Sunday, January 12, 2020
Genesis 42: The First Journey
Everyone in this story is tested.
Jacob’s sons are reluctant to go to Egypt for rations of grain even though they starve. Jacob speaks to them in this way: Why do you keep gaping at one another? I hear that rations of grain are available in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, that we may stay alive rather than die of hunger. Later he must allow the precious smallest son, Benjamin, to return to Egypt with his brothers; this is the condition laid upon them by Joseph. If some disaster should befall him on the journey you must make, you would send my white head down to the nether world in grief.
Joseph suffers greatly when he sees his ten brothers who once discussed murdering him before selling him into slavery. He speaks to them through an interpreter so as to retain his anonymity; his reaction to their conversation is one of deep sadness: Turning away from them, he wept.
As Joseph’s brothers argue over how to proceed, Reuben reminds them that they ought not to have rid themselves of Joseph years earlier: Didn’t I tell you not to do wrong to the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now comes a reckoning for his blood.
Everyone in this story suffers.
Our culture encourages us to avoid pain at all cost. We are too often taught that failure is a negative to be circumvented . . . not an opportunity to learn something about ourselves and others. We regard tests as ordeals . . . we do not see them as opportunities to examine our minds and hearts. We look upon obstacles as objects to be overcome . . . we do not see constricting circumstances as a lesson plan from God. We too often see adversity as punishment . . . and we miss the fact that hardship and strife give us an occasion to draw nearer to God.
We are all tested. We all suffer. This is an inherent condition of the human experience. Later in this story (50:20) Joseph will say to his brothers: Even though you meant to harm me, God meant it for good, to achieve his present end, the survival of many people. Joseph sees his trials for what they are . . . God’s providence and love converting all harm to good. Joseph makes this journey first, his brothers and father follow later, completing a passage they had never imagined possible. They experience loss and sorrow, joy and surprise yet they move forward inexorably . . . hoping to traverse their pain.
What does all our suffering and testing mean?
We might take time today with this part of the Genesis story to contemplate the sons of Jacob and the many lessons their story contains. Let us make our own first journey to discover the gift of our misfortune.
For a reflection on Genesis 43 – The Second Journey, the journey of return, enter the words in the blog search bar and explore.
Image from: http://www.oneyearbibleblog.com/2011/01/january-24th-one-year-bible-readings.html
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