Day 72 – Genesis 43:32-34
A Table Ordered by Joseph
Scripture Reading – Genesis 43:32-34
And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.
Genesis 43:32 KJV
And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another.
Genesis 43:33 KJV
And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin’s mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.
Genesis 43:34 KJV
Scripture Review
The Egyptians eat separately from the Hebrews because eating together is an abomination to them. Joseph seats the brothers in exact birth order, and they marvel at one another. Portions come from his table, but Benjamin receives five times as much. Then they drink and are merry with him.
The meal quietly revisits the family’s old wound. Once, visible favor toward Joseph fed the brothers’ envy. Now Benjamin receives the larger portion while the brothers sit together at Joseph’s table. Scripture does not state every reason Joseph gave five portions, so I should not be dogmatic. Still, the scene lets the reader watch the men respond to another favored son. No hatred or violence appears. Fellowship replaces the meal they once ate beside Joseph’s pit.
Joseph meant to order the meal, honor Benjamin openly, and observe his brothers together in a setting where old jealousy could have surfaced.
God meant to bring the family to one table, expose the absence or presence of envy, and give them a foretaste of restored fellowship.
What this asks of me
A changed heart can sit beside another person’s larger portion without hatred. I need to ask whether I can rejoice when someone else is honored. God’s table is not made poorer because my brother receives a blessing. Fellowship grows when comparison loses its power to govern me.
Consider
- How do I respond when another person receives the larger portion?
- Has comparison kept me from enjoying fellowship and provision already placed before me?