Article 2016-01 - Pay-back Time for the Brothers
Chapter 16: Pay-back Time for the Brothers
Introduction
We learn many spiritual lessons from the lives of Joseph and his brothers. One is, that what we sow we reap, either good or bad. Another is, that God is always in control, whether in droughts or floods, abundance or shortage. Joseph tested his brothers in every area where they had failed previously. The guilt-ridden consciences of the brothers had mellowed their hearts. Besides, why was bringing in the youngest brother so importanct? It is not hard to recognize Jesus and His work in Joseph and his brothers. Discover how much missionary spirit there was present in Joseph’s life.
Scripture reference
Jacob … said to his sons … ‘I have heard that there is corn in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die’ (Gen. 42:1,2)
Joseph said to them … ‘let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go … But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that … you may not die’ (Gen. 42:18-20)
The story
Jacob, once sent to find a wife, now sends his sons to buy corn. Then Joseph sent his brothers to fetch their youngest brother, Benjamin. Joseph, now ruling Egypt under Pharaoh, built huge barns. People were not to waste corn but sell it to the government, to be used during the bad years. Wise people complied with Joseph’s commands.
The season changed. Hardly anything grew. The bad years began. Harvests disappointed that year and the next. Egyptians came to Joseph to buy grain and before long foreigners arrived too. The drought hit the whole world, but only Egypt was prepared. In the second year, ten donkey-riding Hebrews found the palace – without knowing that it was his. Had they known, they might have died rather than proceed. But they didn’t.
Joseph’s appearance had changed, he spoke another language, wore royal apparel and exercised great authority. He wasn’t recognized by them. The brothers hadn’t changed much. They were recognized immediately. Joseph spoke harshly with them, accusing them of espionage and interrogated them. He asked them about their family, to find out whether they spoke the truth. They did. But he wanted more. ‘You said you have a younger brother. Go home, bring him!’ That caused them problems and because Joseph saw their reluctance he locked them up. Then he repeated his demand. The brothers realized that what they had done to Joseph, now came back on their own heads. ‘I told you all the time,’ Reuben reminded them. ‘We shouldn’t have sold him…’ Surprised, they saw that the governor had suddenly turned and entered another room. They couldn’t know he had understood every word. They couldn’t see him weeping. A little later he came back and said, more harshly than before ‘Now leave. Except for you,’ he pointed at Simeon. ‘You stay here until they return with that younger brother. And remember: if you do not bring him, you will not see my face again!’ Simeon was locked up.
That night, he had the bags of the brothers filled with grain, and the money they had paid put on top of it. On the way home they discovered the money. It increased their uneasy feelings. When they told father Jacob about the ruler’s demand to take Benjamin to Egypt, the old man was furious and flatly refused. After the grain had been used up however and scarcity returned, he changed his mind. ‘I will personally guarantee his safety, father,’ Judah said, but he could tell that Jacob doubted his words.
Jacob gave his sons presents for the harsh ruler and told them to return his money, to show themselves as honest men. With heavy hearts the brothers turned southwest and eventually reached the palace again. They braced themselves for another meeting. Would Simeon still be alive? they wondered. But they were in for quite some surprises.
The governor invited them for dinner. They wondered why. They saw the steward and wanted to return the money, but the man said all was paid in full. The brothers failed to understand and it didn’t help to get over their anxiety. Then Simeon was brought to them. The men were relieved that he was unharmed and that they were not punished for the missing money. Simeon surprised them by telling that he had been treated well.
They went to dine with little appetite and offered their father’s gift to the governor, who now treated them politely. ‘Is this your youngest brother?’ he asked – although he knew the answer. ‘Yes sir,’ they stammered. Suddenly the ruler went into the next room. The brothers dared not say a word. When they took their seats, they noticed they were being seated in birth-order. How was that possible? And why did Benjamin receive five times more than they did? The meal was used in akward silence and the next day they were allowed to leave. The men were relieved, not knowing their adventure wasn’t over yet…
Scripture reference
Joseph said to his steward, ‘Go after those men … and when you catch up with them, say to them, : “Why have you repaid good with evil? Isn’t this the cup my master drinks from? … This is a wicked thing you have done”’ (Gen. 44:4,5)
The story, continued
The steward was not used to such strange orders. But now? He had been ordered to not only put the men’s money back into their grain-bags, but his majesty’s personal silver cup in that of the youngest as well. The brothers had hardly left the city, when Joseph ordered his steward to arrest them, treat them harshly and accuse them of theft.
