“[Pharaoh said], ‘Give no thought to your possessions, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons according to the instruction of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. To each one of them he gave a set of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five sets of garments. To his father he sent the following: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. Then he sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving he said to them, ‘Do not quarrel along the way’” (Genesis 45:20-24)
There are two important parts to this scene of Joseph with his brothers in Egypt.
First, we should note that Pharaoh is presented – for probably the last time – as good and gracious in scripture. He’s so gracious that when he hears that Joseph’s family is around, he requests that they leave their entire life behind and come live off the largess of Egypt. He makes a personal promise that they will not want for anything.
It sounds like a dream come true, but would we actually do that? Wouldn’t we try to smuggle along our favorite hoodie, a sentimental trinket, at least some photographs? Yet Pharaoh instructs them to “give no thought to your possessions.” Joseph’s family is entering into a new life and the resources of the old will be of no further use to them.
I suspect this story is recorded less as an example of how you should act if you ever win the Mega Millions and more of a parable of what it means to enter into new life in the best, most faithful way possible. Case in point: replace “Pharaoh” with “God” or “Jesus” and see how the meaning of those words change. All of the sudden, we have a story about how God picks us up out of the gutter of our own sin and sets us at His Table with promises to provide for us forever. I suspect Israel remembered this story because later in the story they will have to flee from Pharaoh and when they go, they must “give no thought to your possessions.”
In short, this is a story about being transformed from one life into another.
Second, we should note that Joseph shows clear favoritism to his little brother, Benjamin. You’ll remember that Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers because Jacob – Joseph’s father – had shown him favoritism by giving him a fancy (technicolored dream) coat. The inequality between the brothers that this gift created evolved into murderous plots against the favored son.
So, now, we have Joseph showing clear favoritism and giving the explicit instruction “do not quarrel along the way.” It is as if the text is giving these brothers a do-over, a second chance, to make right what they once got so tragically wrong. It’s like Jimmy Stewart’s character waking up in It’s a Wonderful Life and realizing that he can make joyful choices instead of dreadful ones.
More importantly, though, I think we have another parable on our hands. Joseph’s instruction for them not to quarrel over Benjamin holding 300 extra silver coins makes sense because what use is 300 silver coins when they’re going to be given everything they need for the rest of their lives? What can you buy, if you’re given everything? And so, if we rightfully understand the first point as a parable of being transformed into new life, then this second point is a radical call for peaceableness in response to the new life we’ve been given.
Friends, in Jesus Christ, you have been given new life. Give no thought to the old life. It will not benefit you in your new reality. And since you’ve been so richly blessed, you have no reason to quarrel with anyone. Yeah, maybe they’re carrying around 300 more pieces of silver, but they’re not actually any richer than you. We’re all equally rich in the gifts of our God and the new life He’s given us. Amen.
