Studies In Genesis: Chapter 42 Series

Note: When doing a study on a book in the Bible you use a lot of resources. The major influence for me on this study of Genesis is The Genesis Record by Henry Morris.

Purpose of Chapter: To show the leading of the Israelites into Egypt

Title: The testing of character

Text: Genesis 42

Main characters: Joseph, brothers

Place: Egypt

Genesis 42

1. Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?

So we see the famine hit everywhere. As I said the famine probably was cause from the Nile being lessened with water. It water a lot of the area. This would cause a great famine. Notice that all were affected. Even the chosen of God.

God could intervene and make way for Jacob and his family not to be affected but he has other plans as we will see.

2 And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.

What is faith? Faith is believeing in something you have not seen. You may have heard it

Hebrews 11:1-AV Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Believing in something that you have not seen. In someone. You believe but it is more when you act upon it. You do what is commanded

3 And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. 4 But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.

So the ten went. But Benjamin stayed back. Why Benjamin? Why was he so special?

5 And the sons of Israel came to buy [corn] among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan. 6 And Joseph [was] the governor over the land, [and] he [it was] that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him [with] their faces to the earth.

Joseph probably set himself on this side of Egypt so that he could meet his brothers who would be coming from Canaan.

Let us look at the first dream of Joseph in Genesis 37. How was it fulfilled?

Genesis 37:5. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told [it] his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. 6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I

have dreamed: 7 For, behold, we [were] binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

Their empty sheaves did obeisance to his full ones.

It is strange how what the brothers tried so hard to prevent they were the cause of.

Just as the very people who despise and reject God will truly know and bow down before him. Rev 3:9

7. And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.

Why do you think he held his identity? To test them. He wanted to see if they were truly repentant.

8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

Why don't you think they recognized Joseph? 1) They were not looking for him 2) He was dressed differently, he talked different 3) He was now almost 40 yrs. old. 17 yrs when sold. about 10yrs at Potiphars, 3 yrs in prison, 7 yrs of harvest now maybe 1 or a few more years into the famine.

Let us look at Joseph's plan to bring repentance and remorse to his brothers.

9 And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye [are] spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.

10 And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.

11 We [are] all one man's sons; we [are] true [men], thy servants are no spies.

12 And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.

Joseph really tests them. As we will see he will try to pump them for as much information without giving himself away.

13 And they said, Thy servants [are] twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest [is] this day with our father, and one [is] not.

So they told the truth from their perspective. Tweleve of them at one time. One at home and one dead for all they knew father at home.