Bible Study Online ArticleLocated at the Bottom of Page In the last article we learned that Joseph attitude towards his brothers was beginning to change after they had returned to Egypt with his little brother Benjamin. Know that Joseph was very excited to see his little brother, for he'd believed that Benjamin's fate was the same as his, or worse.
But this wasn't the case when it came to Benjamin, and it was very fortunate for Jacob's sons that Joseph had finally discovered this fact for himself. Know that Jacob's sons would greatly benefit from Joseph's love for Benjamin, being that Joseph would turn his attention to reuniting with his little brother, instead of trying to seek revenge against his brothers. Keep in mind that from the very first day when Jacob's sons had unexpectedly re-entered the brother's life they'd betrayed some twenty years before - that brother, who was Joseph, had an agenda towards them that was probably filled with seeking vengeance. But Joseph would struggle when it came to acting upon those feelings, for he knew that he would be held accountable by God for his actions. Know that Joseph didn't want to compromise his favored position with God in order to carry out some personal vendetta. Know that God was with Joseph during this whole process and little did Joseph know, that same God was leading and guiding him the whole way. This is proven by the fact, that every time Joseph would get ready to give in to his angry and vengeful emotions that he had against his brothers -- God would allow some important information to find Joseph's ears, which would give him pause. For example: God would allow Joseph to find out that his little brother Benjamin was still alive, and because of this small, but very important information, Joseph's agenda would change away from seeking immediate vengeance against his brothers, and he would now focus solely on getting reunited with his little brother Benjamin. Remember that Jacob wouldn't allow Benjamin to travel with his brothers, so therefore he stayed home with his father. Now rather Joseph seeking revenge against his brothers, he would instead use them to bring Benjamin to Egypt and away from his father's house. Needless-to-say when it came to Joseph's plan, it wouldn't be easy. But he was able to pull it off, and after Jacob's sons were able to deliver Benjamin, Joseph's agenda would change again. This time, Joseph's focus was on keeping Benjamin in Egypt for good, being that Joseph had decided that he wasn't going to let him leave. But instead of Joseph demanding that Benjamin stay in Egypt, he decided to devised a plan that would frame Benjamin in such a way, that he would be forced to stay in Egypt. But there was a small problem that Joseph wasn't counting on when it came to his brothers? He didn't know that they would have so much loyalty and passion for the well-being of their father. For Joseph's brothers knew, that if they were to return back home without Benjamin, surely their father's well-being would be affected in a way that would be very detrimental. But were somewhat getting ahead of ourselves, being that at this point from within our journey, Joseph's brothers were trying to keep Benjamin alive from the crime that he was allegedly found guilty (framed) of. Now understand, Joseph wasn't going to kill Benjamin for this whole planned out situation was designed by Joseph, so that he could keep his little brother there with him in Egypt. But Joseph's brothers didn't know that, for we must also remember that Joseph was still unknown to them. And all they saw before them was "Zaphenath-Paneah the Revealer of Secrets" and that he was angry that Benjamin had allegedly stolen from him. Also, we must not forget that while Jacob's sons were on the road and Joseph's chief steward had rode out to catch up with them, he accused them of stealing. It was at this time that Joseph's brothers had set the "punishment condition" that if anybody was found to have what the chief steward was accusing them of, that person would be put to death: "If any of your servants are found to have it; he would die; and the rest of us will become my lord's slaves." -- (Genesis 44:9) Now remember that this would be the statement that was on Judah's mind when he spoke these words to "Zaphenath-Paneah the Revealer of Secrets" (who was Joseph): "What can we say to my lord? What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants' guilt. We are now my lord's slaves: we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup." Now after hearing this statement from Judah, Joseph responded by saying: "Far be it for me to do such a thing! Only the man that was found to have the cup will become my slave. The rest of you, go back to your father in peace." Make no mistake, this news would make things better. But overall the news is still bad? Benjamin, although a slave gets to stay alive and the rest of Joseph's brothers have been released and they can go back home in peace. But unfortunately, they can't go back home without Benjamin and Judah explains why: "Please my lord, let your servant speak a word to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, though you are equaled to Pharaoh himself. My lord asked his servants, 'Do you have a father or brother?' And we answered, 'We have an aged father, and there is a young son born to him in his old age. Judah continues on... "His brother is dead, and he is the only one of his mother's sons left, and his father loves him.' Then you said to your servants, Bring him down to me so I can see him for myself.' And we said to my lord, 'The boy cannot leave his father; if he leaves him, his father will die.' But you told your servants, 'Unless your younger brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.' "When we went back to your servant my father, we told him what my lord had said. Then our father said, 'Go back and buy a little more food.' But we said, 'We cannot go down. Only if our youngest brother is with us will we go. We cannot see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.' "Your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons. One of them went away from me, and I said, "He has surely been torn to pieces." And I have not seen him since. If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in misery.' Judah explains further... "So now, if the boy is not with us when I go back to your servant my father and if my father, whose life is closely bound up with the boy's life, sees that the boy isn't there, he will die. Your servants will bring the gray head of our father down to the grave in sorrow. Your servant guaranteed the boy's safety to my father. "I said, 'If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!' Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord's slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return home with his brothers. How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come upon my father." Understand that a lot was revealed to Joseph from within Judah's statements. For Joseph learned that his father was indeed deceived when it came to his very own disappearance. He now knows that his brothers had lied and told his father that he was killed by a wild beast. He also knows why his father never came looking for him, being that he never knew the real story when it came to his brothers betraying him. But that was the past, right...? Never mind how hurtful it may have been for Joseph, right...? Basically... yes. For we must understand that Joseph now sees, nine men who loves and are very concerned about their aging father, and how they can't go back home without Benjamin, for it would place their father in an endless season of great sorrow. Be that as it may, will this display of concern and passion be enough to get Joseph to abandon his personal agenda, when it comes to his little brother Benjamin? Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty **YOUR CURRENT BIBLE STUDY SERIES WOULD BE HERE** 84) Joseph's Dark Dreams Interpretation 85) Joseph the Overseer of Egypt 86) Joseph the Revealer of Secrets 88) The Seven Years of Abundance 90) Joseph the Egyptian Prime Minister 91) Joseph the Temptation of Revenge 93) The Confessions of the Ten Tribes 98) Joseph's True Agenda Revealed 99) <-CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLINE PAGE-> 
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