This Sunday we will resume our study of Joseph (and his family) from Genesis 37-50, picking up the story in Genesis 43.
Summary of Genesis 43:3-14: Judah stepped forward as spokesman for the brothers. He had undoubtedly heard his father’s refusal of Reuben’s offer of surety. This role of spokesman and leader will be exercised more and more by Judah (see Genesis 43:8-10; 44:14-34; 46:28). His father, at hos deathbed blessing, would confirm Judah’s role as leader of the family (Genesis 49:8-10).
Judah again explained to his father the stipulations that the man (that is Joseph) had placed on them before they had left Egypt. Jacob now referred to as Israel (Genesis 43:8,11), responded by asking, “Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had another brother?” Jacob had earlier referred to this situation of requiring Benjamin to travel to Egypt in the words, “Everything is against me!” (Genesis 42:38). The lack of faith by Jacob in God’s sovereignty is clear. He believed Joseph was dead and that it was now up to him to protect his youngest son, Benjamin.
After explaining to their father that they had been questioned directly about their family, specifically if their father was still alive and if they had another brother, they sought to show Jacob that they had answered direct questions and had not volunteered any additional information. But the story, as related in Genesis 42:13, indicates that they had given this information in response to an accusation of being spies.
Judah again stepped forward in a leadership role and sought to guarantee the safety of Benjamin. He requested that Jacob “send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die. I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him.” Judah’s guarantee involved bearing the blame before Jacob all his life. At the end of the previous chapter Reuben, the firstborn, had offered surety for Benjamin. Jacob had refused Reuben’s offer. Now the famine had forced Jacob to reconsider sending Benjamin, but he did not reconsider Reuben’s offer.
This may have been because Reuben had shown himself unworthy and disloyal to his father in the incident of Bilhah (Genesis 35:22). Later Jacob would speak of Reuben in these terms: “Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it” (Genesis 49:4). Simeon, the second born, was in an Egyptian prison; and Levi, the third born, had proven himself to be lacking in self-control (Genesis 34:25; 49:5-7). Judah had acted improperly in the incident with Tamar, but he had repented and now apparently had come back to be part of his father’s family.
Jacob agreed to allow Benjamin to go to Egypt out of necessity. But he insisted that they take a gift, a customary practice when approaching a person of high rank. Israel (that is, Jacob) was not poor, although he lacked grain. God had blessed him materially, so he declared firmly that they should take some of the best products of the land… a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds. He also insisted they take the silver that was found in their sacks after the first journey to Egypt as well as silver for the new purchases.
The phrase “perhaps it was a mistake” showed that Israel did not contemplate the providence of God in all these affairs. He had allowed the emotion of his losses to overwhelm him and dictate his theology. But he then stated this desire: May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you.
The phrase “as for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved” contains a note of resignation that does not seem to imply faith. For Israel, the element of faith was not strong except for his previous comment on the Lord’s granting them mercy before the Egyptian authority.
This Sunday we will dig into this passage, going through it verse by verse as we seek to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).