OT Study Genesis Pt. 9

Review

Genesis is the thesis of the whole Bible

: God’s glory and supremacy over His good creation - rest, blessing

- Satan tries to reverse this entire order, sin introduced into God’s good world

Seed who will…crush Satan’s head

Restore the world from sin and evil back to good - reverse the curse - return to blessing and rest

Tracking the lineage of the seed promised in

Abrahamic covenant - chosen line of the seed will become a chosen nation

Nation of Faith

Nation that declares that God is with us

Nation that declares that God fights for His people - specifically that He fights to turn evil into good

Jacob and his dysfunctional family - filled with evil

Tries to profit off of his daughter’s rape

Reuben’s (oldest son) shameful act

Jacob’s favoritism and Joseph’s arrogant dreams (behold!)

Joseph sold into slavery to Egypt (Judah’s idea)

Judah’s prodigal rebellion, Tamar’s trickery, a familiar birth scene

Unlike Abraham and Isaac’s story, there is an absence of the redemption of evil actions of these characters. Why?

3. The Testing of Joseph - God’s Presence And Power to Refine and Redeem ()

A. In Potiphar’s House (39:1-23)

A. In Potiphar’s House: God’s Blessing (39:1-6)

4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.

Chapter 39 begins with Joseph in Egypt, verse 1, “1 Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.” See how, in a foreign land filled with foreign gods and foreign people who did not know the God of Abraham, the Lord was with Joseph. God was not only with Joseph, He blessed Him. In Joseph God was being faithful to the covenant He made with Abraham. He blessed Joseph and He blessed the Egyptian Potiphar through Joseph. Now who was this Potiphar guy? The phrase translated here as captain of the guard is more literally translated as chief executioner. He was basically Pharaoh’s chief of police and royal executioner wrapped up in one - bottom line, you don’t want to be on Potiphar’s bad side. Now thankfully for Joseph’s sake, God’s presence and blessing on him was so evident that even Potiphar recognized God’s sovereign hand to bless everything Joseph touched. This led to Potiphar having extreme confidence in Joseph’s ability to manage all of his affairs. See from the very beginning of this story, God is fighting to transform a bad situation caused by evil into a good situation. 

B. In Potiphar’s House: A Faithful Servant and a Wicked Wife (39:7-18)

One day her commands become a lot more forceful. She grabbed on to his garment and commanded him to lie with her. Joseph sees the danger in this temptation and he fled out of the house. Joseph succeeds in resisting her temptation but she frames him for attempted rape. Now the text is ambiguous as to who Potiphar was angry at and most commentators believe his anger was directed towards his adulterous wife. The biggest reason for this is that such a crime was punished by immediate execution. Who better to execute him than Potiphar whose job as chief bodyguard of Pharaoh was to execute criminals who wronged Pharoah. Instead he places him in the king’s prison. What is interesting is that in 40:3 we learn that this prison is in Potiphar’s basement. Potiphar saves Joseph’s life and gives him the same authority in the basement that he had up in the house. The text again states that God was with Joseph there in prison showing Him steadfast love based on their covenantal relationship. 

B. In Potiphar’s House: A Faithful Servant and a Wicked Wife (39:7-18)

. 18 But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.”

However, just when things seemed to be going well, we meet Mrs. Potiphar, verse 7, “7 And after a time his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master's wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge.9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” 10 And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.” Joseph is attractive,  which in his case isn’t a good thing because Potiphar’s wife takes a liking to him. She makes her intentions quite clear to Joseph. She doesn’t invite him to intimacy, she commands him with authority to lie with her. Before, Joseph was full of arrogance and had a twisted sense of authority. Now see how he resists the temptress by appealing to the fact that it would wrong his master Potiphar. He has become submissive and loyal to the authority over him. He declares “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”.

One day her commands become a lot more forceful. She grabbed on to his garment and commanded him to lie with her. Joseph sees the danger in this temptation and he fled out of the house.

