2024.11.10. Sermon Notes. Genesis 42-43. The Test Begins.
Joseph meets his brothers. Dreams fulfilled.
William Akehurst, HSWC
BIG IDEA: Joseph‘s brothers come to Egypt and undergo a time of testing. As they come into their brother’s presence, unbeknownst to them, they bow low before him. Joseph’s Dream has been fulfilled.
Go deeper in this study than I will take you.
What areas in your life, is GOD putting to the test?
What areas in your life, needs to change course?
Is GOD leading you into uncharted waters?
To go through things in your life, you would never have selected?
Perhaps the LORD is trying your heart, to bring repentance, restoration and reconciliation to HIM and to others.
Put your trust in HIM, acknowledge HIM in all you do, and HE will direct your paths.
SCRIPTURES: Genesis 42:1-38, Genesis 43:1-34; Psalm 105:16-22
Genesis 42:1-38
Joseph Meets His Brothers in Egypt.
The sons of Jacob come to Egypt.
Vs. 1-5. Jacob sends his sons to Egypt to buy grain.
1 When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” 2 And he said, “Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die.” 3 So Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, “Lest some calamity befall him.” 5 And the sons of Israel went to buy grain among those who journeyed, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
Famine had begun in the land. 7 years of plenty have been swallowed up by famine. There was nowhere to go except for Egypt.
Egypt is put on the map.
Famine had found its way to Jacob’s family.
WHY DO YOU LOOK AT ONE ANOTHER?
I remember my father saying something like this…“why are you standing here with teeth in your mouth?”
Did Jacob notice a strange expression on the brothers’ faces when Egypt was mentioned. Perhaps it brought up ill feelings or made them feel bad whenever Egypt was mentioned having sold their brother into slavery and most likely ending up in Egypt.
But Jacob wouldn’t send Benjamin. Jacob believed that Joseph was dead, and wanted to protect the memory of his first love Rachel.
We see a telltale sign of Jacob’s trust in GOD. And he couldn’t see that this was GOD’s plan to rescue his family from the famine. IF Jacob only know that the only reason for grain in Egypt was to provide for their needs, and that GOD sent Joseph ahead to prepare for this exact time.
Famine is not a good thing, but GOD used it for HIS Glory.
GOD may also use lacking and material need in our own lives to get us to do things we normally wouldn’t do. To get us out of our comfort zone to move in the direction HE has planned.
The brothers would never go to Egypt; but now, their need for food drove them there.
Vs. 6 The sons of Jacob bow down before Joseph.
6 Now Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth.
“Bowed down before him with their faces to the earth”
Their lives depended on this Egyptian official, and they paid respect by bowing down before him.
Dream fulfilled. Roughly 20 years before, Joseph shared his dream of his brothers bowing down to him.
Because of their disgust with Joseph and his dreams, the planned to defeat the dreams by plotting to murder him, but GOD…because of GOD’s working in their lives and in the life of Joseph, the brothers sold him into slavery instead.
And by sending Joseph to Egypt, they actually provided the way for the dreams to be fulfilled.
GOD’s Providence is shown as HE used the evil actions of the brothers to further HIS plan for good for Israel and the Promise.
Vs. 7-8. Joseph recognizes his brothers.
7 Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he acted as a stranger to them and spoke roughly to them. Then he said to them, “Where do you come from?”
And they said, “From the land of Canaan to buy food.”
8 So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.
“Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he acted as a stranger”
Using an interpreter to speak with his brothers, Joseph did not reveal his identity to his brothers, and treated them roughly instead. As an Egyptian over a Hebrew.
This action was directed by the HOLY SPIRIT IN Joseph.
Remember what Pharaoh said of Joseph in Genesis 41:38 “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
This wasn’t vengeance, this was an act of GOD through Joseph.
“Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him”
JOSEPH is another picture of CHRIST. Jesus sees us for who we are long before we see who HIM for WHO HE IS.
GOD sees you, and despite everything happening in your life, HE Loves you.
Vs. 9-17 Joseph interrogates his brothers and puts them into prison.
9 Then Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them, and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land!”
10 And they said to him, “No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food. 11 We are all one man’s sons; we are honest men; your servants are not spies.”
12 But he said to them, “No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land.”
13 And they said, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and in fact, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no more.”
14 But Joseph said to them, “It is as I spoke to you, saying, ‘You are spies!’ 15 In this manner you shall be tested: By the life of Pharaoh, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 16 Send one of you, and let him bring your brother; and you shall be kept in prison, that your words may be tested to see whether there is any truth in you; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies!” 17 So he put them all together in prison three days.
