Today we come to a text that is as instructive as it is understandable. For all the major players before us will experience great trouble in the present because of their past. Yet in the end, they find relief and renewed joy.
So here’s my question to you as we begin today: does this story sound like your story? Does the pain of your past cause trouble and distress in the present? Whatever it was, a single moment or a season of life, however painful it might be to remember it, did you know your past doesn’t have to paralyze you in the present? How could such a thing be true? How did Jacob, Joseph, and his brothers come to find relief and renewed joy, after facing their past troubles?
Let’s turn to the text to see this…
This morning we come to Genesis 43, which covers the second journey the sons of Jacob take to Egypt to get more food. The chapter easily divides in half. First we’ll see Jacob and his sons famished in Canaan in v1-14, and secondly we’ll see Joseph and his brothers feasting in Egypt in v15-34.[1]
Famished in Canaan (v1-14)
“Now the famine was severe in the land. And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 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.’” Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy 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 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. If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.” Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man. May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”
As chapter 43 begins we’re reminded that a severe famine is continuing to ravage the land. We saw this begin at the end of chapter 41, and we saw Jacob send his sons out on their first journey to Egypt to get food in chapter 42. They returned home from that journey with food but without their brother Simeon. Now we’re unsure of how much time went by between the end of chapter 42 to the beginning of chapter 43, but all the food they brought back is now gone. So in v2 Jacob tells his sons, “Go again, but us a little food” as if it were a little thing…that they could just go down to Egypt and get more like it’s a grocery store.[2] These words, Jacob must’ve known it would happen, brought them all right back into the debate from the previous chapter. I’m sure the brothers were looking around at each other wondering which of them would speak up and talk sense into their father who stubbornly refuses to face the facts. Judah is the one who speaks up, reminding Jacob in v3-5 that they cannot go back to Egypt and get more food unless Benjamin is with them. Before you see Jacob’s response in v6 notice that the name Jacob isn’t used here? The name Israel is used. Why? Well it’s likely to remind us that Jacob, though not quite thinking straight, is still the head of his family and still the one in charge. Yes, the rest of the sons could’ve just taken Benjamin on their own and ran down to Egypt without their father’s permission, but they don’t.[3] It’s as if the sons are aware how fragile of a state their father is in.
In v6 Jacob responds with complaint, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” The rest of the brothers chime in quickly in v7-8 saying they were just answering the man’s questions, and that they couldn’t have known what it would lead to. As the tension is once again rising high, and as their conversation is growing heated as it was last time they had this discussion…Judah, in v8-10, steps in with careful and clear words to Jacob. In v8 Judah asks that Benjamin go to Egypt with him. In v9 Judah sacrificially pledges himself to bear all the blame if they do not bring Benjamin back. And in v10, he states the obvious, that they could’ve made this journey twice by now, implying that they should set off immediately. In these words Jacob is confronted and he needed to be, for fear of losing Rachel’s other son he seems to be unwilling to acknowledge the truth about their present condition.[4] For better or worse, he must let Benjamin go with them to Egypt if they’re going to survive. Or to say it differently, to save Benjamin and all the others, Jacob must let Benjamin go.[5]
We might wonder at this point how much time went by before their father answered them. Did Jacob respond right away with the words in v11-14? Or did Jacob hear Judah’s words and go silent, retreating into himself for a time before responding? We can’t be sure, but we can be sure that it was a heart wrenching decision for him to make. But I think Jacob knew, there really only was one choice to make. In v11-14 he responds with two things: he gives them permission to take Benjamin, and he also gives directions to them on how to perhaps turn this whole thing to their benefit. He instructs them on the gift they’re to bring in v11, which is a costly gift, fit for rulers. Then in v12 he tells them about the money they’re to bring, that they should bring double back with them to repay for last time and for food this time. And notice the phrase, “…perhaps it was an oversight”? I think this reveals Jacob’s true thoughts on what his sons told him that he’s entertaining the possibility that his sons are not being entirely honest with him.[6] But what else can he do? So in v13 he tells them to take Benjamin and go.
But then he prays in v14, and in this prayer we see his unsettled soul. “May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” This is not a great prayer of confidence, no, this is a prayer of despairing resignation.[7] Jacob has lost hope and has simply resigned himself to whatever is going to happen. You’ve heard the saying, ‘Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst’? Jacob’s only doing half of that here, because the only thing he can see is the worst that he’s expecting to happen.
But, even though I think Jacob is despairing I also think his prayer is not entirely dark. He knows the only thing he can do is beg the Lord for mercy. I would encourage you to not look down on Jacob here, but to seek to understand him.[8] Have we not also, under severe trial and affliction, been near unable to pray, or not known what to pray, or have only been able to get out the words, ‘Lord have mercy’? I know many of you have known this and been at the end of your rope and that these were the only words you could muster. So yes it is very dark for Jacob right now, but how great to see that in the midst of this darkness he reaches out to the only one who can right all that’s wrong.
We’ve seen them famished in Canaan. Now turn to the rest of the chapter in v15-34 as they’re feasting in Egypt.
