In prior lessons we have studied the typology of Joseph’s life. We have found numerous places where he is a type of Jesus. In the last lesson, we saw that the coming of Joseph’s brothers to Egypt typified a sinner coming to Christ. With that in mind, we see here a type of the work of repentance in salvation. Obviously, we are not saved by a "work" of repentance, but we are to repent.

In Acts 26: 20, Paul preached to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and "do works meet for repentance." When coming to Christ, God looks for you to deal honestly. If you're going to get right with him over matters of the soul, then you ought to be getting right with him over matters of your life, as well.

Here, we see evidence of Judah, Jacob, and the brothers getting thoroughly right with God. They did "works meet for repentance."

1. Judah, verse 9, "I will be surety for him."

Judah knew that Benjamin was the son that his father loved just like he loved Joseph (Genesis 37:3:4). Therefore, he had every reason to hate him, just like he hated Joseph. In fact, Judah was the one who cooked up the idea to sell Joseph (Genesis 37:26-27) and then went along with the lie to his father concerning Joseph's death.

So, it is real evidence of repentance when he offered himself as surety for Benjamin. That's quite a change. And he got the chance to prove that he was a serious surety in Genesis 44:32-34. He wasn't going to go through what he did with Joseph, seeing his father suffer!

2. Jacob, verse 14, "if I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved."

This is the first time in Jacob’s life that he had gotten to a place where he did not manipulate the circumstances. Before, he would have found a way to manipulate the circumstances like he did with:

• The birthright. He took advantage of Esau's hunger in order to get the birthright.
  
• The blessing. He deceived his father in to believing that he was Esau. In the cases of the birthright and the blessing, he could have trusted God’s promise that the elder would serve the younger, instead of stealing and deceiving.
  
• Meeting Esau. He sent drove after drove of animals as a present to appease Esau's anger, and then lied about following him back to Seir. He could have simply trusted God's promise to make him a great nation, but he didn't.
  

In the case of sending Benjamin to Egypt, he didn’t manipulate the circumstances. He could have sent someone else. He could have tried some kind of negotiation, but he didn't. He sent Benjamin away. That was his "work meet for repentance." Benjamin was the one thing he didn't want to give up. But Jesus told us later, "He that loseth his life shall find it." This episode in Jacob's life is like Esther in Esther 4:16.

3. The Brothers, verse 20-22

They came back to Egypt with Benjamin, as instructed. When they arrived in Egypt, they were instant to make the corn money right. They didn't deceive Joseph’s steward. In verse 26, they gave the present to Joseph immediately. They bowed, unknowingly fulfilling the dream of Genesis 37:7-8. And because of their works meet for repentance, they were blessed for doing right.

• In v. 23, they were not held accountable for having the corn money.
  
• In v. 23, Simeon was let out of prison.
  
• In v. 24, there were given water to wash their feet and provender for the asses.
  
• In v. 25, they were able to enjoy a meal with Joseph.
  

These represented the providential blessings of repentance.

Conclusion: That thing you hold back (Benjamin, in this case) that you finally give to God is multiplied. Benjamin was given five times as much mess as his brothers, v. 34. Other examples of this principle are:

• Esther would have been just another queen if it had not been for Est. 4:16. By that she guaranteed the protection of the Jews and saw her uncle, Mordecai, advanced to the second ruler in the kingdom. The feast of Purim in her honor is still celebrated today.
  
• Ruth would have been just another Moabite widow if not for Ruth 1:16-17. By that she married Boaz and came into the line of Christ as David’s great grandmother.
  
• Paul would have been just another Pharisee if not for the question "Lord, what will now have me to do?" By that he preached the gospel to thousands of Gentiles and ended up writing 14 books of the New Testament.
  
• Jesus would have been just another great prophet and teacher if not for, "Lord, not my will but thine be done." By that he became the Saviour of the world, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and heir to the Universe.
  

What are you holding back that God really wants? What is your Benjamin?