THE BIG FEAST - A Bible story about Joseph and his brothers - NCCG.ORG Ning Network Archive 2008-10

by Linda Sue Pochodzay Edwards

Kari was quite worried. She and her family were going on a trip to visit her
aunt, uncle, and cousin. The last time she had been with her cousin, they
had gotten into a big argument. Lauren had found that one of her CDs had
gotten broken and she had blamed Kari. Even though Kari didn't break the CD,
there was nothing she could say that would convince Lauren that she was
telling the truth. The two girls didn't speak to each other for the next two
days.

"I hope this isn't going to be a horrible trip," Kari thought, remembering
the previous incident. "I wonder if Lauren still hates me?"

When they finally arrived at Lauren's house, Kari was almost overcome with
fear. She inched her way slowly up the steps and rang the doorbell. Kari
could hardly believe it when Lauren threw open the door and gave her a big
bear hug. When Kari asked if she was still mad at her about the CD, Lauren
was surprised that she still remembered it. "Oh, that," she said."I got over
that a long time ago. I know you didn't do it. I probably stepped on it
myself, and besides, I was able to buy another one that I like better. Come
on! Let's play!"

Kari realized that all her worry was for nothing. She was glad that her
friendship with her cousin had been restored and they had a wonderful,
fun-filled week together.

______

Some time had passed since Joseph's brothers went on their l-o-n-g shopping
trip to Egypt. The famine was still great in all the land and they knew the
food wasn't going to last much longer. Finally the day came when their
father, Jacob, told them they had to go back to Egypt to buy more food. OH,
MY! That was one trip they were certainly hoping not to have to repeat!

Judah spoke to his father: "The man in charge told us we are not allowed to
go back unless we take Benjamin. There's just no way around it. If you allow
us to take Benjamin, we will go, but if you don't, there is no point in us
even going. He will turn us away. . . or worse. He might throw us all in
jail or even have us killed. No!" Judah exclaimed adamantly. "We just can't
go back without Benjamin."

______

"Why are you doing this to me?" Jacob asked in much distress. "Why did you
even tell the man that you had another brother?"

"We had no choice," Judah replied. "The man asked all about us. He asked if
our father was alive and he asked if we had another brother. We had to tell
him. How could we know that he was going to tell us to bring our other
brother?"

Judah continued pleading with his father: "I promise that he will come back
home safely. If not, put the blame totally on me and do whatever you want to
me in return. If we hadn't spent so long arguing with you about this, we
could have been to Egypt and back already."

Jacob saw that there was no way he was going to win this argument. There was
hardly any food left and they would all starve if the brothers didn't go to
Egypt and quickly return. He finally conceded and allowed Benjamin to go
with his brothers.

"This is what you need to do," Jacob instructed. "Put together a nice
present for the man in charge. Take the best dried fruit we have and add a
little honey, spices, and nuts to the package. Take double the amount of
money needed to purchase the food, and also take the money that was left in
your sack the last time. Take your brother Benjamin, and I pray that God
will give you mercy in the sight of the man and he will allow both Simeon
and Benjamin to return home."

______

The ten brothers began preparing for the second, l-o-n-g shopping trip.
Reuben read the list as Levi checked the items:

"Blankets?"

"Check."

"Pillows?"

"Check."

"Tent?"

"Check."

After making sure the supplies were securely tied to the donkeys, they put
together the gift package for the man in charge, took double the money that
was needed to purchase the food, plus the money that had been left in their
sacks the previous time, and started on their journey.

This trip was just as long and miserable as the first.

The heat was nearly unbearable. . .

The ground was dry and dusty. . .

The breezes were hot. . .

They had to sleep on the ground. . .

and . . .

they were hungry.

The difference between this trip and the previous one was that this time
they were nervous . . . and worried . . . and fearful. They had several
conversations along the way, but there were a few questions they just
couldn't get out of their minds:

"What if the man in charge still thinks we are spies?"

"What if he won't release Simeon from prison?"

"What if he throws us all in jail?"

But the most worrisome "what if" question of them all was:

"What if something happens to Benjamin?" "How could we ever face our father
if we have to go home without Benjamin?"