“Then Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them”.
It may look like Joseph was playing games with his brothers. But GOD recalled the dreams Joseph had and guided him, leading him by HOLY SPIRIT to test the brothers and guide Joseph to be part of the correction and restoration of his brothers.
Sometimes, GOD uses ways that we think are harsh or difficult, to get us to go where HE wants us to be.
“One is no more”
Perhaps the brothers thought that Joseph was dead. Or they’ve repeated the lie long enough to believe it.
Saying JOSEPH was dead, didn’t make him dead.
Saying JESUS isn’t alive, doesn’t make HIM dead either. JESUS is ALIVE and Dwells within us as believers.
Vs. 18-20 Joseph gives the terms for their release from prison.
18 Then Joseph said to them the third day, “Do this and live, for I fear God: 19 If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses. 20 And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die.”
And they did so.
“Do this and live”
Having been in prison for 3 days, the humbled brothers were ready to agree to whatever Joseph wanted them to do.
“I fear God”.
This was unlike what an Egyptian leader would say, but Joseph didn’t want his brothers to fear him as much as he wanted his brothers to trust him.
“If you are honest men”
Joseph was clear with his words. And his brothers reluctantly agreed knowing that Jacob would never let Benjamin leave home.
Vs. 21-24. The guilty conscience of Joseph’s brothers at work.
21 Then they said to one another, “We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us.”
22 And Reuben answered them, saying, “Did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now required of us.” 23 But they did not know that Joseph understood them, for he spoke to them through an interpreter. 24 And he turned himself away from them and wept. Then he returned to them again, and talked with them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.
“We are truly guilty concerning our brother”
“Therefore, this distress has come upon us”
The brothers discussed their guilt between themselves of how they treated their brother Joseph, selling him into slavery, and that now they were paying for it.
As they stood before Joseph, not knowing that Joseph understood them.
POINT: GOD was directing Joseph and the brothers in the events happening, so that the brothers would see their sin and repent before Joseph would be revealed and the relationship restored. GOD was testing the brothers.
“He turned himself away from them and wept”
Joseph had heard and saw GOD working deeply in his brothers.
And Joseph was overcome with emotion, left and wept.
Vs. 25-26. Jacob’s sons return home to Canaan.
Joseph returns the money the brothers paid for the grain.
25 Then Joseph gave a command to fill their sacks with grain, to restore every man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. Thus he did for them. 26 So they loaded their donkeys with the grain and departed from there.
“Joseph gave a command”
This wasn’t some accident. Joseph gave the order.
God was working HIS Plan by directing Joseph to do this strange thing of restoring the money in the sacks.
GOD was testing the brothers, to bring them to true repentance and reconciliation.
“To restore every man’s money to his sack and give them provisions for the journey.”
Joseph did this for his brothers even before they were reconciled to him.
They have not yet repented or asked forgiveness. Yet Joseph showed them love and care, even though they didn’t know it.
JESUS did the same. Giving us, undeserved blessings. Showing us His Love, Mercy and Grace, while we were yet sinners.
JESUS gave to us and we didn’t even know it.
JESUS has gifts for us now and we don’t even know it.
Vs. 27-28 The brothers find their money returned.
27 But as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey feed at the encampment, he saw his money; and there it was, in the mouth of his sack. 28 So he said to his brothers, “My money has been restored, and there it is, in my sack!” Then their hearts failed them and they were afraid, saying to one another, “What is this that God has done to us?”
“He saw his money; and there it was, in the mouth of his sack”
This had to be an extreme shock to the brothers. After all they had been through, how could this be?
Their guilt was still upon them, and now this!?!
“What is this that GOD has done to us?”
But GOD… At least they realized that it was GOD who made this happen.
And it was another test, from GOD, not Joseph.
What would they do with the money. What would this reveal of their hearts.
Would they hide it, keep it, make up another story?
GOD tests the hearts of man to see who are perfect towards HIM.
WE TOO are all tested.
GOD tests our hearts. JESUS tests our hearts. By what JESUS gives to us.
And until we are reconciled with JESUS, we usually don’t know what to do with HIS Gifts to us.
Vs. 29-34. The brothers return to their father Jacob and tell him the story.
29 Then they went to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan and told him all that had happened to them, saying: 30 “The man who is lord of the land spoke roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country. 31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies. 32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is with our father this day in the land of Canaan.’ 33 Then the man, the lord of the country, said to us, By this I will know that you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, take food for the famine of your households, and be gone. 34 And bring your youngest brother to me; so I shall know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. I will grant your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.’ ”
“They went to Jacob their father” to “tell him the story”.
