Can Judah Save His Little Brother?

By Mary Vee
Genesis 44:14-45:8

Joseph stepped back slightly from the balcony edge as the guards came into view with his brothers. Their heads are bowed. They aren't struggling to get free. This isn't what I expected.

He turned as their footsteps echoed in the corridor. Then a knock. "My lord, we've brought the thieves."

Joseph shook his head. There is no way they've changed. My brothers sold me into slavery. They only care about themselves. I must be strong--yes strong--and save Benjamin from them. He can live with me here. They'll probably cheer when they leave. He balled his fist and raised his chin. "Bring them before me."

The guards shoved the Hebrew men into the room as they wood any group of criminals. They stumble but regain their balance. Without a signal all eleven brothers bowed to the floor before the governor.

Joseph folded his arms and scowled. "What deed have you done. Did you honestly think a man such a I would not know you stole my private cup?"

Judah raised his eyes slightly. "What can we say to you, my lord? What could be our defense to clear our names?" He shook his head and sighed. "God has found our sin. Here we are, your slaves, both we, and the one with whom the cup was found." Judah lowered his head to the floor.

"Oh, No." Joseph raised his hand. "Far be it from me to keep all of you here. The only one to be my slave is the one who had the cup. As for the rest of you, leave. Leave in peace and go to your father."

The guard grabbed Benjamin and pulled him to the side. He signaled the brothers to get up. Judah turned to face the governor. He pressed his hands together and took a deep breath. "O my lord, please, let your servant speak and do not let your anger burn against me, for you as powerful as Pharaoh."

Judah retold the who story of what Joseph asked them to do from their first visit to this time. At the end of his testimony Judah looked at the governor and bowed his knees. "Now therefore, please let me stay instead of the boy as a slave to my lord and let the lad go u with his brothers. How can I go to my father if the lad is not with me and risk seeing the evil that would come to my father?"

Joseph's heart boomed in his chest. He cares about Benjamin! He cares about Father! He looked at the other brothers to see what their faces showed. They've huddled toward Benjamin. Their faces, they truly care about him.

How can I bear this pretense any longer? I must tell them who I am. "Guards. Servants. All but these eleven men--leave this room at once."

"Yes, my lord." The brother's eyes grew wide as they found themselves alone--alone with the governor.

Joseph couldn't hold his tears any longer. Tears fell down his cheeks and his body sobbed. He cried so loud the whole household heard. The eleven brothers looked at each other and cowerd toward the wall.

"Come near," Joseph spoke in perfect Hebrew. "Do not be afraid. I am Joseph. Is Father still alive?" His brothers stayed back toward the wall. They don't believe me. "Please come near."

Judah signaled them to walk to the governor. Joseph took a deep breath and wiped tears away. He held his arms out toward them. "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold as a slave. Don't be angry with yourselves because you sold me here because God sent me before you to preserve life. God sent me before you to preserve food for you and your families that the Hebrews might continue to live on earth."

Many years had passed since his brothers had seen Joseph. He had changed. He wore Egyptian clothes, he became a governor, he spoke the Egyptian language. The brothers had no idea this man was Joseph. What do you think they did when they found out?

God took care of Joseph all these years while he lived in Egypt. Life was difficult for him, but the survived. God gave him the knowledge and skills to organize a program to store food for the famine.

God has a plan for you as well. How has God taken care of you this week?

Can Reuben Save Simeon?

By Mary Vee
Genesis 42:29-37

Reuben and his brothers came to the last hill before their father's home. Asher walked up to the front of the group. The others joined him. "Reuben, you're going to do all the talking, right?"

I wish I didn't have to, but I'm the oldest. Reuben raised a corner of his mouth. "Of course. I don't mind telling father."

Asher slapped his older brother on the back and laughed with relief. "Thanks."

Reuben yanked the rope for his donkey and took the lead down the hill. In the distance he noticed his father standing near a tent. Reuben's pace slowed. He's going to be mad. How do I tell Father that Simeon's in jail? How do I tell him I need to take Benjamin back to rescue Simeon?

As they neared, Jacob walked out to the road. He shaded the sun from his eyes. "My sons, you're home!"

The brothers tied their donkeys to a tree and walked over to their father. Reuben turned to look at each brother. "Remember, I do the talking." They nodded, raised their heads, and smiled.

Jacob opened his arms to give each of his sons a warm welcome. "My sons, I'm so glad you're home. Come, have something to eat and drink. You must tell me about your journey."

Jacob raised his cup to give a toast. "To my sons who brought food for our families." As Reuben and the others raised their cups, Jacob scanned the row of boys. "Do my old eyes deceive me? Didn't I send ten sons to buy food? Why do I see nine?"

He slammed his fist on the table. "Where is Simeon?"

Dan and the other brothers coward back.

Reuben rubbed the back of his neck. "I will tell you about our journey." He took a deep breath. "The man who is lord of the land spoke with harsh words to us. He said we were spies!"

Jacob's eyes flashed wide. "Spies? Why did he say that? What did you do?"

Reuben shoved his hands down on the table. "I told him--" he pointed to his brothers, "--we told him 'We are honest men, not spies. We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. One has died, and the youngest is with our father in the land of Canaan."

At that moment, Benjamin closed the gate for the sheep. He rubbed his hands together and sat at the table. "You're back! Great, I could use some help with--hey, where's Simeon?"

