Monthly Archives: March 2024

GENESIS 44 JUDAH INTERCEDED FOR BENJAMIN

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April 1

GENESIS 44

24 “When we went back to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 And when our father said, ‘Go again, buy us a little food,’ 26 we said, ‘We cannot go down. If our youngest brother goes with us, then we will go down. For we cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ 27 Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons. 28 One left me, and I said, “Surely he has been torn to pieces,” and I have never seen him since. 29 If you take this one also from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring down my gray hairs in evil to Sheol.’

30 “Now therefore, as soon as I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us, then, as his life is bound up in the boy’s life, 31 as soon as he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol. 32 For your servant became a pledge of safety for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father all my life.’ 33 Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers. 34 For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would find my father.”

                                                                         – Genesis 44:24-34

GENESIS 44 JUDAH INTERCEDED FOR BENJAMIN

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When the silver cup was found in Benjamin’s sack, Judah talked to Joseph

Judah interceded for his brother and pleaded for Benjamin’s release

He offered his own service to Joseph in place of his youngest brother

He explained to Joseph how it would kill their father if he didn’t come home.

Judah surprised us here in this account. When Joseph tested them and placed the silver cup in Benjamin’s sack, it was likely to examine their hearts. After years have gone by, he wondered if they also treated Benjamin with such envy just like they treated him in his youth. But we see a changed heart in Judah in this scene when he interceded for his youngest brother for the sake of his father’s life and also for his family’s lives. He was willing to offer his own service to be the servant of Joseph in place of Benjamin. He exuded the love for a brother and his father’s well-being.

REFLECTION

  • What do you think Judah meant when he said verse 34?

GENESIS 44 JUDAH PLEADS JOSEPH

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March 31

GENESIS 44

14 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground. 15 Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practice divination?” 16 And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found.” 17 But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my servant. But as for you, go up in peace to your father.”18 Then Judah went up to him and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh himself. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father, or a brother?’ 20 And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him.’ 21 Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’ 22 We said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ 23 Then you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall not see my face again.’ – Genesis 44:14-23

GENESIS 44 JUDAH PLEADS JOSEPH

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Judah comes back from their trip to Canaan and fell before Joseph

He begged Joseph to let go of Benjamin to come back to Canaan

If he doesn’t come back, their father would die for he already lost one son

Judah humbly asks Joseph to consider their father’s condition.

I have no idea why Joseph was keeping the brothers all in suspense and in agony regarding taking Benjamin in his custody. Maybe a part of Joseph’s wounded youth was surfacing in this narrative. As a trauma survivor myself, I at times am taken over by my traumatized parts and do not think straight. If Joseph has forgiven them, I do not understand why he is making them agonize. Why was he testing them and not just telling them who he is instead of keeping them in terror of what might happen to Benjamin?

REFLECTION

  • What have we discovered about Judah and Joseph in this scene?

GENESIS 44 JOSEPH TESTS HIS BROTHERS

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March 30

GENESIS 44

Then he commanded the steward of his house, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, 2 and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph told him.3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys. 4 They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? 5 Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he practices divination? You have done evil in doing this.’” 6 When he overtook them, he spoke to them these words. 7 They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing! 8 Behold, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? 9 Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die, and we also will be my lord’s servants.” 10 He said, “Let it be as you say: he who is found with it shall be my servant, and the rest of you shall be innocent.” 11 Then each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack. 12 And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city. – Genesis 44:1-13

GENESIS 44 JOSEPH TESTS HIS BROTHERS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After the dinner with Joseph, the brothers left as soon as morning came

But Joseph decided to test his brothers and placed his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack

He wanted to see if they will still speak the truth and find out more about his father

The brothers tore their clothes and each of them returned to the city.

It must have been torture for the brothers especially Judah who made a promise to his father that Benjamin will be returned to him. Now that the silver cup was found in Benjamin’s sack, that promise will not be kept. What was Joseph’s intention keeping them in suspense like this? Was it to find out if their hearts have changed or just to avenge himself?

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think Joseph tested his brothers in this account?

GENESIS 43 JOSEPH’S BROTHERS BOW DOWN TO HIM

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March 29

GENESIS 43

26 When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present that they had with them and bowed down to him to the ground. 27 And he inquired about their welfare and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” 28 They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves. 29 And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!” 30 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. 31 Then he washed his face and came out. And controlling himself he said, “Serve the food.” 32 They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. 33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth. And the men looked at one another in amazement. 34 Portions were taken to them from Joseph’s table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him. – Genesis 43:26-34

GENESIS 43 JOSEPH’S BROTHERS BOW DOWN TO HIM

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When Joseph arrived at his house to dine with his brothers

They immediately bowed down to Joseph and offered their presents

Then Joseph asked them if their father was still alive

And he also asked about their youngest brother Benjamin

When Joseph was face to face with Benjamin, he was emotional

He left their presence to hide his feelings and wept away from them.

