When food gets scarce, Jacob sends all the sons except Benjamin to Egypt where Joseph has been storing up food as instructed by the Lord. So Joseph’s brothers come and bow down before him bringing to fruition the dream Joseph had many years ago. Joseph recognizes them but they have no clue who he is. Joseph then tests his brothers and tells them to bring Benjamin to him. Well, Jacob refuses to send Benjamin to Egypt until Judah steps in. Yep. Judah! The one who came up with the idea to sell Joseph off for profit. The Lord has used all the pain and chaos in Judah’s life to grow him into a man who is willing to lay down his life so his dad doesn’t have to bear the loss of another son and to save his family from starvation. Remember, Judah knows what it is like to lose 2 sons. So the brothers return to Egypt with Benjamin and bow down before Joseph again as predicted in the earlier dreams. When Judah is pleading for Benjamin’s life in exchange for his own, Joseph can’t take it any longer. He weeps loudly. Then the brothers reconcile and Joseph assures them that it wasn’t them who sent him to Egypt but the Lord. See, God’s plans aren’t always easy but they are always good! God’s good just isn’t defined the same as the world’s good. Next up, Jacob’s family moves to Egypt. Keep reading!
(Genesis 42:1-45:15)
#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching
