“Genesis 42:1-7”

Monday, April 06, 2020

“Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, 'Why are you staring at one another?' He said, 'Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down there and buy some for us from that place, so that we may live and not die.' Then ten brothers of Joseph went down to buy grain from Egypt. But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, 'I am afraid that harm may befall him.' So the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those who were coming, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also. Now Joseph was the ruler over the land; he was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. When Joseph saw his brothers he recognized them, but he disguised himself to them and spoke to them harshly. And he said to them, 'Where have you come from?' And they said, 'From the land of Canaan, to buy food.'

---End of Scripture verses---

“Why are you staring at one another?” (verse 1) Jacob's sons were stuck like deer staring into the headlights of an oncoming car. In their state of despondency it was as if the brothers were incapable of processing the next logical thought, or unwilling to take the next logical step to alleviate their plight. The situation had gotten so discouraging to them that they were unable to discuss with one another what was to be done, they only had the ability to sit and stare. There are situation in life that make us feel like we have reached our wit's end. Frequently it takes the composure and experience of an elderly person like Jacob to provide wise counsel in times of doubt and despair. Of course, we can and should always appeal to our heavenly Father to give us wisdom and open our eyes to the right direction to take, and to provide for our most critical needs.

“'Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down there and buy some for us from that place, so that we may live and not die.” (verse 2) Jacob had the whereabouts to pay attention to what was going on around him. He had “heard” from some neighbors or associates that there was food available in the land of Egypt. In verse one it was said that “Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt.” Perhaps he had caught sight of passersby hauling a load of produce back home, and he asked them where they had located such a godsend. “When the narrative spotlight last shone on Jacob, we witnessed a pitiable spectacle of an inconsolable father mourning his lost son. Now, after an interval of over twenty years, the old patriarch is once again the man of action, exercising authority and initiative in a critical situation.” (Nahum Sarna)

“But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, 'I am afraid that harm may befall him.'” (verse 4) Jacob may have recovered and returned to his old, resourceful self, but he still felt the sting of the loss of his beloved Joseph. By this time Benjamin, the youngest of Jacob's sons and the last of his beloved Rachel's offspring, had taken the place of Joseph as the old patriarch's favorite. He was not about to risk the life or safety of the baby of the family, or the loss one so dear to his heart. He sent the other ten brothers on the week-long, one-way journey to Egypt to bring back adequate supplies to feed the small nation of a family that they had grown to be.

“And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.” (verse 6) It would have been easy and understandable for Joseph to take some perverse satisfaction at the sight of his abusers and tormentors falling prostrate to the ground before him in supplication and veneration. His life must have passed swiftly before his eyes when he first caught sight of his long lost brothers, and the thoughts of what might and should have been likely flooded his mind with sorrow and grief and certainly anger. The offended and aggrieved younger brother had every right and reason to initially speak “to them harshly” (verse 7), for crimes and offenses that they had committed against him.

“When Joseph saw his brothers he recognized them...” (verse 7) “Just when Joseph has reached a point in his life where he prefers not to be reminded of his past, he is forced to confront it by the rush of events. Once again he finds himself face to face with his brothers. One the previous, disastrous occasion, Joseph had been sent b y his father to them; now it is they whom Jacob sends, unknowingly, to Joseph. Then Joseph had been at the mercy of his brothers; now he is master of the situation and they come as suppliants.” (Nahum Sarna) “But he disguised himself to them...” Joseph was prudent and wise enough to not immediately reveal himself to his brothers before he could rationally think through the appropriate way to deal with the situation. And who could blame him for milking the circumstance for a moment, and making his miscreant brothers sweat it out for a while before finally extending the hand of love and salvation to them?! He deserved just the slightest savor of sweet revenge as he momentarily held the upper hand didn't he?

Please read Genesis 41:8-17 for tomorrow.

Have a wonderful day!

-Louie Taylor

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