The Ticking Clock – Genesis 43
The brothers went on to tell their father, Jacob, about the Egyptian, the money, and the ultimatum. Jacob, not knowing about the sin of selling Joseph, was afraid of losing even more of his sons. If the Egyptian had been this tough, he could wipe out all of Jacob’s legacy in one move.
The brothers begged. They knew they would all starve if they didn’t return. The clock was ticking…and it was only getting worse.
Judah continued to beg his father and round and round they went. Jacob relinquished praying, “May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”
So the brothers came once more in front of Joseph. As soon as he saw Benjamin was with them, he told the steward to bring them to his house. This must have seemed abrupt and put the brothers into a little tizzy!
So they talked to the steward, so see if it had anything to do with the money returned in their sacks and offered to give it back. The steward put them at ease and said, “Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you.” I wonder how much Joseph’s steward knew about their God?
Quite different than their first experience with this Egyptian ruler, they were not questioned, but served. Their feet were washed, and donkeys fed. Simeon was brought out of jail. He may have wondered if his brothers were ever coming back.
Joseph appeared and the small talk began as Joseph found out more and more about his father. Then he came face to face with Benjamin.
“Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there. Then he washed his face and came out.”
I wonder what the brothers thought, with his quick departure?
Then they were seated, by birth order. Who could have known their birth order, as babies were popping out of wives and mistresses? And they are all men by now. And why would the youngest get 5 times the portions? But with all the food and wine, there wasn’t much opportunity for jealousy.
But Joseph was not yet done…and neither was God.
