Into the lions' den - again!

Reading 14 -The brothers return
(Click here to read Genesis 43, 44)


Poor old Simeon - left as a hostage in Egypt while his brothers return to Canaan. Frustratingly, the writer of Genesis tells us nothing about his treatment, or how long he had to wait, wondering whether he would ever be freed or whether his brothers had given up on him. Indeed, the brothers never mention him.


The continuation of the famine forces the brothers - and their father Jacob - to face the decision they'd been putting off: the necessity to return to Egypt and this time with beloved Benjamin. Did they weigh up the merits of leaving Simeon to rot in an Egyptian jail against the dangers of losing Benjamin? Or was it only hunger that drove them back to Egypt once more?


After the events of their first visit, with their silver mysteriously appearing in their sacks, the brothers must have been on edge, and Joseph does nothing to assuage their nervousness, sitting the brothers down in the exact order of their ages and serving a portion five times bigger to Benjamin than their own.


Joseph is emotionally torn between his delight in hearing about his father and seeing Benjamin, and the need to assure himself that his brothers have changed. He must have longed to reveal himself to them, but holds back for one final test.


Most of us will have experienced a time when we felt that God was not communicating with us, despite our pleas for understanding and assurance. We can take heart from this story. When God seems remote and unresponsive, it may be that he is testing us, teaching us, preparing us for greater things to come.


We finally arrive at the denouement of Joseph's story (and about time too, I hear the cry...) But, like all good thrillers, there are still a few twists and turns before the story concludes happily.



Joseph has clearly inherited some of his fatherJacob's cunning. He has already confused his brothers with his apparently uncanny knowledge of their situation and relationships and now he sets one final test of their selflessness. Benjamin is clearly guilty (or so it seems) and the others brothers are offered the choice of freedom. Yet this time they stick together: 'they all loaded their donkeys and returned to the city' to await whatever was to befall them.


Judah expresses the corporate guilt the brothers now feel; there is no inclination to blame Benjamin and leave him to his fate. He offers to take Benjamin's place in order to save him and save Jacob from a broken heart. He is innocent, but prepared to pay this price.