# 412 The Test of Jealousy

The Book of Genesis

Day 412

Ge 43:27 Then he asked them about their well-being, and said, "Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?" 28 And they answered, "Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive." And they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves. 29 Then he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, "Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me?" And he said, "God be gracious to you, my son." 30 Now his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. And he went into his chamber and wept there. 31 Then he washed his face and came out; and he restrained himself, and said, "Serve the bread." 32 So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. 33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another. 34 Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin's serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.

Having received the gift of exotic food from his brothers, Joseph begins the conversation much like you and I might begin a conversation with others. “How ya been? Is your dad well? Is he still alive?” That last one is a fair question, I mean who knows, maybe the only reason the brothers were able to return with Benjamin was that Jacob had passed away! You can’t resist from the grave!

Assured of his father’s well being Joseph turns to Benjamin and singles him out for a blessing saying, “God be gracious unto you.” This is quite a blessing in the Hebrew culture. It’s asking that God stoop down to Benjamin and grant him mercy. This kind of blessing could once again stir the pot of jealousy in the other brothers!

Joseph, overcome with the emotion of the moment, has to leave the room  to pull himself back together, and there is a subtle lesson for us here concerning blood relation. Never underestimate the strength of biological connection. There is a powerful, almost mystical bond between biological siblings and biological parents. Those of you in adoptive situations likely know what I am talking about. It’s a powerful draw and adoptive parents need to be prepared for it when it surfaces.

Joseph returns, the food is served and the brothers are amazed at the seating arrangement. They are all seated in the order of their birthright…oldest to the youngest. The food is served. (as an aside I like what the King James calls it here. It says “messes” rather than food. Must be where we get the term mess hall in the military. The Hebrew word actually means “portion.”)

And once again we see an action on Joseph’s part that could possibly stir up feelings of jealousy toward Benjamin as he receives 5 times more on his plate than his brothers. These acts of Joseph toward Benjamin remind me of what is written in Rom 11:11 concerning the stirring up of jealousy amongst the Jews: Ro 11:11 I say then, have they (the Jews) stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.

At any rate, the seeds of jealousy have been planted in this encounter with Joseph and while they bear no fruit during this time of merriment, there lies ahead a much bigger test for the brothers……stay tuned!