How would they explain Simeon’s absence; the grain and the money; and that Benjamin would have to go to Egypt with them?
“Told him all that had happened to them”
They tell their father Jacob the truth. The last time they showed up without a brother, they faked his death.
GOD is working on them, in truth.
“We are honest men”
They told most of the truth. But they were not when they lied about Joseph’s death some 20 years before. And they lied to Joseph himself as they said of their family, “One is no more.”
Joseph knew his brothers were not honest men. And GOD used Joseph to test his brothers to come to the truth.
JESUS knows us better than we know ourselves. HE knows you, and what you can become.
Vs. 35. The brothers discover that each man’s money was returned.
35 Then it happened as they emptied their sacks, that surprisingly each man’s bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.
When the money was discovered earlier, they had no idea that all the money was returned.
JESUS has given you much more than you realize or know, and you will find it piece by piece, one step at a time, as you walk faithfully with HIM from faith to faith.
JOSEPH not only gave them the bread of life, by he refused payment. (unbeknownst to them at the time.)
YOU can’t buy the bread of life. JESUS refused any payment. We give out of gratitude because we have received; we don’t give as if we could buy from Jesus.
Vs. 36. Jacob’s reaction: All these things are against me.
36 And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me.”
“You have bereaved me”
Jacob said that his sons had bereaved him, that it was their fault that Joseph and Simeon were gone.
“Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more”.
This must have been torture for Jacob.
Yet we know that Jacob only knew half of the truth. What he didn’t know was that Joseph was still alive, and that one day Jacob would see him as Joseph would rescue the entire family.
We must be careful of the voices we listen to.
We must be still to hear the right voice. The Still small voice of HOLY SPIRIT.
We must be wise to know the truth and not be deceived.
“All these things are against me”
This is Jacob’s outlook no life. Everything and everyone was against him. Because he had lost his trust in GOD.
BUT GOD…had promised that Jacob was chosen for the Blessing.
And GOD had promised that HE would never leave Jacob, but would always provide for him.
GOD was working on Jacob too. He didn’t understand what was happening, and he wasn’t turning to GOD for strength.
We too must be careful of that thinking. Our direction and focus should remain on GOD even when things seem to be bad.
We are to praise HIM and give thanks in everything. Easy to say, hard to do.
But when we realize that GOD is in control, then the promises of HIS word will have affect.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
GOD is telling us here that HE can and will work everything together for good for HIS people.
Vs. 37. Reuben’s offer.
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.”
Sounds crazy.
“Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you”
He offers to lay down his own sons to give Jacob assurance. How crazy is that?
And yet. But GOD…
But GOD did just that, when HE gave His only begotten Son to deliver us and to rescue us in our despair.
Vs. 38. Jacob refuses to let Benjamin go back to Egypt with them.
38 But he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone. If any calamity should befall him along the way in which you go, then you would bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.”
“My son shall not go down with you”.
Jacob was adamant. He wasn’t about to lose Benjamin. And it appears he didn’t think much of Simeon by this display either.
But had Jacob trusted GOD, he would have seen that GOD was still with him and protecting him, and caring for him.
What Jacob didn’t realize was.
His beloved son was not dead but alive, and had been lifted up to a high place, to give the bread of life, to save the world from famine.
We see JESUS through this account of JOSEPH, as JESUS is alive, ascended into heaven and seated on the Right hand of the FATHER. HE is the bread of life and savior over all the earth.
GENESIS 43:1-34
Joseph Meets His Brothers a Second Time
Jacob decides to let the brothers return to Egypt with Benjamin.
Vs. 1-2. Jacob gives the order to get more food.
1 Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.”
“Now the famine was severe in the land”
The famine would last 7 years, and Jacob and sons didn’t know those facts.
“When they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt”
Jacob may have thought they had enough to survive, but now they ran out of food.
Makes you wonder how long Simeon sat in prison. We don’t know exactly, but it was for some time.
“Go back, buy us a little food”
Necessity drives us to do things outside of the norm.
Vs. 3-5. Judah explains why they had to bring Benjamin with them to Egypt.
3 But Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ ”
Judah reminds his father that Benjamin must go.
Vs. 6-7 Jacob complains and the brothers defend what they told the Egyptian.
6 And Israel said, “Why did you deal so wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you had still another brother?”
7 But they said, “The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ And we told him according to these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”
“Why did you deal so wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you had still another brother”
Desperation has set in. and Jacob is not willing to give up Benjamin
Vs. 8-10. Judah convinces his father to let them go to Egypt with Benjamin.
