Read with Me
Genesis 43:26-34 (HCSB)
When Joseph came home, they brought him the gift they had carried into the house, and they bowed to the ground before him.
He asked if they were well, and he said, “How is your elderly father that you told me about? Is he still alive?”
They answered, “Your servant our father is well. He is still alive.” And they bowed down to honor him.
When he looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest brother that you told me about?” Then he said, “May God be gracious to you, my son.” Joseph hurried out because he was overcome with emotion for his brother, and he was about to weep. He went into an inner room to weep. Then he washed his face and came out. Regaining his composure, he said, “Serve the meal.”
They served him by himself, his brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who were eating with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, since that is abhorrent to them. They were seated before him in order by age, from the firstborn to the youngest. The men looked at each other in astonishment. Portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, and Benjamin’s portion was five times larger than any of theirs. They drank, and they got intoxicated with Joseph.
Listen with Me
At this point, the encounter between Joseph and his brothers seem to progress much more pleasantly than they had expected. They had expected a quick questioning of Benjamin to ensure that he really was their youngest brother, proving that they were honest men and not spies, then the restoration of Simeon, a quick payment for the grain, and they would immediately head back home. But now they were going to have the privilege of eating with this man who was a single rung below Pharaoh himself!
When Joseph finally appeared, his brothers bowed low, showing him proper respect, and then they presented the gifts they had brought for him. Only then did Joseph focus on Benjamin, startling them all by speaking a blessing on him in flawless Hebrew. Then suddenly he rushed out of the room. This was becoming more and more strange by the minute!
Joseph’s steward guided each of them to their seats. There were no place cards to show where they were to sit at a special table that had been set apart from the others. But as the steward directed them to their seat, they suddenly realized that he had seated them carefully in their exact birth order, something that he could not possibly have known.
But before they could wonder about this too much, Joseph returned, seated himself alone at the table at the front of the room, and commanded that the food be brought in. It had been a long time since the brothers had seen so much food, having lived sparingly for the two years of famine thus far. And they couldn’t help but notice that Benjamin’s servings were far larger than their own. But the steward kept the wine coming, and soon they were all feeling quite merry.
Pray with Me
Father, there was definitely more going on here than the brothers suspected. But in the end it was all part of Your plan, enacted through the obedience of Joseph. There was one more test of character that these men would have to pass before Joseph would be free to disclose his identity to them. But for now, he needed to relax them and enable them to let their guard down. Too much suspicion on their part could enable them to discover the trap before it was sprung. This is a powerful reminder to me that You allow, or even orchestrate, tests for us, just as you did for Jesus after His baptism (Matthew 4:1). But these are not tests designed to defeat us, but to give us a chance to prove our character by passing them, and to strengthen our reliance on You. Thank You, Lord, for Your help in all things, even in the challenges. Amen.