Genesis 42

Introduction

Here we pick up in the midst of a world wide famine. Egypt had plenty of corn while the rest of the world was starving thanks to God revealing that there would be seven years of plenty and seven years of famine so they needed to store up corn durning the years of plenty. This morning we are going to see God’s provision to Josephs family and His sovereignty in Josephs life.

Jacobs awareness of their need vs. 1-5

Jacob sees there is corn in Egypt, but it seems like there is some hesitation from his sons to go.

Just the mention of Egypt seems to bring panic to the brothers as they remember Joseph.

21 years or so before the brothers sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt

Jacob sends all of the brothers but Benjamin to Egypt to get corn in Egypt.

Things were bad enough that Jacob tells them that this corn is the difference between life and death. vs. 2c

Jacob holds back Benjamin, he is worried what might happen if he sends Benjamin that something bad could happen to him.

Joseph and Benjamin were the sons of Rachel so they were both special to Jacob, he had already lost Joseph, he couldn’t risk losing Benjamin as well

The sons of Israel weren’t the only ones who came to Egypt because of the famine

Acts 7:11–13 “11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. 13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.”

Josephs dream comes true vs. 6

Joseph is the governor in the land of Egypt

He is second in command in all of Egypt and was in charge of putting up all the extra food during the years of plenty and now is in charge of selling the food durning the years of famine.

Josephs brothers bowed down their faces to the earth before Joseph

When the brothers bowed before Joseph, they were fulfilling the prophecy of his first dream, as he had reported it to them around 21 years before

Genesis 37:5–10 “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. 8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. 9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. 10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?”

Joseph recognizes his brothers vs. 7-17

Joseph saw his brothers, and he knew them

Joseph could’ve reacted out of anger and pretty much done what ever he wanted as he was the second most powerful person in Egypt.

Joseph interrogates them

His first question is where did they come from

They answer they came from Canaan to buy food

If Joseph had any doubt about who these ten men were, it was dispelled with that answer as the bible reiterates that Joseph knew them and they didn’t know Joseph.

Joseph not only remembered them, but he remembered the dream he had that really sent his brothers over the edge

Joseph accuses them of being spies

He tells them they came to seek the nakedness or their lack of defence due to the famine

The brothers reveal details about their family to try to get Joseph to believe they aren't spies

They start again by telling him they came from Canaan to buy food

They are all one mans son

We are true men, not spies

Joseph again says no you guys are spies coming to find our weaknesses

Then the brothers go into more details about their lives

We are are twelve brothers, all from the same man

One bother is with our father and one is not

Joseph tells them that if they want to prove they aren’t spies they need to send one of the brethren home to get their younger brother and bring him to Egypt.

Until that brother returns the rest would be kept in prison

Josephs test for his brothers vs. 18-25

Joseph kept them all together for three days

After those three days Joseph again comes to them with an opportunity to prove they aren’t spies

They would leave one brother bound and the rest would carry corn home to get their younger brother. If they did this they wouldn’t die.

The brothers talk among themselves in their own language, but Joseph understands

They were guilty concerning their brother, speaking of Joseph

Rueben tells them how they shouldn’t have done what they did to Joseph

As they were speaking they didn’t think Joseph could understand them because he had been speaking through an interpreter to them.

As Joseph heard what they said, he turned himself away and wept.

I wonder if he was weeping because of the sorrow that they felt for what they had done to him or if he was weeping thinking about the relationship they could’ve had.

After Joseph hears this he communes with them and then bounds Simeon for the brothers to return home

Joseph commands their sacks be filled with corn and that the money they had paid for the corn was returned unto them.

The brothers return home vs 26-38

They load up their donkeys and head back towards Canaan.

As they get stopped for the night and are preparing to give their donkey provender or provisions out of their sack one of the brothers noticed that the money he had was restored unto him.

They get scared and ask what God had done to them.

As they return home they tell Jacob everything that happened in Egypt vs. 29-34

All of their money was retuned vs. 35

Look at Jacobs response to their request to take Benjamin back to Egypt vs. 35-38

Remember Jacob said he would go to his grave sorrowing after the brothers told him that Joseph had died, and this would just make it worse.