adapted from Genesis 44:1-22, 45:1-22 by Elizabeth Searcy

"Come back. Stop!” the men shouted.

I didn’t know why the land master’s servants were shouting at us. My 10 brothers and I, Benjamin, had just left the house of a very powerful man in Egypt. The land master had been appointed by Pharaoh to rule over the food supply, and we had just made our grain purchase.

Oh, great! I thought. Another delay.

We were traveling to Canaan and were anxious to get home. We’d been gone for what seemed like forever. Our father was very ill, and I wondered how he was doing.

“Why have you repaid good with evil?” the servant demanded angrily.

All of us were puzzled.

“Why are you asking this?” my brother Judah said. “We are honest men. We do not take anything that does not belong to us.”

“My master’s silver cup is missing,” the servant continued. “It’s the cup he drinks from and interprets dreams with. I think one of you is a thief!”

“Thief? There are no thieves among us,” Judah said confidently. “I am so certain you have made a mistake that if the cup is found in one of our sacks, that brother will die and the rest will be slaves.”

The servant answered. “I accept what you say, but the land master only wants the thief to be his slave. Everyone else will be free.”

We lined up our sacks on the ground for inspection. One by one, the servant dug through each sack, finding nothing. Then he came to mine. I knew I didn’t have the cup, but I was scared.

“Aha!” the steward gloated. “What do we have here?” He held a silver cup high in the air. It sparkled brightly in the sunlight.

“Hey, how did that get in there?” I asked. “I didn’t steal it! I promise! I would never . . .”

“Silence, Benjamin,” Judah said sternly.

My brothers didn’t even look at me. They didn’t believe me. The proof was in my sack.

“What have you done?” the land master demanded.

“Sir, your silver cup was found in one of our sacks,” Judah answered.

The land master’s servant pushed me forward.

“Since he was found with the cup, he will be my slave. All of you others can go home.”

My brothers gathered around me.

“Everything will be all right,” they assured.

Judah stepped forward. “Benjamin must stay with us. He’s the youngest. Our father loves him very much. If we don’t return with him, Father will surely die.”

The land master seemed curious and asked Judah a lot of questions about my family.

Then a strange thing happened. The land master burst into tears!

“Everyone must leave this room except these brothers!” he sobbed.

We stood frozen in our places, wondering what was going to happen.

Suddenly, he spoke, choking back the tears. “I am Joseph, your brother. What is the health of our father?”

“Joseph?”

“The land master is Joseph?”

“It can’t be!”

“Please don’t be afraid,” Joseph said, motioning us closer. “You sold me as a slave. I know you thought I was dead, but God saved my life for a reason. I love you and have missed you so much!

“For two years no food has grown in Canaan, and this famine will continue. God sent me ahead of you to prepare and save food. Pharaoh himself has given me permission to invite you to live here. You will have the best land in Egypt! Go back to Canaan. Tell our father all that you have seen. Bring him and the family quickly. I’m anxious to see everyone.”

Then Joseph hugged me. He laid his head on my neck and cried. “Benjamin, I have to tell you the truth. I know you didn’t steal the cup. I set a trap. I made it look like you took it so you would have to come back.”

“It’s okay, Joseph. I’m glad we found you. And I’m really glad I’m not in trouble.”

My brothers laughed.

“Yes, Joseph. We are thankful you are alive!” Judah exclaimed. “We have been reunited.”

As we got ready to leave, Joseph leaned close to my ear. “Benjamin, I want to give you something to take on your journey.”

I opened my sack, and he placed five new outfits on top.

“Wow! Thanks, Joseph!” I said.

Then he put his hand on my shoulder, gave me a big smile and poured 300 pieces of silver into my sack!

“This silver belongs in your sack,” he said. “Go in peace and return quickly.”

	Q: What kind of phone does a turtle use? A: A shell-ular phone. Andy B., 10, Wisconsin Clubhouse Jr. Click here to subscribe