Genesis 43:1-10 – No Other Option
Jacob has refused to send Benjamin to Egypt with his brothers. But now their food has run out, and there is still only one place to go for food – Egypt. Not to mention that Simeon is still stuck in prison there until they come back. But the brothers wait to see what their father will say. As the food runs out Jacob tells his sons to go back to Egypt and buy food.
It is the wiser Judah who speaks to his father now, not hasty Reuben. He tries to reason with his father, impressing upon him the complete and utter necessity of taking Benjamin with them. They have no other option. They either starve to death in Canaan, or Benjamin must go with them to Egypt. This is a small picture of how we, as sinners, cannot come to God as friends, unless we bring Jesus Christ with us. He is the one that enables us to have a good relationship with God.
Perhaps Judah is feeling guilty for his treatment of Joseph and tries to make it up by now taking special care of Benjamin. He promises his father that he will do all in his power to protect Benjamin, and that Jacob can hold him personally responsible if anything happens to Benjamin.
For Jacob this is a real test. He has been dangerously close to making idols of his two sons Joseph and Benjamin. Joseph has been taken away from him, and now he must give up Benjamin. He must trust in the Lord to care for Benjamin and put all his hope in the Lord’s protection. He needs to remember that God is the one who gives and takes away, and that God will also do what is best for him.
Questions
- What are the two choices facing Jacob’s family?
- Who offers to personally take care of Benjamin?
- What kind of test is this for Jacob?
Prayer Points
- Pray that we would trust in God to take care of others.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.