Genesis 43

A table of grace

_{The brothers were terrified when they saw that they were being taken into Joseph’s house. “It’s because of the money someone put in our sacks last time we were here,” they said. “He plans to pretend that we stole it. Then he will seize us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys.” ~ Genesis 43:18}

Today’s chapter in Genesis continues with Joseph’s brothers in a fearful place. They had already carried the guilt of their past decisions to sell Joseph and now, when invited into Joseph’s house, their minds immediately jumped to suspicion and fear. They thought it was a trap. They expected judgment. But instead of punishment, they were welcomed to a feast. They sat at Joseph’s table, unaware that the one they had betrayed years before was showing them grace and preparing the way for reconciliation.

One of my favorite things to do is to show grace to others, especially when they are undeserving. Oh, it isn’t always easy, but it is such a blessing when you get past your hurt and step into the love of God to share with those who have hurt you. I could give you many examples of “setting a table of grace,” but one particular instance produced great results in a time when we were facing a roadblock when buying our home.

The short story is that we were sharing our driveway entrance with two neighbors and needed them to sign off on a contract that they would be willing to keep things the way they were as the property changed ownership. Of course, one neighbor agreed immediately, but the other not so much. It was weeks of getting nowhere and the sale process came to a screeching halt. One morning when I got up, the situation was so heavy on my heart that I lifted it up to my Father yet once again. He gave me an idea to make something for that neighbor and then take it to them to talk about the situation.

That felt weird and uncomfortable. Not to mention, we were frustrated with them for making things so difficult, but I did it anyway. When I got to their house, the wife answered the door and I gave her the gift and told her that I didn’t want any hard feelings to build and that I hoped we could become good neighbors and friends one day. By that afternoon, my husband got a call from them saying they would sign off on the clearance so that we could proceed with buying the house.

What a miracle that was, and how showing grace in the situation made all the difference. Many times, we anticipate the worst when we step into unfamiliar or difficult situations. We rehearse in our minds all the ways it could go wrong. Yet God is often preparing something far greater, a feast of grace in the very place we expected fear or judgment. What Joseph’s brothers thought was the end of their freedom turned out to be the beginning of restoration. That is when they received the miracle of getting their brother back, something they didn’t even realize was possible.

Maybe you are in a situation today that feels blocked or even scary. You might be carrying fear, guilt, or doubt about what is ahead, and your mind is running through all the worst possibilities. Just like Joseph’s brothers, you may expect a trap when God is actually preparing a table. He is already at work behind the scenes creating a place of grace, reconciliation, and breakthrough. What feels like an ending may actually be the very thing that ushers in your miracle.

Here is what you can do the next time you face an impossible situation:

• Pray and ask God to show you where you may be anticipating the worst instead of trusting His goodness.
• Make a list of situations or people where fear has tried to take over your thoughts. Commit those areas to God in prayer.
• Ask the Lord for one specific way you can “set a table of grace” for someone who has been difficult in your life.
• Choose a verse on grace and forgiveness to speak over your heart and over that person each day.
• Remember a past situation where God surprised you with His goodness and write it down as a reminder when new challenges come.
• Be willing to take a simple step of kindness, even if it feels uncomfortable, and trust God with the results.

Today I want to encourage you that your fear or worry about what could go wrong may only be a doorway into God’s unexpected blessing. Joseph’s brothers walked into what they thought was a trap, but it turned out to be a table of grace. You can walk into your situation today with confidence, knowing that God may already be preparing a place of restoration and provision for you. He is not out to punish you, He is for you. You may just find that what you thought was the end is actually the beginning of God’s miracle.

Today’s scripture reading: Genesis 43

1 But the famine continued to ravage the land of Canaan. 

2 When the grain they had brought from Egypt was almost gone, Jacob said to his sons, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”

3 But Judah said, “The man was serious when he warned us, ‘You won’t see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ 

4 If you send Benjamin with us, we will go down and buy more food. 

5 But if you don’t let Benjamin go, we won’t go either. Remember, the man said, ‘You won’t see my face again unless your brother is with you.’”

6 “Why were you so cruel to me?” Jacob moaned. “Why did you tell him you had another brother?”

7 “The man kept asking us questions about our family,” they replied. “He asked, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ So we answered his questions. How could we know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?”

8 Judah said to his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will be on our way. Otherwise we will all die of starvation—and not only we, but you and our little ones. 

9 I personally guarantee his safety. You may hold me responsible if I don’t bring him back to you. Then let me bear the blame forever. 

10 If we hadn’t wasted all this time, we could have gone and returned twice by now.”

11 So their father, Jacob, finally said to them, “If it can’t be avoided, then at least do this. Pack your bags with the best products of this land. Take them down to the man as gifts—balm, honey, gum, aromatic resin, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 

12 Also take double the money that was put back in your sacks, as it was probably someone’s mistake. 

13 Then take your brother, and go back to the man. 

14 May God Almighty give you mercy as you go before the man, so that he will release Simeon and let Benjamin return. But if I must lose my children, so be it.”

15 So the men packed Jacob’s gifts and double the money and headed off with Benjamin. They finally arrived in Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph. 

16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the manager of his household, “These men will eat with me this noon. Take them inside the palace. Then go slaughter an animal, and prepare a big feast.” 

17 So the man did as Joseph told him and took them into Joseph’s palace.

18 The brothers were terrified when they saw that they were being taken into Joseph’s house. “It’s because of the money someone put in our sacks last time we were here,” they said. “He plans to pretend that we stole it. Then he will seize us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys.”

19 The brothers approached the manager of Joseph’s household and spoke to him at the entrance to the palace. 

20 “Sir,” they said, “we came to Egypt once before to buy food. 

21 But as we were returning home, we stopped for the night and opened our sacks. Then we discovered that each man’s money—the exact amount paid—was in the top of his sack! Here it is; we have brought it back with us. 

22 We also have additional money to buy more food. We have no idea who put our money in our sacks.”

23 “Relax. Don’t be afraid,” the household manager told them. “Your God, the God of your father, must have put this treasure into your sacks. I know I received your payment.” Then he released Simeon and brought him out to them.

24 The manager then led the men into Joseph’s palace. He gave them water to wash their feet and provided food for their donkeys. 

25 They were told they would be eating there, so they prepared their gifts for Joseph’s arrival at noon.

26 When Joseph came home, they gave him the gifts they had brought him, then bowed low to the ground before him. 

27 After greeting them, he asked, “How is your father, the old man you spoke about? Is he still alive?”

28 “Yes,” they replied. “Our father, your servant, is alive and well.” And they bowed low again.

29 Then Joseph looked at his brother Benjamin, the son of his own mother. “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” Joseph asked. “May God be gracious to you, my son.” 

30 Then Joseph hurried from the room because he was overcome with emotion for his brother. He went into his private room, where he broke down and wept. 

31 After washing his face, he came back out, keeping himself under control. Then he ordered, “Bring out the food!”

32 The waiters served Joseph at his own table, and his brothers were served at a separate table. The Egyptians who ate with Joseph sat at their own table, because Egyptians despise Hebrews and refuse to eat with them. 

33 Joseph told each of his brothers where to sit, and to their amazement, he seated them according to age, from oldest to youngest. 

34 And Joseph filled their plates with food from his own table, giving Benjamin five times as much as he gave the others. So they feasted and drank freely with him.

Journal:

• What situations in my life do I immediately anticipate the worst outcome instead of trusting God?
• Who can show unexpected grace or kindness to this week?
• What “tables of grace” has God already invited me to in my past, and how did it change me?