January 26th

January 26th -- Genesis 42 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2042&version=NLT)

Joseph's brothers show up in Egypt.

So during the famine, Egypt, of course, had food due to Joseph's knowledge of and preparation for the famine. Joseph's family was living off elsewhere, though, and so Jacob sent Joseph's brothers to Egypt to buy grain because they had not prepared for any famine and were starving. Also, Jacob keeps Benjamin home, because he's afraid something will happen to him if he sends him along.

Now, Joseph's brothers show up to Joseph for grain - they do not recognize him, but he recognizes them. However, he doesn't tell them who he is. Instead, he basically keep saying they are theives until one says that they are honest men and there are twelve of them but one was lost and the other is at home. Joseph says he will let one go back to fetch the youngest and jail the rest. So he jails them all for three days.

After three days, he tells them that he will keep one here and send the others home with grain. He will let the last one come home when he has seen that they were telling the truth, meaning he will believe when the youngest brother comes.

Now, Joseph KNEW they were his brothers, so why would he ask that of them when he knew they were telling the truth? I found a note on int in my study Bible. After what had happened to him, Joseph wanted to ask Benjamin in person how his brothers were treating him so that he knew they were not treating Benjamin how they had treated him. The deal was his way of getting Benjamin there to speak in person. I find that really interetsing that he came up with all of that.

Joseph also hears Rueben saying that he had been opposed to harming Joseph. I wonder what he thought upon hearing that. After all those years he found out that Rueben had stood up for him...

Also, at first I figured that he sent the money back with them to be kind, as they were his family. However, the brothers were UPSET to find it...

So they tell this all to their father, who gets extremely upset as he has just lost another son. Rueben says that he will take Benjamin to get Simeon back and if he doesn't bring Benjamin back safely, Jacob can kill his sons. However, Jacob still refuses to risk sennding him.

This story is sad... just to see such a broken family... it's really upsetting. But it again interesting to see how God uses those broken familes - all of the pain, suffering, and fear - to teach others and make a difference for Him.

Well, I think that's all.
God bless!

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