(This is part of a series profiling the life of Joseph as conveyed in the book of Genesis. You can catch up on the rest of the series by clicking here. The following reflections cover Genesis 42.)
Twenty years. So much can happen in twenty years. So much has happened in twenty years. It’s enough time for a son of a Hebrew to appear to his brothers as an Egyptian – totally unrecognisable. He might be unrecognisable to them, but they are not unrecognisable to him. Not only that, but they fulfil the dream he had. Here they are bowing to him. So what does he do in that scenario? The interactions between Joseph and his brothers at this stage is fascinating.
Sent to Egypt
Thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 42:5 (ESV)
Everyone in the region is affected by the famine. Everyone including the family of Jacob. It’s a theme of the patriarchs that when times get rough in the land of Canaan, they turn to Egypt. In this case, there is something about Egypt that compels even Jacob to make the most of the connection. It is intriguing how the conditions and circumstances of the day are composed in such a way that allows God’s providence to be experienced.
Jacob is quick to send his sons to get some much-needed provisions for the large and larger tribe he oversees, but one thing he won’t let out of his sight is the only child he has left from his love. Events take place that can have a big effect on what we do in the future. Even for someone as advanced in years as Jacob, the loss of Joseph still affects his treatment of a son who is even older than Joseph was when he was reportedly killed.
Dream Come True: The Tables Are Turned
Egypt is the place to be and Joseph is the man to see. What a wonderful turnaround in things for Joseph. There was a time when his brothers could barely stand him and wanted to get him out of their sight. Now in God’s wisdom, here they are and for their family and their chances of survival, they have to see the person they could barely stand decades earlier. Now, of course, they don’t recognise this at the time, but it could not have passed Joseph’s perception of things. It’s also intriguing how Joseph puts a distance between himself and his brothers with the use of an interpreter. It’s as though he wants to keep the facade going as long as he can.
Is he playing games with his brothers? Is he teaching them a lesson? Is he getting his own back? The response of the brothers in protesting their innocence is fascinating. Are they honest men? Well, they’re unlikely to say anything else if they want to get the goods from the only place that sells them. Are they honest, though? Is this what Joseph is teasing out of them? Are there situations in life that tease things from us that we would not have otherwise acknowledged or admitted? Are there circumstances that appear a particular way and provoke a certain response from us that has us checking ourselves deeper to understand ourselves?
Throwing them into custody is no laughing matter for the brothers. Interesting that they’re there for three days, just as Joseph had previously informed a baker and a butler that they’d be in their position for three days. That length of time out of circulation and locked away is a common theme in the rest of scripture. It’s so intriguing how those riffs just run and run. Three days is enough time for things to seem hopeless before hope emerges. That’s clearly the case with the brothers, even if the arrangement is better than the first one, it’s still a taste of hope of some sort.
Exposed Guilt and Hidden Grace
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.”
Genesis 42:21 (ESV)
Guilt exposed. Look at what the brothers conclude. This is happening to us for what we did over two decades ago. As though you can run but you can’t hide from whatever bad you’ve done. All of them were in the same place, even as all of them were in the same position when their brother was sold into slavery. Understandably they place the blame on themselves. Much good that does to their situation.
Notice what it does to Joseph to hear that. He’s around to hear them acknowledge their guilt about what happened to him. That’s not a moment he relishes as though it proves him right and them as wrong for doing what they do to him. What is the weeping about? It betrays the emotion for Joseph to be reconnected with his brothers and to see that they’re not in the same place of bitterness and resentment to him as they had been all those years ago. It’s taken tough circumstances for them to twig that and even then what good is that for them in the position they’re in, but thankfully for them, their plight really is not as bad as they think it is.
There are some who would think that in a similar position, faced with brothers that sold you into slavery and essentially left you for dead that it would be fair to harbour bitterness and resentment yourself. It wasn’t your brothers that made you president of Egypt. It wasn’t your brothers that made you the most powerful man in the most important nation in the region. Your brothers despised and rejected you. Your brothers never had a kind word to say about you. They should pay for the pain that you’ve experienced in all of those years. Three days in prison? No, they should all rot there for the harm they caused.
