The famine was still going strong, and Jacob’s family had eaten all their food, so Jacob said to his sons again, “Go again, buy us a little food.” Judah told him that the man told them they wouldn’t see his face if they did not bring their youngest brother. So he said, if you send Benjamin with us we will go buy food, but if you don’t send him we won’t. Israel (Jacob) responded asking why they mentioned Benjamin at all. The brothers told him that “the man” had questioned them carefully asking about Jacob and if they had another brother, so they told him. Judah said, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.” Israel (Jacob) then said that if they had to go then they should take a present, some choice fruits, a little balm and honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, almonds, double the money (i.e. the money they mistakenly returned with), and their brother, Benjamin. And he said, “May God Almighty [El Shaddai] grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” The brothers went to Egypt and stood before Joseph. When Joseph saw Benjamin he told his steward to bring the men into the house, slaughter an animal and make a meal for them, and the steward did this. The brothers were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house, and thought it was because of the money they returned with, and worried that he would overpower them and seize them as slaves. When they arrived at the door they began to plead, and confessed how they found their money, and how they had brought it back again. The steward replied saying, “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks. I received your money.” He then brought Simeon to them, he gave them water, and they washed their feet, and he gave their donkeys food, then they prepared their present for Joseph, for He was coming at noon to eat there. The text then says this: “Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother (Benjamin), and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there. Then he washed his face and came out. And controlling himself he said, ‘Serve the food.’” Portions were taken to the brothers from Joseph’s table, but Benjamin’s portion was 5 times as much as any of theirs. They drank and were merry with him.
Joseph’s character contributes to how we ought to think of what it is to be a man. His life is a picture of perseverance, dependence upon God, and a full expression of emotions. Not uncontrolled emotion willing to weep at every little thing, yet he feels deeply. It’s important to take note of these qualities lest we confuse “biblical manhood” with a lack of emotion, and an inability to love fully, suffer genuinely, and feel deeply. Also, Judah’s substitution is also a typological arrow pointing directly at Jesus Christ. Jesus is a descendant of Judah. In the previous chapter Reuben offered his children as a substitute (which would also be terribly difficult), but that wasn’t quite as strong as Judah’s offer here of himself. Unlike Reuben in Genesis 42, Judah offers himself as a substitute if Benjamin should be lost, “I will be a pledge for his safety,” and, “let me bear the blame forever.” (vs. 8-10) Judah is taking responsibility fully upon himself. Judah, in a twisted way, saved Joseph in Genesis 37:27, he learned the difficulty of loss in chapter 38, and now here he’s offering himself as a surety and a substitute for Benjamin. His offer of substitution for Benjamin is how the Lord will save His chosen family, we need only to watch how it plays out. This points to Jesus Christ who would come from Judah’s family line. Through His substitutionary atonement, Jesus Christ, became a pledge for our safety. He is the firstborn of many who would be brought to salvation through His blood (Rev. 1:5). By going to the cross to die for our sins in order to bring us to God, it’s as if he owned Judah’s words here, “Let me bear their blame forever.” Jesus was tortured and beaten then hung on a cross with nails driven through His hands and feet only to suffocate to death, but that wasn’t the worst of it. He bore the sin of His people in His body, and He suffered the eternal wrath of God on that tree – in our place condemned He stood. He became our sin, and through the power of His person and His work on the cross He infused His people with His righteousness, so that we have become His righteousness if we are repenting and believing. This substitutionary attitude of Judah would come to perfect fruition in the Messiah who took our place on the cross.