Knowing the Word in Genesis 43:1-15, Back to Egypt Boys!

1 Now the famine was severe in the land [same wording as 12:10 and similar to 41:57]. 2 And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food [as though they will go to Walgreens rather than the Cairo Costco].” 3 But Judah [the oldest son in good standing with his father since Ruben failed to persuade his father, Simeon was in jail, and Levi was silent] said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’” 6 Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” 7 They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” 8 And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I will be a pledge of his safety [grasping the nub of his father’s concern]. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever [suggesting Jacob could demand his own life if he fails to return Benjamin]. 10 If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.” [The situation is desperate, but Judah is finally stepping up to the occasion. He is now the leader of the sons of Jacob, giving us an insight into how the line of the elect will go through him until Jesus is born. Judah is becoming more like his brother Joseph and more like Jesus himself.]

11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds [reminding us of the present he sent ahead of his family to Esau]. 12 Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man. 14 May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” [Jacob withholds his permission to take Benjamin until the last minute and then seems resolute that God will not answer his prayer.]

15 So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph. [What drama!]