The Brothers Seek Food

Far away in Canaan, Joseph's father, Jacob, and his family were also running out of food.

“Go to Egypt and buy food for us,” Jacob told his sons. “Then our family will live.”

Jacob sent ten of his sons, but he kept his youngest son, Benjamin, at home. Benjamin was Joseph's only brother from the same mother, and Jacob was afraid that something might happen to him.

The ten brothers traveled across the dry land. Camels carried their empty sacks, sandals pressed into the dusty road, and little bells jingled as Egypt drew near.

When they reached Egypt, they were taken to the ruler who sold grain to the people.

The brothers bowed before the ruler with their faces toward the ground.

They did not know it, but the ruler was Joseph.

Many years had passed. Joseph wore fine clothes and spoke through an interpreter. His brothers did not recognize him—but Joseph recognized every one of them.

Joseph remembered the dreams he had when he was young. Long ago, he had dreamed that his brothers bowed before him. Now the dream was happening.

Joseph wanted to know whether his brothers had changed. He spoke firmly and asked about their family.

They told him about their elderly father and their youngest brother, Benjamin, who had stayed at home.

“You must bring your youngest brother to me,” Joseph said. “Then I will know that you are telling the truth.”

Joseph kept Simeon in Egypt while the other brothers returned home with grain.

Along the road, one brother opened his sack.

“My money has been returned!” he cried. The silver they had paid for the grain was inside.

The brothers looked at one another with worried faces. They did not understand that Joseph had secretly returned their money.

When they arrived in Canaan, they told Jacob everything.

“No,” Jacob said. “Benjamin cannot go. I have already lost Joseph, and Simeon is gone. I cannot lose Benjamin too.”

But the famine continued, and soon the food from Egypt was gone.

Judah stepped forward. “I will protect him,” he promised. “I will bring Benjamin home.”

At last, Jacob agreed. He watched his sons leave and prayed that God would be merciful to them.

Judah had given his word. Caring for Benjamin would be a chance to show the love he had failed to show Joseph before.

A promise to care for someone is shown by what we do. As the brothers returned to Egypt, they still did not know who the governor was. But they were already learning to think about their father’s and their brother’s pain.