Thoughts on Genesis 43-50

43- 44
It was quite heartless of the brothers to leave Simeon in the prison, whilst they enjoyed the food which they brought from Egypt!

45
Joseph’s faith in God is paramount: he firmly believes that all his troubles had a purpose, i.e, God sent him to Egypt so that he can preserve the life of the 12 tribes. So, God’s purpose might have walks in the deserts, incarceration, starvation, calumny, but then, the one who stays firm in the Lord gets a great reward, as in the case of Joseph, who practically became the ruler of Egypt. It also struck me that Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey, was not spared from the famine. So, even famine can strike paradise.

47
Joseph’s management of the famine clearly indicates that he has a MBA summa cum laude from the best Management school in the world! Jokes apart, evidently God gave him the wisdom to deal with this crisis effectively- often, such situations only incites the general public to rebel against authority. However, Joseph’s preparations before the famine, and his steps during the famine, ensured that the Pharaoh effectively controlled all Egypt.

50
As Joseph explains, his brothers’ callous behaviour (in selling him as a slave) was converted by God into something good- an action by which Israel survived the famine. However, it seems odd that Joseph was able to bury Jacob in the family grave, but couldn’t do so in his own case but entrusts his descendants with the task of taking his body back.