Genesis 43

So much can be said of this chapter and the whole book of Genesis. Read, ponder, seek application for yourself. Ask questions of the verses that you read and listen to God for answers.

For these people who lived over 3,000 years ago are so like us. I am reading Frank Cross on myth. The book is slow. I probably will not finish it. Cross is trying to force Genesis into a model like Greek myth, for example like the Iliad. In that story there are obviously two levels, the human actions and the actions of the gods. In Greek myth of course there are multiple gods all fighting like humans. God is always in agreement with himself. God works in a unified manner. He does not plot against himself.

Cross tries hard to make Biblical stories like the myths of other cultures. I suppose you can identify with the people in the Iliad. But Genesis is closer to the truth, to the true God.

There are lot of blessings in chapter 43. Jacob blesses his children (v.14) as start off to Egypt to get more food. He releases Benjamin to go very reluctantly. So when they get there Joseph sees all his brothers for the first time in many years.

Joseph's steward acknowledges the blessing of their God on them (v.23). Joseph blesses Benjamin when he meets him (v.29).

Again they all bow down to Joseph (v.26) when he comes home for lunch.

Joseph again asks about their father. They may think it is out of courtesy. But Joseph surely wants to see his father before he dies. Jacob is old.

Joseph is keeping up the ruse. But he breaks down again and cries when he sees his full brother fully grown. When he last saw him he was just a boy. Surely the brothers notice that something is wrong. Some people think at least some of them secretly might have figured out who the Egyptian was.

But Joseph must look much different now than he did when they sold him. He could have a beard now. Maybe it has been twenty years and Joseph is in his 30's.

Joseph may been waiting for them to recognize him. But probably the brothers do not have a clue. Even when they are eating and Joseph has them seated in order by age they do not get it. They marvel at it but it still doesn't connect. They just think it is coincidence.

I can identify with Jacob blessing their travel and their relationship with the man in Egypt who had given them such a hard time. Jacob knows God and knows that he is God's child. He belongs to God. So he knows that he can request things of God. Yet he is fearful. Because the situation is dire he has little trust.

I can so identify with Jacob. I can ask God in prayer. I can ask for his loving care. I can ask for his blessing. But I have trouble being confident that God will act. I am too aware of the situation and how uncertain it looks.

Thank God God is willing to answer us even when we only partially believe. We believe with our minds but not our hearts. We are not totally trusting. Lord, give us faith to be more trusting.