Joseph and His Family Reunite

Joseph began the important work Pharaoh had given him. During the seven years when Egypt grew more food than anyone could count, Joseph traveled across the land and prepared for the future.

The storehouses filled with grain. Basket after basket was poured inside until the grain looked as plentiful as the sand beside the sea.

Then the rain stopped, the fields dried, and food became hard to find. The years of famine had begun.

People came from many lands to Egypt because they had heard that food was there. Joseph opened the storehouses, and the grain he had saved fed many hungry families.

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.

The brothers traveled to Egypt again, this time with Benjamin beside them.

When Joseph saw Benjamin, his heart filled with emotion. He wanted to cry, but he hurried into another room until he could speak calmly again.

Joseph invited the brothers to eat with him. A wonderful meal was placed before them.

The brothers were seated from the oldest to the youngest.

“How could he know our ages?” they whispered in surprise.

Joseph watched how his brothers treated Benjamin. Years ago, they had been jealous when Joseph received special attention. But now they ate together peacefully and showed no anger toward Benjamin.

Joseph planned one final test.

He told his servant, “Fill their sacks with grain, return their money, and place my silver cup inside Benjamin's sack.”

The next morning, the brothers began their journey home.

They had not traveled far when Joseph's servant caught up with them.

“The ruler's silver cup is missing!” the servant called.

The brothers were certain none of them had taken it. They opened every sack.

At last, Benjamin's sack was opened. Inside was Joseph's silver cup.

The brothers were horrified. They returned to Joseph's house, and once again they bowed before him.

Joseph said that Benjamin would have to remain in Egypt.

Then Judah moved forward.

He explained how much their elderly father loved Benjamin and how losing him would break Jacob's heart.

“Please, let me stay here in Benjamin's place,” Judah begged. “Let the boy return to his father.”

Joseph saw that Judah was no longer the jealous brother who had once sold him. Judah was willing to give up his own freedom to save Benjamin.

Joseph could not hold back his tears any longer.

He asked every servant to leave the room. Then he wept so loudly that people outside could hear him.

“I am Joseph!” he told his brothers. “Is my father still alive?”

His brothers were too frightened and amazed to answer.

Joseph invited them to come closer.

“Do not be afraid,” he said gently. “You meant to harm me, but God used what happened to save many lives. God sent me here ahead of you so our family could live.”

Joseph did not choose revenge. He chose forgiveness.

Joseph embraced Benjamin, and both brothers cried. Then he embraced the rest of his brothers and spoke kindly to them.

When Pharaoh heard that Joseph's family had come, he was pleased.

“Bring your father and all your families to Egypt,” Pharaoh said. “The best of the land will be yours.”

Joseph gave his brothers wagons, food, clothing, and everything they needed for the journey.

When the brothers reached Canaan, they hurried to Jacob.

“Joseph is still alive!” they cried. “He is ruler over all Egypt!”

At first Jacob could not believe them. But when he heard Joseph's message and saw the wagons Joseph had sent, hope returned to his heart.

“My son Joseph is alive,” Jacob said through joyful tears. “I will go and see him before I die.”

Jacob gathered his whole family, and they began the journey to Egypt.

During the journey, God spoke to Jacob in the night.

“Do not be afraid to go to Egypt,” God told him. “I will be with you.”

At last, Joseph heard that his father was near.

He prepared his chariot and hurried to meet him.

Joseph stepped down from his chariot and ran toward him.

Joseph embraced him and wept for a long time. Jacob held the son he had believed was gone forever.

Joseph's family was together again. The years of sadness had not been forgotten, but God had brought hope, forgiveness, and new life from them.

Joseph had learned that forgiveness is stronger than anger, love is stronger than jealousy, and God can still be working even when his plan is difficult to see.