Genesis 43:9-10 I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life. As it is, if we had not delayed, we could have gone and returned twice.”
Commentary reminds me that Judah, who stepped up now as surety for his brother’s life, refused to give his youngest son to his daughter-in-law, slept with a prostitute (said daughter-in-law), and was going to have her killed when he found out she was pregnant (by him). That is this same Judah we see here.
Genesis 43:11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift—a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.
This same Judah is the ancestor to King David, who is the ancestor to Jesus. What if God had said after Judah’s first transgression, “This one isn’t worth it”? What if after the second transgression, God had said of Judah, “Why am I wasting my time on this one?”
Genesis 43:12-13 Take double the amount of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake. Take your brother also and go back to the man at once.
Precious Savior, We are so quick to judge and to cast off those we deem unworthy, yet You show us time and again that You effectively use broken people in Your kingdom work all the time. And we are all broken, Lord. Thank You for Your fierce love, Your amazing grace, Your deep compassion. Help us to treat each other as You treat us–with love, honoring and honing the potential within. Amen.
Genesis 43:14 And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”
Have a blessed day.