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Genesis Chapter Forty-three
Preface
This chapter is most heart-wrenching considering the efforts of Joseph to keep his identity hidden from his brothers while socializing with them. It must have taken great emotional control when he was at last confronted with his full-brother Benjamin. But more than this it is noteworthy that even in light of all that his half-brothers did to him; he freely forgave them and accepted them in love. In this he is a model of Jesus Christ who freely forgives those (all mankind) who were and are responsible for His suffering and sacrifice upon the cross of Calvary.
Genesis 43:1-7 Now the famine was severe in the land. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.” But Jacob spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ But if you will not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’” And Israel said, “Why did you deal so wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you had still another brother?” But they said, “The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ And we told him according to these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”
All the grain—basic food—is now gone, and Jacob (Israel) charges his sons with making another acquisition-trip to Egypt. But sadly he is confronted with the fact that unless they bring Benjamin with them there will be no success in this mission. This brings great anguish to Israel, since Benjamin is the only remaining son he fathered with his first love Rachel. Having lost, as he thought, his first son from Rachel, Joseph; the thought of losing the other was too much to bear. He was forced to face the consequence of the starvation of his entire family, including Benjamin, unless he complied with the instructions that Joseph had given to his sons upon their first visit to Egypt. Strange as it may seem, there appears to be no record of any sorrow by Jacob over Simeon having previously been imprisoned in Egypt; although, it may safely be assumed that this was in fact the case.
Genesis 43:8-14 Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. I myself will be surety for him; 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 [Note: the word translated “blame” is from the Hebrew verb often translated as “sin”—see 40:1; 41:9] forever. For if we had not lingered, surely by now we would have returned this second time.” And their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. Take double money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man. And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!"
It is noteworthy to remember that Reuben and Judah were the only half-brothers of Joseph who attempted to save his life from his other half-brothers (chap. 37). In this chapter Judah steps forward again to offer himself as a surety or guarantee for Benjamin’s safe return to Israel. In today’s age of grace the Christian also has someone who guarantees his arrival in heaven, the land of his citizenship (Ephesians 2:19; Philippians 3:20). That person is the Holy Spirit who has:
1. Indwelt him (John 7:39; Romans 5:5; 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:22; 1 John 3:24).
2. Baptized him into the Body of Christ, the family of God (Romans 6:5; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:16; John 14:20; 17:21, 23, 26; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 12:13, 27; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:27; John 1:12; Romans 8:15, 16; Galatians 3:26; 4:5; Hebrews 12:5-9; 1 John 3:1, 2).
3. Sealed him until the day of redemption (2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:13, 14; 4:30; 2 Timothy 2:19).
These actions by the Holy Spirit are the Christian’s surety of eternal life—his guarantee that he cannot ever lose his eternal salvation (John 6:35, 37, 39, 40; 10:28; Romans 8:38, 39; Galatians 3:26; 2 Timothy 2:13; Jude 1).
Upon a firm understanding of the situation and the promise of surety by Judah, Israel gives in and permits Benjamin to return with his brothers to Egypt. But along with the return of the monies for the payment of the original issuance of food, he sends additional gifts (a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds) in order to appease “the man” in Egypt.
Israel also appeals to “God Almighty,” the Hebrew designation of El Shaddai (the 4th time in Genesis that God is designated by this name), a designation by God of Himself (Genesis 28:3; Exodus 3:14, 15; 6:2, 3), which is a word similar to the Hebrew word for “mountain,” and is meant to convey God’s strength and endurance. Israel’s appeal though is not to God’s power; it is for the mercy of his all-powerful God—the same aspect of God’s grace that permitted His Son Jesus Christ to take the place of sinners on the cross and pay for the sins of all mankind.
Genesis 43:15-23 So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon.” Then the man did as Joseph ordered, and the man brought the men into Joseph's house. Now the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, “It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may make a case against us and fall upon us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys.” When they drew near to the steward of Joseph's house, they talked with him at the door of the house, and said, “O sir, we indeed came down the first time to buy food; but it happened, when we came to the encampment, that we opened our sacks, and there, each man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; so we have brought it back in our hand. And we have brought down other money in our hands to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.” But he said, “Peace be with you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.
The brothers returned with Benjamin to Egypt, and were quite amazed that this time they were not being treated as spies. Instead, they were given the “royal treatment.” Seeing that Benjamin was with them, Joseph invited them to dine with him in his home. The fears of his brethren were put to rest when Joseph’s steward assigned no blame to them for the money they had found in their sacks when returning from Egypt the first time. Instead, the steward misrepresented the truth by stating he had their money all the time. To this he added that it must have been their “God” that gave them the “treasure” they discovered in their sacks. And at this Simeon was brought back out of the house to them, which leads to the assumption that Simeon was never kept in prison in the first place. It can be safely assumed that Joseph allowed him a special place of service, along with the steward, in Joseph’s household.
Genesis 43:24-34 So the man brought the men into Joseph's house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed. Then they made the present ready for Joseph's coming at noon, for they heard that they would eat bread there. And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down before him to the earth. Then he asked them about their well-being, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” And they answered, “Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves. Then he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, “Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” Now his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. And he went into his chamber and wept there. Then he washed his face and came out; and he restrained himself, and said, “Serve the bread.” So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another. Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin's serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.
Joseph made certain that his steward catered to all of his brother’s needs, not only to them personally but also to their animals. As a type of Christ it is well to remember that a Christian’s needs—all of them—are the concern of Christ as He sits at the right hand of God making intercession for all aspects of their lives in concert with the Holy Spirit who resides within them (Romans 8:26, 27; Hebrews 7:25). Not only is this true but Christ by means of His divine power has given to each believer all things that pertain to life and godliness (1 Peter 1:3).
When Joseph came home his bothers bowed down to him, just as his revelatory dreams had predicted (37:3-11). When Joseph saw Benjamin, he was overwhelmed with emotion and had to excuse himself for a time in order to vent his tears of joy and longing for Benjamin. Still Joseph maintained his disguise. He followed the Egyptian custom of eating at table separate from the Hebrews.
The word translated “abomination” is a Hebrew word that can indicate the strongest revulsion; something that might cause physical illness (see 46:34). The Egyptians scorned Hebrew shepherds, suggesting that God used the racial and ethnic prejudice of the Egyptians as a way of preserving the ethnic and spiritual identity of His chosen people. Jacob’s family was already intermarrying with Canaanites (chap. 38) and was in danger of losing its identity as the people of God.
Once the table was set, the brothers were astonished that they were seated in accordance with their age, yet they still did not suspect Joseph’s masquerade. They may also have wondered why Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs. But any wonderment was soon put to rest as they all were immersed in this joyous occasion. |