As we see in verse 11, one day her commands become a lot more forceful. “11 But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, 12 she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house... 16 Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home,17 and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me.” Joseph succeeds in resisting her temptation but in return for his faithfulness to God and to Potiphar, he is framed for attempted rape.

C. In Potiphar’s House: A Master’s Delima (39:19-23)

23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.

Which brings us to verse 19, “19 As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. 20 And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.” Now the text is ambiguous as to who Potiphar was angry at and most commentators believe his anger was directed towards his adulterous wife. Perhaps, this isn’t the first time she’s harassed one of his servants. And the biggest support for this theory is the punishment of Joseph. Rape was a crime punished by immediate execution. Who better to execute him than Potiphar whose was the royal executioner? However, Potiphar instead he places him in the king’s prison. What is interesting is that in 40:3 we learn that this prison is in Potiphar’s basement. So instead of being killed Potiphar just demotes Joseph from manager of his household upstairs, to managers of his household downstairs, which happens to be a basement prison. We see this in verse 21, “ 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.22 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it.” Notice that the text again states that God was with Joseph there in prison showing Him steadfast love based on their covenantal relationship. 

D. In Prison (40:1-23)

9 So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, “In my dream there was a vine before me, 10 and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes.11 Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand.” 12 Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. 13 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh's cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. 14 Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. 15 For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.” 16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, 17 and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.” 18 And Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. 19 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you.” 20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand. 22 But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Remember that earlier in this story, Joseph received two prophetic dreams from God and he was quite arrogant about them. Now, in prison he again encounters two prophetic dreams, - verse 1, “1Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody. 5 And one night they both dreamed—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison—each his own dream, and each dream with its own interpretation. 6 When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. 7 So he asked Pharaoh's officers who were with him in custody in his master's house, “Why are your faces downcast today?” 8 They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.” In the place of the arrogant dream master, we see Joseph act quite humbly and useful when interpreting these dreams. In this change we can see that Joseph is being refined by trial.

Notice the comical nuance to Joseph’s interpretations of the two dreams. For one man, Pharoah will lift up his head, a figure of speech for promotion. For the other man Pharoah will lift up his head...off of him, a figure of speech for execution. Joseph tells the man who was promoted to be the chief cupbearer to remember him, but he forgets Joseph.  

Now his two interpretations are slightly comical in nature. For one man, Pharoah will lift up his head, a figure of speech for promotion. For the other man Pharoah will lift up his head...off of him, a figure of speech for execution. Joseph tells the man who was promoted to be the chief cupbearer to remember him, but sadly he forgets Joseph. 

E. Before Pharaoh: Pharaoh’s Dreams (41:1-16)

33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 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.” 37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. 43 And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt.44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt. 46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. 47 During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, 48 and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. 49 And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured. 50 Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house.” 52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” 53 The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end,54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.” 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.

14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile. 18 Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. 19 Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt. 20 And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows,21 but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. 22 I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good. 23 Seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them, 24 and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.” 25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. 27 The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. 28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, 30 but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, 31 and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. 32 And the doubling of Pharaoh's dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. 33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 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.” 37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. 43 And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt.44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt. 46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. 47 During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, 48 and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. 49 And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured. 50 Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house.” 52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” 53 The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end,54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.” 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.

Once again, in chapter 41 we are presented with two dreams. This time it is Pharoah who is dreaming and if you remember he dreams about 7 skinny cows and 7 fat cows, and then a dream again with stalks of grain and he has no idea what this all means. All of his magicians and wisemen attempt to interpret his dream but fail. And this whole situation causes the cupbearer to suddenly remember Joseph. To anyone on the outside looking in, these seem like almost random occurrences, but if you have been following closely you know that this is the act of God orchestrating Joseph’s release from prison. In verse 14 we see Pharaoh call for Joseph, “14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” Notice again that Joseph is no longer the arrogant dream master. He humbly declares to Pharoah that God will answer Pharaoh through Joseph. Joseph has learned who is sovereign and who is supreme. He knows who deserves all the glory and he is teaching these truths to the ruler of the world’s first great empire. Notice also that Joseph shaved. From Egyptian art we know that, unlike the Semitic peoples, Egyptian men were clean shaven. This is an important fact to keep in mind for later. Just store it away.

