Joseph forgives his brothers

The drought in Egypt also spread to Canaan. The people in Canaan heard that there was grain in Egypt, so Jacob sent ten of his sons to Egypt to buy grain. When the brothers appeared before Joseph in Egypt, they didn’t recognise him. Joseph pretended to think they were spies. They told him that they were all brothers and that their youngest brother was at home. Joseph said, “Then you must fetch your brother. Meanwhile I’ll keep one of you here in prison.” Joseph had Simeon put in prison. The other brothers said to each other, “God is punishing us for what we did to Joseph!” On the way home, the brothers found the money they had paid for the grain in their grain sacks. It made them worried and afraid. When Jacob heard their story, he said, “Joseph is gone. Simeon is gone. Benjamin can’t go too.” When the family had no more food left, Judah said to his father, “We must go back to Egypt, and we have to take Benjamin with us. I promise to keep Benjamin safe.” Eventually, Jacob agreed to send Benjamin with them. He also sent gifts for Joseph. And they took double the amount of money with them. When Joseph saw that his brothers had brought Benjamin, he told his manager to prepare a feast for them. The brothers were scared and worried, but Joseph treated them very well.

After their meal, Joseph ordered the manager to fill his brothers’ sacks with grain and to put their money back in the sacks. He also put his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. As soon as the brothers were on their way, Joseph sent the manager after his brothers. He ordered them to open their sacks. When he found the silver cup, he arrested Benjamin. Benjamin had to go with him. The others were free to go home. The brothers knew they couldn’t go home without Benjamin, so they all turned back to the city. Judah spoke to Joseph. “I promised my father I would keep Benjamin safe. Please let the boy go back to his father. I’ll be your slave in Benjamin’s place.” Joseph saw that his brothers had changed. They wanted to save Benjamin’s life for their father’s sake. So he told them that he was their brother Joseph. “God sent me to Egypt, so that I could save many lives,” he said. “It was all part of his plan.” Joseph hugged his brothers and they all cried together. Then they went back to Jacob with joyful hearts. They told Jacob that Joseph was alive. Jacob immediately made plans to travel to Egypt and he was reunited with Joseph. The Lord had changed their evil plans and turned them into very good plans. Genesis 42 to 45