The famine gripped the land, Joseph’s Brothers Go to Egypt

Inspired by Genesis 42 - Joseph’s Brothers Go to Egypt

[Intro Short, fast acoustic guitar strumming]

[Verse 1] The famine gripped the land, Jacob spoke to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other? Why is nothing done? I hear that there is grain down in Egypt’s granaries, Go down there and buy us food, so we may live and breathe.” So ten of the sons went down, but Benjamin stayed home, For Jacob feared that harm might come, leaving him to roam.

[Chorus] Down to the River Nile, the caravan must go, Chasing grain for saving life, for the food is all we know.

[Verse 2] Joseph, Governor of the land, selling grain to all the meek, His brothers came and bowed to him, their faces pressed and meek. He knew their faces instantly, but wore a stranger’s guise, He spoke to them with harsh command, a secret in his eyes. “You are spies!” he cried aloud, “to see where we are weak!” They said, “No, my lord, we are honest men, the food is what we seek.” We were twelve brothers of one man, one is no more, and the youngest stays.

[Bridge - Guilt] Then they said to one another, with sudden pangs of dread, “Surely we are being punished, for the words that we once said! We saw our brother’s deep distress, when he pleaded for his life, Now we must give accounting for his blood, we stand accused!”

[Verse 3 - Discovery] He held them all in custody, for three long and dreary days. Then Joseph said, “Go take the grain, for I fear God in all my ways. The silver that they brought to buy, was returned inside the sack, He saw the silver money there, and rushed upon the track. “My silver has returned!” he cried. Their hearts began to sink, They trembled, saying, “What is this that God has done, we think?”

[Verse 4 - Jacob's Lament] They told him all the tale, and then the money showed, When Jacob saw the pouches there, a heavy fear bestowed. “You have deprived me of my children!” Jacob cried in dread, “Joseph is no more, and Simeon is gone, and soon Benjamin will be dead! Everything is against me now! My life is only woe!” “My son will not go down,” he said, “with you I will not go.”

[Outro]