BRAGADAYJAH142

What a hard decision it was for Israel to make. He had lost his beloved son Joseph. His son Simeon was being held for ransom and is probably already dead; and now he is being persuaded because of the hard times that had befallen them, to risk sending all his sons away into a foreign land. So after agonizing much Israel said, “Take Benjamin and go; and if I be bereaved of my children, let me be bereaved.” These words of Israel’s are so reminiscent of future words of Esther when she was forced to break with protocol and risk her neck to save the lives of her people, when she resolved to go and speak to her husband the King; for she said, “I will go and if I perish, I perish.” So with a present in hand, Benjamin their youngest brother and double the money, the sons of Israel stood before the lord of Egypt. Much to their surprise, the Lord told his chief steward, bring these men to my house and slay…. the brothers hearts must have taken a leap of fear at the use of the word slay…. but the words that followed were, ….”and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.” It wasn’t a threat of death, after all; it was an invitation to lunch. But they still did not understand and did not believe what was happening to them. As they were transported to the Ruler’s house they were even more convinced that he planned to do them harm. They speculated it was the affair of the money in the sacks which the Ruler was planning to use as an occasion to accuse and later commit them for infamy; that his intention was to take and imprison them and forfeit all their goods. So it was with fearful hearts they entered upon the doorsteps of Joseph’s house. More.