Genesis 42:1-24 Joseph’s Brothers Sent to Egypt
“When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?”
“Look,” he added, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”
So ten of Joseph’s brothers 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 might befall him.”
So the sons of Israel were among those who came to buy grain, since the famine had also spread to the land of Canaan. Now Joseph was the ruler of the land; he was the one who sold grain to all its people. So when his brothers arrived, they bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.
When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where have you come from?” he asked.
“From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We are here to buy food.”
Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. Joseph remembered his dreams about them and said, “You are spies! You have come to see if our land is vulnerable.”
“Not so, my lord,” they replied. “Your servants have come to buy food. We are all sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.”
“No,” he told them. “You have come to see if our land is vulnerable.”
But they answered, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”
Then Joseph said to them, “Just as I said, you are spies! And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be confined so that the truth of your words may be tested. If they are untrue, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!”
So Joseph imprisoned them for three days, and on the third day he said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God. If you are honest, leave one of your brothers in custody while the rest of you
go and take back grain to relieve the hunger of your households. Then bring your youngest brother to me so that your words can be verified, that you may not die.”
And to this they consented.
Then they said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.”
But Reuben replied: “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you would not listen. Now we must account for his blood!”
They did not realize that Joseph understood them, since there was an interpreter between them. And he turned away from them and wept. When he turned back and spoke to them, he took Simeon from them and had him bound before their eyes.”
Well, the day of reckoning has finally arrived, that day Joseph dreamt about so long ago. Joseph is now the second most important man in Egypt, the one controlling grain sales, and his brothers have come bowing before him to buy grain. At first, Joseph questions them and accuses them of being spies. On the basis of that accusation, Joseph imprisons his brothers for three days. At this point, Joseph might be excused for thinking that a small taste of prison won’t hurt his brothers after the years he has already suffered. But then Joseph relents, releasing all the brothers apart from Simeon, and ordering the remaining brothers to return to Canaan and bring their youngest brother to him.
Why does Joseph choose Simeon as the hostage? Remember that years ago, Simeon did something wrong and Joseph reported Simeon to their father Jacob. Simeon likely retaliated by urging his brothers to sell Joseph to the slave traders. Joseph may be reveling in a bit of payback time. But is Joseph really enjoying all this? Granted, Joseph speaks roughly to his brothers; however, when Joseph hears his brothers discussing his capture and realizes that Reuben tried to save him, he retreats into another room and weeps bitterly.
Joseph can’t leave Egypt; he’s up to his neck in responsibility. If Joseph is to see his brother Benjamin and his elderly father, he must create a situation that will force both of them to come. What Joseph is doing is very necessary, but he isn’t enjoying this process nearly as much as he has anticipated. After years of being in Egypt and listening to the Egyptian language, Joseph’s brothers’ speech is music to his ears. The familiar cadence and the expressions are stirring forgotten memories in Joseph’s heart. Now Joseph is remembering good times he has enjoyed with these men and revenge is swiftly losing its appeal. To learn that Reuben was never involved in the plot against him and wanted to save him brings a kind of healing Joseph has never anticipated. But he has to play the part of the harsh aristocratic Egyptian official, no matter his actual feelings.
If someone has hurt us deeply and we then have opportunity to get revenge, what will we do? There is a saying that “Revenge is a dish best served cold,” but really, revenge only creates more problems. Matthew 6:14-15 tells us, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.“
James 1:19-20 also says, “My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.” Jesus even advised his disciples that if someone slapped them on one cheek, they should turn the other, so that their adversary could slap that as well.
Tribalism is one of the curses of Africa. No matter how honest a person might be, if a tribe mate or a family member comes requesting special favors, it is very difficult to refuse them. By the same token, human resource managers in various companies might favor those from their tribe over others who are equally deserving of promotion. At the same time, there are long-standing frictions between various tribes that go back hundred of years. Recently, one speaker in a large meeting referred to another one of the guests from a different tribe as his “slave.” And here in Ghana, if a member of one tribe refers to a member of another tribe as his “playmate,” I look for the closest exit. It’s not play that’s being referred to here, but conflict.
God is the Author of peace and God is not a God of confusion. Revenge only brings confusion and a reaction from the opposite party. Such conflicts never die down but escalate, hurting untold numbers of innocent people. And once the demons have succeeded in creating conflict in one location, they can spark conflict in other places as well. During the Northern Ethnic Conflict of 1994, places in southern Ghana that had been peaceful for years suddenly erupted with chieftaincy disputes and land disputes. As I am writing this, a village about 50 miles north of us has become a “no-go” zone because of a chieftaincy conflict. Health workers have had to withdraw for fear that they may become casualties.
In today’s lesson, Joseph sees his dreams come true, but the experience is anything but enjoyable. Reality is not matching the mental pictures Joseph has been cherishing during his years of prison. Truly, paybacks don’t bring peace.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, some who are reading these words may have been badly hurt and may have been considering ways they can get revenge. Speak to their hearts and calm them. Let these loved ones know that revenge is unnecessary and will only lead to worse problems. Give them peace. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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