January 16

Today's readings from the Chronological Plan are taken from Genesis 42:1-45:15. Click here to read this passage online.

This passage reveals a lot about the spiritual state of Jacob and his sons.

Jacob's spiritual state is not looking so good. When the brothers return without Simeon and tell their father what has happened, and that they are not allowed to return without Benjamin, he is distressed for himself, not so much over Simeon, and he refuses to allow Benjamin to leave. He also implies that they should've been dishonest with Pharaoh's man and not told him about their brother. There Jacob goes - back to his deceiving ways. Reuben pleads with him to reconsider and Judah, who has obviously changed a lot since we saw him last, finally manages to convince Jacob to let Benjamin go with them. It literally took until there was no other choice - Jacob had to come to the end of his human resources before he was willing to let his son go (rather unlike Abraham giving up his son isn't it?).

What a shock it must've been for Joseph to see his brothers after all these years. He wants to see if they have changed and he tests them. First he keeps Simeon imprisoned until they return with the younger brother. They show regret for their actions as this point, but not the genuine repentance needed for reconciliation to take place. And so he needs to test their character more. He frames them to see what their reaction will be - and they prove to be changed men indeed!

From this commentary

1. They didn’t resent it when Benjamin was given a larger portion (43:34).

2. They trusted each other and didn’t accuse one another of wrong when accused of stealing the silver cup (44:9).

3. They stuck together when the silver cup was found. They didn’t abandon Benjamin when he was about to be enslaved in Egypt (44:13).

4. They completely humbled themselves for the sake of Benjamin (44:14).

5. They knew their predicament was the result of their sin against Joseph (44:16).

6. They offered themselves as slaves to Egypt together with Benjamin (44:16).

7. They showed genuine concern for how this would affect their father (44:29-31).

8. Judah is willing to be made a substitutionary sacrifice for his brother, out of love for Benjamin and his father, Jacob (44:33).

Consider Joseph’s brothers:

• The same brothers who once callously ignored the cries of Joseph now have expressed regret and remorse for what they did to their brother.
• The same brothers who lied to their father about Joseph’s death and broke his heart are now doing everything they can to reassure Jacob and protect him.
• The same brothers who used to act with deception and treachery are now seeking to act honorably in returning money that they knew wasn’t theirs.
• The same brothers who hated the children of Rachel (Joseph and Benjamin) are now promising to protect Benjamin with their life.
• The same brothers who had once abandoned Joseph now returned to rescue their brother, Simeon.

Only true repentance can lead to reconciliation. True repentance is not just regret or wishing you could do things differently. True repentance results in the kind of sorrow that will bring about change, depending solely on God's power.

Once Joseph saw genuine repentance from his brothers, he could finally make himself known to them. And he did so in private, ensuring that nobody would know what they had done to him, and that they would be welcomed to Egypt with open arms.

One final quote (from the same commentary)...

Jacob will eventually crown Judah with kingship (49:10), because he demonstrates that he has become fit to rule according to God’s ideal of kingship—that the king serves the people, not vice versa. Judah is transformed from one who sells his brother as a slave to one who is willing to be the slave for his brother. With that offer he exemplifies Israel’s ideal kingship.

What a long way Judah has come!! What a faithful God we serve.

Tomorrow's readings are Genesis 45:16-47:27. Click here to read this passage online.