Genesis 43:6 Commentary and Bible Study

His new name is now used – not Jacob, but Israel. The Scripture does not do this for nothing. We are being reminded that this is the one who has prevailed with God and to whom the promises are made. Yet he is not speaking fairly to his sons when he complains about what they said. They point out that certainly they had no way of knowing that Joseph would demand that Benjamin be brought to him. That was just such an unexpected thing for the governor of Egypt to say. They were under great pressure, and felt they had to say something about their family to persuade him of their trustworthiness. All the brothers are present, and they remember with fear the interview with the governor of Egypt and how surprisingly the conversation led him to ask to see Benjamin. It was almost as if he knew the family! Why would this man, second in the land of Egypt, want to see their younger brother? The brothers therefore defend themselves. To charge them with giving away information which would put Benjamin at risk was utterly unreasonable. But men resort to unreasonable arguments when they are afraid or fighting for what they want. Israel has to change his mind and make a decision in interests of the church. He must dismiss his dogmatic resistance and let them go back. He is going to be forced to do this; the hand of God is in it. How little this would have concerned him if he had known the true state of affairs. Joseph loved the family, and was planning to protect not only Benjamin, but all of them. However he was doing even more: he was working for their spiritual good in a way that could not be revealed until the right time.