First the food and then the Test

Genesis 43:26-34

As we resume the story, we find the eleven brothers coming into Joseph’s house bringing gifts and the first question out of Joseph’s mouth is; “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke?  Is he still alive?”  They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.”  And they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves.  And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?  God be gracious to you, my son!”  We are told that Joseph lost it, his emotions over came him, and he hurried from the room, and after a while he returned and told the servants to serve the food.

When the food was served, the brothers were seated according to his birthright, and this amazed the brothers.  But Joseph sat by himself and the Egyptians ate by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.   Now, all the food was at Joseph’s table, and it was taken from there and served to the brothers, and each of them got the same portion, until it came to Benjamin and he got five times more than his brothers.  It has been a great time of food and drink, life is good once more, and tomorrow they will leave for home.

If you think it has been a good time for the eleven brothers, it has been much better for Joseph, and yet he does not have the freedom, or the peace to tell them he is Joseph, the brother they sold for 20 pieces of silver.  He has one more test for the brothers, and he is not sure they will pass that test.  This test will show if they have changed, the test will tell what they will do with Benjamin, his younger brother.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice