Genesis 44-45: Benjamin is Straighter than the Tall Palm Tree

Since Joseph first saw his brothers, he has wanted to forgive them and reveal himself. At the same time, he needed to be asked for forgiveness. He needed them to truly repent, and his destiny as revealed by the dream needed to be truly fulfilled. He needed them to pull together as a brotherly unit and prove their character. These brothers had turned on the youngest in envy before, and he was hoping to see that they would not do so again.

Notably, Joseph projects the complete image of Zaphenath-Paneah, the Egyptian wiseman and Grand Vizier. He pretends to use a very typical form of divination involving liquids in a cup to get information he gets from God. He makes the other Egyptians go eat somewhere else as a sign of how much higher his status is and refuses to eat with his Hebrew brothers, a common Egyptian prejudice at the time. He pretends not to understand Hebrew.

Mercifully, his brothers pass his tests. Judah, as spokesman for the ten, makes an impassioned confession, assuming the guilt on the shoulders of the entire group instead of letting it fall only on Benjamin. He confesses Joseph's supposed death and the impact that it has had on the family, without excusing himself. Judah, once again, does absolutely the right thing, and comes before the throne of mercy and justice with a humility that would be totally instructive for anyone. It's enough to make you want to weep...the lost lamb has led his brothers back home.

Joseph embraces his brothers and expresses his utter conviction that God's plan for him to come to Egypt and give them life was the best possible plan. Even Pharaoh is so touched that he offers incredibly generous treatment for the brothers when they bring Israel/Jacob back with them to live in Egypt. Their every want will be more than provided for. Reconciliation with Joseph, like reconciling with God, prompts a shower of generous love and blessings...a heaven, really. Joseph treats Benjamin, his full brother and the virtuous one, with especial generosity, but none are left out, and the past is forgotten.