Wednesday 18 November 2026

Psalm 78:32-40

Background
We come now to the shortest of this week’s readings but it’s the most intense episode in the story of Joseph.

Joseph's brothers, including Benjamin, the youngest and Joseph’s only full brother, are making their second visit to Egypt to get food during the long famine that's affecting the whole region. All seemed well as they set off home, but Joseph plays a cruel trick on them placing his silver cup in Benjamin’s pack so it would appear Benjamin had stolen it. Yesterday’s passage, the whole of chapter 44, tells how this plays out. There’s a long conversation between Joseph and Judah, the most prominent of his half-brothers, in which Judah pleads for Benjamin to be allowed to go back to Canaan. Returning without him would be just like the time they came home without Joseph and it would likely kill their father Jacob/Israel.

Joseph has not to this point revealed who he is but now literally breaks down. He sends all his staff and servants out of the room and, weeping and wailing loudly, reveals himself to his brothers. This is one of the most emotionally charged and dramatic moments in all the Hebrew scriptures. And Joseph’s main concern is to tell his brothers not to beat themselves up about what they did when they sold him. One supposes that they would think he was about to exact revenge. Instead, he says it was all within the providence of God. (He returns to this theme after the death of Jacob, Genesis 50:15-21).

The rest of chapter 45 expands on this as Joseph invites them to come to Egypt as economic migrants with indefinite leave to remain, to bring their father and all his family and possessions and settle in the land of Goshen, part of Egypt on the eastern side of the Nile delta (its exact extent and location are uncertain). They will be supported through the remaining years of famine. Joseph’s boss, Pharoah, endorses these plans and provides transport and promises that they will have the very best Egypt can provide. They go home, tell Jacob that Joseph is alive and effectively running Egypt. This must have been another very emotional moment but it’s told in rather a dead-pan way (Genesis 45:26-28).

To Ponder:

• What do you think that the residents of Goshen thought when the Hebrews were invited in?
• Do you see the hand of God in historical events and/or in your personal experience?

Prayer
God of history and God of compassion on every individual, bless refugees with courage and hope, and bless settled people with kindness and generosity, to the praise of your holy name. Amen.

Bible notes author: The Revd Alan Bolton
Alan Bolton is a supernumerary presbyter in the High Wycombe Circuit, having sat down in 2018. He preaches regularly round the Circuit. His other occupations are family, music, model railways, walking, and reading – with a close interest in politics.