Read Gen 43:1-18
The famine is still going on and Jacob and his sons are out of the corn they got from Egypt so Jacob has to send them back to get more corn. Judah reminds Jacob that they need to take Benjamin with them or he is not going. He promises to bring Benjamin back alive and to be responsible for his life. I would say that these brothers have learned about taking care of one another and laying down their petty jealousies. No doubt Benjamin had replaced Joseph in Judah’s affection.
Reluctantly, Jacob agrees to send Benjamin with him but insists on sending the Pharaoh the best fruits of their land to win his favor. They also took double the money and off they went. Don’t you know that Joseph was like the father in the prodigal son’s story waiting and looking for their return! They stand before him and he sees Benjamin, his little brother who he hasn’t seen for years. How moving for Joseph! He immediately told his servants to go kill some meat and take these men to his own house because they were going to eat with him that day. What should have been an honor only made the brothers scared because they held such unresolved guilt. When you have a sin that you don’t deal with, it becomes a stronghold in your life and everything is seen through the filter of that sin. They held such guilt over what they had done to Joseph because they refused to confess it to their father. If they had they could have been free and they wouldn’t be living looking over their shoulder for judgment. Because they had this guilt they couldn’t see the blessing of the money left in their bags, only the guilt of having it. If you have something you have not confessed to your father, God, then do it now because it will plague you until you do. Unresolved guilt will turn your blessings to curses.
Thank you for being a merciful God who loves to forgive our sins and cover our nakedness with the blood of your son.
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