One Year Pray for America Bible - Flipbook - Page 90
January 21
back to you. Then let me bear the
blame forever. 10 If we h
adn’t wasted
all this time, we could have gone and
returned twice by now.”
11 So their father, Jacob, finally said
to them, “If it can’t be avoided, then
at least do this. Pack your bags with
the best products of this land. Take
them down to the man as g
ifts—balm,
honey, gum, aromatic resin, pistachio
nuts, and almonds. 12 Also take double
the money that was put back in your
sacks, as it was probably someone’s
mistake. 13 Then take your brother,
and go back to the man. 14 May God
Almighty* give you mercy as you go
before the man, so that he will release
Simeon and let Benjamin return. But
if I must lose my children, so be it.”
15 So the men packed Jacob’s gifts
and double the money and headed off
with Benjamin. They finally arrived
in Egypt and presented themselves to
Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin
with them, he said to the manager of
his household, “These men will eat
with me this noon. Take them inside
the palace. Then go slaughter an animal, and prepare a big feast.” 17 So the
man did as Joseph told him and took
them into Joseph’s palace.
18 The brothers were terrified when
they saw that they were being taken
into Joseph’s house. “It’s because of
the money someone put in our sacks
last time we were here,” they said. “He
plans to pretend that we stole it. Then
he will seize us, make us slaves, and
take our donkeys.”
19 The brothers approached the
manager of Joseph’s household and
spoke to him at the entrance to the
palace. 20 “Sir,” they said, “we came to
Egypt once before to buy food. 21 But as
we were returning home, we stopped
for the night and opened our sacks.
Then we discovered that each man’s
money—the exact amount paid—was
in the top of his sack! Here it is; we
have brought it back with us. 22 We
also have additional money to buy
more food. We have no idea who put
our money in our sacks.”
23 “Relax. Don’t be afraid,” the house-
80
hold manager told them. “Your God, the
God of your father, must have put this
treasure into your sacks. I know I received your payment.” Then he released
Simeon and brought him out to them.
24 The manager then led the men
into Joseph’s palace. He gave them
water to wash their feet and provided
food for their donkeys. 25 They were
told they would be eating there, so
they prepared their gifts for Joseph’s
arrival at noon.
26 When Jo
seph came home, they
gave him the gifts they had brought
him, then bowed low to the ground
before him. 27 After greeting them, he
asked, “How is your father, the old man
you spoke about? Is he still alive?”
28 “Yes,” they replied. “Our father,
your servant, is alive and well.” And
they bowed low again.
29 Then Joseph looked at his brother
Benjamin, the son of his own mother.
“Is this your youngest brother, the one
you told me about?” Joseph asked.
“May God be gracious to you, my son.”
30 Then Jo
seph hurried from the room
because he was overcome with emotion
for his brother. He went into his private
room, where he broke down and wept.
31 After washing his face, he came back
out, keeping himself under control.
Then he ordered, “Bring out the food!”
32 The waiters served Joseph at his
own table, and his brothers were
served at a separate table. The Egyptians who ate with Joseph sat at their
own table, because Egyptians despise
Hebrews and refuse to eat with them.
33 Jo
seph told each of his brothers
where to sit, and to their amazement,
he seated them according to age, from
oldest to youngest. 34 And Joseph filled
their plates with food from his own
table, giving Benjamin five times as
much as he gave the others. So they
feasted and drank freely with him.
42:38 Hebrew to Sheol.
43:6 Hebrew Israel; also in
43:11. See note on 35:21. 43:14 Hebrew El-Shaddai.
MATTHEW 13:47–14:12
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like
a fishing net that was thrown into the
water and caught fish of every kind.