Questions for Application

F. Before Pharaoh: Joseph’s Interpretation (41:25-32)

What do we learn about God in His actions in the story of Joseph in Potiphar’s house? 

And in verse 25, we see his interpretation from God, “25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. 27 The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. 28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, 30 but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, 31 and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. After Joseph interprets the dream, predicting 7 years of good harvest for Egypt and 7 years of famine. Pharaoh makes Joseph second over everything in the land. He had more authority in all of Egypt than everyone except Pharoah. He went from being stuck in prison for several years to being the second in command in the most powerful nation in the world.

Joseph interprets the dream, predicting 7 years of good harvest for Egypt and 7 years of famine. Pharaoh makes Joseph second over everything in the land. He had more authority in all of Egypt than everyone except Pharoah. He went from being stuck in prison for 2 years to being the second in command in the most powerful nation in the world. God is surely blessing Abraham’s seed, He is surely blessing the nations and He is surely transforming evil into good. And Joseph recognizes this by naming his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim out of worship to God for he declares “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house.” and “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” In this transformation of Joseph’s character and Joseph’s circumstance it is so evidently clear that it is God who is orchestrating it all. He alone has the power to transform both the events of history. Notice how this narrative ends with all the earth coming to Joseph for provision. Is this not a partial fulfillment of the promise made to  Abraham, in whom all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 

What do we learn about the nature of fighting temptation from Judah’s failures and Joseph’s success?

G. Before Pharaoh: Joseph’s Wisdom and God’s Blessing (41:33-57)

What do we learn about God in His actions in the story of Joseph in Potiphar’s house? 

God is surely blessing Abraham’s seed, He is surely blessing the nations through his chosen people and He is surely transforming evil into good. And Joseph recognizes this all by naming his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim out of worship to God - verse 51, “51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house.” 52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” In this transformation of Joseph’s character and Joseph’s circumstance it is so evidently clear that it is God who is orchestrating it all. He alone has the power to transform both the events of history. Notice how this narrative ends - verse 57, “57 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.” Is this not a partial fulfillment of the promise made to  Abraham, in whom all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 

4. The Testing of the Brothers: God’s Power to Transform Evil to Good ()

The main point of this section is to demonstrate how God fights to turn evil to good for His chosen nation. This is seen in the following structure

Introduction to Joseph - A Paradigm of a Troubled Family ()

Introduction to Judah - A Very Immature Individual ()

The Testing of Joseph - The Refining Trial and Redeeming Triumph all by God’s Presence and Supremacy ()

The Testing of the Brothers ()

Upholding the Nation ()

Finalizing the Foundation - the “12” Tribes ()

Finale ()

Previously we saw how God transformed Joseph’s heart and his situation from evil to good. Joseph was once an arrogant young man with a twisted sense of authority and leadership. He was hated by his brothers and sold into slavery in Egypt in Potiphar’s House. However God was with Joseph and blessed Joseph. He became a man who humbly served his master Potiphar, who treasured his relationship with God so much so that he was motivated to flee from the temptation of Potiphar’s wife because he considered sin against God. He was elevated to leadership over all of Egypt after interpreting Pharaoh's dream and he demonstrated great wisdom in preserving the food supply of Egypt in order to endure a great famine in all the region. 

Meanwhile, we also saw the tale of Joseph’s wicked brother, Judah. Judah left his family and scorned his father’s wishes by forcefully taking a Canaanite woman to be his wife. His wickedness was on greater display when we saw him neglect his fatherly responsibility to care for his widowed daughter-in-law. His dark and sinful nature reached an all-time low when he slept with his widowed daughter in law who disguised herself as a cult prostitute. After discovering that she was pregnant and that the twins in her womb were his, he takes responsibility for his behavior for the first time in this narrative. 

