Judah's Responsibility
Some time had passed, maybe months and Simeon is still held hostage. The land is still without rain. The brothers must face their father again and then Joseph. We all hate problems but eventually they must be faced if they do not go away. The famine continues, they must have more corn to survive. There is no other way but to return to Egypt.
Gen 43:1 And the famine was sore in the land.
The famine was great in the land of Canaan.
Gen 43:2 And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.
It is doubtful that all the grain was consumed, for the 200 mile journey to Egypt would take time. Jacob's family was large and perhaps his many servants had to scavenge off the land for food. They were down to the bare essentials. Simeon who had been held hostage must have waited all of this time for he had been counted by Jacob as one who "is not".
Gen 43:3 And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
Gen 43:4 If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:
Gen 43:5 But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
Judah is speaking for the brothers. He knows the conditions of the Lord of Egypt for survival. He knows that he must meet these conditions. Joseph had set the conditions for the brothers to receive grain corn and life, they new and believed them.
Their are conditions to salvation of our souls. Jesus must be received for the forgiveness of sins, there is no other way. People say "we will go to God another way", no they will not. God has set the conditions for salvation. It is through his son Jesus for life, there is no other way.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Gen 43:6 And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?
Gen 43:7 And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?
These questions were to draw out information by Joseph. He knew of the brother. This was all in his plan for Gods purpose. In witnessing for Jesus asking the right questions can help bring Gods purposes into view. By their answers you can tell the condition of their heart. Hopefully then there will be the sharing of the gospel, and the power of God for a new life. Nothing is more important.
Gen 43:8 And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.
Gen 43:9 I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:
Gen 43:10 For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.
Judah now offers to take full responsibility for the safety of the brothers and bringing back the food. Remember it was Judah that Satan used to suggest the selling of Joseph. At last he is acting responsibly. Satan will use anyone and any means to try to defeat God's purposes. We must watch our thoughts and actions to be sure we are not being used of Satan to destroy another's hope.
Gen 43:11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:
Jacob prepares the best for the king, out of his limited supplies, but the hope is to find favor and to be given what the need was.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Gen 43:12 And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight:
He wanted to give a double price as well as to return the money that was hidden in the sack, which he considered to be a mistake. He wanted to show that they were honest, not thieves.
At one time I ordered a heavy duty music stand from the Internet. When the parcel arrived there were two stands and I had been charged for one. Someone had made a mistake. My secular musician friends said that if it were them, they would keep the extra stand. I told them I would pay for the extra stand. I eventually sold it to one of them for a reduced price. It is important that we be honest before the men of the world.
Gen 43:13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:
Gen 43:14 And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
They are prepared to return to Egypt with Benjamin. Jacob was prepared to mourn the loss of Benjamin, but he knew their was no other way to provide grain for all the family. Without the grain, all would die of starvation. When we must face the troubles we should be prepared as best we can. This includes reading scriptures of the problem and praying, appealing to God from his promises.
The Feast
Gen 43:15 And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.
It is best to face the problems, now we will see the outcome. Fear is a terrible thing. It keeps us away from doing the right thing. Fear would delay the help and cause much heartache. It is better to prepare and do the right thing by faith.
Gen 43:16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.
Like the prodigal sons return, a steer would be prepared for a welcome meal. But what is behind this welcome? There is a Proverb warning not to eat at a rulers table. Perhaps the brothers had a lump in their throats.
Prov 23:1 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:
Prov 23:2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
Prov 23:3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
Gen 43:17 And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.
Gen 43:18 And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.
Gen 43:19 And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,
Gen 43:20 And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:
Gen 43:21 And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand.
Gen 43:22 And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.
The brothers were fearful and they told him the truth. When afraid do not lie, it is easy to know a lie and it makes things worse. Often when we are afraid it is a lie from Satan that causes our fear. The past is used to haunt our future, In Christ Jesus the past is forgiven and erased, yet Satan loves to bring up old memories of past evils and failings.
Gen 43:23 And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.
I had your money and your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks. How unusual for a worldly king to give glory to the God of Israel.Peace be to you , fear not, YES. What beautiful words to hear. Jesus when calming the seas cried out peace, be still. When the disciples were afraid of his glory he spoke peace be unto you. Now Joseph speaks peace and also speaks of Gods grace, Simeon is set free. Is this not what Jesus came to do? To bring grace and peace and to set the captives free?
Gen 43:24 And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.
Gen 43:25 And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.
Gen 43:26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.
The brothers were alone in Joseph's home, fearful, and they gave him their gift and bowed before him. Now it is Joseph's move, will he show mercy? Will he be angry with them, play more games? To submit to a ruler is a fearful thing, but Joseph spoke of their God, there may be hope.
Gen 43:27 And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?
Gen 43:28 And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.
Gen 43:29 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.
Gen 43:30 And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.
Oh what a happy reunion to see his younger brother of his mother Rachel who he had not seen in so many years. The son that Rachel died delivering into the world. It had been so many years. How he yearned to embrace him, the emotions overcame him so much that he had to leave the room and weep. How we long for the love of distant family but God sometimes keeps them apart for a reason. It is in God's timing for all happy reunions. Often we are set apart to learn discipline and reliance in the Lord. When we are reunited oh what pleasure it brings, but now It was not yet time for Joseph to reveal himself.
LORD give us patience to endure your trials and your timing for restoration. You are LORD. Keep us from fear, always we will walk in your will, forgive us our failings as we become more perfect in you. In Jesus name Amen.
The Silver Cup
Gen 43:31 And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.
Joseph having regained his emotions returns to the dining room and asks for bread to be set before them.
Gen 43:32 And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.
The room must have been large as Joseph set apart from them, the brothers set unto themselves and the Egyptians set unto themselves. Sounds like some of our social gatherings, each has their own group of friends excluding the others. In fact Egyptians were racists. They believed that they were descended from gods. They had no mixing with foreigners, even Joseph a foreigner was not welcomed to eat with real Egyptians. This separation would be important to keeping Israel separate from other peoples. Egypt would soon become their home for 400 years. In this time there would be no mixing with the Egyptians. God is wise.
Gen 43:33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another.
They were placed in seating order according to ages, how is this possible they were saying to each other, that he new the age rank of all the brothers?
Gen 43:34 And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.
Another test; Joseph favors the younger brother, the only full brother from his mother. He remembers the reaction of the brothers to him when he was favored by his father. They were jealous and sold him into slavery. Will they be jealous and do evil to his younger brother? We shall see.
Genesis 44
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