Can past abuse make a family reunion difficult? God does not require that we trust those who once hurt us, but can we forgive? Let’s look at Genesis 42.
What were Joseph’s brothers forced to do because of the famine?
When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you staring blankly at each other? I’ve just heard that there’s grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us so that we can survive and not starve to death.” So Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. However, Jacob didn’t send Joseph’s brother Benjamin along with his brothers because he thought something bad might happen to him. Israel’s sons came to buy grain with others who also came since the famine had spread to the land of Canaan. (Genesis 42:1-5 CEB)
Was Joseph kind to them at first or perhaps still hurting because of their bad treatment of him in the past?
Since Joseph was governor of Egypt and in charge of selling grain, his brothers came to him and bowed with their faces to the ground. They did not recognize Joseph, but at once he knew who they were, though he pretended not to know. Instead, he spoke harshly and asked, “Where do you come from?” “From the land of Canaan,” they answered. “We've come here to buy grain.” Joseph remembered what he had dreamed about them and said, “You're spies! You've come here to find out where our country is weak.” “No sir,” they replied. “We're your servants, and we have only come to buy grain. We're honest men, and we come from the same family—we're not spies.” “That isn't so!” Joseph insisted. “You've come here to find out where our country is weak.” But they explained, “Sir, we come from a family of twelve brothers. The youngest is still with our father in Canaan, and one of our brothers is dead.” (Genesis 42:6-13 CEV)
What was Joseph trying to accomplish? Did he want to see his little brother again?
But Joseph said to them, “It is as I said to you. You are spies. By this you shall be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, while you remain confined, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. Or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies.” And he put them all together in custody for three days. (Genesis 42:14-17 ESV)
How did Joseph challenge his older brothers? Did their consciences bother them?
On the third day Joseph said to them, “I fear God—do this and you will live. If you are honest, let one of you be confined to the guardhouse, while the rest of you go and take grain to relieve the hunger of your households. Bring your youngest brother to me so that your words can be confirmed; then you won’t die.” And they consented to this. Then they said to each other, “Obviously, we are being punished for what we did to our brother. We saw his deep distress when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this trouble has come to us.” But Reuben replied: “Didn’t I tell you not to harm the boy? But you wouldn’t listen. Now we must account for his blood!” (Genesis 42:18-22 HCSB)
What did Joseph do to Simeon? What did he do with their money?
Meanwhile, they had no idea that Joseph could understand them, since he was talking to them through an interpreter. He turned away from them and began to weep. When he returned, he spoke with them, but then he took Simeon away from them and had him placed under arrest right in front of them. After this, Joseph gave orders to fill up their sacks with grain, to return each man’s money to his own sack, and to supply each of them with provisions for their return journey. All of this was done for them. (Genesis 42:23-25 ISV)
What did the brothers do when they discovered their money?
And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence. And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth. And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us? (Genesis 42:26-28 KJV)
What did they report to their father? Did they report the request that their youngest brother be sent?
When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him everything that had happened to them, saying, “The man, the lord of the land, spoke harshly with us, and took us for spies of the country. But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies. We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no longer alive, and the youngest is with our father today in the land of Canaan.’ But the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me and take grain for the famine of your households, and go. But bring your youngest brother to me so that I may know that you are not spies, but honest men. I will give your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.’” (Genesis 42:29-34 NASB)
How did Jacob respond? Was this potentially a great sorrow for him?
As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his pouch of silver! When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened. Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!” Then Reuben said to his father, “You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back.” But Jacob said, “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.” (Genesis 42:35-38 NIV)
Can past abuse make a family reunion difficult? God does not require that we trust those who once hurt us, but can we forgive? You decide!
