Lesson 89 Genesis 43:15 - 34 & 44:1- 13 More Grain, More money, more Intrigue.

The Brothers Dine with Joseph

English Standard Version (Chapter 43)

15 So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.”

17 The man did as Joseph told him and brought the men to Joseph’s house. 18 And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph’s house, and they said, “It is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may assault us and fall upon us to make us servants and seize our donkeys.”

19 So they went up to the steward of Joseph’s house and spoke with him at the door of the house, 20 and said, “Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food. 21 And when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it again with us,

22 and we have brought other money down with us to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.” 23 He replied, “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.

24 And when the man had brought the men into Joseph’s house and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder, 25 they prepared the present for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.

Verses 15 and 16 show us that took double money with them, their gifts and took a trip back to Egypt for more food. Joseph must have been waiting for them because he saw Benjamin with them. He asks his servants to prepare things because the visiting men( Joseph’s brothers) would be dining with him.

At verse 17, the brothers are taken to Joseph’s house, and they arrive with some fear and trepidation. They must have been wondering “why are we getting all of this attention? Why all this luxury?” They are thinking it is because of the money found in our grain sacks. Next thing you know they are going to seize all of us and seize our donkeys! That sounds tragic doesn’t it?

The brothers tell their story of money in the grain sacks to the steward over Joseph’s house. He responds with a message of peace, and “do not be afraid! He adds that your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks. Wow. What a message of encouragement. It gets better. Simeon is brought out, all in one piece. The donkeys are fed and not seized. The traveling brothers prepare their gift for Joseph when he comes home for lunch. Let’s listen in:

English Standard Version (Chapter 43)

26 When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present that they had with them and bowed down to him to the ground. 27 And he inquired about their welfare and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”

28 They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves. 29 And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!”

30 Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there. 31 Then he washed his face and came out. And controlling himself he said, “Serve the food.”

32 They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. 33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth. And the men looked at one another in amazement.

34 Portions were taken to them from Joseph’s table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him.

The small talk that they had with Joseph was really giving him a window into their lives back home. But seeing his brother for the first time in years, Joseph breaks down in tears. He had to excuse himself because he did not want to cry in front of them. It might expose who he is, and the test of the brothers has not concluded yet. As the brothers are given portions from Joseph’s table for the brothers, Benjamin’s portion was 5 times greater than the other brothers. They are really astounded at the strange treatment and the favoritism of this Egyptian strongman towards their younger brother. There’s nothing like the sound of these brothers being together in one spot and then Joseph says, “serve the food.” Great fellowship in Egypt as the “ate, drank and were merry with him.”

The Party Continues 44:1- 5

English Standard Version (Chapter 44)

44 Then he commanded the steward of his house, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, 2 and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph told him

.3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys. 4 They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good?

5 Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he practices divination? You have done evil in doing this.’ ”

We are getting so close to Joseph revealing himself to his brothers, but first more complexity. This such a different scene from the day when they had a meal by the fire, thinking to kill Joseph but Reuben steps in and stops them. The he is stolen from them and he is given up as dead. The good time and fun has not been their diet as a family, but here they are, enjoying each other.

As they prepare to leave with more grain for back home, Joseph now instructs his workers to put money in their sacks of grain. Once they are on the road toward home, the Egyptians go after the brothers and overtake them and they are accused of stealing. The charge is “why have you repaid evil for good?”

English Standard Version (Chapter 44)

6 When he overtook them, he spoke to them these words. 7 They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing!

8 Behold, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house?9 Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die, and we also will be my lord’s servants

10 He said, “Let it be as you say: he who is found with it shall be my servant, and the rest of you shall be innocent.” 11 Then each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack. 12 And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.

To make a short story long, the Egyptians find the “stolen” money that had been planted in Benjamin’s sack. Now they have to return to Egypt as they have pronounced death on Benjamin 9 Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die, and we also will be my lord’s servants.

Things look bleak but this is all in God’s plan and Joseph’s. The reveal of Joseph to His brothers is next week!