Down To Egypt

The drought had swept throughout the land But under Pharoah’s dream-led reign Joseph foresaw, provisions planned So Jacob sent his sons for grain And down to Egypt, down they went But youngest Benjamin remained Then Joseph, hearing they’d been sent Then called them for an audience They came before him, bowed and bent They had not seen him those years since Did not discern who he was now Then Joseph pressed, became intense. “You come before me and you bow, Yet you are here to spy my land!” Then quick were they to disavow, “We’re brothers, honest to a man And only here in search of food With humble posture, outstretched hand.” The spy charge, Joseph still pursued; He would not let them off the hook, And so he struck a bargain shrewd “Upon your youngest must I look While one retrieves him, all remain.” And then he locked them up like crooks. Once three days passed, he made it plain: “Do this and live, for I fear God. One will stay here, the rest take grain, But I will know you are all frauds Unless with youngest you return.” Then signaled captors with a nod. Their shame and guilt then surfaced, burned, “He begged us, but we headed not.” Distress they felt indeed well earned. In hushed tones, secret, so they thought, But Joseph, hearing, turned and wept, In stealth, returned the cash they’d brought. That night fear, panic, over-swept Them all on looking at their grain Seeing their coins then, they too wept. How it was there, none could explain. “What is this God has done to us?” They cried, returning home in pain. Yes, down to Egypt, down they went Not understanding they’d been sent. (from Genesis 42:1-28)