In the coming years so much would change after Joseph disappeared.  Not long after we gave Jacob the bad news of finding no remains, Judah took a turn for the worst.  I knew the boys were rough.  This was evident enough due to what happened years ago with Hamor and Shechem.

It was like I could see the guilt on his face.  I knew Joseph had to be alive, somewhere.  Nevertheless, I believe it was that guilt which drove Judah away for a time.  The issues which came into his life were reckless as a result.  Tamar would be one of those reckless events which would unfold.

It would take twenty years after Joseph disappeared for an event to come that would reshape the world.  It would be this same event that would bring all of Jacob’s sons together.  The world would be on the brink of descending into darkness once again.

Famine Comes To All

In those years with Noah I was always so stunned by how lush and alive the world was.  What I never thought about was the opposite curve of this world normalizing after the flood.  After the ice caps melted, and land formations came to be as I would know in my modern time, something big happened.

In Noah’s day it was cold, wet, and it could get miserable.  By the time of Abraham, it was balmy, warm, but still overall very lush in landscape.  Now came a dry season unlike anything I could have imagined.

Within one year the grasslands were turning to dust.  After that twentieth year there would be no harvest.  People believed this drought and famine was regional.  At least to their known world, and their knowledge of it, so many assumed food could be had elsewhere and began to migrate.

Certainly, there were some regions which suffered more than others.  It was unfortunate for us that we were to experience the worst possible scenario.  I would later discover that this drought was worldwide, the difference was a matter of degree by region.

There is only one thing that I could imagine which would cause this.  After the great melt, there had to be another freeze.  It was raining somewhere, but not here.  Our water was being taken from us and I am positive it was being dumped elsewhere as ice and snow.

I came to live with the fact that the way modern science looked at climate change was nuts.  Believe me it changes.  Yet also believe me when I say it can change so quickly that you can be caught with your pants down.  It doesn’t have to be a slow process.

I was willing to bet the northern passage across the arctic recently could have been made by boat across water.  Now it was forming ice.  The same would be true for the Antarctic ice formations.

Jacob Decides To Send His Son’s To Egypt

Jared, Nathan, and I spent a great deal of time trying to find two things.  We were looking for food and water.  The issue was that not only were crops not growing, but there was also no water in many wells.  We rode as far as we dare searching.  The Jordan River was the only consistent source of water, yet it too was beginning to struggle.

There was a time when I saw the Jordan at near one mile in width.  That was many years ago.  In this moment it was at best an average of fifty feet in width.  This did not bode well for anyone.  The three of us sat atop our horses staring at something we did not want to believe but could not refute.

“What do we do Clay?” Jared asked.
“I’m not sure.  It really is going to be up to Jacob.” I replied.
“I remember when the world was full of water.  Ice sheets so tall it looked like they reached the clouds.” Nathan reminisced.
“I could use some ice right now.” Jared said laughing.

“Where can we go Clay?  North should be better.” Nathan was trying to find a solution.
“Yeah, if we go far enough North, maybe.  It doesn’t matter because you know Jacob will not leave.  This is the land God promised him since Abraham.  We are stuck in this one guys.” I replied.

We filled our water bladders made from animal stomachs and skins.  I sometimes laughed at this when thinking of kids back home only wanting Voss Artesian water.  How privileged we were in the modern world.

Transporting water was now necessary for ourselves as well as our horses.  It had become that bad.  After reaching home I found Jacob.  He was much older now.  I could see the concern on his face.  This water problem became one that was impossible to escape.

“Did you find anything Clay?” Jacob asked as I sat next to him in the warm evening.
“Unfortunately no.  I went as far as Nineveh, and South to Abraham’s old homeland.  It is the same everywhere.  People are growing restless and moving.  It could become dangerous soon Jacob.” I informed him.

I held hopes that he would realize that once our small resources were dried up, we were also in trouble.  Until then, for those who had lost their resources we could be a target.

“There is only one solution then.  We must get help from Egypt.” Jacob stated.
“I really do not like that idea.  Nothing good ever comes from there.” I said with disdain.
“You are right, I do not like this either.  Nevertheless, we need food for our people Clay.”

“Who will you send?” I asked.
“My sons will go, all except Benjamin.” He replied.

The famine had forced a family migration back home.  Jacob’s entire household had returned.  I was not present in the family meeting, but I could hear some of the arguments from outside that night.  No one really liked the idea of going to Egypt and asking for help, but all agreed it was necessary.

Jacob’s sons would go with one exception being that Benjamin would not join them.  After losing Joseph, he kept a tight grip on Benjamin. 

