Forced to return to Egypt

Genesis 43:1-15

The famine was so severe that Jacob’s sons had to go to Egypt the first year, although they had been able to live through other dry spells. A donkey can only carry about a hundred fifty to a hundred eighty pound load for long periods, so the quantity of food they carried was relatively small, but with what they grew themselves they were able to get by for almost another year. God had warned Joseph that the famine would last seven years, and eventually they were forced to make another trip if they were to survive.

“And the famine was sore in the land. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.

And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.” (Genesis 43:1-5)

Jacob had delayed sending his sons back to Egypt bcause he feared another would be held and he was unwilling to risk losing Benjamin. Finally it got so desperate they couldn’t wait any longer. Having been accused of being spies and cast into prison, then having their brother imprisoned and told not to come back unless Benjamin was with them, Judah flatly refused to make the trip without him. If they were cast into prison, there would be no one to raise what crops they could and the rest would be even worse off.

“And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?

And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?” (Genesis 43:6-7)

Jacob had not been there when the Egyptians accused them of espionage, and blamed the boys for having given out too much information about their family. As they pointed out, they had only been trying to convince the man of their innocence, with no idea he would try to use it against them. It was unfair for Jacob to blame them when he didn‘t really know what had happened. Regardless of whose fault it was, the situation had to be dealt with and recriminations were pointless.

“And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever: For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.” (Genesis 43:8-10)

Almost a year before, Reuben had been willing to take responsibility for Benjamin, feeling guilty for not having saved Joseph. Judah had been the one who suggested selling Joseph, when Reuben wasn’t around. Though Jacob was even more protective of Benjamin than he was of Joseph, Judah offered to take the responsibility for him. As he stated, the only reason they hadn’t already gone was because Jacob refused to allow him to go.

“And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight: Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man: And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” (Genesis 43:11-14)

Bowing to the inevitable, Jacob agreed to allow Benjamin to go, but insisted the boys should take a gift and return the money that had been in their sacks in an effort to defer any anger the Egyptians might hold. It is very similar to his effort to appease Esau. He was just praying that God would allow them not only to bring Benjamin back, but also Simeon. If his sons didn’t return, he would have lost everything worth having. He still had trouble believing God would keep his promise, despite all the years of blessing he had experienced. His attitude was a lot different than that of Abraham when called on to sacrifice Isaac. Frequently, I find myself more like Jacob than Abraham.

“And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.” (Genesis 43:15)

We can only imagine the trepidation the boys felt in returning to Egypt. What if their delay convinced the ruler that they really were spies and had them killed or just decided to lock up the rest of them on a whim? Not only their own lives, but those of their families were at stake, and they had no choice but to go.