Author: Beth Duncan

Genesis 43:5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, because the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’”

Judah seems to be the one brother with a bit of conscience. All those years ago, it was Judah who proposed selling Joseph into slavery instead of killing him. Of course, he could have been motivated by greed and money instead of goodwill, but his motives are between him and God.

Genesis 43:6 Israel asked, “Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had another brother?”

Now, when faced with the entire family starving or possibly destroying his father by taking away Benjamin, the youngest and his father’s favorite, Judah steps up in an ever bigger way, offering himself as surety for Benjamin’s life so that they can go get more food and hopefully recover Simeon in the process.

Genesis 43:7 They replied, “The man questioned us closely about ourselves and our family. ‘Is your father still living?’ he asked us. ‘Do you have another brother?’ We simply answered his questions. How were we to know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?”

Precious Savior, Forgive me when I play God, when I insert myself into a situation, when I judge motives and intentions, when I pass judgement on others instead of loving them as You love. Help me to be more like You daily. Amen.

Genesis 43:8 Then Judah said to Israel his father, “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.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 43:1 Now the famine was still severe in the land. 

I wonder what Simeon is doing all this time. Is he just languishing in jail? How much time has actually passed? Weeks? Months? Years? What’s Joseph into? Does he go talk to Simeon at all? Is he letting Simeon languish in jail all by himself? Had the famine not persisted, would they have even gone back for him at all?

Genesis 43:2 So when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”

That last question has me wondering about avoidance–If there is no need to fix the situation, just ignore the situation. That’s a little bit what it feels like, and avoidance is a strategy I’m familiar with–There is no logical need for me to dig into this, so I’m going to leave it alone because I don’t like what’s involved in it.

Genesis 43:3 But Judah said to him, “The man warned us solemnly, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ 

Precious Savior, Forgive me for my avoidant tendencies. If there are things in my life that I have avoided instead of dealt with, help me to see and know so I can deal with them instead of letting them fester. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

Genesis 43:4 If you will send our brother along with us, we will go down and buy food for you.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 42:35 As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his pouch of silver! When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened. 

Commentary says of Jacob’s actions in this section, “At this point, Jacob could not bear to trust God again. He lived protecting himself against future pain.” I’ve got to admit that I am struggling a bit with that quote.

Genesis 42:36 Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!”

I try to protect myself and my family from pain and loss in myriad ways–planning, packing extras of things, doing the work that needs doing, making sure my family knows how much I love them. I’ve never thought of any of that as not trusting God. Is it?

Genesis 42:37 Then Reuben said to his father, “You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back.”

Precious Savior, What is the line between being prepared and not trusting You to take care of us? How do I walk that line faithfully, making sure I do my part to be prepared without crossing into the territory of unbelief? Help me to navigate that line steadfastly. Always. Amen.

Genesis 42:38 But Jacob said, “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.”

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 42:31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies. 

Did Joseph react to his brothers, who sold him into slavery, calling themselves honest men? Did he have to bite his tongue not to say something when these “honest men” said that “one was no more”? Was this part of his struggle, his needing to let go of his anger at his brothers so he could be in a restored relationship with them?

Genesis 42:32 We were twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in Canaan.’

Am I projecting? Placing onto Joseph emotions I think I would struggle with had it been me in his situation? Honestly, at this point, I have no idea. What I do know is that God is in control. He is present. He is willing and able to work all things–even this–for their good and His glory if they will allow.

Genesis 42:33 “Then the man who is lord over the land said to us, ‘This is how I will know whether you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for your starving households and go. 

Precious Savior, We have all had people who have wronged us, and many times those people show back up in our lives, claiming we can trust them. Trust, once shattered, is hard to repair. Help us, all of us, to seek to love as You love–fiercely, deeply, completely. Protect us, draw us closer, work all things for our good and Your glory. Amen.

Genesis 42:34 But bring your youngest brother to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the land.’ ”

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 42:22 Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.” 

Commentary says about Joseph’s actions, “We don’t know how much he sensed it, but this was all guided by God.” My first reaction was, “What?!? How do you know? How did *he* know?” However, after my initial knee jerk reaction, I pondered my own life and actions and God’s guidance.

