Benjamin's Tale, by Colin Raynor

Genesis 42: v2
Jacob told his sons “ I have heard there is corn in Egypt. Go and buy so that we may live and not die”



There is corn in Egypt. At a very early stage in my life those few words seemed to be of such importance that my family talked about nothing else and, as I reflect now in my later years on all the things that came to pass because of those words, I can only think of them as a mixed blessing.

You will often read about the twelve sons of Jacob but you must first of all know that only Joseph and me, Benjamin, were brothers as we were the only two children Jacob had with his beloved wife Rachel. I never knew my mother Rachel as she died giving birth to me and maybe that’s why, as the years went by, Jacob was so reluctant to let me out of his sight. I was the only link with Rachel especially after my brother Joseph disappeared so mysteriously when he was only 17 years old. So the other ten brothers Reuben, Judah, Simeon and the rest were all my step brothers, who our father had had with other women.

There is corn in Egypt. When my father spoke those words it was out of desperation. In every other part of the known world at that time the earth was barren and for several years there had been a famine the like of which had never been seen before, and people were dying daily. So there was no option, if we wished to live, someone had to go to Egypt and hope that sufficient corn could be bought to keep us alive. I think when Jacob counted all his family they numbered about 70 folks of all ages so we needed a lot of corn.

Now I’m sure you know the sequence of events that took place with my step bothers having to make more than one journey to Egypt to obey the orders of the man known to them as Zaphnath-paaneah an Egyptian name (meaning “God speaks and lives). This man had total control of all the corn that was bought and sold in Egypt. When they told Jacob that this man insisted that unless I was taken to Egypt there would be no more for the family, my father had no option but to let me go on the next trip. My step brother Reuben had always been closest to me and he assured my father he would care for me.

To say that I was frightened would be an understatement. I was petrified because this Egyptian seemed to have so much power and seemed to know so much about our family. I did wonder if I would ever see my father again .As I look back on all these events I know now that it wasn’t this man with the strange name (who of course was my long lost brother Joseph) it was the Lord God who was in charge. He had been at the heart of everything that had happened to me and my family from the start. There is corn in Egypt. We were so concerned for our own personal needs that when we saw a chance to get out of the terrible situation we were in we went for it and didn’t think about the consequences. Once my step brothers had found a source of food that would give us all new life it really did not take long for them to do as they were asked. They even told themselves this was their punishment for what they had done to Joseph all those years ago.

My father Jacob is dead a number of years now. We did as he asked and buried him in Canaan, the land of his fathers whilst we all continue to live in Egypt. There is work to do and we have a good life. I recall my father speaking to all his sons just before he died and describing me as a hunter. It was true to some extent and maybe something in the genes but I do often reflect, on the sequence of events that brought us to this time of good fortune in Egypt. There is no doubt we owe a great deal to my brother Joseph who for many years has held such a very powerful post. He is responsible to no one in Egypt but the Pharaoh. It really is amazing how much the Egyptians rely on him to conduct their affairs. I do wonder at times if, as a family, we have learnt anything about the ways of the Lord in all that has happened.


There is corn in Egypt but when that corn is no more and when Joseph is not with us and we are all gone, and another generation takes our place, will it still be a place of peace for us. We have still never sat at the same table as the Egyptians to eat our food and I am a little fearful for the future. We only live in our time and not in God‘s time but I do think there is a responsibility for one generation as they make decisions to give thought as to the heritage they are passing on to those who will follow them. We can do no more than put our trust in God who has brought us so far and I’m sure is still working His purpose out day by day. I will not forsake Him nor my family so let us hope and pray those who come after us will not forsake Him. Maybe the one who God will choose to lead our nation will come from those we live with in Egypt.