The Story of Joseph, Part 12 (Genesis 43)

The famine was very severe, and when they had eaten all the grain brought from Egypt Jacob said to his sons, “Go again, buy us a little food.” Judah reminded his father that the man in Egypt said not to return without Benjamin. Then Judah said, “Send the boy with me and we will go at once, so that we and our children may live and not die. I myself will guarantee his safety. If I do not bring him back to you and set him here personally before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life.” Jacob then told his sons to take presents to the man, to take double the money, and to take his son Benjamin. He said, “And God almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your older brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” The brothers hurried to Egypt and appeared before Joseph. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them he told the steward to take the men to his house and prepare dinner for them. Of course they were very afraid and wondered what would happen to them; but they were treated with honor, and Simeon was allowed to join them. Joseph talked with them through an interpreter and asked about their father. At one point Joseph became so full of joy that he had to leave the room to cry and shed tears without his brothers seeing him. Joseph then told his workers to fill the men’s sacks with grain and to put their money back into the sacks as before. He also instructed them to put Joseph’s silver cup into the sack of Benjamin. Why do you think Joseph put his silver cup into Benjamin’s sack? I think it was all about one final test to see if his brothers had really changed. Will they really care when Benjamin gets into trouble?