Genesis 43-46

One thing that bothers me about how this starts – the brothers are not talking about Simeon first, but about how the man wanted the youngest child to return (which Jacob is leery to do considering that this is the last piece of his beloved Rachel left – he doesn't know that Joseph is alive and well). This really bothers me – they are very selfish and cut-throat. I also love how Joseph checks on his family without them knowing who he is. I almost imagine this to be like Edmund Dantes when he returns to Marseilles for the first time and talks to Mr. Morall – and tries to see if the man will recognize him (click here and skip to 7:29 on the clip). When Morall does not recognize him, Edmund decides to become the Count of Monte Cristo and to get his revenge. Joseph will have other plans, but I think there was likely a scene where Joseph said, "Gentlemen!" and looked right at them. When they didn't recognize him, he decided to go into detail for their lives. "Do you have a father?" "What about another brother?" This is funny to me. His servants also have to be thinking that Joseph is losing his mind – as he keeps running out of the room and weeping whenever his brothers are around.

Judah is a stand-up guy in this story, where he wasn't just a few chapters before. Granted, he is protecting his father, here, but he is willing to put Benjamin's punishment on himself. That is pretty incredible.

Chapter 45 is where it all comes forth. Joseph finally tells them who he is. The brothers have to have felt fear and dread about how he would deal with them. However, they likely were also thinking of Joseph's dreams and realizing it had all come true – they had bowed before him – he had become the most powerful brother! 45:15 likely went like this: "Are you going to kill us for what we did to you?" Joseph: "No!" Brothers: "Are you going to tell dad what we did to you?" I see this as being a somewhat comical time of bartering and hoping. Verse 24 is funny as well – do not fight on the way home!

Then we have this happy reunion, a provision by God and a nation that begins with 66 people in Egypt and will become a strong nation despite its size and location. God will use Israel for His purposes and He has continued to protect them throughout.