QT 12/25/2025 Gen 43:1-14, Seeing ourselves as others see us

Genesis 43:1–14 (ESV) —

1 Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” 3 But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’ ” 6 Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” 7 They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” 8 And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. 10 If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.”

11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 12 Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man. 14 May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”

 

NOTE: Judah takes the lead for the family at this point. There is a back and forth between Judah and his father. Israel's (Jacob) reasoning is poor, "why did you have to mention your brother?" In a sense, they did the right thing (they were honest), but they are being attacked by their father for their honesty. And yet, Israel sends the money back and additional money for the next load, as well as gifts from the land. So, Israel shows integrity with the money. Israel ultimately does agree, but almost in an Eeyore manner, "if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved." Some have said he is showing faith, and they point to the passages' use of the name Israel instead of Jacob. And his faith is seen in a prayer that precedes, "May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man …" 

 

I suppose it is possible that Jacob (Israel) is coming out of his funk, hence the reuse of the name Israel. Sometimes suffering forces us back to the savior. Israel shows wisdom, prudence, and at least a certain level of trust in God's sovereignty. He listens to the wisdom of Judah and finally agrees with the logic of his argument

 

PONDER:

1. Is God trying to get my attention in some way?
2. Am I listening? It may come from my wife, my friends, or my children -- am I listening?

 

PRAYER: Father, search me and show me my hidden sin. I want to hear in areas where I may have closed myself off. Give me grace, mercy, and wisdom in the next stage of my life.