Genesis 43
Pastor Mark Hudson
In Genesis 43, the tension is rising until we hear the impassioned speech from Judah and Joseph’s self-disclosure in the next few chapters. This chapter begins with Jacob’s family realizing they need to back to Egypt to buy more food. Jacob is acting in a selfish way not looking out for his family. He is putting their lives in jeopardy because he cannot bear to send Benjamin to Egypt. Jacob and his sons argue until Judah intervenes. Jacob, self-absorbed, relents and sends them off while he continues in his self-pity.
Joseph, as we know, knows that these men are his brothers but they are in the dark. It seems Joseph wants to see if they have changed. How will they treat the favorite son of Jacob now? I don’t think Joseph is toying with them (well, that is a possibility). Rather, it seems that Joseph wants to be assured that his brothers have changed. The brothers know something is up but they could never have imagined, in their wildest dreams, that this Egyptian official is Joseph. So, when they return to Egypt, they are invited to eat with Joseph in his home. This startles the brothers.
Meeting Joseph’s steward, they tried to establish their innocence before their impending doom . . . or so they thought. They explain what happened. But as they are explaining, Joseph’s steward almost interrupts them by saying, “Your God and the God of your fathers” has done this. When they meet Joseph, they continue to bow but this Egyptian official asks about their father. When he meets Benjamin Joseph greets him with kindness, “God be gracious to you, my son.” Then he rushes out of the room to weep, washes his face and when he returns they eat.
When they eat, they are seated in the order of their birth and Benjamin, a full brother to Joseph, is given 5 times the amount of food the other brothers have. I would love to watch that meal and listen to what they were saying to each other. Can you imagine eating a meal where one person had 5 times more food than everyone else? Yet, we can imagine that they attributed the birth order seating to divination. But they were certainly confused. Why would they be eating with this official when it looks like they stole from him?
So far, what Joseph saw in dreams had come true. He saw his brothers bowing down to him. That was accomplished in 42:6; 43:26, 28 then in 44:14, they fall prostrate before him. Joseph is just hours away from revealing who he really is. For now, they are united and ready to go back home. The sons of Jacob think they are all done with Egypt. Joseph had other plans.
Joseph had his steward to fill the men’s sacks with grain. Joseph instructs the steward to put Joseph’s silver cup in Benjamin’s bag. Presumably, the steward packs the bags on their beast because one would think you could feel a cup in a bag of grain if you loaded it on your camel or donkey.
Thankfully, as we know, the brothers pass this elaborate test – or soon will pass it. For now, they seem confused but happy to eat and be together. What Joseph must have heard! But Joseph had one more test coming and thankfully, the brothers passed that test. Maybe, Joseph thought, they really have changed.
This chapter sets the stage for what follows. It seems we are witnessing the slow sanctification of these brothers – especially Judah. This is what happens to true believers. After being born again, we growing to be more and more like Christ. We grow by one step forward two steps back at times. But we do grow spiritually. We ought to be comforted that he who began a good work in us will complete in by the power of the Holy Spirit and His faithfulness to His covenant. For our part, we need to work with the Spirit, repenting, believing the gospel and attending to the means of grace.
It is a sweet grace to allow His Spirit into our lives to grind away at our sins and free us from the bondage of our sinful nature. Oh, we resist at times but we are thankful, like Judah, Jacob, and every saint, we do, by God’s grace grow in humility, love, and obedience. As one said, it takes a whole life to give our whole life to God.
Dear heavenly Father, work in us, Your grace and mercy so we more and more reflect the character, love, and holiness of Christ. We are so far away from being like Christ so we need Your power to keep changing us. We need You especially after we sin to return to simple repentance and faith. Restore to us the joy of our salvation. Remind us that we will, by God’s grace, live forever with You. In Christ’s name. Amen