Hidden Perspectives in Pain (Genesis 42)
Genesis 42: Hidden Perspectives The sons of Israel find themselves in a predicament. They are standing in front of the Governor of the land of Egypt, starving, with money to buy grain, and getting harassed by this man. He questions their sincerity, demands that their brother Benjamin be sent down, puts them in prison for three days, and then holds their brother Simeon as collateral for them to come back. They say: "God is punishing us for what we did to our brother Joseph!" Reuben quips "I told you not to do what you did!" (Genesis 42:21-22) Meanwhile, the Governor, unbeknownst to them, is Joseph. They go back home to Canaan, less one of them, and find that the money they allocated for the grain purchase was still in their sack. They freak out. I'm sure they are thinking "OH NO! When he finds out, we are hosed!" What they didn't know was Joseph put the money back in the sacks. Jacob, upon hearing the news, is heartbroken and believes he...