JACOB SERIES: SENDING SONS TO EGYPT FOR FOOD

Over twenty years had passed since Jacob was deceived by his sons into thinking a wild animal had killed Joseph, and now the dream Joseph had at age seventeen concerning his brothers bowing down to him was about to come to pass. My blog, which shared the details of the brothers’ meeting with Joseph, can be found in the archives of theteacherspick.com in the post titled, “JOSEPH SERIES: ENCOUNTER WITH PAINFUL PAST.” So, this blog will focus on Jacob’s interactions with his sons, not on their interactions with Joseph.

As Joseph had predicted, the years of plenty in Egypt had occurred, and the countries surrounding them were also experiencing famine. Hearing that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob sent his ten eldest sons to Egypt to purchase produce for the family. Afraid that something might happen to Benjamin, Jacob did not allow him to accompany his brothers. Unbeknownst to all of them, the famine in the land is the mechanism that will reunite the family.

The brothers encounter with Joseph was troubling and after being held in prison for three day Joseph released nine of the brothers to return home and told them, “This do, and live; for I fear God; If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses: But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. “

Thus, the brother returned home without realizing the encounter they experienced was with the brother they sold into slavery. They informed Jacob of their unpleasant confrontations. They shared that Joseph accused them of being spies, that they denied it, and that they told him about their family composition. Joseph retained Simon in prison after he released them to return home and required them to bring Benjamin with them the next time they came to prove they were not spies. Then, as they emptied their sacks, they and Jacob became alarmed for each one found the money that they used to pay for their provisions in their sacks.’

After hearing what happened, Jacob expressed his sense of loss first over Joseph, then Simon, and the possibility of Benjamin in the future. Reuben unsuccessfully tried to calm Jacob’s fear by suggesting that, if Benjamin accompanied his brothers back to Egypt, Jacob could kill his two sons if anything happened to Benjamin. Protesting, Jacob declared that his death would be hastened if he allowed Benjamin to go to Egypt and some tragedy befell him.

Here is additional information and nuggets:

Jacob and his sons, with their families, lived in the same area of Hebron, and Jacob, the patriarch of the family, was able to influence and direct his sons in an effort to ensure the family’s survival.

Under Joseph’s stewardship, Egypt gathered enough grain to supply other nations whose inhabitants came there to purchase provisions for their households.

As famine was in the land for his forefathers, Abraham and Isaac, so it is for Jacob.

By selling Joseph to the Ishmaelites, his brothers thought they were making his dreams null and void; however, dreams given by God will always come to pass.

God used a famine to accomplish His divine purpose.

As governor of Egypt, all purchases had to be made through Joseph; therefore, when the brothers arrived at the place of transaction, they bowed down before Joseph, and he recognized them and remembered his dreams.

Your fear of God will cause you to do right even when tempted to do otherwise.

Some individuals grieve the loss of their loved ones for decades.

Your words reveal your true feelings and thoughts toward your family members.