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Joseph reunited with his family

Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers.
Contributed by Sweet Publishing
Story also available on our translated websites: Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Romanian, German, Hindi, Simplified Chinese
1
The famine continued to ravage Canaan so Jacob said to his sons, ‘Go back and buy us more food.’ ‘We can only return if Benjamin is with us,’ said Judah. ‘I personally guarantee his safety and will be responsible for bringing him back.’ Very reluctantly Jacob sent Benjamin with them. They packed gifts and also took double the money that was put back into their sacks. – Slide 1
2
When they arrived Joseph told them to go to his palace to eat with him at mid-day. The terrified brothers were convinced they would be made into slaves. At the palace entrance they explained to the palace manager how they had discovered the money in their sacks and offered it back. ‘Relax. Don’t be afraid,’ he replied. ‘Your God, must have put this treasure into your sacks.’ He then released Simeon to join them.  – Slide 2
3
When Joseph came home the brothers bowed before him and gave him gifts. ‘Is your father still alive and well?’ Joseph asked and was pleased to hear that he was. ‘Is this your youngest brother?’ Joseph enquired. ‘May God be loving to him.’ – Slide 3
4
Joseph was so overcome at seeing his younger brother he had to hurry into another room where he broke down and wept. After washing his face he returned. – Slide 4
5
Joseph sat his brothers at the meal table in age order from the oldest to the youngest. Joseph sat at his own table. Benjamin was served five times as much food as the others. So the brothers feasted and drank freely together. – Slide 5
6
After they had eaten Joseph gave orders for their sacks to be filled with grain but he instructed that his silver cup be put in Benjamin’s sack. The brothers were up at dawn and went on their journey home with their loaded donkeys. – Slide 6
7
When they had gone only a short distance out of the city, Joseph said to his palace manager, ‘Chase after them and stop them. When you catch up with them, ask, ‘Why have you repaid my kindness with such evil and stolen my master’s silver cup?’ – Slide 7
8
The palace manager caught up with the men and spoke to them as he had been instructed. ‘What are you talking about?’ the brothers responded. ‘If you find his cup with any one of us, let that man die and all the rest of us become your slaves.’ – Slide 8
9
The sacks were searched and the silver cup found in Benjamin’s sack. When the brothers saw this, they tore their clothing in despair. They were escorted back to the city. – Slide 9
10
Judah and his brothers fell to the ground before Joseph. ‘What have you done?’ Joseph demanded. ‘Don’t you know I can predict the future?’Judah replied, ‘How can we explain and prove our innocence? God is punishing us for our sins. My lord, we have all returned to be your slaves not just our brother who had your cup in his sack.’ – Slide 10
11
‘Only the man who stole my cup will be my slave,’ Joseph replied.‘I cannot go back to my father without Benjamin,’ Judah cried. ‘If we return without him our father will die of grief. I guaranteed I would take care of the boy so please make me your slave instead’ – Slide 11
12
Joseph could bear it no longer. He asked his servants to leave so he could be alone with his brothers. – Slide 12
13
Then he broke down and wept. He wept so loudly the Egyptians could hear him, and reported it to Pharaoh. – Slide 13
14
 ‘I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold as a slave,’ he announced. The shocked brothers were speechless. – Slide 14
15
‘Don’t be upset, or angry with yourselves. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years. God made me an adviser to Pharaoh and the governor of all Egypt. – Slide 15
16
‘Now hurry back to my father and tell him. Bring him to Egypt and you can all live in Goshen where you can be near me. Otherwise you will all starve.’ – Slide 16
17
Weeping with joy, he embraced Benjamin. Then Joseph kissed each of his brothers and wept over them. After that the brothers began talking freely with him. – Slide 17
18
Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Tell your brothers to hurry back to the land of Canaan and get your father and their families. I will give them the very best land in Egypt, and they will eat from the best that the land produces. Send wagons to bring him here.’ – Slide 18
19
The brothers returned to Jacob.  ‘Joseph is still alive and he is governor of all the land of Egypt!’ they told him. Jacob was stunned and just couldn’t believe it. The brothers repeated to Jacob everything Joseph had told them. When Jacob saw the wagons Joseph had sent he exclaimed, ‘It must be true! My son Joseph is alive! I must go and see him before I die.’ – Slide 19
20
Jacob and his whole family set off for Egypt. On the way God told him, ‘Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make your family into a great nation.’ – Slide 20
21
Joseph travelled to Goshen to meet his father. They embraced and Joseph wept, holding his father for a long time. – Slide 21
22
Jacob and his sons settled in Goshen. Jacob gave a blessing to Joseph’s sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Later, when Jacob was close to dying, he called all his sons to him and blessed them. He then breathed his last. Jacob’s body was taken back to Canaan and buried in the tomb of his father Abraham just as he had requested. – Slide 22
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