Joseph’s Brothers Return to Egypt (Genesis 43:1-34)
Have you ever been afraid to face someone you wronged? Maybe you didn’t know how they would react, and you were filled with fear. Joseph’s brothers found themselves in a very similar situation in Genesis 43. But through their fear and uncertainty, God was still working to bring healing to their broken family.
Let’s walk through this amazing part of their story.
The Brothers Prepare to Return
The famine in the land kept getting worse. The food the brothers had brought back from their first trip to Egypt was running out. They had no choice—they needed more grain. But there was a problem: Joseph (whom they still didn’t recognize) had told them they couldn’t come back unless they brought their youngest brother, Benjamin.
At first, Jacob didn’t want to let Benjamin go. He had already lost Joseph, and he was terrified of losing Benjamin too. But when Judah promised to take personal responsibility for Benjamin’s safety, Jacob finally agreed. He told them to take special gifts—like honey, spices, and nuts—as well as double the money to pay for the grain.
Jacob also prayed for God’s mercy as he sent them off. It was a hard decision, but he trusted God.
The Brothers Meet Joseph Again
The brothers made their way back to Egypt, this time with Benjamin. When Joseph saw them, he immediately noticed Benjamin. His heart was deeply moved, but he didn’t show it just yet.
Instead, Joseph invited them to his house for a meal. This invitation made the brothers nervous. They worried that they were going to be punished because of the money they had found in their sacks the last time.
But Joseph had no intention of hurting them. He was setting the stage for something much greater.
Joseph’s Kindness
When Joseph met with them, he treated them kindly. He asked about their father’s health and showed special attention to Benjamin. Seeing his younger brother again was so emotional that Joseph had to leave the room to cry in private.
After composing himself, Joseph came back and ordered the meal to begin. He seated the brothers in order of their ages, which amazed them. Then, he surprised them by giving Benjamin five times as much food as the others!
It was a joyful meal, full of laughter and celebration. For a moment, the brothers could simply enjoy being together, not knowing that Joseph was gently leading them toward forgiveness and healing.
What We Can Learn
There are some powerful lessons in this part of the story:
- Facing the past takes courage: The brothers had to return to Egypt and deal with the fear and guilt they carried.
- Kindness can soften hearts: Joseph’s kindness helped create an environment where real change and healing could happen.
- God’s plan keeps moving forward: Even in scary or uncertain times, God was still working behind the scenes to restore this family.
Final Thoughts
Joseph’s family was getting closer to healing, even though they didn’t fully realize it yet. Sometimes, God uses hard steps—like facing our fears or dealing with past mistakes—to bring about something beautiful.
Think about this: Is there someone you need to face with honesty, kindness, and courage? Trust that God will give you the strength to take that step. Just like He did with Joseph’s family, He can turn fear into restoration.
Genesis 43:1-34 (WEB)
43:1 The famine was severe in the land. 2 When they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little more food.”3 Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you’ll send our brother with us, we’ll go down and buy you food; 5 but if you don’t send him, we won’t 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, telling the man that you had another brother?”7 They said, “The man asked directly concerning ourselves, and concerning our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ We just answered his questions. Is there any way we could know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”8 Judah said to Israel, his father, “Send the boy with me, and we’ll get up and go, so that we may live, and not die, both we, and you, and also our little ones. 9 I’ll be collateral for him. From my hand will you require him. If I don’t bring him to you, and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever; 10 for if we hadn’t delayed, surely we would have returned a second time by now.”11 Their father, Israel, said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take from the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry down a present for the man, a little balm, a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts, and almonds; 12 and take double money in your hand, and take back the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take your brother also, get up, and return to the man. 14 May God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”15 The men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and got up, went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and butcher an animal, and prepare; for the men will dine with me at noon.”17 The man did as Joseph commanded, and the man brought the men to Joseph’s house. 18 The men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house; and they said, “Because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time, we’re brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, attack us, and seize us as slaves, along with our donkeys.” 19 They came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they spoke to him at the door of the house, 20 and said, “Oh, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food. 21 When we came to the lodging place, we opened our sacks, and behold, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. We have brought it back in our hand. 22 We have brought down other money in our hand to buy food. We don’t know who put our money in our sacks.”23 He said, “Peace be to you. Don’t be afraid. Your God, and the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks. I received your money.” He brought Simeon out to them. 24 The man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet. He gave their donkeys fodder. 25 They prepared the present for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.26 When Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves down to the earth before him. 27 He asked them of their welfare, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he yet alive?”28 They said, “Your servant, our father, is well. He is still alive.” They bowed down humbly. 29 He lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin, his brother, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?” He said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Joseph hurried, for his heart yearned over his brother; and he sought a place to weep. He entered into his room, and wept there. 31 He washed his face, and came out. He controlled himself, and said, “Serve the meal.”32 They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians don’t eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. 33 They sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth, and the men marveled with one another. 34 He sent portions to them from before him, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. They drank, and were merry with him.