Genesis 43. Joseph's brothers go back to Egypt to buy food.
Israel wanted his boys to go back to Egypt to buy more grain, but they said they would not go unless they took Benjamin with them because that is what was requested by (Joseph). I like how the Bible presents the "two sides of the story". We feel for Israel and yet, we also feel for the brothers.
Verse 6: "And Israel said, 'Why did you deal so wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you had still another brother?'"
Verse 7: But they said, "The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, 'Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?' And we told him according to these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, 'Bring your brother down'?"
Israel tells his boys that they have dealt wrongfully with him because they relayed the fact that they had another brother. I can hear any of us parents telling our children who have shared something we wished they hadn't, "Did you have to tell them THAT?"
Then you can clearly understand the brothers' response: "We had to tell him because he asked us a pointed question. Did you want us to lie?"
It is imperative that we try to see misunderstandings from view points other than our own. Yes, it may hurt us, but we cannot see the full picture. None of us can. Only God sees it all. Our sight is limited. Our understanding is limited.
Israel does relent and allow them to take Benjamin. In verse 14 he says, "And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!" This wasn't a great solution to their food problem. Israel must have been scared to death thinking he might lose another son. But, he realizes he has no other choice but to send him, and the wording in this verse makes me think that Israel realizes that God is above all.
You may find yourself in a situation today with no real good solution that you can see. Either choice is not appealing. Continue to trust God.
Psalm 147:5 "Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite."
