Genesis 43: Joseph's Brothers Return to Egypt
Reuben’s offer of his sons as collateral to Jacob is ignored but Judah offers himself as a security for Benjamin and this convinces Jacob, against his better wishes, for the brothers to take Benjamin and travel back to Egypt a second time with more money and gifts to secure more grain. Joseph receives them into his own house and, still disguised, gives them a feast, orders them at the table in the order of their birth and honors Benjamin the most.
I wonder what was going on through the brothers minds when they sat at table in the order of their births? How could Joseph know? How could they not recognize their own brother? Joseph was most probably, in the fashion of the Egyptians, clean shaven and had makeup on his face, and they probably never saw their brother without a beard.
Help me Father to be honorable as Judah and as loving as Joseph who, though he had an opportunity for revenge, treated his brothers much more honorably than they treated him, and to be as penitent as his brothers were for their sins.