Suzi Pitts

Exodus 43:26-34

26 When Joseph came home, they presented to him the gifts they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground. 27 He asked them how they were, and then he said, “How is your aged father you told me about? Is he still living?”28 They replied, “Your servant our father is still alive and well.” And they bowed down, prostrating themselves before him.29 As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there.31 After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself, said, “Serve the food.”32 They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, for that is detestable to Egyptians. 33 The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment. 34 When portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as anyone else’s. So they feasted and drank freely with him.

Family Dinner. Do these words cause a smile to form on your lips or anxiety to sprout in your heart? For Joseph’s brothers, this could have ended in imprisonment or death. This family of Jacob and his twelve sons put the “dis” in disfunction. Favoritism, arrogance, jealousy, lies, trickery, and deceit had long since divided this blended family, and yet here they are about to break bread together (sort of together) and they are all a mess. The brothers still do not know that this high official is their brother, Joseph, whom they tried to get rid of long ago. All they know is that Joseph holds all the cards as to whether they will be imprisoned, starve in the famine, or be allowed to go back home with a load of grain. The Egyptians are over at a separate table because they are just not as worthy. Simeon has just been released and rejoined with his brothers after being falsely held for stealing the silver cup. Joseph cannot even hold it together when he sees his beloved little brother, Benjamin, and has to go into another room to weep. Imagine the stress!

What’s family dinner like for you? If your family is anything like mine, it’s mercurial. We have had amazing foodie fun with chefs trying to outdo one another, discussions around politics that have not gone at all well, and even a marriage proposal one Thanksgiving. But I do believe that something happens when we break bread together. Is it because we are living in different parts of the country, and we want to make the most of this time together? Is it because we are sitting side by side in the dining room? Is a new intimacy formed as we serve our plates and hold hands for the blessing?

I actually love hosting meals like these and other dinner celebrations. I think of Jesus, and scripture tells me that he liked a good dinner party too. He told little Zaccheus to get out of the tree for a dinner. He told Peter’s mom to rustle up some chow after he healed her. He provided the best wine for a marriage feast. He sat and ate with his twelve that last Thursday of his earthly ministry, he cooked fish on a charcoal fire on the beach for his friends. And in Revelation, we are assured “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” That will be the feast for all ages, and, as children of God, we are all invited. And unlike the feast where Joseph hosted his brothers, the nations will not eat at separate tables, there will be no favoritism, each will have abundant food on their plate, and our host, God will sit amongst us. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: 

Father God, Thank you for family dinners. Join me at my tables, for you are my family. Forgive me when I am a mess. Make my heart expansive and filled with gladness to serve your people a simple plate of herbs or a glorious feast. Mostly, give me a heart of gratitude for the “already and not yet” of this life. I am hungry to dine with you, Lord Jesus. Amen.