Joseph 7

Introduction

Although this is a part of the test devised by Joseph, it does not take place in Egypt. Most of the action occurs in Jacob’s or in this chapter, he is referred to as Israel. We may be able to gather some vital Christian principles from this Old Testament interaction between Jacob and his sons.

Jacob and his sons had been living in a fantasy world, consuming the rations brought back from Egypt, watching the supply dwindle, dreaming of a food supply to get them through the famine. Therefore, today we learn from Jacob and his sons more than we learn from Joseph.

Gen. 43:1-2 “And the famine was sore in the land. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.”

Jacob had been in denial, denial that Simeon was being held captive, denial in allowing Benjamin to go as a representative, and in denial that all of this was a divine test. Delaying all actions relating to returning, and restocking food supplies.

When we hone in on Jacob, we discover he has been in a downward spiral ever since Joseph’s disappearance. In the movie Fiddler on the Roof Tavia always talked with God until his youngest daughter married a Gentile; that’s the picture I have n my mind, Joseph stopped talking to God.

Gen 43:3-10 “And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother? And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down? And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame forever. For if we had not lingered, surely by now we would have returned a second time.”

Two important facts emerge from this paragraph. First, Judah begins to assert himself. He begins to take control of the situation. Judah had been involved in the killing at Schechem, selling Joseph, some say an attempt to save his life, involved with Tamar, had deserted Jacobs clan for a while, but now he shows signs of maturity (more than his other brothers), and developing as the leader of the line of the Messiah.

Second, Jacob now employs the blame and deceit game. Jacob attempts to shift the blame for Simeon being held captive, for the brothers telling about Joseph, to the returning brothers. He’s asking why did you do that? How could you bring this calamity down on me? Think about this:

Jacob lied to Isaac to obtain the birthright.

Jacob lied to Laban to obtain the most livestock.

Jacob participated by his silence in the slaughter at Schechem.

All his sons were doing was following his example.

Webster’s Online dictionary defines deceit as: the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid. Jacob is attempting to shift the blame to his sons; hey, it’s all you’r fault. You shouldn’t have gone over there and run off at the mouth. If you had just kept your mouth shut, we would not be in this trouble.

Gen. 43:11-14 “And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight: Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man: And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”

Genesis 28 finds Jacob at Beth-el, spending the night, having a dream of a ladder ascending to heaven with angels going back and forth. After awakening he builds an altar names the place Beth-el (The Lord is in this place). Then as verse 20-22 state Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, 21 so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. 22 And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”

Let me ask you, what happened to Jacob’s faith? Most would reply, life happens. It’s almost as if Jacob abandoned his faith. Do you think Jacob thought the world was against him? God had abandoned him. Here’s a fact; we man abandon God, but He never abandons believers.

Verse 14 gives the impression of Jacob having a defeatist attitude. Like the old song, what will be will be. Verse 13 gives us further incite on this statement; Jacob states take your brother NOT take my son. It’s as if he is already resigned to the fact he will never see Benjamin again. Neither verse demonstrates much faith, but a lot of fatalism.

Genesis 43:15-17 “And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon. And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house.”