Genesis 42:23 They did not realize that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter.

Many times have I reached out to someone, sent a note of encouragement, because God laid that person on my heart. I try to pay attention and act when I feel His nudge. And many times I’ve heard “I needed that” or “Your timing is perfect” in response to listening to His still small voice and reaching out.

Genesis 42:24 He turned away from them and began to weep, but then came back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.

Precious Savior, Thank You for the ways in which You guide us–big and small, known and unknown. Help us to get better at looking for Your presence, at seeing where You are leading and guiding us. Help us to be Your hands and feet in this world. Amen.

Genesis 42:25-26 Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man’s silver back in his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. After this was done for them, they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 42:18 On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: 

No matter how often I read this section of scripture, no matter how many commentaries tell me that Joseph is acting in a way that will bring his brothers closer to God, I can’t help but think Joseph is still a bit angry at his brothers for all he has suffered because of their actions so long ago. His actions seem harsh.

Genesis 42:19 If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households. 

So I went searching for “is Joseph being mean to his brothers or is he helping them to repent” and came up with a commentary that says “Restoration of right relationships involves both repentance and healing.” The brothers need both, but Joseph definitely needs healing, and his actions show that and ultimately lead him towards that healing. That makes sense to me in the context of what I’m seeing here.

Genesis 42:20 But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do.

Precious Savior, Thank You for the ability to think and search and explore not only Your word but also commentary on Your word as I try to  make sense of what I read each day. Thank You that Your word, other’s commentary, and my thoughts draw me closer to You. Help me always seek clarity and closeness with You. Amen.

Genesis 42:21 They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.”

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 42:14 Joseph said to them, “It is just as I told you: You are spies!  

Lord, I know that You can use all things for our good and Your glory, but I truly do not think that You cause bad things to happen to us. You love us so fiercely and completely, I just can’t reconcile that with Your sovereign love and compassion.

Genesis 42:15 And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 

Yet commentary posits that You directed Joseph to put his brothers in jail because their hearts aren’t softened towards You sufficiently enough to allow You access. And while that makes sense, wouldn’t that mean You were the direct cause of this bad thing happening, which seems counter to all I know of You.

Genesis 42:16 Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!”

Precious Savior, You are loving and good, and I resist the idea that You cause, You send bad things into our lives. I think You are all about natural consequences caused by our actions, and I think You can (and will and do) use all things for our good and Your glory, even the really difficult, painful things. Thank You. Draw me closer. Always. Amen.

Genesis 42:17 And he put them all in custody for three days.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 42:9 Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”

You’ve heard the saying “Desperate times call for desperate measures”? That feels like what the brothers are experiencing right now. The only reason they are standing here in front of this man (who happens to be their long lost brother) is because they are desperate.

Genesis 42:10 “No, my lord,” they answered. “Your servants have come to buy food. 

I wonder what is going through their minds as Joseph talks about them being spies. Panic? Fear? Any glimmer of a thought of what they put their brother through all those years ago when they sold him into slavery?

Genesis 42:11-12 We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.” “No!” he said to them. “You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”

Precious Savior, It still feels like Joseph is just being vengeful and mean to his brothers, but I know that’s not the way You operate, so I know there must be more going on here. Help me to see Your hand in today’s scripture. Help me to shine Your light. Amen.

Genesis 42:13 But they replied, “Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 42:5 So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan also.

I have always read this section as Joseph being mean to his brothers. Verse 7 seems to support my interpretation because not only did Joseph recognize his brothers (though they didn’t recognize him), but also he spoke harshly to them.

Genesis 42:6 Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. 

Commentary, however, posits that Joseph is guided by the Holy Spirit in his actions here and that God is still developing and refining the brothers in this section. It is an interpretation that I like simply because I can’t reconcile Joseph’s actions otherwise.

Genesis 42:7 As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.”

Precious Savior, Yet again You remind me that my job is not to judge but to shine Your light. Seeing Joseph as vengeful in this scripture never sat well with me. Thank You for putting another theory on my radar. Thank You for the ability to think and explore as I draw closer to You. Amen.

Genesis 42:8 Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.

Have a blessed day.