This scene is the fulfilment of Joseph’s dream when he was a young lad. His brothers bowing down to him in that dream actually happened and the brothers had no idea it was their brother Joseph who they were bowing down to up to this point. We witness Joseph’s love for his youngest brother and his forgiving heart to those brothers who did him wrong.

REFLECTION

  • How was Joseph’s dream prophetic and why can he easily forgive his brothers?

GENESIS 43 TREPIDATIONS BEFORE MEAL WITH JOSEPH

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March 28

GENESIS 43

19 So they went up to the steward of Joseph’s house and spoke with him at the door of the house, 20 and said, “Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food. 21 And when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it again with us, 22 and we have brought other money down with us to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.” 23 He replied, “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24 And when the man had brought the men into Joseph’s house and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder, 25 they prepared the present for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.

                                                                   – Genesis 43:19-25

GENESIS 43 TREPIDATIONS BEFORE MEAL WITH JOSEPH

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When the sons of Jacob arrived back in Egypt, they were full of fear

They had no idea what was going to happen to them there

They confessed to Joseph’s steward of the house about the money

And they were assured not to fear as their payments were received

So, with trepidation, they prepared their presents for Joseph

They had no idea what was in store for them during this dinner.

It is mind blogging for the sons of Jacob to figure out why they were ushered in the house of this ruler of Egypt. He had all the power to make them slaves of Egypt. He can frame them up and accuse them of anything they had not done. Even though the steward reassured them that he got their payment and that it was their God and the God of their father that had put those treasures in their sacks, they still were very anxious.

Fear can debilitate us especially if we are keeping unconfessed sins in our lives as these brothers of Joseph kept over a decade ago. They were crippled and imprisoned by the consequences of those sins.

REFLECTION

  • How does unconfessed sins cripple and imprison the sinner?

GENESIS 43 BENJAMIN IS PRESENTED TO JOSEPH

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March 27

GENESIS 43

13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man. 14 May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”15 So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.” 17 The man did as Joseph told him and brought the men to Joseph’s house. 18 And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph’s house, and they said, “It is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may assault us and fall upon us to make us servants and seize our donkeys.”  – Genesis 43:13-18

GENESIS 43 BENJAMIN IS PRESENTED TO JOSEPH

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After much thought, Jacob agreed to let Benjamin go to Egypt

He began to accept his concern about losing Benjamin

They needed to survive this severe famine in the land

Jacob hoped that the present and the double payment will work

So, the brothers took Benjamin with them to present him to Joseph

As soon as Joseph saw his younger brother, he ordered a feast

Little did the brothers know what was going to happen

They were so terrified of what this fuss was all about.

What a suspense-filled story we hear in this account! On the part of the brothers, it was all anxiety and fear that they felt. How hard that must have been to think that they may be all prisoners in Egypt. They may never see their father or own families.

On the part of Joseph, it was also an emotional moment. He must have thought of his younger brother Benjamin all those years they were separated from each other. This scene reminds me of the prodigal son who came back and the father ordered a feast for his prodigal son. Only this time, it was a brother whom he hasn’t seen for many years.

REFLECTION

  • Were the brothers’ distress and fear justified? Why or why not?

GENESIS 43 JACOB’S STRATEGY TO SURVIVE THE FAMINE

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March 26

GENESIS 43

Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” 3 But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’” 6 Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” 7 They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” 8 And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. 10 If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.”11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 12 Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight.  – Genesis 43:1-12

GENESIS 43 JACOB’S STRATEGY TO SURVIVE THE FAMINE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When the grain was almost finished, Jacob told his sons to buy more

But Judah reminded his father of Joseph’s order to bring the youngest son

Jacob though of sending presents to Joseph to ensure his sons are back

So, he asked them to bring honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio, almonds and nuts.

If only Jacob knew that the ruler in Egypt was his beloved Joseph, the fear and panic wouldn’t be in their midst. He was fearful to lose Benjamin as he had already lost his beloved Joseph, so he thought of a strategy to be more generous to the ruler so that he could be convinced that they were genuinely good people and not spies.

REFLECTION

  • What trait of Jacob/Israel do we witness in this account?