These two stories converge together in this upcoming section and God’s power to transform the hearts of his people is put on display. 

4. The Testing of the Brothers ()

A. Joseph’s First Test: Did You Do the Same Thing? ()

21 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.”22 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.” 23 They did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them.24 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. 25 And Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, and to replace every man's money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. This was done for them. 26 Then they loaded their donkeys with their grain and departed. 27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his money in the mouth of his sack. 28 He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back; here it is in the mouth of my sack!” At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”

29 When they came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them, saying, 30 “The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us and took us to be spies of the land. 31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we have never been spies. 32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. One is no more, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.’ 33 Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I shall know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your households, and go your way. 34 Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I shall know that you are not spies but honest men, and I will deliver your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.’” 35 As they emptied their sacks, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack. And when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid. 36 And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has come against me.” 37 Then Reuben said to his father, “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.” 38 But he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is the only one left. If harm should happen to him on the journey that you are to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.”

As we just read, the famine that Joseph prophesied of impacted the whole world, which included Israel and his family. Joseph’s brothers were also forced to travel to Egypt to trade for grain in order to survive - verse 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.4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might happen to him.” Notice that Israel, their father,  is unwilling to move to Egypt because he does not want to leave the promised land. Moreover, Benjamin stays behind because he has become the new favored son because he, like his older brother Joseph, was the son of Israel’s favorite wife, Rachel. He is the new favorite and Israel can not lose him too.

Now quite some time has passed. Judah has returned from Canaan to his father and his brothers and now they are before Joseph, whom they do not recognize - verse 6, “6 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. 7 Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them. “Where do you come from?” he said. They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.”8 And Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. 9 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.” Now Joseph testing his brothers here. He wants to know if they have changed. He’s probing their character by putting them on the spot. Verse 17 “17 And he put them all together in custody for three days. 18 On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: 19 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,20 and bring your youngest brother to me. So your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so.” He demands that they bring Benjamin before they can come and get anymore food. Why? He knows Benjamin has become the new favorite and he wants to see if they have turned their target on Benjamin just like they did with him.

He starts by asking for Benjamin their youngest brother. He demands that they bring Benjamin before they can come and get anymore food. Why? He knows Benjamin has become the new favorite and he wants to see if they have turned their target on Benjamin just like they did with him. He sends them back to Canaan with orders to not return without their youngest brother. But he keeps Simeon prisoner because he now knows Reuben tried to save him. Simeon is the second oldest so he should have been responsible to keep his brothers from selling Joseph into slavery. Joseph sends them on their way and fills their sacks with the money they used to purchase the grain, which was done as a test of their honesty and greed. 

He sends them back to Canaan with orders to not return without their youngest brother. But he keeps Simeon prisoner. Why Simeon? Remember that Reuben, the oldest wanted had a plan to save Joseph from his brothers and regain his father’s favor. So Reuben is off the hook. Simeon is the second oldest son so he should have been responsible to keep his brothers from selling Joseph into slavery. So then Simeon is put in prison while Joseph sends the rest of his brothers on their way. And he sends them off with another test. He fills their sacks with the money they used to purchase the grain, which was done as a test of their honesty and greed. 

Upon returning to their father in Israel they tell of the conditions that they must meet in order to return to Egypt. Upon hearing that they have lost Simeon to the Egyptians, Israel is furious and greatly sorrowed that the Egyptian Governor wants them to return with his favorite son, Benjamin. Reuben, the want-to-be leader steps in with a solution. He tells Israel that if he doesn’t bring Benjamin back Israel can kill Reuben’s two sons. What a noble offer! If Benjamin is lost, don’t kill me, instead kill your grandkids. Reuben hasn’t changed, he doesn’t know how to be a leader. Israel quickly rejects this stupid suggestion. 

