Jacob’s Shock

The report comes in: “Joseph is alive”. Jacob goes to Beersheba – back to God. God reassures Jacob to go to Egypt with a prophecy. The journey to Egypt begins.

It’s the resurrection of a vision. A hope that has long died; though it never really died. The hope never really died. It’s just there was no plausible story whereby Jacob would ever see Joseph again. He lived decades of years knowing that there was no path back to relationship with his beloved son.

And then, the path that was really always there, is suddenly obvious. And even in advanced age and infirmity, there is no question of not going.

You get on the wagon and go.

Get on the wagon and go.

Back to Jacob

“What are we going to tell our father?”

As amazing and wonderful as it is, Joseph’s revealing of himself has created another problem for the brothers: Jacob is bound to eventually ask the question – “How was Joseph taken to Egypt in the first place?”

What are the brothers going to say?

With the exception of Joseph’s admonition “not to quarrel”, none of this is written down. It’s a three day journey to Egypt. It’s the 800 pound gorilla in the room. How could they not discuss it?

It’s interesting that neither Joseph’s forgiveness nor Pharaoh’s largess has solved all of their problems. Being saved means living real life.

They still have work to do.

I am Joseph

Joseph knew that revealing himself would cause different reactions – mostly horror. With the exception of Benjamin, his brothers were terrified.

Imagine, if you will, Jesus returning in glory. You see him afar descending on a cloud in the most brilliant light imaginable. Utter glory. The splendor overwhelms you with awe. He comes closer and as he does, you suddenly realize that He looks just like the person you have most abused in your life. The person that you took advantage of. The person with whom you were never reconciled. The person you failed to help in their desperate moment of need. The person you persecuted because of a disagreement.

And that’s Jesus.

This is how the brothers saw Joseph at the moment of his revealing. The sudden realization that they are standing before the most powerful person in the world. A person that they have hated, and abused, and nearly murdered.

And then he says, “Come closer. It’s OK.”

Is it any wonder that we wish Jesus was a fable?

Joseph’s Surprise

It isn’t so much that Joseph surprised his brothers with the revelation of his identity. Rather it is Joseph’s surprise at who Judah has turned out to be.

Joseph showed no signs that he intended to reveal himself. Yet because of Judah’s persistent unwillingness to leave Benjamin alone as a slave in Egypt, Joseph couldn’t control himself.  His plan, which never involved revealing himself, was foiled by Judah.  Despite his own intentions, Judah’s solidarity and faithfulness caused Joseph to change his plan.  Joseph revealed himself despite himself.  Overcome with affection, Joseph could not help himself.

It’s a strange and scary thought. What if Jesus, like Joseph, does not intend to reveal himself to the self-righteous defenders of their own self-interest.  He lets us live this life.  He causes his rain to fall on both the righteous and the unrighteous.  But what if He doesn’t necessarily intend to reveal himself to every one of us.

Could I “surprise” Jesus with my solidarity and faithfulness to my brothers?  If I did, would He reveal himself to me?

Judah’s Plea

The brothers are in a tough spot. They had to be thinking, “How stupid could Benjamin be; stealing something from the most powerful man in the world?” That’s, of course, exactly what Joseph wanted them to think.

It’s Judah as leader. Like Reuben had done before offering to slaughter his two sons, the brother’s all offer the impossible.   They claim that they are all willing to accept Benjamin’s punishment and become Joseph’s slaves. There’s a question of sincerity here… but, in any case, this isn’t Joseph’s plan. He wants Benjamin. He wants the brothers to hate Benjamin so they will give up and leave him behind.

It’s a curious contest now between the two protagonist: Judah and Joseph. Decades before, Joseph pleaded with Judah but was unheard. Now Judah pleads with Joseph and Joseph is equally determined to not to hear.

Joseph knew that the man who had sold him into slavery 25 years before would predictably do the same thing now. Joseph’s plan was a bet that Judah would forsake Benjamin. He was convinced that Judah would leave Benjamin behind if there was a plausible enough reason. He could not know that he was dealing with a different man – a different Judah.

“The old has passed away, the new has come.”

Joseph frames Benjamin

The silver cup frame-up. The money back in the bags. The apparent divination. Benjamin is the target.  Joseph’s goal is to get Benjamin away from his brothers without them realizing that he is their betrayed brother Joseph.

So what? What would Joseph do once he got Benjamin away from the brothers?

He would set Benjamin, the innocent and only full brother, as a prince in Egypt. He would care for him and provide for him in the way he wasn’t able in the years since he was sold as a slave. This, apparently, is Joseph’s plan.

When the brother’s come to realize that Benjamin stole the special cup from the most powerful man in the world, they will disown him. Their judgement will be swift and mercilessly indifferent. Joseph is sure that he knows his brothers hearts.

It is a fundamental reality that human persons judge one another on the basis of reputation.  We do this in order to anticipate and plan for outcomes. Therefore, make a good name for yourself.

Joseph’s Feast

What is Joseph doing? The men are rightly perplexed. They weren’t looking to feast. They just wanted to get food and their brother Simeon back – with the hope that nothing else would go wrong. The whole thing is  – but they are powerless.

Sitting at table when someone reveals something about you, but it’s not clear how they have such information, is uncomfortable.  Joseph’s reputation is to make the brothers believe that he has extraordinary powers, even beyond the power to interpret dreams.  This is he purpose.

Overwhelmed by Josephs’ insight, the brothers are awed at his presence and curiously wary of the meaning of these experiences.

It’s our secrets that make us feel most vulnerable.

Return to Egypt

The moment that Judah is acknowledged by his father as the de facto leader of the clan.  The satisfaction of reluctantly gaining your father’s trust.

When my “self” encounters another person as such – another self – I leave off the dominating experience of treating the other as a morally neutral object. No more object, the other is seen with all its hopes and dreams, and most especially his or her story.

Jacob attached himself to Judah’s story. Not vice versa. He let him lead and agreed to the outcome of his leadership.  Jacob put his trust in the way of Judah and attached the end of his story to the story of his son.

“The scepter shall not depart from the tribe of Judah” (Gen 49:10)

Judah Convinces Jacob

Reuben was in a rush. Judah waited for Jacob. Reuben offered to kill his two sons if he failed to return with Benjamin. Judah offered himself accountable.

Jacob trusted Judah.

Enigmatic father – this seems to Reuben. Filled with irony; “it was Judah’s idea to sell Joseph” – but Reuben could never say that.

Yet in Judah, Jacob sees a man who knows what it means to have lost a son, two sons. He has known loss. He has known humiliation. He has forgiven and he has accepted forgiveness. He has known restoration.

Not innocent. Not naïve. Jacob somehow trusts this authenticity.

Reuben Can’t Persuade

The strange unfolding of developments from the ten brother’s journey is too much for Jacob. He is running scared. He senses the forces that are aligning to deprive him of the last vestige of his beloved wife. He won’t let Benjamin go.

In the midst of this, Reuben shows himself to be the failed leader. He knows what must obviously happen. They must return.  But he’s tone deaf, he offers to allow the killing of his own sons if he fails to return with Benjamin. Reuben imagines himself to be like Abraham, but he alone sees things this way.

It’s a stupid offer that serves no one.  Little more than a verbal warranty from a used car salesman, Jacob doesn’t take him seriously. He won’t entrust Benjamin to him.

Power from integrity. Reuben lacks self-control. Because he would say anything, he isn’t heard.

“Do not be quick with your mouth…God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.”