sacks the last time they were with him. They are ready to be humble about something, they just don't have the right fault yet. They pick an incident where they were in the right. That won't do. Their old sin is right before their faces in the frightening and generous Egyptian who is beyond their understanding. He is bringing them to repentance according to his own mysterious ways.

Joseph's representative, the steward of his house, reassures them about the money. “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.” Soon they see with their own eyes that Simeon is alive and well and they are all feasting at the house of the man who is like God to them. So what's wrong? Why are they not entirely at ease? There is still more soul work to be done, and the Egyptian will do it. When he comes home, they give him their worship, they bow, and they bring their gifts, but the further fulfillment of Joseph's dreams is not what he is looking for. He loves them. He has always loved them. He will not be content until they are what they claimed to be in their first trip: honest men. They still have one massive lie, one great deed of evil they must be rid of. Joseph will use his beloved brother Benjamin to bring them further along on the road to a more godly humility.

Why do we hide our sin so deeply? We know it, but then we willfully repress our knowledge of the truth. We suffer inside and cling to our pride, when we could humble ourselves before the Lord, and He would quickly and abundantly pardon. But repentance is a gift from God. Our soul disease must be removed by His love.

Through all the struggles of our lives, the Son of God loves us just as surely as Joseph loved his brother Benjamin. If we come to the conclusion that His discipline is a sign of His hatred, we are not right, and we do not yet see what the Lord in His grace is doing. He weeps for us. He even gives us food and wine from His table. But He does insist that we worship Him in Spirit and in truth.

The ways of Jesus Christ may alarm us. He who received all His glory back again by way of the cross and the resurrection is leading us now in paths of righteousness for His own Name's sake. It is through many tribulations that we will enter the kingdom of heaven, but we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Our Lord may use perplexing methods to make us honest in His presence, but we need not doubt His powerful love for His people.