Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. -Genesis 45:14 & 15a
They craved for an embrace—that soft, warm, and gentle touch that every human deeply craves. for the night came, and they were sleeping, but morning arose, and they grew afraid. Afraid that the passions of the past will drive them out of the land. Afraid that their hands would turn to labor in deep banks and cold rivers. Afraid that their hearts will grow cold, as they have done, without any glimmering hope of their brothers alive. For the night blinded them with jealousy and anguish, but morning came, and they realized the horrendous consequences of their terrible sin.
Famine forced them away, no doubt because of their horrid transgressions. They came to this strange land to beg for food—and their lives. The governor, who stepped away from the throne, looked at their scarred faces, ones that held the regret of past sins, simply waiting to be heard of their need to love. The king had no need to say so, for he saw eleven hearts that needed to be comforted.
Benjamin, the smallest, stepped in front of them as requested.
He took away his crown. He took away his royal shoes. He took away his royal robes. He looked at his eyes, tender, natural, innocent. He saw a tear roll down his tiny eye, trampling over his tiny frame. A tear fell down the governor's eye. Something in him told him they have learned their lesson, they have suffered enough.
And he embraced them with all his might.