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 I really like the story of Joseph in the last chapters of Genesis. I am at chapter 45 and Joseph finally tells his brothers who he is. His brothers have changed from the day they sold him into slavery. They were jealous of Joseph being his father's favorite son and now Joseph sees how protective they are of his youngest brother Benjamin. Joseph and Benjamin were the only sons of Rachel, Jacob's favorite wife. The other story that emerges is Judah as he is the leader of the brothers. Judah is the fourth oldest son but seems to have become the leader of the brothers. It is Judah that suggests they sell Joseph into slavery. It is Judah that separates from the family for a time and raises three sons of his own. I am not sure at what point Judah returns to the families of his brothers but he is with them when they go to Egypt to buy grain. Judah is also the brother that persuades his father to allow Benjamin to go on the second trip to Egypt. Benjamin is much younger than the other brothers and even Dinah is probably a teenager at least before Benjamin is born. In the conversations with Joseph, he is called a boy and does not seem to have reached manhood at this time. We read where Dinah was raped and two of her full brothers killed the men of the city where the man that raped her lived. They are living in the land of Canaan at this time. Judah is also the one that promises to protect Benjamin and bring him back to his father. Judah also takes the lead in giving himself in place for Benjamin when Joseph is planning on keeping Benjamin with him. Benjamin is Joseph's only full brother. Benjamin is very young when Joseph is sold into slavery. But now we have come to the time where Joseph tells his brothers who he is and assures them not to be afraid because God has sent him to Egypt to save not only his father's family but many others including the Egyptians. When Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, I am sure many others in the region had heard also and bought grain from Egypt. Joseph sends wagons to bring Jacob and the rest of Jacob's family, children, and grandchildren to Egypt. There are still five years of famine to go and Joseph plans to care for his family through the famine. It is with the blessings of Pharaoh that this is done. Pharaoh himself welcomes Joseph's family to Egypt. Joseph is famous and well thought of in Egypt at this time. It was Joseph's wisdom that is understood and the Egyptians realize it is Joseph that saved them in the famine. God's blessings to Joseph even extend to us today. We are blessed by Joseph even today because Judah the brother of Joseph and Judah's son Perez by his daughter-in-law is in the lineage of Christ. They are saved by Joseph's actions. So Israel / Jacob ends up in Egypt. It is God's plan. We see many instances of God using bad incidents in his plans through time. Just to name a couple would be Joseph being sold into slavery to save Israel, Judah, and his daughter-in-law Tamar produce Perez who is in the lineage of Christ.  What an interesting story in the later chapters of Genesis from 30 and on into 45.  God bless, LVZ.