GENESIS 42 JACOB RESISTS TO LET GO OF BENJAMIN

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March 25

GENESIS 42

35 As they emptied their sacks, behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack. And when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid. 36 And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has come against me.” 37 Then Reuben said to his father, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.” 38 But he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is the only one left. If harm should happen to him on the journey that you are to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.”  – Genesis 42:35-38

GENESIS 42 JACOB RESISTS TO LET GO OF BENJAMIN

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When Jacob saw the bundles of money given back to his sons

He became so fearful that he will lose his beloved son Benjamin

He couldn’t bear to lose his youngest one after losing Joseph

Reuben dramatically offers his sons to appease his father.

This account is full of fear and high emotions. When Joseph ordered his servants to put bundles of money in their sacks, they had no idea he was their own brother. Imagine the terror and guilt they have felt knowing that God is punishing them for their plot to kill Joseph. They could have confessed at this time that Joseph wasn’t killed by an animal, but sold to slavery. Jacob was so distressed and anxious that Benjamin, the only son he had by Rachel would also be taken away from him. He believed the lie of his sons that Joseph was dead, and now it is unbearable to think of his beloved Benjamin also going to be gone. There was no mention of his concern for Simeon who might be imprisoned.  It apparently showed Jacob’s love for his wife Rachel more than his other wife Leah. Since Joseph and Benjamin were his sons by Rachel, he loved them more than all his other children.

Reuben’s offer to kill his other two sons if he doesn’t bring back Simeon and Benjamin to his father seems off. We witness Reuben’s arrogance to offer the lives of his sons for something he has no control over. He is bargaining for appeasement of his father’s fear and using his son’s lives to do so shows foolish pride.

REFLECTION

  • Why can believing in lies keep us imprisoned in fear and distress

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GENESIS 42 GUILT AND SHAME CONSUME THE BROTHERS

March 24

GENESIS 42

26 Then they loaded their donkeys with their grain and departed. 27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his money in the mouth of his sack. 28 He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back; here it is in the mouth of my sack!” At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”29 When they came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them, saying, 30 “The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us and took us to be spies of the land. 31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we have never been spies. 32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. One is no more, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.’ 33 Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I shall know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your households, and go your way. 34 Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I shall know that you are not spies but honest men, and I will deliver your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.’– Genesis 42:26-34

GENESIS 42 GUILT AND SHAME CONSUME THE BROTHERS       

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After Joseph’s brothers were sent to get their youngest brother

They discovered their payment for the grain were returned

They were afraid that God is punishing them for their past sin

Why else could the ruler of Egypt not have taken their money?

They assumed that they won’t be able to convince him they were honest

They were scared how their father would react to such a request by Joseph.

This story is interesting as it shows how guilt and shame can consume humans, especially when they haven’t confessed their sins. They made their father Jacob believe that Joseph was killed by a beast and up to this point, which may have been at least a decade and a half, they still kept those lies intact and hidden. Unless sin is exposed in God’s light, it will stay in the dark and produce more sins. Sins couldn’t be cleansed if we don’t confess and repent of them. It will keep us living in guilt and shame.

REFLECTION

  • Why is it difficult to let go of lies and sins when we have kept it hidden for long?

GENESIS 42 JOSEPH WITNESSES HIS BROTHERS’ REMORSE

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March 23

GENESIS 42

18 On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: 19 if you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined where you are in custody, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households, 20 and bring your youngest brother to me. So your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so. 21 Then they said to one another, “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.” 22 And Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.” 23 They did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them. 24 Then he turned away from them and wept. And he returned to them and spoke to them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes. 25 And Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, and to replace every man’s money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. This was done for them.

                                                                   – Genesis 42:18-25

GENESIS 42 JOSEPH WITNESSES HIS BROTHERS’ REMORSE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When Joseph told his brothers to bring their youngest brother to him

He heard them discussing amongst themselves their remorse of their sin

They didn’t know that Joseph understood them as he had an interpreter

So, he held Simeon confined in Egypt un-til they bring back their brother

He also ordered his servants to fill each of their bags with grain

And they were also given provision for their journey back to Canaan.

This is a tearjerker scene that we are given in this account. The brothers recalled how they came up with their plot to kill Joseph in the past and Reuben reminded them that he didn’t want any harm done to Joseph. Without their knowledge, Joseph understood what they were saying and must have been weeping inside as he heard their discussion.

We realize how loving and forgiving Joseph was to these evil brothers who meant so much harm to him when he was a young lad. Only by God’s grace can we forgive those who have sinned against us, otherwise, our sin nature prevails and keeps us bitter and mad.

REFLECTION

  • How do you think Joseph felt when he heard their discussion of their sin?