Joseph’s attitude reveals something about a character he has that is remarkable considering that it’s lacking in his siblings. Joseph extends a great deal of mercy and grace. Those brothers do not get what they deserve, instead, they’re sent back to their father. Those brothers also get what they do not deserve – enough provisions for the family, plus travel provisions and all without paying a penny.
This is incredible and amazing. Where Egyptians and those coming to the land would have to pay a considerable amount to get sufficient provisions in the midst of the severe famine, these men who were considered as spies by the most powerful man in the land, get to leave the country with all that need without it costing anything. A man who has been a recipient of great grace by God extends great grace to those who opposed him.
Guilt on top of Guilt because of Grace
You can understand it. If times were desperate and the only place to get resources was from a place where people were spending to survive and you left with enough to keep you going only to discover that the money you used to pay for it was still among your stuff, and the people already thought you were dodgy … well, it would put you in an awkward position. Sure, initially you might think it’s great getting stuff for free, but what happens when you need stuff again? You’ve got that hanging over you and to make matters worse you already feel guilty because of something you did many years ago. That would be quite the guilt trip.
Joseph’s brothers don’t just have those factors to deal with, they’ve already left a brother in Egypt and can’t get him back without taking their youngest with them. And getting their Dad to let him out of their sight is going to be nigh on impossible. Stuck between a rock and a hard place is an understatement. That’s reinforced by Jacob’s reasoning for not even allowing Reuben’s offer of his own two sons.
It is fascinating how things about ourselves can be revealed in challenging circumstances. What matters to us, what drives us, what evokes great emotions from us when put to the test. All this emerges, unknowingly to them, as a result of a great act of grace extended to them.
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?”
Genesis 42:28 (ESV)
That question. Those brothers are not the only ones to ask that in the face of situations in life. That question speaks volumes. Not just a sense of guilt, but a real sense of confusion. What is going on?
All they do know is that all this hinges on Benjamin. It’s as though they’ve been given a second chance with Benjamin for what they messed up with Joseph. The deal from Joseph’s position is he just wants to see his brother again. The deal from Jacob’s position is that he’s had all he can stand from losing sons and Benjamin is his crown jewel, he will not let him out of his sight. Something will have to give … but that’s for another episode …
Joseph, Jesus and Us – Same and Different
Jesus, like Joseph, knew what it was to be ditched by his brothers. Jesus’ response to that, however, was even greater than Joseph’s. Where Joseph looked to establish a route and path of grace, Jesus did something even greater by embodying that grace. Where Joseph gave provision to the brothers that rejected him, Jesus was the provision that supported the very brothers who rejected him. That was as much with his family as it was with the disciples who were as good as his brothers for three years.
In Judas and Peter, we also see how Jesus engaged with the issues of guilt. Both men turned their backs on Jesus. Judas in betrayal and Peter in denial. Both men left Jesus in the position where He was crucified. Judas was so wrapped up in the guilt and shame that the only way out he saw was suicide. Jesus, however, knew what would happen to Peter – to the point that he let him know beforehand, prayed for him and even sought to restore him afterwards. The way of Christ is the way of grace that overcomes the shame and the guilt. Of course, for that to take place, there has to be recognition of that – an awareness and an awakening to what there is to be ashamed and guilty about. That is not for making us feel bad and wallow in it, it’s to see just how merciful and gracious our God is in Jesus Christ. It’s for us to see just what’s been washed away because of the shed blood of the son. It’s to no longer wonder how can we be such recipients of grace and be consumed by a sense of guilt about it. There’s something in it to recognise the source of the grace and celebrate how He conquers our guilt.
This is why Jesus is such a glorious and beautiful Saviour. Just as Joseph in his position of power in Egypt was unrecognisable to his brothers, the glory and wonder of the risen Saviour and King is unrecognisable to the scarred and broken man on the cross. His grace is also able to turn us from the state of shame and guilt to be unrecognisable in the light of the riches of grace that He freely gives to those who put their trust in Him. That likewise enables us to be people of grace and mercy whenever others disappoint, despise or distress us.
Questions from Joseph: Where Guilt and Grace Emerge
- What does this episode say about God?
- What do you learn from Joseph’s actions in this episode?
- Guilt is a powerful force – what can be done to deal with it?
- Where there is guilt in this, there is also grace – how does learning about this affect your life’s journey?
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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