Three Days in Jail
Gen 42:11-21
It is strange that Joseph’s plan changed. When he put the brothers into the prison he told them that one would be allowed to go and fetch the younger brother. But after three days, he changed from that plan and explained that all but one would be release to return, but that one must remain.
Three days – the number of perfection.
Whatever the case, Joseph’s purpose is to get Benjamin down to Egypt. This is the one thing that both plans have in common. But why?
Benjamin is his only full brother. Benjamin was too young to have been with the others on the day of betrayal. Benjamin is the only brother who has nothing to fear from Joseph.
Joseph is a man of plans and of execution. He gets big things done. It is clear that he has a plan, even though his plans are subject to refinement.
He is dealing well with what has been given, but actively bending and ordering his environment to his purposes.
God has given each of us power to make plans and to act. But meaning always flows from action.