The older brothers growled at him. "Quiet, Squirt."

Jacob pressed his hands together and looked back at Reuben. "So, what happened to Simeon?"

'Well, the lord of the country said, 'There is a way you can show your honesty. Leave one of your brothers here with me, take food for your hungry families and leave. When you get home, get your youngest brother and bring him to me. If you do these things, I will know you truly are honest men and will set your brother free and allow you to trade in Egypt."

"And you left Simeon there?"

Reuben stood and took a few steps from the table. "There's more."

Jacob pushed up with his cane and followed Reuben. "More? What could be worse?"

Reuben and the other brothers led Jacob to their grain sacks. Each opened his. Jacob gasped. "Why is there money on top of the grain?"

"We don't know. We did what we were told. It wasn't until we were half way home that the money was discovered."

Jacob pressed his fist on his chest and closed his eyes. "I can't take much more. Joseph is dead, Simeon is gone, and now you want to take Benjamin away? What more could be against me?"

Reuben bowed. "Take my two sons. If I don't bring Benjamin back to you, take my sons. Trust me. I will bring him back to you."

The Bible says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding." Reuben has stopped thinking about himself and started thinking of others. He wanted to rescue Simeon. He wanted to protect Benjamin. He wanted to get food for the families.

Will Jacob let Reuben take Benjamin to rescue Simeon? Reuben realizes that all his troubles came because they sold Joseph into slavery. When everything goes wrong for you, what do you think God wants you to do? Click on the comment button.

Reuben's Trouble

By Mary Vee
Genesis 42: 25-36

Reuben loaded the last sack of grain on a donkey. He glanced back at the prison where the Egyptian governor locked up his brother, Simeon. "We'll be back for you," he called, even though Simeon wouldn't hear. The remaining eight brothers echoed his words.

Reuben turned toward the road. "Let's go. The sooner we get home and bring Benjamin back for the governor to see, the sooner Simeon will be released from prison."

Levi pulled one of the donkeys forward. "What if the governor doesn't release Simeon?"

"Yeah, Reuben."Asher caught up to him after yanking his donkey four times. "What if the governor puts Benjamin in jail, or worse yet, what if he kills him?"

"I don't know." Reuben sighed. He grabbed a rope to lead his donkey. "Let's do one step at a time. For now, we'll take the food home to our families, pack up Benjamin then take him to the governor."

Issachar shook his head. "You think for one minute Father's going to let us take Benjamin to Egypt? He watches him with eagle's eyes."

Reuben rubbed his hands together then held them against his face. "Ever since we sold Joseph as a slave to those Ishmaelites there's been nothing but trouble."

"I wonder--" Judah paused. He stroked his beard and glanced back toward Egypt. "I wonder what happened to Joseph."

The brothers walked silently for a few moments. Reuben glanced back. Are they thinking about Joseph, too?

No one told jokes or stories. They simply sweltered in the heat of the day.

At last Gad broke the silence. "All Father does is mope around the farm. If it weren't for Benjamin, he'd have died years ago."

Reuben knew he was right. What am I going to do? What can I say to Father to get permission to take Benjamin to Egypt? Simeon can't wait in jail forever. There must be a way. There must!

Reuben pushed his brothers to travel further than a usual day's walk. "Just a little further. We need to hurry home." When he finally let them set up camp, each brother rushed to do their chores. Even Reuben had trouble keeping his eyes open.

One reached for his sack of grain to feed his donkey. He untied the rope and pulled the cloth open. He looked inside then stumbled back a few steps. "Oh No!"

Reuben turned. "What? What's wrong?"

"L--look. Look in my sack!"

Reuben ran to see. He gaped in the opening. "Why is there money in your sack?"

The brother shook his head. "How should I know? I didn't put it here." He pulled the money out of the bag. "It's the exact amount I paid!"

The other brothers yanked their sacks open. "My money is here, too." "So, is mine." "What are we going to do?" "I don't know." "Father's going to think we stole the grain." "You're right. He won't let us take Benjamin back to Egypt to get Simeon." "What are we going to do?"

Reuben sat on the ground and held his head in his hands. "What has God done to us?"

Levi sat on the ground next to Reuben. He sat quietly for a moment then pulled a blade of grass. "Let's leave the money in the grain sacks for now and let Father help us think of a solution."

"Don't you see, Levi?" Reuben's head throbbed. "This--the money, Simeon, the rude governor--all our troubles are happening because of what we did to Joseph."

Judah laid his hand on Reuben's shoulder. "You're right."

"I'm what?"

Judah sat eye to eye with his brother. "I wish we could undo that day--but we can't. All we can do now is live with the troubles we brought ourselves."

"Trouble is right. We once were twelve brothers, now we are ten. What next?"

The brothers gathered together. Reuben looked each in the eye then pounded his fist in his hand. "We must do our best to right wrongs we've done against God and our father. Tomorrow we continue home, get Benjamin then rescue Simeon."

The Bible says, "Your sins will find you out." Reuben and his brothers know that now. What do you think God wants Reuben and his brothers to do? They don't know that the governor is Joseph, yet. They are heading home without Simeon. They have to convince their father to let them take Benjamin back. So much going on.

How do you feel when you're in the middle of trouble. I've felt overwhelmed, not sure what my next choice should be, even though God tells my heart what I should do. If you could talk to Reuben and his brothers right now, what would you tell them?