Feasting in Egypt (v15-34)
“So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.” The man did as Joseph told him and brought the men to Joseph’s house. And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph’s house, and they said, “It is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may assault us and fall upon us to make us servants and seize our donkeys.” So they went up to the steward of Joseph’s house and spoke with him at the door of the house, and said, “Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food. And when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it again with us, and we have brought other money down with us to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.” He replied, “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.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. And when the man had brought the men into Joseph’s house and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder, they prepared the present for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there. When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present that they had with them and bowed down to him to the ground. And he inquired about their welfare and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves. And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!” Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there. Then he washed his face and came out. And controlling himself he said, “Serve the food.” They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat 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 at one another in amazement. Portions were taken to them from Joseph’s table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him.”
v15 is quick. Here the brothers take the present, take the money, take Benjamin, leave for Egypt, and arrive before Joseph. In v16 Joseph sees them, notices they have indeed brought Benjamin with them, and he instructs the steward of his home to bring them all in so he can eat with them. The steward goes to do this in v17…and in v18 the drama picks up as the pace slows down. As the brothers are being led to lunch they grow afraid, and make this long explanation to the steward about the money they found in their sacks. Which again reveals how the brothers are heavy laden with a guilty conscience from long, long ago. Yet, as they approach the steward and speak to him about the money they found and try to explain their innocence, he calms their fears wonderfully in v23 saying, “Peace to you, do not be afraid.” This was unexpected. They were in Egypt, among royalty, not exactly the place where they would’ve heard their own language spoken and now their fears are soothed by an Egyptian speaking not only Hebrew, but speaking the word shalom to them. And he says more. He says he knows all about the money, that he has received payment in full, and that it was God (elohim!) who put the treasure in their sacks. Astonishing. Fearful hearts receive peace and joy and providential guidance from an Egyptian![9] I wonder if they could already recognize that God was answering Jacob’s plea for mercy?
Anywho, more good comes to them next. As they’re nearing the dining room Simeon is brought out to them and their fears ease. In their joy they busy themselves preparing their present for Joseph in v25. At noon he arrives, the brothers give him the gift, they bow down to him which of course brings Joseph’s earlier dreams to mind, and Joseph immediately begins asking questions again. About how they’re doing, about how their father is doing, and in v29 he looks over, saw Benjamin, and asked, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?” They likely nodded, to which Joseph responds by exclaiming, “God be gracious to you, my son!” This is a tender moment, where Joseph expresses a rich and deep affection for his own brother. This is the exact same phrase that will be used later on in the Aaronic blessing of Numbers 6:25, “…the Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you.”[10] Joseph, who’s clearly feeling deeply right now, in v30 runs out of the room and weeps. After 13 long years in the pit and the palace, 7 years of abundant harvest, and now likely a few years of famine, much time has passed…yet at the sight of his own little brother Joseph is undone and overwhelmed as his history floods back to him. A swirl of joy and sorrow rises in him and so he can’t dam the flow of tears, but gives them a clear course to flow.
After composing himself the scene comes to a conclusion, at least for now as they eat together. Joseph arranges them at their table in birth order, which surprises them, but is a possible little hint that this man knows more about them than they’re aware of. And then curiously he gives Benjamin five times more food than anyone else. One can only wonder, is Joseph testing them again? To see how they’ll respond to this show of favoritism? They responded murderously to the favoritism he was shown long ago, will they do the same here with Benjamin? Gladly, it doesn’t faze them. And so the chapter ends with a happy scene in v34 as we see them eating and drinking and enjoying one another’s company and the very agreeable turn of events. Mercy is indeed written large over this moment.[11]
Conclusion:
Let’s come back to where we began today. I said earlier, ‘All the major players before us experience great trouble in the present because of their past. Yet in the end, they find relief and renewed joy.’ This was true for them in this chapter. How can this be true of us today as well? Here are three things we can learn in this chapter.
Learn first that you’re in good company. Jacob was so fearful of losing Benjamin, Rachel’s other son, that he was blinded to the present predicament and needed to be prodded by Judah. And even then he was simply resigned to an evil fate that awaited him. The brother’s were still plagued by what they did to Joseph long ago, such that when the money was found in their sacks, their guilty conscience flared up again and they grew fearful in Egypt once again. And Joseph, so moved at the presence of Benjamin, was overwhelmed with tears of joy and sorrow he had to run out of the room to weep. All these major figures are truly experiencing great trouble in the present because of their past. If you are in the same boat, be encouraged, you’re in good company here.
Learn second that it’s ok to feel weak. We often have this view of the Christian life that is overly triumphant. Where we think that in order to be faithful and thriving as Christians we must ever be walking in a kind of victorious and strong posture. While we do have seasons of great strength, it would be a lie to say we’re always in such a state. Weakness and fear, will at times, bring us low. And that’s ok. I think we need to adjust our expectations of what the Christian life will truly be like, and look to the Lord in it all.
Lastly now, learn to see the cross. Judah said to Jacob in v8-9 that he desired to bear the blame forever if he did not bring Benjamin back. In this we see something of Christ and His cross. Judah desired to do that and be that for his family in this moment, but he couldn’t and wasn’t able to do this…but we know One who is. One who is able to take our past, our present, our future, and bear all the blame forever. Church, our past might be painful, but because of the cross it can no longer be paralyzing. Lean into this Church, great relief and renewed joy and mirth is ours to be had in Christ.
[1] Bruce K. Waltke, Genesis (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2001), 551.
[2] Gordon J. Wenham, Genesis 16-50, WBC (Waco, TX: Zondervan, 2000), 420.
[3] Waltke, Genesis, 553.
[4] John D. Currid, Genesis 25:19-50:26, EP Study Commentary (Holywell, UK: Evangelical Press, 2015), 294.
[5] Derek Kidner, Genesis (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2008), 215.
[6] Waltke, Genesis, 554.
[7] Currid, Genesis 25:19-50:26, 298.
[8] Currid, 300.
[9] R. Kent Hughes, Genesis, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2004), 505.
[10] Wenham, Genesis 16-50, 423.
[11] Hughes, Genesis, 507.
