Who remembers the old school jam I just can't keep it to myself?" We're gonna pick up today's blog with Joseph's "I just can't keep it to myself "experience but before
we do I want to recap some high points from yesterday’s blog:
· The 11 brothers
arrive to purchase more food;
· Joseph still has
not revealed his identity to them;
· They are
clueless as to why they are directed to Joseph’s palace but assume it’s because
of the money they discovered in their food sacks after they left so they
confess to the Palace Manager; however, the manager assures them there is no
money problem and reunites them with their brother Simeon who remained in jail
until his brothers returned
o
All
of the sons of Jacob (aka Israel) have now spent time in jail except
Benjamin. Nine brothers had their
charges dropped and were released after three days; Simeon spent at a little
less than a year locked up and Joseph did a 13 year run. Can you imagine the gossip about the First
Family?
· When Joseph
returns to his Palace they bow to him in reverence, fulfilling his second childhood
dream. He asks about their father, Jacob
(aka Israel), confirms that Benjamin is the younger brother. The emotion is almost overwhelming so he
leaves the room abruptly to release what he has suppressed since he saw them a
few months ago;
· They have a
great meal together and enjoy each other’s company without them ever knowing
who he was.
We will continue Joseph’s journey at
Chapter 44.
Joseph ordered his Palace Manager to fill
the brothers’ sacks with more than enough food; load their
The Palace Manager dismounted his chariot, walked over to
them aggressively and sternly repeated exactly what his master Zaphenath-Paneah told him to say. They looked at
him, each other and back at him dumbfounded and all at once they started to
answer him. Judah finally calmed
everyone down and spoke on their behalf: “What is my master talking about? We
would never do anything like that! Why, the money we found in our bags earlier,
we brought back all the way from Canaan—do you think we’d turn right around and
steal it back from your master? If that chalice [silver cup] is found on any of us,
he’ll die; and the rest of us will be your master’s slaves.” The steward [Palace Manager] said, “Very well then, but
we won’t go that far. Whoever is found with the chalice will be my slave; the
rest of you can go free. They outdid each other in putting their
bags on the ground and opening them up for inspection. The steward searched their bags, going
from oldest to youngest. The chalice showed up in Benjamin’s bag. Genesis 44:7-12 (The
Message)
The ripped their clothes as a sign of grief and despair, loaded
their donkeys in silence and followed the chariots back to the palace of Zaphenath-Paneah in complete and utter silence. When they arrived at the palace they threw
themselves at the feet of Zaphenath-Paneah. He accused them of being thieves and
said: “How can you have done this? You have to know that a man in my position
would have discovered this.” Genesis 44:15 (The Message). It is odd, but Judah rather than Rueben (the
eldest) asks respectfully to address Zaphenath-Paneah and begins to remind him
of their initial encounter, the accusation of being spies, asking about their
family in Canaan, inquiring about their father, holding Simeon hostage until they
brought the young brother back. As he
spoke the other brothers remained in a prostrate position and didn’t move,
hoping and praying that Zaphenath-Paneah would be merciful. Judah continued to plead their case, speaking
of how much the father favors Benjamin because he is the son of his old age by
the wife he favored the most as well has his brother Joseph, who went missing
and the father believes he was ripped to shreds by wild animals.
As Judah spoke Joseph realized that Judah was not as hard and cynical
as he once was, something happened to change him perhaps he has feelings after
all. Whatever the case he is different
and seems sincere which pleases Joseph.
Judah continues to plead their case:
“If you keep the boy our father, a white haired old man will die from grief,
he knows and we know it. I beg you, let
me become your prisoner instead of the boy.”
Joseph sat in silence as Judah went on and on
pleading for his brother. When he heard
the lie they told their father about an animal ripping him to shreds he became
enraged and for a quick moment an accusatory thoughts snuck into his brain: “how
could you lie to our father like that?” “Judah, why didn’t you advocate for me the
way you’re advocating for the boy? Why did
you hate me so much?” He quickly
dismissed the thought but as he did the dam of emotions began to crack. His throat was on fire trying to suppress the
shout that was about to erupt from the pit of his stomach. He couldn’t take it any longer and there was
no way he was going to let the Egyptians see him cry, so he said: “Leave!!! Everyone get out now!!!!!!!! There was no one left in the room except
Joseph and his brothers.
The brothers jumped to their feet when they heard
Zaphenath-Paneah shouting frozen with fear and believing
To be continued
In His Excellent Service
Tania
Not Tanya
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