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One sentence summary: Joseph's brothers convince their father to let them bring Benjamin to Egypt when supplies run scarce, Joseph frames his brothers for a crime to test them, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, and Joseph sends for his father and all his family to come live near him in Egypt.
The famine is severe in all the land, and Israel and his family soon run out of food. Israel tells his sons to return to Egypt to buy, but Judah reminds his father that the leader of Egypt (Joseph) has refused to see them unless Benjamin is with them and says they will not go without him. Israel chides them for even mentioning Benjamin, but they defend themselves by saying they were just being truthful and could not have known he would require this of them. Then, Judah begs his father to send Benjamin with him so that they can "live and not die" along with all their family. He says he will be personally responsible for Benjamin, and that they should not linger anymore, because they need food. Israel agrees and tells them to take some fruit and nuts and spices, double the money, and also to return the money that was in their sacks. He declares God's mercy and says, "If I am bereaved, I am bereaved."
So the brothers take Benjamin and go down to Egypt and stand before Joseph. When Joseph sees Benjamin, he orders that all the brothers be brought into his house for a feast. The brothers think that he wants to make them slaves because of the money in their sacks. As they came near the steward of Joseph's house, they tell him the story of the sacks and how they have brought it back. The steward tells them not to be afraid, that God has given them favor and that he put the money in their sacks himself. Simeon is also brought our from prison and their animals are taken care of. They prepare to present their gift, and when Joseph comes home, they present it to him and bow to him. He asks them about his father, and they answer that he is in good health. They bow again, and Joseph looks at Benjamin. He asks if he is their younger brother and blesses him, and "his heart yearns for his brother," so he goes away to weep. He washes his face and comes out and "restrains himself." He feasts alone while the brothers feast separately and the Egyptians separately. The brothers notice they are seated according to their birthright, and they marvel. They also notice that Benjamin gets five times more food than anyone else. They "drink and are merry with [Joseph.]"
Joseph commands the steward of the house to fill up their sacks with food and their money and to put his silver cup in the sack of Benjamin.
In the morning, they are sent away. Once they are out of the city, Joseph tells his steward to pursue them and ask them why they have repaid evil for good. He is to ask, "Is this not the cup from which my master drinks and from which he practices divination?" So the steward obeys, and the brothers respond: "Why would he say that? We would never do such a thing!" They say that whoever is found with the cup, let him die, and the rest of them will be slaves. But the steward says that only the one in whose sack the cup is found will be a slave, and the rest will go free. When the steward searches their sacks, the cup is found in Benjamin's sack. Then, they tear their clothes and return to the city. They go back to Joseph's house and fall before him. He asks them what they have done: "Did you not know that such a man as I can practice divination?" Judah responds by saying that God has found out their sin and that they are his slaves, but Joseph says only Benjamin will be. At this, Judah pleads with him and tells him how difficult it was for them to get their father to allow Benjamin to come, how he said he would die with grief at the loss of not only Joseph but Benjamin. He says he cannot go back to his father without Benjamin because his father will die, and they will be responsible, and also that he is personally responsible for Benjamin. He asks if he could be a slave instead of Benjamin.
Joseph can't hold it in any longer. He commands everyone to leave but his brothers, and he reveals himself to him. He weeps so loud that all the Egyptians in his household hear it. He asks if his father is still alive, but they are so dismayed they can't answer. He tells them to come near. "I am Joseph, your brother whom you sold into Egypt. But do not be grieved or angry with yourselves for selling me here. For God sent me before you to preserve life." He says there will be five more years of famine, and that God wanted to save their lives and preserve their posterity "by a great deliverance," and that it wasn't them who sent him here, but God. He says God has made him like a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his house and a ruler in all Egypt. He tells them to return to his father and give him a message to, to come down quickly and dwell in Goshen to be near to him, with all their children and herds. He tells them to "tell [his] father of all [his] glory in Egypt" and to hurry and bring him. Then, he "[falls] on Benjamin's neck and [weeps]," and Benjamin weeps on his. He kisses all his brothers and weeps over them, and they all talk for a while. Pharaoh hears of all this, and he is pleased. He tells Joseph to tell his brothers to fetch their father and households and to bring them, and that he will give them the best of Egypt. He tells them to take carts from Egypt for their little ones and wives, and says the best of all the land of Egypt will be theirs. Joseph gives the brothers a change of clothes on their way, but to Benjamin he gives 300 pieces of silver and five new garments. He sends his father donkeys loaded with food for the journey and tells them to "not become quarrelsome along the way" (a little jab at their past behavior?)
When they tell their father that Joseph is alive and governor of Egypt, at first he does not believe, but when he sees the carts, "his spirit [revives]." He is thrilled and says that he will be happy if only he can see his son Joseph before he dies.
Thoughts/Discussion Questions:
Joseph already forgave his brothers in his heart a long time before he saw them again Think about that. He would have never been ready for restoration and all that God would do through him if he hadn't. Where do you need to forgive and see God's restoration?
Can you trust God's hand... and heart... in an unjust situation?