What Next?

Song: Give Me The Bible

Scripture: Genesis 43:1-34

History is far more interesting than fiction. And biblical history is the most fascinating of all: the turns, the twists, the ironies, the paradoxes. Don’t you know that the brothers of Joseph discussed the details of their reunion with him many times.

Joseph had said he would keep Simeon to find out if the brothers were “honest men.” They had not been honest in their youth, but rambunctious, wild, untrustworthy. As the brothers left Egypt, Joseph must have wondered if they would really return.

Jacob himself had questions about his sons’ honesty after they returned with their money in the grain sacks and the extraordinary tale of Simeon’s captivity. His plan to soften Joseph with presents had worked with Esau. Would it work for his sons?

Judah’s lead as the saga unfolds is worthy of note. Judah had suggested the sale of Joseph. Yet, here it is Judah, the middle son, who takes the lead in volunteering to be surety for Benjamin’s safe return. Perhaps because Jacob knew that Judah had lost two of his own sons, he let the brothers go. The brothers anxiously confessed to Joseph’s steward that their money was returned to their sacks. It seems that the men had actually changed. But Joseph was not through testing them yet.

We all love a happy ending. It fuels our hope of the same. What hope ought to be inspired in us that one of the most tragic, twisted sagas of all the Bible has a happy ending. Stay tuned.

Jason Moore