Genesis 42-47:31

1. What happens to Joseph before his brothers come to Egypt? How old was he?

He interprets Pharaohs dream and ends up offering sound advice:

Genesis 41:34–36 ESV

34 Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. 35 And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. 36 That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”

The Spirit of God is with Joseph and Pharoah recognizes this. (Genesis 41:37). Pharoah sets Joseph over all the land of Egypt (Genesis 41:42). He becomes the second in command and Jospeh marries Asenath, a daughter of Priest.

Joseph is the man to the man and Joseph is now around 30 when this happens. He was sold by his brothers when he was 17.

2. Why are people going to Egypt? Why does Joseph’s brothers go to Egypt?

First 7 years would be plenty, the latter 7 years would be a bad famine.

Genesis 41:56–57 ESV

56 So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

This is hard for us to imagine living in America. When we have bad seasons for farmers, we still have plenty of rations and this is not something that you ever probably feared. However, imagine there was a moment where we couldn’t make food anymore?

This famine is all over the area. At the moment, Joseph’s family is in Canaan and this famine is effecting them. Canaan to Egypt is around 250 miles.

Genesis 42:1–3 ESV

1 When Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” 2 And he said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die.” 3 So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt.

Traveling by caravan on foot, it likely took several weeks to complete the trip, especially given the terrain and conditions during a famine.

3. What happens on the first occasion the brothers go to Egypt? Why do they go back?

Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt and Joseph recognizes them. It has been a long time. He was 30 when he was appointed man to the man. But do you remember the dream? 7 years of harvest, then 7 years of famine. This puts Joseph around 37-40 years old when he sees his brothers. it’s been almost 25 years.

Now the brothers don’t recognize him but a lot has changed about Joseph. I mean he practically looks like a king and he has continued to grow.

So this next portion, Joseph decides to have some fun. He sees that there are only 10 brothers, and he knows there should be 11. Who is missing? Benjamin

He claims that they are spies and as he asks them questions, one of them ends up sharing that their youngest brother is at home.

Joseph imprisons them for three days and tells them to go and grab their brother and come back. Rueben believes that this is punishment for what they did to Joseph. Funny that he would say that.

Joseph gives them grain but keeps Simeon so that they will come back.

The brothers tell this of Jacob, but he does not want to give up Benjamin. Mind you, Benjamin and Joseph are born from Rachel, his favorite wife.

Why do they go back? They ate the food and needed more.

4. What happens on the second occasion the brothers go to Egypt?

Joseph wants them to dine with him later and he has an animal be slaughtered to feast on later (Genesis 43:16).

He then brings out Simeon and they are happy he is alive.

Joseph then asks is your father, the old man you spoke of, is he alive? (Genesis 43:26). They answer that he is alive and Joseph then catches a glimpse of Benjamin. Joseph confirms if this is Benjamin and his brothers confirm. Joseph actually is so overwhelmed by compassion and warmth for his brother that he needed to go to a separate room and weep.

They eat together and fellowship and they all lived happily ever after.

Joseph decides to test his brothers. The translation says, test but I believe the right word is trick. You will see how he tests them though. This is what happens next:

Genesis 44:1–5 ESV

1 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.’ ”

They are confused and the steward says that whichever one has the silver cup will die.

Genesis 44:12–13 ESV

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.

What Joseph does now is basically says that the rest are all free to leave except for Benjamin. However, Judah basically says that we cannot leave. If Benjamin does not come back to his father, his father would surely die. Judah elaborates on this for several verses.

He then offers his life instead of Benjamin: Genesis 44:33-34

Genesis 44:33–34 ESV

33 Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers. 34 For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would find my father.”

5. How does Joseph respond to Judah? Why do you think he responded in this way?

Genesis 45:1–15 ESV

1 Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. 4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. 10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’ 12 And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. 13 You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.

Afterwards, Pharoah hears of this entire story and asks them to come live in the land of Egypt and he will bless them.

So Joseph provides them with grain and clothes and they go back to Canaan. A key thing though is Benjamin is he also gets 300 sheckels which is their currency, and 5 change of clothes (Genesis 45:22).

Genesis 45:25–28 ESV

25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. 26 And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

6. What is a character quality of God that stands out to you?

Providence. Providence is God’s good, wise, and sovereign guidance and control of all things, by which he supplies all our needs and accomplishes his holy will.

God’s providence does not deny human agency. God is sovereign, and humans are responsible. This holds true even for human actions that are sinful.

Joseph gives God the credit, not the blame. He also doesn’t blame his brothers. Joseph sees how God has been working through this entire time for him to be used by God and to save lives.

Genesis 45:7–8 ESV

7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

Was what Joseph’s brothers did, good or right? No, then how does God use it for good? Because he is sovereignly guiding us into His will. Now what is crazy is we can still sin and make mistakes but that doesn’t mean God is imperfect or make mistakes. He has a plan and it will be done.

Romans 8:28 showcases how that those who love God, all things work together for His good and His purpose.

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

What you will see next week is a line that Joseph says to his brothers “what you meant for evil, God meant for good.” A common thing that God uses to help us grow, is through suffering. Suffering often helps us learn to obey and to be refined. There is a verse in the bible that says even Jesus learned obedience through suffering.

But this truth, this God shot, should comfort you. When things seem outside of your control, who is in control? God. This is where you must go to Him in prayer. It’s one thing to acknowledge what I’m saying, it’s another thing to know what I’m saying as you pray.

7. What can you do next?

Jesus didn’t die on the cross for our sins so that we would stay the same. But he died for us so that we would change and be like Him.

What can you do next to take one step further in your relationship with Christ. To take one step further in your faith in Him.