Joseph - the Dilemma of His Brothers

 

Now the famine was severe in the land. And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. But if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’” Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.” (Genesis 43:1–10 ESV).

 

As long as the grain from Egypt lasted, an uneasy peace settled over the tents of Jacob’s clan. But two relentless forces bore down on them: the cruel famine parched the earth, and the food supply dwindled. Before long, they would need more grain.

 

But two other mighty forces were also squeezing the hardened sons of Jacob. On one side was that stern ruler, with his unyielding demand to see their youngest brother. And on the other side was their father, who could not bear the risk of letting his “only” son go. It was a dilemma they could not avoid any longer.

 

This pressure finally reaches a crescendo, however, the brothers do not yet come clean and confess their deep secret to their father Jacob. Sinful secrets are not easily exposed. It is so hard to admit doing wrong. Judah even tries to reprimand his father, saying they could have made two round trips to Egypt by now if Jacob had not delayed them. Finally, Judah strikes a deal with Jacob, offering to take full responsibility for Benjamin. And Jacob finally relents, telling his sons to bring many gifts to “the man” in Egypt, along with double the amount of silver they found in their sacks. So the brothers hurry off to Egypt—not knowing they are finally on their way to coming clean for their sin from so long ago.

 

Is God bringing you to such a place in your hidden sin? Now is a great time to turn to Him and receive forgiveness and restoration!