Genesis 43:2 when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt
We are less than 2 years into the projected 7 years of famine, but neither Jacob nor his sons know about Pharaoh’s dream of 7 lean years. Suspecting that the famine will end soon, they imagine they need one more stash of provisions to make it through. Their one-year supply, and more, is gone.
Genesis 43:3 Judah spake unto him
We see the strength of Reuben (Gen. 42:37) and Judah in vouching for the safety of Benjamin. We applaud the character of Judah in leading out to convince Jacob to allow them to return to Egypt, but he must remind his father that they can’t return to Egypt without Benjamin. They are in quite a predicament. There is nowhere else to go. No provisions can be found to the north or the east. Egypt is their only option. Meanwhile, Simeon is bound in Egypt. His fate hangs in the balance. Jacob has lost two sons to Egypt; now, he is worried about losing a third.
Genesis 43:7 How were we supposed to know?
Jacob is complaining to his sons, “Why did you tell them about Benjamin?” Their response has been said a million times from a million children to a million parents, “How were we supposed to know”? In this case, how were we supposed to know he would request Benjamin be brought to Egypt. This is a typical family discussion—no different then, than it is now, “how were we supposed to know”? “Don’t blame me.” “It’s not my fault.”
Genesis 43:10 except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time
Let’s not forget Simeon. He is bound in Egypt awaiting the return of his 9 brothers with Benjamin. Surely, he has counted the days, weeks, and months. He knows how long it takes to get home; he knows how long it takes to get back. In prison, he has nothing else to calculate but time, and the required time has come and gone. He must have wondered about the delay. Judah admits they would have been back a second time by now if they hadn’t waited.
Neal A. Maxwell
The issue for us is trusting God enough to trust also His timing. If we can truly believe He has our welfare at heart, may we not let His plans unfold as He thinks best? (Even As I Am (1982), 93.)
Genesis 43:11-12 take of the best fruits . . . a present . . . And take double money in your hand
Joseph L. Wirthlin
Honesty cannot become a national, a worldwide virtue, unless it becomes a primal part of the thinking, the actions, and the character of the individual. We have some shining examples of individual honesty. I think of one pioneer grandmother who was upon her deathbed. She seemed to be reflecting over the events of her life, and finally she called her son to her side and said: "I am still in debt. I owe the dairyman up the street five cents."
Of course the dairyman was immediately paid, but in the thinking of this pioneer grandmother, an obligation of five cents was just as important as if it had been an obligation of several thousand dollars.
I think of Jacob of old who had sent his sons to the land of Egypt to purchase grain. The sacks of grain were returned and in the mouth of each sack the money was found. Jacob wanted to impress upon the ruler of Egypt that he was an honest man, and so his sons returned with double the amount of the cost of the grain. (Conference Report October 1949, pp. 98-102)
Genesis 43:13-14 take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man
Finally, Jacob relents. The only hope he can have is to place his trust in God. It’s the same for all of us, members of the house of Israel, to trust in the God of Jacob when things get tough. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Prov. 3:5)
Genesis 43:23 your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks
The humility of Joseph has been taught to his trusted steward. Couldn’t Joseph claim that he had given them the treasure? Couldn’t the steward claim that he had placed the treasure in their sacks? Yet, neither Joseph nor his steward make the mistake of taking the credit. As in all things, there is a lesson of humility here. There is also a lesson of divine gifts.
If anything good happens to us, it is because of the Lord. The phrase, “God hath given you treasure” is a true statement for all of those who have sought the pearl of great price, for those who have hungered and thirsted after righteousness, for those who have brought souls unto God (D&C 18:15). Mormon said it best, “all things which are good cometh of God” (Moro. 7:12). This simple truth is not too simple; in reality, it applies to the treasures in our sacks, the treasure in our families, the treasure in our covenants, and all other treasures of eternity.
Genesis 43:28 they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance
How quickly Joseph’s thoughts must have turned to a dream he had years ago! How poignant was the scene! How different was the family dynamic! Years ago, he declared, “I have dreamed a dream; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven starts made obeisance to me . . . And his brethren envied him” (Gen. 37:9-11). Those same brethren, represented in his dream as the eleven stars, now bowed to him just as the dream had prophesied.
Genesis 43:29-31 he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin
Joseph had 10 other brothers, but technically, they were all half-brothers. Benjamin was Joseph’s only full blood brother. We don’t know if this affected his love for him. He had wept for his half brothers on their last visit. He would now weep for Benjamin. Not only would he weep, he became a blubbering mess, so affected that he had to wash his face and clean himself up a little bit so he could keep up the stern appearance. It was hard for him to stay “in character” when his bowels melted with love for Benjamin.
