Genesis 43:17-34 NKJV
17 Then the man did as Joseph ordered, and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house.
18 Now the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, “It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may make a case against us and seize us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys.”
19 When they drew near to the steward of Joseph’s house, they talked with him at the door of the house, 20 and said, “O sir, we indeed came down the first time to buy food; 21 but it happened, when we came to the encampment, that we opened our sacks, and there, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; so we have brought it back in our hand. 22 And we have brought down other money in our hands to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.”
23 But he said, “Peace be with you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.
24 So the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed. 25 Then they made the present ready for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they would eat bread there.
26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down before him to the earth. 27 Then he asked them about their well-being, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”
28 And they answered, “Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves.
29 Then he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Now his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. And he went into his chamber and wept there. 31 Then he washed his face and came out; and he restrained himself, and said, “Serve the bread.”
32 So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. 33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another. 34 Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.
Psalm 32, verses 3-4, proclaims:
“When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer.”
This is what it’s like to know that you have sinned and attempt to try to live with it, rather than repent of it; confess it and be rid of it by receiving Holy Absolution. This is what was happening to Joseph’s brothers as they were asked to come to Joseph’s house. The terrors of their conscience plagued them.
To show why such self-justification can take place and what is needed flush it out, Luther writes on this text:
“But why do they not take hold of the Word, which can buoy them up and strengthen them, so that they can be without fear of death and dangers? So great is their bewilderment that they are unable to recall the promises and the sermons of their father which they had long since neglected. Because they despise the Word, let them have the lie, be afraid of themselves, and imagine tyranny and punishments of every kind for themselves… But how long will this evil be lulled to sleep? Until the Law comes.” (LW 7, 330-331, CPH)
Valerius Herberger writes about the latter part of this text: “Joseph’s heart burned for his brother Benjamin. O Lord Jesus, Your heart burns with love for all Your faithful brothers, for all Your elect, the believing Benjaminites, who are upright in heart. When You see them come to church, when You see them pray in trouble, when You see them confess in humbleness, when You see them come to the supper with repentant hearts, Your heart burns for them. You cannot leave them unconsoled. Oh, how Your heart will burn on the Last Day when You see Your believing Christian Benjaminites and set them on Your right hand! — for Benjamin means “Son of the right hand.” (The Great Works of God, trans. Matthew Carver, 420, CPH)
Let us pray: Lord, keep me ever aware of my sin by Your Law, then rescue me by the burning love of Your Gospel. Amen.