Word Live: Handle With Care
Is there a situation which you long to be resolved? Bring to God your feelings of impatience, anxiety, or desperation.
Bible passage
Genesis 42:1–24
Joseph’s brothers go to Egypt
42 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, ‘Why do you just keep looking at each other?’ 2 He continued, ‘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.’
3 Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him. 5 So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan also.
6 Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. 7 As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognised them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. ‘Where do you come from?’ he asked.
‘From the land of Canaan,’ they replied, ‘to buy food.’
8 Although Joseph recognised his brothers, they did not recognise him. 9 Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, ‘You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.’
10 ‘No, my lord,’ they answered. ‘Your servants have come to buy food. 11 We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.’
12 ‘No!’ he said to them. ‘You have come to see where our land is unprotected.’
13 But they replied, ‘Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.’
14 Joseph said to them, ‘It is just as I told you: you are spies! 15 And this is how you will be tested: as surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 16 Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!’ 17 And he put them all in custody for three days.
18 On the third day, Joseph said to them, ‘Do this and you will live, for I fear God: 19 if you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households. 20 But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.’ This they proceeded to do.
21 They said to one another, ‘Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.’
22 Reuben replied, ‘Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.’ 23 They did not realise that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter.
24 He turned away from them and began to weep, but then came back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.
Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Explore
Have you ever ‘blown it’ by trying to bring a delicate situation to resolution too early? As the personal, political and theological strands of Joseph’s story begin to converge, he has to act with great care. A lot is at stake here.
Joseph (vs 8, 24) and his brothers (v 21) are acutely aware of the impact of earlier events on their personal relationship. Politically, there has been a shift of power – the abused little brother is now the prince of Egypt. Theologically, the purposes of God revealed to Joseph in his dreams (v 9) can now be fulfilled. The story operates at these three levels, and so must Joseph.
Joseph has a power advantage over his brothers. He recognises them, but they don’t recognise him. He is free to do what he likes, because he is hidden. However, he wants to move to being known. Joseph’s self-restraint is remarkable. As he focuses his brothers’ attention on their youngest brother, and the possibility of their father losing him, they have to confront their earlier treatment of Joseph. Slowly, they will arrive at the point where he can reveal himself and be reunited with his family.
Author
Steve Silvester
Respond
Jesus also exercised patience as he waited to be revealed (see John 7:6–8). Ask him for wisdom and patience as you wait for a situation to be resolved, and for you to be understood.
Deeper Bible study
‘… as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.’1
Like any masterly story, the initial encounter between Joseph and his brothers leaves more questions than it answers. Was Jacob exercising decisive leadership or resigned defeat in sending his ten sons to Egypt? Was Joseph deceitful, vengeful or merciful in his treatment of his brothers? Did he realise that this was his earlier dream coming true, or was he simply exercising naked power? How would Joseph’s demand to see Benjamin prove they were not spies? Had the brothers really changed and learned to be honest, or were they merely trying to get out of the scrape they were in? There’s room for different interpretations.
It’s clear, however, that the brothers see themselves as trapped by their past (vs 21,22). Their guilty consciences have eaten away at them for years. Now they believe they’re confronting the consequences of their past actions. Their ‘eye-for-an-eye’ view of life means that their past treatment of Joseph is about to rebound on them. If only they’d shown Joseph compassion, they might now receive compassion. But they didn’t. Many people still feel trapped by their past, often with practical consequences of earlier wrong habits or behaviour that need working through. Jesus’ gospel, however, is altogether different, promising a new beginning, a total removal of our guilt – and freedom from past sins.
We know, with hindsight, that this was a major step forward in Joseph’s dreams being fulfilled. This wasn’t merely another episode in the story of a complicated, wounded family but the arena in which God was going to bring about the fulfilment of his plan, foretold in Joseph’s dream. In all the muddle of life – of family life – God is at work.
What is it in your past from which you seek freedom? Have you found this in Christ? Are there still practical consequences to work through?
Author
Derek Tidball
