Reconciliation and a move to Egypt  

Yesterday when I left off, Jacob's 11th son Joseph was abused in just about every way, and yet because God was with him remained successful in all he did until he was more or less king of Egypt. By the beginning of a seven year famine, he's got enough grain to feed the whole world. All of Egypt comes to buy grain from him. We haven't heard about the rest of Jacob's family for a while, and that's where today's reading takes us.

Synopsis

Jacob sends his sons (minus his youngest, Ben) off to get grain. They bow before Joseph without recognizing him, and he can barely hold it together emotionally in their presence. I don't think he is sure how to reveal himself, so he calls them spies and demands that to prove they are not, they bring Benjamin back.

He keeps Simeon there as collateral, and his brothers, who claim to be honest men, blame their situation on their mistreatment of Joseph years ago. When they head back, Jacob isn't too keen on losing Simeon AND Benjamin. Plus the silver they paid for the grain seems to put back in their bags, so they fear for their lives.

But soon enough they run out of grain again because the famine is so severe. Judah makes himself personally responsible for Ben's safety. They head back and Joseph demands to have a meal with them, where they are treated well (especially Benjamin). Joseph has a silver cup put in Ben's bag, and when it is found, Ben is stuck being Joseph's slave. Judah begs to trade himself for Benjamin.

At this point Joseph can't take it anymore and breaks down weeping, revealing himself. His brothers are dumbstruck. But he says something very powerful: that his is not mad, that it is not them that sent him there but God, in order to save Israel's family from death, so they are all to move down there with dad and live on the best land and Egypt. Pharaoh hears about it all and is happy for Joseph, offering land.

Jacob, of course, can't believe is son is alive and is totally revived by the whole experience. Jacob and all his family, 66 men in all, move down to Egypt. On the way there God assures Jacob that this is all part of the plan of the covenant. Jacob actually meets the Pharaoh and blesses him.

Analysis

Although for the last day or so we hadn't heard about the covenant, we learn at the end of this passage that all that is happening, including moving to Egypt, is part of the plan to eventually get the land they were living in, and have a great nation, and bless all nations. Clearly God is blessing the family, by saving them from starvation.

This is maybe the most powerful part of Genesis. Joseph has been mistreated but instead of revenge he offers (literal, physical) salvation to his brothers, saying that it was all part of God's plan. This whole experience seems to have a profound effect on his otherwise detestable siblings. They seemed to be transformed through the whole experience.

Response

Character development has been such a surprising element of Genesis. When reading all the stories one by one, it is hard to see, but by reading more at a time, reflecting on it and charting it out, it is easier to see how God first develops Abraham, then Jacob, and eventually of Jacob's kids, and he does it through blessings and love.

I'm excited to finish Genesis, which in turn is a book that is really pointing beyond itself to the future where the promise is fulfilled.