Maybe you Should Have Opted for Chocolate Covered

Genesis 43

So Israel has said in no uncertain terms- you're not going back with Benjamin. The implication...I hope Simeon has a comfortable cell. So they're home with food and money...and Israel is willing to sacrifice his son to avoid any risk coming to Benjamin.

But when the food runs out- papa sings a different tune. Well okay Judah, if you can protect him, I am feeling rather peckish. So the boys head out while dear old dad stays at home. To be fair, it could be that he sees the only way to save the family, including Benjamin, is to risk harm coming to him. Maybe he worked up the trust in God's care he needed to make this a trip worth taking.

So they go with gifts- balm, honey, spices, myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. OK, I understand that culture and technology dictated a very different gift-giving climate, but these still seem like pretty lame gifts if the attempt is to save your sons. They do go back with double silver though- enough to pay for the food they already got and enough to buy more.

Judah's guarantee seems to hold more water with Israel than Reuben's- does he trust Judah more? Or is it a context thing- we're more desperate now than when Reuben made his pitch.

What's happening with Simeon all this time? Has Joseph really left him rotting in prison? Remember, he's been there longer than he should have been. They waited till the food ran out to go and try to save him. What would this have done to his self esteem? If the drought had ended, would you have ever come for me? And would Joseph have imprisoned him in the first place if he knew that they would wait so long?

Simeon doesn't seem to know that it's Joseph, or he at least doesn't spill the beans once la familia arrives. Joseph asks about his dad and is choked up when he sees Benjamin and goes off to cry in private. Not so much an attempt to maintain his bravado as a means to keep his identity secret as far as I can tell.

Interestingly, they eat "together"- well kind of. They are all served separately- Joseph- the brothers - and the Egyptians. This segregation was necessary because it was detestable to Egyptians to eat with Hebrews. So was Joseph passing as Egyptian? Or does his separate serving indicate that he couldn't eat with Egyptians either? But if that's the case, why is he served separately from his brothers? Part of the charade?

Lesson for me: the brothers tried to return the silver and Joseph's steward would have none of it. He says- I got your money- your God gave you the gift of silver.

God provides- when we have needs- or maybe even sometimes when we just have wants- God provides.

If you remember back (or even if you don't), Joseph had ordered those bags filled up. So maybe the point is that God often provides...through us. As we look out for each other, as we perform acts of kindness, random or otherwise, God is working to help His children. And his gifts are often better than pistachio nuts.