Personally, I was worried.  The last time I was in Egypt was with Abraham. Our exit was less than graceful.  The risk of Jacob losing all his sons as slaves was a real threat.

If Egypt had food the world around them would flood that direction.  Such a valuable resource in a time like this is something you protect.  I just could not believe that the Egyptians would turn benevolent and become the worlds aid organization.  I thought it was a foolish move.

After some preparation the boys left, all but Benjamin.  I remained with Jacob as did my men.  We began to set up watches on our borders and the wells which still held some water.  There was concern that neighbors would come to take what they needed.

Stealing in this case would happen after killing all who stood in their way.  We were weakened severely but we were the last line of defense.  Jared, Nathan, and I had seen serious combat in past years.  We always tried to prepare men for a fight.  Yet at this moment any real attack would steamroll us as if we didn’t exist.

Days would pass.  Then the days would turn into weeks.  For the journey the sons took camels which would take about two weeks to arrive.  The return would require about the same amount of time.  All we could do in the meantime was to wait.

Jacob’s Sons Return From Egypt

A messenger woke me in the night calling me to Jacob’s home.  Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes I had no idea what time it was.  If I had to guess it felt like three in the morning.  My body was screaming at me as I was trying to move.

Stumbling up I dressed and made my way to Jacob’s home.  As I came close I started counting the boys.  There was a problem, I only counted ten.  There should have been eleven.  Something went wrong.

“Father if we want more food we must return with Benjamin.” Judah was saying.
“I do not understand, why? What is the cause that the vizier demands such a thing?” Jacob demanded.
“He believed we were spies.  Many look at Egypt now with jealousy because they are rich in corn and meat.  He demanded to know who our Father was, and if we had brothers so we told him.” Reuben defended.

I melted into the corner of the group and began to listen.  I noticed that Simeon was missing.  This vizier was named Mentuhotep.  Pharaoh Sesostris I had made a big procession for this vizier.  To explain, the position of Mentuhotep was like a governor, but so much more.

Essentially this individual ruled Egypt and his word was as powerful as Pharaoh’s itself, with the exception of the actual Pharaoh.  Only Sesotris’s word could carry more weight.  I found it interesting how the most powerful man in Egypt was overseeing the distribution of food.

This would only happen if the broader need from other nations was so great.  All the nations which surrounded us were in dire straits.  Truly Egypt’s greatest resource of power was now food, and they suspected anyone who could threaten that resource.

“I have lost Joseph, and now the vizier has kept Simeon.  Two of my sons are now taken from me.” Jacob began lamenting.
“Father, all we must do is bring Benjamin to prove we are not spies and he will release Simeon.” Reuben countered.

“You ask me to risk losing Benjamin after all of this? No. Never.” Jacob retorted.
“I will be personally responsible for Benjamin.  If I do not bring him back to you then I will kill my two sons.” Reuben was pleading.
“No.  I will not allow this.” Jacob finished.  He then rose and walked away mourning Simeon.

“Clay, we have another problem.” Judah looked at me with fear in his eyes.
“When we left Egypt, we noticed that while we had received the food someone also returned our money to us.  In other words it makes us appear as if we stole the food.” Judah explained.

“So… now the family as a whole could be a target of Mentuhotep?” I asked already knowing the answer.
“Yes.  If he truly believes we are spies it can mean trouble.” Judah concluded.

After this meeting the decision was to bide our time.  Jacob did not want anyone returning to Egypt.  Yet it would be this famine and time itself that would bring hunger and desperation back to this house.

After I returned to my home I found Jared and Nathan sitting outside.  I explained the situation to them.  The looks in their eyes read the same as how I felt.

“You know they could send armies North.  They could determine anyone they have done this to as spies and enslave anyone they wished.  No one could stop them.” Jared pointed out.

“Beyond that, they could use this excuse as a reason to invade other lands and expand their kingdom.  What’s happening here could be happening to other people like us for a reason.” Nathan’s opinion mirrored my own.

“I told you we should have gone North.  Clay it’s not too late.  Let’s get everyone packed, take the food, and we just go.  We can come back later.” Jared said.
“I wish we could.  You know Jacob will not leave this place.  I hate dealing with Egypt.  Something always goes wrong.” I said wishing Jared’s words could come true.

“So now we eat and wait?” Nathan said almost half laughing knowing it was not the best answer.
“Sadly, yes.  There are no clear answers right now.” I replied.

The sun began to rise.  It was going to be another long hot day in so many ways.  Jacob had twelve sons by birth, but now only ten at home.  We were starving, and there was little to no hope we could see coming.