Genesis 42:37 Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.”

Have you ever been puzzled by that scripture? What was going through Reuben’s mind when he made that promise to his father, Jacob?

The land was in the midst of a horrible famine. The only way for Jacob’s family to obtain food was for Joseph’s brothers to travel to Egypt to purchase grain from Joseph. When they arrived in Egypt, Joseph recognized his brothers, but, they did not recognize him. Joseph took one of his brothers hostage, (Simeon). Joseph then sent the rest of his brothers on their way, with grain for their starving household. He also demanded that the rest of them (his brothers) return with Benjamin (Joseph’s full brother – born of the same mother and father).

Meanwhile Jacob mistakenly thought his son, Joseph, was dead. And when they again ran out of grain, he was hesitant to send Benjamin back to Egypt with the rest of his children – after all, he’d already lost Joseph, his favorite son. Should he suffer and lose his other supposedly favored son, Benjamin?

Then Reuben tells Jacob that he can put his two sons to death if he did not return with Benjamin??

What??

I continue to be puzzled reading the Old Testament. I know it’s mostly historical information, but, sometimes, I wonder if people’s emotions were just different back then? What do you think?

I mean, do you honestly think that you could put two of your grandchildren to death, if your one of your sons breaks his promise, and doesn’t return with your child? It’s almost like Reuben is risking sacrificing one child in exchange for two children. What goes through your mind when you read this scripture?

This scripture reminds me of another weird Old Testament promise. Remember when the angels visited Lot, warning him to leave Sodom and Gomorrah? Some of the townsmen knocked on Lot’s door, wanting him to send the good-looking men outside so that they could have relations with them? Lot then offered his two virginal daughters to the crowd of men! Why?

What do you think? Were adults just not as emotionally bonded with their children as we are today? The people that I’m referring to are godly men, following the Lord. How could they be so cold and unfeeling towards their children?