genesis 42
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intro
intro
When Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” 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.” So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might happen to him. Thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan. Now Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.
we see
that The famine has hit Jacob and his family
They are on the verge of starving to death
and Jacob hears from others
that there is grain to be bought in Egypt
he looks at his sons and says
why do you look at eachother ///
there is a major sense of urgency
God has provided the means for Israel to
be saved from the famine
yet the sons of Israel
needed to act
and so
Jacob sends 10 of His sons
but he holds back his youngest Benjamin
Why?
Well
Benjamin was his last child from his beloved Rachel
and he had already assumed to have lost Joseph
He couldnt bare to loose Benjamin as well
so The 10 brothers set foot to Egypt
in order that Israel would be saved from the famine
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. 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.” So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.
The 10 brothers make it to Egypt
and end up in front of Joseph
at this time 20 plus years have past
joseph has taken characteristics of the egyptian culture and language
the brothers do not recognize him
but joseph certainly recognizes them
they bow their faces to the ground
in honor to the ruler of egypt
Q. Why is this important ?
the dream
And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them. And he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land.”
Joseph remembers that the grains of corn would bow down to him
the very dream that caused the jealousy
that prompted the brothers to sell joseph as a slave
is now coming to fruition
20 years later.…
talk about waiting on the Lord
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
this verse is talking about how God is patient
he is slow to some people
but in His wisdom
He is patient
Instead of coming back quickly
He is being patient
and enduring the sinful world and people
in order to give more time to some
to repent and believe the gospel
every day that He waits to come back is a day
of pure grace
God is patient so wait on Him
God is patient so wait on Him
for Joseph
He probably had doubted that this day would ever come
Q. Have you ever doubted that something would happen
and then all of the sudden it God showed up
illistration—- I have been wanting a more deep and personal relationship with God
I have been praying for years for more intimacy in prayer
when it seemed like it would never happen
It finally did ——-better revelation of God being spirit
God was waiting for the right time to give me the revelation
I needed to be patient
God was waiting for the right time to raise Joseph up
God was patient with the unfolding of Josephs life
for the purpouse of saving Israel from the great famine
When we can understand
that God is doing something with our lives
we can be patient through any circumstance
and wait on the Lord
to lift our heads
God was also patient with the brothers
and filled with mercy
instead of exacting justice against their sin
God was patient with them
and sends them to the very brother they tried to kill
and this brother is going to be the one who saves their lives
but Joseph wants to know if they have changed at all
And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them. And he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land.” They said to him, “No, my lord, your servants have come to buy food. We are all sons of one man. We are honest men. Your servants have never been spies.” He said to them, “No, it is the nakedness of the land that you have come to see.” And they said, “We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan, and behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is no more.”
Josephs brothers
are singing a very different tune this time
they are desperate
and explain themselves
yet joseph is in turmoil
I am sure He wants to exact revenge ‘on His brothers
just imagine if the people who are responsible for years of your suffering
are right in front of you
we continue
But Joseph said to them, “It is as I said to you. You are spies. By this you shall be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, while you remain confined, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. Or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies.” And he put them all together in custody for three days. On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: if you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined where you are in custody, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households, and bring your youngest brother to me. So your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so. Then they said to one another, “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.” And Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.” They did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them. Then he turned away from them and wept. And he returned to them and spoke to them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.
now Joseph is testing the brothers
to see if they are honest or still wicked
He gives them an ultimatum
you go back and bring your brother here
and I will know that your honest and not lieing
Joseph knew they were not lieing
he even over hears them speaking in their native language
the brothers are feeling guilty over what they did
20 years ago
the guilt has stayed with them
and they are believing that it is coming back to haunt them
their calamity is retribution for selling joseph into slavery
Josephs anguish is continued
as he turns away from them to weep
think of a time that you couldnt keep your tears in
joseph remembers how his on brothers that he loved
betrayed him and sold him to forigners
the ultimate betrayal
I want you to see that it is the same way with God
in our sin we have rebelled against God
our sin is what put Jesus on the cross
our sin puts us at emnity with God
but even though we rebelled against Him in sin
His heart is like josephs
His heart is hurt by our sin and rebellion
but His desire is that we would repent and come back to Him
it starts with conviction of sin
welcome conviction
welcome conviction
just like the brothers
we are terrible, we did this terrible thing , and we are guilty
the first step is always recognizing your a sinner
and then you can come to Jesus for forgivness
but what if you are already saved
Do you still sin ? yes
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
when conviction comes
admit your sin
we will see in the upcoming chapters the confession
but here we see the conviction start in the heart
it is good to get exposed
and its meant to lead you to repent
God is being gracious to the brothers through Joseph
as he sends all but simeon back with grain
to go get benjamin
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. So they loaded their donkeys with the grain and departed from there. 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. 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?” Then they went to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan and told him all that had happened to them, saying: “The man who is lord of the land spoke roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country. But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies. 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.’ 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. 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.’ ” 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. 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.” 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.” 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.”
The brothers go back
and notice Joseph has put all their money back in their bags
they are afraid
and think that this means they will be taken for theives
They tell their dad the situation
and Jacob is like nope
they can have simeon lol
he is too scared that Benjamin will be taken or killed
He is not willing to give him up
and we see a bit of selfishness here
We also see that parents always favor the baby of the family
lol
Ruben acts like peter and says if we fail, you can kill my 2 sons
this is a bit of hyperbole
obviously jacob would not do that
but they feel like there is no other option
Joseph has put them in a tough situation
but what they do not know is
that Joseph has their salvation in mind
Joseph is drawing them to be saved and protected
what may seem bad may be used for your good
what may seem bad may be used for your good
Jacob thinks that everything is against him
joseph is dead,
simeon is toast
and benjamin is in danger
o yea and they are starving to death
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.
this is a promise we can hold on to
God is going to use even the worst looking situations for your good
and through necessary situations
He is preparing you and sovriegnly ordering your steps
In this story he is disciplining the brothers
and leading Israel to slavation
while at the same time preparing jacob to see his son joseph again
God is working a masterpiece
illistration
have you ever done painting with a twist ?
step by step it looks worse and worse
until all of the sudden it starts taking shape
in due time
GOD will work all things together for your good
trust it and do not be discouraged
for there are seasons where you will be like jacob
and all seems against you
but
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
for joseph —- wait on God
for the brothers —- wait on God
for Jacob —- wait on God
He is able to do more than you know
lets pray
