Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

was nearly exhausted. The shadow of approaching famine grew
deeper and deeper. In the anxious faces of all in the camp, the old
man read their need. At last he said, "Go back, buy us a little food."
Judah answered, "The man solemnly warned us, saying, 'You
shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.' If you send
our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. But if you
will not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, 'You
shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.'" Seeing that
his father's resolve began to waver, he said, "Send the lad with me,
and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and
you and also our little ones." He offered to be responsible for his
brother and to bear the blame forever if he failed to bring Benjamin
back to his father.
Jacob could no longer withhold his consent. He instructed his
sons to take to the ruler a present of such things as the faminewasted
country had--"a little balm and a little honey, spices and
myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds," and also a double amount of
money. "Take your brother also," he said, "and arise, go back to the
man." As his sons were about to leave on their doubtful trip, the
aged father arose, and raising his hands to heaven, uttered the
prayer, "May God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he
may release your other brother and Benjamin."
Again they journeyed to Egypt and presented themselves
before Joseph. As he looked at Benjamin, his own mother's son, he
was deeply moved. He hid his emotion but ordered that they be
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