Today in God’s Word

Today in God's Word—November 2024

East Tallassee Church of Christ

November 29, Genesis 43

May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved. - Genesis 43:14

Have your circumstances ever made you change your mind about a decision? Maybe you changed because someone reasoned with you and helped you see that you had to make the change. Jacob was in such a place. He declared that Benjamin would not, could not go to Egypt with his older half-brothers. But the famine had gotten worse, and the previous supply of grain from the first trip was gone.

When Jacob told his sons to go back to Egypt and buy more food, Judah reasoned with his father. He told him it would be a pointless trip unless Benjamin was with them. The man (as they called Joseph) made it clear he would not meet with them unless they brought Benjamin. Judah showed Jacob that Benjamin along with the rest of them would die from starvation if they didn't go. He pledged his own life as surety for the young man’s safety and return.

Jacob finally relented. Benjamin could go. He told them to take a gift basket of fruit, nuts and spices from the land to the man, and to take the money from their last visit plus enough to pay for the present trip. That was all good, but there was something even better about Jacob's concession statement. After a career of devising schemes to get his way, he surrendered Benjamin and all of them to the mercy of God. The head of the family of faith was at last showing evidence of that faith at work in his thinking.

When Jacob's sons returned to Egypt, Joseph saw them before he met with them, and saw Benjamin with them. He sent his steward out to meet them and told them they would dine with the governor that day at his residence. The brothers feared it was a trap. They wanted to explain their innocence, but the steward assured them that he had their money before and had put it back in their sacks. He reunited the brothers with Simeon who had been retained in Egypt.

When the brothers saw Joseph, they bowed twice, again bringing Joseph's old dreams to life. They answered Joseph's questions and presented Benjamin. Joseph pronounced a blessing on the young man. Then he hurried out of the room, overcome with emotion. When he composed himself and returned, lunch was served. Joseph sat alone because of his rank. He amazed the brothers by seating them in birth order at their table. Joseph honored his little brother with extra portions reserved for the very special guest, and the brothers seemed

delighted with Benjamin's honored place.

Judah was finally emerging as the man this family needed him to be. Reuben has been unstable and ungodly. Simeon was in jail in Egypt. Levi (who had been Simeon's partner in the massacre of the Shecemites) was not the one to take the lead, either. It was Judah who reasoned with his father and offered himself in Benjamin's place. Judah would make the impassioned plea to Joseph in the next chapter. In years to come, one of the tribes and later the southern kingdom would wear his name. Israel's Davidic dynasty would be in his line of descendants. And Jesus himself would be called "the Lion of the tribe of Judah."

What lessons are for us here? From Jacob, let’s learn that when we've made up our mind on the basis of emotion or selfishness, we ought to listen to the voice of reason. Also, our lives will be better when we surrender our circumstances and decisions to the Lord, seeking his mercy instead of relying on our own cleverness for the right outcome. A third lesson Jacob teaches here is that we should be thoughtful and acknowledge our gratitude for help beyond our means with a small token of appreciation that is within our means. And from Judah, let's take heart that past failures and foolishness cannot keep us from growing, progressing and becoming the person God made us to be. We all have room to grow and change.

Joseph had one more test in mind before he unmasked his true identity. It will be another occasion for Judah to speak with eloquent persuasiveness. The brothers don't know it, but the improbable reunion of Jacob's family is just ahead.

Copyright © 2021 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.