GENESIS 42
When Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” 2 And he said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die.” 3 So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might happen to him. 5 Thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.6 Now Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. 7 Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them. “Where do you come from?” he said. They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” 8 And Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. 9 And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them. And he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land.” 10 They said to him, “No, my lord, your servants have come to buy food. 11 We are all sons of one man. We are honest men. Your servants have never been spies.” – Genesis 42:1-11
GENESIS 42 JOSEPH’S BROTHERS BOW DOWN TO HIM
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
As soon as Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, he sent his sons
Only ten of them were sent since and had his youngest son stay with him
He feared that he will lose Benjamin as he already lost Joseph
Without recognizing Joseph, the brothers bowed down to Egypt’s ruler.
Joseph’s dream came true again. The dream that they would bow down to him. The dream that they mocked Joseph with and hated him more was truly happening. But they didn’t recognize him, but Joseph did. Joseph had such humility and amazing memory to even recall those brothers who sold him into slavery and also plotted to murder him. So, Joseph treated them as if he didn’t know them and accused them of being spies. This accusation must have caused much fear for them since it will jeopardize their desire to buy grain and without food, they can also starve to death.
REFLECTION
- How come Joseph recognized his brothers and they didn’t?
