Judah The Engineer, Part 3

Since he and his brothers had sold Joseph into slavery, the years had not been kind to Judah. Guilt weighed heavily upon his conscience. He could see what their deed had done to their father; it had broken him. Instead of ridding themselves of Joseph, the brothers had actually cemented him forever in their memories and in their father’s heart.

It was a very different group of men who now arrived in Egypt to buy grain from the governor, a man of renowned intelligence and savvy. But from the start, things seemed to go wrong—very wrong. “You are spies!” (Genesis 42:9) accused the governor before interrogating the brothers further.

When they answered honestly about their father and youngest brother, Benjamin—even mentioning Joseph—the governor only locked them in jail (vv. 13, 17). Then, after three days, he ordered that they prove their story by fetching their so-called younger brother while he held one of them, Simeon, hostage (vv. 18–20, 24).

The brothers turned to one another; in all of their minds was the same thought: They were finally getting what they deserved. Then said they, “We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us” (v. 21). Joseph—his young, innocent, tear-stained face was ever before them, and they the cold-blooded mercenaries. There was no defense, no avoidance; all of them plainly admitted their part in the crime.

But then the governor did a strange thing. He gave the brothers the grain they had purchased—but did not take their money. It was after they had already left Egypt when they realized: Every man had had his money returned to him in his sack of grain (vv. 27, 28, 35). It was a terrible moment for them, for what if the governor thought they had stolen from him—when they were trying to be honest? But Joseph had been honest with them too, and they had repaid him brutally.

And oh how they dreaded telling their father the governor’s demand. The patriarch would never let Benjamin return to Egypt with them—especially after what had happened to Joseph.

As expected, Jacob refused (v. 38). What were they to do now?

Reflect: Have you borne a secret guilt too long? Confess your heavy burden to Jesus first; let His healing lead you (Acts 3:19).

Key Bible Texts

We are all one man’s sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies. (Genesis 42:11 KJV)