Story 66 The Dreaded Journey Back to Egypt
Joseph’s brothers left for the long trek home. When they arrived at the place where they would stop for the night, one of them opened a bag of grain. He saw a bunch of silver coins resting there on the top. It was the money they were supposed to pay to the Egyptians! Suddenly, he felt very, very afraid. What would the fierce Egyptian official say to this? They looked like thieves! He told his brothers. They turned to each other, trembling in fear at what it would mean. “‘What is this that God has done to us?’” they said as they shook.
These sons of Jacob were beginning to understand that God was at work through the events of their lives. The righteousness of God pressed further and further upon their hearts. They were waking up to reverence for the Lord.
When they arrived home, they told Jacob what happened. They explained that they had to bring Benjamin back to Egypt. It was the only way to convince the highest Egyptian official in the land that they weren’t spies. It was the only way to rescue Simeon from a life in prison!
When the brothers opened their sacks of grain, they realized that every one of them still had their bags of silver. That made them even more afraid. What should they do now? How would they convince the harsh Egyptian ruler that they had not tried to steal from him? What would he do to them when they arrived? Would he ever set Simeon free after this? Was Simeon already being punished for this terrible mistake?
Jacob was torn with grief. He did not believe his sons. He said to them, “‘You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me.’”
Jacob’s sons protested against him. Reuben begged Jacob to let Benjamin come with him. He offered to let Jacob put his own two sons to death if Reuben did not return with Benjamin. Jacob refused to listen to any of them. Reuben had already fallen from his place as eldest son, and none of them could assure him that Benjamin would return unharmed. He said, “‘My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.’” Jacob’s heart was divided against his sons, but they were becoming united in their desire to set things right.
The famine continued on and on, becoming more and more severe. The time came when the grain that Jacob’s sons had brought from Egypt was running out, and they were in danger of starving again. The only place in the world that had any food was Egypt. Jacob told his sons to go back and buy more food. Judah reminded his father that the only way the official of Egypt would give them more grain was if Benjamin was with them. Otherwise, they would receive no help.
In his deep frustration, Jacob asked them why they had bothered to tell the official they had another brother. They said that the official had asked about their family. They were answering him honestly to prove they weren’t spies. They pointed out that there was no way they could have known that the official would demand they bring Benjamin to Egypt!
Finally, Judah stepped up and told his father, “‘Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die. I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him here before you, I will bear the blame for you all my life. As it is, if we had not delayed, we could have gone and returned twice.’”
Wow. Did you hear that? Judah was willing to lay his own life down for the sake of his brothers and his family. The first thing he offered Jacob was his family fortune if he didn’t bring Benjamin back. He guaranteed his safety. Then he said that he would put his own life on the line to protect Benjamin. Then he promised to take whatever blame and punishment Jacob wanted to put on him for the rest of his life if Benjamin didn’t return.
This is a much bigger offer than we can probably imagine. For you see, as far as the family knew, Joseph was dead, and Judah was next in line to lead the family of God. Yet he was willing to risk losing that tremendous honor in order to change his father’s mind. He was willing to give up his life for the sake of others. Does that remind you of anyone? What a changed man he was! He was becoming a righteous leader. Less than two decades before, it was his idea to sell Joseph into slavery. Now he was binding himself to promises so he could set his brother free and save the family of God from certain death.
Judah was respectful to his father, but he made it very clear that they had no choice. They had to go to Egypt, and they had to take Benjamin with them.
Jacob said, “‘If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift-a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds. Take a double amount of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake. Take you brother also and go back to the man at once. And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that they will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.’”
Wow, think about what a terrible decision that was for Jacob. He believed Joseph was dead, and now Simon was in prison in Egypt. If he sent Benjamin, he might lose him, too. All the rest of his sons were in danger of being accused of stealing from Egypt’s royal food supply. There was a good chance every one of them would go to jail.Then he and the rest of the family would surely die. Imagine how serious the danger of starvation was if they were willing to risk all this. The entire covenantal family was at stake, and it was up to the Lord to bring them home safely.
Jacob’s sons packed up the extravagant gifts and the silver and made their way back to Egypt. When Joseph saw them and Benjamin with them, he told one of his servants to take them back to his own house and slaughter an animal for a feast. Joseph was going to go home at noon to eat with them. Joseph’s servants did just as he asked. But Joseph’s brothers were terrified. Of all the people in line, why were they being taken away for this special interview? Did the Egyptian official know about the silver in their sacks? Was he planning to attack them and take them as slaves?