[graphic separator]

After several days of travel, the warehouse was in sight. They were growing
more and more worried and fearful. They found a good place to tie the
donkeys and cleaned themselves up. They wanted to be as presentable as
possible so the man in charge would not think they were just dirty spies.
They gathered up the gift package and all the money and timidly made their
way to the warehouse to buy food. The man in charge had seen them coming and
had one of his servants waiting for them. He told the servant to take the
brothers to his house and have a feast prepared for them.

The brothers were terribly frightened.

"What does this mean? Why were we brought to the man's house?" they
wondered.

"What is he going to do to us?"

"Is he going to keep us all as slaves?"

[Picture of Joseph's Brothers]

They began nervously talking to one of the servants. "Sir, we came here the
first time to buy food. On our way home when we opened our sack, we found
that the money we gave you was still in the sack. We don't know how it got
there. . . honestly! To prove that we are honest men, we brought all that
money back, plus more. We didn't do anything wrong! Really, we didn't!"

The servant noticed the fear on their faces and in their voices. "Calm
down," he said. "There is no reason to be afraid," he continued. "I have the
money that you gave me for the food. The Yahwehof your father must have put
that money in your sacks." Then the servant walked away.

______

When the servant returned, the brothers couldn't believe their eyes.
Standing right in front of them was their brother Simeon. They had expected
him to have been locked away in prison or possibly even dead. They didn't
know if they would ever see him again, and yet, here he was, in that very
room with them! What a joyous reunion that was!

After they finished hugging and greeting Simeon, the servant gave them water
to wash their feet, which was a sign of welcome and hospitality in those
days. Then he went outside and gave their donkeys food and water.

The brothers didn't understand why they were being treated so well. They had
heard they were going to eat at that house with the man in charge and they
were very confused about the whole matter. This was the same person who had
been mean to them and called them spies. Now this man, the second most
important man in all Egypt, wanted to have his dinner with them. They were
very puzzled and didn't quite know what to think.

______

When Joseph, the man in charge, walked into the house, they all stooped to
the floor and bowed down to him. Joseph asked, "Is your father still alive?"

"Yes, he is alive and in good health, Sir," they replied, as they were still
bowing.

Joseph recognized his brother Benjamin in the crowd. "Is this your youngest
brother?" he asked.

"Yes, Sir. This is our youngest brother," they replied, as they were still
bowing.

Joseph was having a hard time controlling his emotions. He went into another
room and wept cries of joy at having seen his youngest brother whom he
hadn't seen since they were children. He composed himself, washed his face,
and prepared to eat with his brothers.

______

It was the custom in those days that the Egyptians did not eat with
foreigners. Joseph, who had been accepted by the Eyptians, given an Egyptian
name, and who held a place of authority in Egypt, was considered by all to
be an Egyptian, even though he had originally come as a slave. So he had a
small table set for himself and a larger table set for his brothers.

He told his servants how to arrange the seating at the table.

The brothers were quite amazed that this man had seated them all in order,
according to their age. "How could he know this?" they questioned among
themselves.

Then Joseph had the platters of food served. Each man received a large
platter with plenty of food, but Benjamin's platter was piled high. His had
FIVE times more food than the others.

______

Joseph wanted Benjamin to have more than the others for two reasons: First,
Benjamin was his only full brother and he loved him very much; the others
were his half brothers. Second, Joseph wanted to test the other brothers to
see if they would be jealous that Benjamin received more than they did.

Happily, the brothers passed this test. They did not become jealous or
angry. They talked and laughed and they all enjoyed their big feast, which
was fit for a king.

However, they still didn't know that the
man in charge was their own brother,
Joseph.

________

THINK!

Why did the brothers go to Egypt?
Why did Jacob not want Benjamin to go?
What did the brothers take as a gift for the man in charge?
Who was the man in charge?
Was Simeon ever released from prison?
Why was Benjamin given more than the others?
Did the brothers pass the test?

REMEMBER:

Even though we may not always know why things happen
as they do, Yahwehdoes, and He is always in control.

A VERSE TO LEARN

"Peace be to you, fear not" (Genesis 43:23).

LET'S PRAY

****************************************************
Dear Yahweh, thank You for always being in control
and knowing what is best for us. Help us to
always trust You. In Yah'shua's Name, amen.
****************************************************

CAN YOU FIND THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE?
Genesis 43:1-34

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