The steward did so and took them back to the palace. Joseph interrogated and accused them. They could say nothing, but once Benjamin was about to be jailed for theft, Judah stood and explained the family background, including their murder, of Benjamin’s brother. Judah offered to take Benjamin’s place, so that the latter could return to Jacob.
At that Joseph broke. He ordered all Egyptians out of the room and only his brothers remained. ‘I am Joseph, your brother,’ he exclaimed, his tears flowing. Is father still alive?’ His brothers were perplexed, fearful and ashamed about what they had done to this governor, who turned out to be their long-dead brother.
‘Don’t be afraid,’ Joseph assured them. ‘God sent me ahead to save you, this big people and the rest of the world from starvation. I will never hold this against you!’ In the end his brothers believed what they heard. They were very astonished to realize that, after twenty-two years Joseph had indeed become king and that they had really bowed down before him. ‘Well guys,’ Joseph terminated the meeting, ‘Go home and take the whole family with you to Egypt. I will ensure that you get the best pastures and the finest houses to live in. And don’t forget to bring father! I will send my best wagon to collect him. He will be received like a prince!’
And so eleven brothers returned to their father, with great joy in their hearts. Some time later they established themselves in the beautiful province of Goshen, in Egypt.
Comment
If we remember that Joseph is the best personification of Christ in Genesis, we can safely say that this last part of the book is a beautiful image of what judgment is about. The brothers are judged on their works. There is a physical law that applies just as much in the spiritual realm: what one sows one reaps. It is law; inevitable. Every deed, whether good or bad will come to light. Joseph’s brothers were lucky: their deeds reaped the due harvest during their life time. When they were confronted they had the choice to repent – which they did and they could spend the rest of their life time in the king’s presence. Not all are so lucky and face judgment only after death, when the consequences will be irreversible. This is what missionaries need to keep in mind continually.
Scripture reference
A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life (Gal. 6:7,8)
Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment … (Hebr. 9:27)
Comment, continued
Joseph had sown good seed in his life and his beautiful harvest was abundant. He had exercised faith, perseverance, obedience, reliability and much more. The brothers on the contrary had sown hate, jealousy, revenge, lies and much more. One always reaps many times more of what one has sown. In the meeting with Joseph the brothers did sow good things: truth, responsibility, care, honesty and integrity. The reward for that came very soon. This shows that repentance reverses negative processes, although receiving forgiveness doesn’t necessarily erase the consequences of past sins.
Like with Noah and the Ark, Joseph’s food program was the only way God had provided for the salvation of the nations. Rejecting it would mean starvation. That one way equally applied to Joseph’s family and to the worst of pagans from the surrounding nations. Had Joseph’s brothers refused to visit Egypt for help they would have perished. There is more hope for repentant Gentiles to be saved, than for willfully disobedient Christians.
Scripture reference
‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again’ (Gen. 44:23)
And the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (Matt. 24:14)
Comment, continued
It was vital that Benjamin, the youngest, be brought to Joseph, otherwise his brothers would not see his face again. By this act Joseph, once sent on a mission, now became a sender himself: he sent his brothers to collect the one missing, to also be in his presence. Jesus also said He would not come back before the gospel of the Kingdom had been preached as far as the ends of the earth. He wants ‘the last one’ to be brought in before we, His brothers, will see His face again, at His return. If we, as missionaries, fail to do so we may never see Him come back in our lifetime.
After about twenty years Joseph made himself known to his brothers; similarly Jesus will reveal Himself to His brothers about twenty centuries after He went back to heaven. Joseph forgave his brothers for what they had done to him, as Jesus would do later.
Discussion & dialogue
- Which two persons, once sent, became senders themselves, and whom did they send, with what assignment?
- Discuss in your study group what it means for missionaries today to ‘bring the youngest brother’ into the presence of Jesus and what the implication is if we fail to do so
- Which seven of the ten themes reoccur in this chapter and how do they feature? (Answer is in the Teacher’s Guide)