8 Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I myself will be surety for him; from my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. 10 For if we had not lingered, surely by now we would have returned this second time.”
JUDAH stands for the responsibility of his brother and father.
Vs. 11-14 Jacob sends them with money and gifts for the Egyptian leader.
11 And their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 Take double money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man. 14 And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!”
“If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!”
Desperation for survival sets in and Jacob relents.
Take presents
Take 2x the money
May GOD Almighty give you mercy to release your brother and Benjamin.
Whatever happens, happens.
The sons of Jacob face Joseph again.
Vs. 15-18. Joseph invites the brothers to dinner.
15 So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon.” 17 Then the man did as Joseph ordered, and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house.
18 Now the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, “It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may make a case against us and seize us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys.”
Joseph sees Benjamin and calls for a party!
This was not normal for an Egyptian leader to show such grace to Hebrews. The brothers must have wondered, but it was their fear that kept them in line.
Once again we see JOSEPH as a picture of JESUS who also wants to eat with us, to have a personal relationship with us.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
Vs. 19-23. The brothers explain the money and are treated well in Joseph’s house.
19 When they drew near to the steward of Joseph’s house, they talked with him at the door of the house, 20 and said, “O sir, we indeed came down the first time to buy food; 21 but it happened, when we came to the encampment, that we opened our sacks, and there, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; so we have brought it back in our hand. 22 And we have brought down other money in our hands to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.”
23 But he said, “Peace be with you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.
The brothers explain their return and the things that happened with the money in the sacks.
Joseph responds. “I had your money.” This wasn’t a lie. He DID have their money, and he gave it back!
He brought Simeon out to them, fulfilling the promise.
Vs. 24-26. The brothers meet Joseph and bring their gift to him.
24 So the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed.
25 Then they made the present ready for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they would eat bread there.
26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down before him to the earth.
The brothers received the blessings of love and kindness from Joseph without knowing who he was.
Like Joseph, GOD showers HIS love and blessing upon man even when man doesn’t know from whom the blessings come.
“They brought him the present… and bowed down”
Once again, the dream Joseph had many years before was being fulfilled before their very eyes, unbeknownst to them at the moment.
Vs. 27-30. Joseph’s emotional meeting with Benjamin.
27 Then he asked them about their well-being, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”
28 And they answered, “Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves.
29 Then he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.”
30 Now his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. And he went into his chamber and wept there.
Joseph asks about their well-being. Something an Egyptian leader would not do.
But his heart yearned for his brother Benjamin. And Joseph became overcome with emotion once again and went to his chamber and wept.
Joseph had never had a relationship with his younger brother.
Vs. 31-32. The dinner tables are segregated.
31 Then he washed his face and came out; and he restrained himself, and said, “Serve the bread.”
32 So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.
“They set him a place by himself”
Egyptians never ate with Hebrews, so Joseph would normally sit by himself.
But because he was not known by his brothers, he chose to sit alone once again.
Vs. 33-34. Joseph arranges them by order of birth and he favors Benjamin.
33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another. 34 Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.
He sat them in order, from firstborn to youngest.
This astonished the brothers. “How could he know?”
Benjamin was served five times more than his brothers.
ANOTHER TEST. Joseph had been resented as the favored son. Here Joseph wanted to see how the brothers reacted to their younger brother being favored.
Had they changed?
Were they different?
Psalms 105:16-22
16 Moreover He called for a famine in the land;
He destroyed all the provision of bread.
17 He sent a man before them—
Joseph—who was sold as a slave.
18 They hurt his feet with fetters,
He was laid in irons.
19 Until the time that his word came to pass,
The word of the LORD tested him.
20 The king sent and released him,
The ruler of the people let him go free.
21 He made him lord of his house,
And ruler of all his possessions,
22 To bind his princes at his pleasure,
And teach his elders wisdom.
HOLY SPIRIT teaches us.
HOLY SPIRIT leads us in all truth.
We too can expect to be tested by GOD.
To see what we are made of, and who we will trust.
How will we react in that testing.
Will we remain faithful.
Will we remain truthful
Will we remain IN HIM
Will we listen to that Still Small Voice as HE leads us, guides us and cares for us, in every situation we find ourselves in.
Lean in on HIM.
Lean on JESUS.
And in all things, no matter what our situation, realize that we are here to glorify HIM…
Giving Praise unto GOD OUR FATHER, who gave HIS SON as the bread of life, for all who receive HIM, is the promise of reconciliation and forgiveness, with Eternal Life in HIS Presence.
Unto HIM be all glory, honor and praise. In JESUS Name, Amen.
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Bill
