Confronted, Convicted, Changed
In the last chapter, Genesis 42, we saw how famine drove Jacob to send his sons to Egypt to buy grain, having heard that they would find food there. The brothers unknowingly stood in front of their brother Joseph, who wanted to test their honesty so he accused them of being spies to get them to confess what had happened 20 years earlier. He imprisoned them for a few days and then demanded that they bring their youngest brother to verify their story. Simeon is kept behind as collateral, while the others return to Canaan with grain—and with their money secretly returned in their sacks.
When the brothers discover the money in their sacks they are terrified. Was this divine judgment for their sin against Joseph? Why such fear? Possibly because the situation mirrors the past: once again they return to Jacob with one less brother and extra silver. Their guilt is being stirred.
Let's read Genesis 43:1-34
What can we see in this text? First, Jacob was:
1. Confronted (Genesis 43:1–10) (with reality)
“Now the famine was severe in the land” (v.1).
The word severe (??????, kabed) means heavy, oppressive, weighty. This is not merely hunger—it is crushing desperation.
One psychologist observed that desperation can cause us to lose our moral compass, our ethics, judgment, even our humanity.
Jacob casually tells his sons, “Go back, buy us a little food” (v.2). The irony is striking. Earlier, Jacob was willing to put his family in harm's way while protecting Benjamin. Now he’s willing to risk his entire family's future for “a little food.” Notably, he still doesn’t mention Simeon, who has been imprisoned for over a year.
Desperation causes us to lose our critical thinking abilities and prioritize short-term survival over long-term flourishing. This is what Jacob was doing until Judah stepped forward and spoke objectively into the situation. We can’t go back to Egypt unless Benjamin is with us. In other words Joseph is in control. The game will have to be played by his rules.
Jacob was confronted with the truth and with a hard decision. So what does he do? He lashes out, blaming his sons for putting him in this terrible position: “Why did you treat me so badly, why did you tell him there was another brother?” (v.6) The brothers push back and say: “We had no idea that the viceroy would ask such direct questions. How could we have known this demand would follow?”
At this point bringing Benjamin with them was a non-negotiable and Judah speaks firmly and to the point (vv. 8–10). There are two choices, we could stay here with you and Benjamin and then the whole family will starve to death or we can return with Benjamin and live. This is the reality of the situation and we need to make a decision.
Judah was even willing to lay down his own life, to take the blame if he didn’t return Benjamin and free Simeon. He offers himself as a substitute, pledging his life and his future for Benjamin’s life. This wasn’t manipulation—it was transformation. The brother who once suggested selling Joseph now offers to sacrifice himself for Benjamin and the whole family.
This is a picture of Christ’s sacrifice. Jacob wasn’t willing to give up his son to save his family but God willingly sent His only Son, and His Son was willing to come to this earth to give His life as a ransom to save the lives of many.
In verses 11-15, Jacob finally wakes up to the reality of the situation. He is:
2. Convicted (Genesis 43:11–15)
Jacob tells his sons to prepare gifts: balm, honey, gum, myrrh, pistachios, almonds—and double the money. Again, the irony is unmistakable. These are the same things the caravan carried that took Joseph away, including silver. He finally surrendered what was most precious to him, entrusting God for the outcome.
“Take your brother also” (v.13).
Desperation drove Israel to God and he prays:
“May God Almighty (El Shaddai) grant you compassion in the sight of the man” (v.14).
Why does He call God El Shaddai here?
Jacob invokes El Shaddai—the All-Sufficient One—because:
? The famine is overwhelming
? The situation is beyond human control
? The future of the covenant family is at stake
El Shaddai is the God who:
? Is the Creator and Sustainer of life
? Protects His people
? Keeps His promises
He had to entrust everything to God, even as he braced himself for the worst: “If I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”
Jacob and his sons were in the hands of God expecting judgment, but instead they received mercy. What happened when they received mercy? They were:
3. Changed (Genesis 43:16–34)
The brothers had pushed Joseph out of their lives, but when Joseph sees them, he invites them into his. But when he invited them into his house for a meal the brothers assumed it was a trap. With all these people coming to buy food, why is He singling us out? It created a lot of speculation and fear - they were fearing that this was the retribution of God. Their guilt blinded them from believing that anything good could come to their lives.
Let’s look further down in the chapter. The steward reassures them:
“Shalom… Do not be afraid. Your God has given you treasure.” (v.23)
It must have been shocking to hear an Egyptian servant assuring them of God’s faithfulness (obviously he had learned this from Joseph). God has given you treasure! (what treasure?)
Simeon is released. Water is provided. Feet are washed, donkeys are fed. These are gestures of mercy, forgiveness, and peace. This is a picture of the house of God.
When Joseph arrives he asks about their shalom—their welfare—and their father’s welfare (is there peace amongst you and your father?). Irony - the journey that began years earlier with Joseph checking on his brothers’ welfare in the fields now comes full circle.
But Joseph sees Benjamin, he isn’t overcome with bitterness, anger, or revenge but with love and compassion. So much so that he has to leave the room to regain his composure and then prepares a banquet for everyone.
How ironic, the last time the brothers had a meal in his presence, they sat down to eat with each other while Joseph languished in the pit. The brothers were expecting harsh treatment and even prison but instead they were invited to eat with Joseph.
At lunch, Joseph did certain things to evoke a response. He seated them in birth order and gave Benjamin five times as much food. He wanted his brothers to know he knew (or God knew) something about them and to see if his brothers were still the same envious bunch that they were years ago. If the conditions were “right,” would they again descend to the same murderous depths? How would they regard or treat Benjamin, when he showed him so much favor? Would their envy and resentment resurface, strip him naked, beat him, and toss him in a pit to die?
Joseph wanted to see if they had changed and we see how God used the famine to bring about change. The brothers understood they sinned against Joseph, owned their actions, were ready to make restitution, and they were willing to risk their lives to deliver their brother Simeon and protect their brother Benjamin.
What are some takeaways?:
Famine affects everyone (Gen 43:1).
It is a picture of how:
Humanity is experiencing a spiritual famine (Amos 8:11; John 6:35).
Christ is the “bread of life.” The only One who can sustain us in life and especially in times of famine.
People are searching for life and in their desperation often lose objectivity, their moral compass, and sound judgment.
Like Joseph’s brothers, many have pushed Jesus out of their lives, yet Christ invites us to come into His presence. He invites us into His home, to eat from His table, to experience His forgiveness and mercy. He wants to restore us into fellowship with Himself.
The Challenge:
1. When life feels “heavy” or desperate, what fears most influence our decisions? What do you tend to trust more than God—and why?
2. What is your “Benjamin”—the thing you are most afraid to surrender to God? How might trusting Him with this thing actually play out?
3. Where is God calling you and me to face reality, take responsibility, and take a step of faith and trust Him?
4. Is God our last resort in times of desperation or truly our El Shaddai in every situation—the All-Sufficient One?
5. How do we respond when God seems to bless others more than us—resentment or contentment and trust?
6. How might God be using our current hardship to bring repentance, growth, or healing?
7. Have you received Jesus' invitation to sit down at His table and eat with Him? When is the last time you dined with Him?
The years of famine weren’t random, they were redemptive, bringing repentance, responsibility, restoration and as we will see in the next chapters in Genesis reconciliation.