B. Reuben’s Folly and Judah’s Sacrifice (42:29-43:16)

od Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” 15 So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and

Upon returning to their father, they tell of the conditions that they must meet in order to return to Egypt. Upon hearing that they have lost Simeon to the Egyptians, Israel is furious “ 36 And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has come against me.” At this, we see Reuben, the want-to-be leader step forward with an amazing solution, “ 37 Then Reuben said to his father, “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.” What a noble offer! If Benjamin is lost, don’t kill me, instead kill your grandkids. Reuben hasn’t changed, he doesn’t know how to be a leader and Israel quickly rejects this stupid suggestion. 

The famine persists and forces Israel’s sons to have to return to Egypt. However, Israel will not let them take Benjamin. We already saw how Reuben’s offer failed so who steps up to convince their father to let them take Benjamin? In that moment we see Judah step forward. Now remember the Judah of . He was a man who never took personal responsibility. He was selfish, and he avoided harm to himself at all costs. But now, in Chapter 43:8, we find a very different man, “ 8 And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.” He makes himself the pledge of Benjamin’s safety. He isn’t volunteering his grandsons, like Reuben. He is volunteering himself. He declares that if he does not return, he will bear the guilt of his brother’s life forever. Essentially he is saying that he will bear the shame of murder for the rest of his life if Benjamin does not return. In that culture If you were  shamed, you would be treated as if you were less than nothing, as if you were a dead corpse. Surely, this is not the same Judah! What has caused this transformation? What we see here is God fighting to transform an evil, wicked heart into a good and righteous one. 

C.  Joseph’s Second Test: Will You Do Better This Time? (13)

14 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground. 15 Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practice divination?”16 And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord's servants, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found.” 17 But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my servant. But as for you, go up in peace to your father.”

So then we see Joseph’s brothers, with Benjamin in tail, go down again to Egypt. They come to Joseph and the first thing they do is attempt to return the money Joseph put in their sacks. They have become men who do not seek to become rich dishonestly. Joseph then invites them to his house where they sit down to eat together and Joseph can barely hold himself together.

Joseph then invites them to his house where they sit down to eat together

However, he has one final test for his brothers. Verse 1 of chapter 44, “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.’” 6 When he overtook them, he spoke to them these words. ..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. ” The test is this, will they forsake their youngest brother once more with their own lives on the line?

Joseph then sends them on their way and  fills their sacks with grain, but sets them up again by putting a silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. He is testing them one last time. Will they forsake the favorite brother like they did with him? 

The brothers are then accused of stealing a silver cup. Benjamin is caught with it and Joseph acts like he is furious.

D. Judah’s Substitutionary Sacrifice (44:14-34)

14 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground. 15 Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practice divination?”16 And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord's servants, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found.” 17 But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my servant. But as for you, go up in peace to your father.” 18 Then Judah went up to him and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh himself. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father, or a brother?’ 20 And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother's children, and his father loves him.’ 21 Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’ 22 We said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’23 Then you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall not see my face again.’ 24 “When we went back to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 And when our father said, ‘Go again, buy us a little food,’ 26 we said, ‘We cannot go down. If our youngest brother goes with us, then we will go down. For we cannot see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ 27 Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons.28 One left me, and I said, “Surely he has been torn to pieces,” and I have never seen him since. 29 If you take this one also from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring down my gray hairs in evil to Sheol.’

Judah and his brothers return to Joseph and Judah, the leader of the clan pleads for mercy, But Judah steps forward and pleads for Joseph’s mercy. However, Joseph’s verdict is clear, Benjamin will be punished for theft. But Judah will not abide and instead proposes a just solution, “32 For your servant became a pledge of safety for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father all my life.’ 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.”

The man who once rejected his father by leaving their house and marrying a Canaanite, now pleads for Joseph to spare Benjamin out of compassion and care for his father. But he doesn’t stop there! Judah, the man who would not take responsibility for anything and who only sought to protect himself recounts the pledge he made to his father. Then he seeks to redeem Benjamin with his own life. He begs Joseph to let Benjamin go and he will remain in Benjamin’s place and suffer his brother’s punishment. This is what makes Judah a leader. He acts as the corporate head over his brothers. He is essentially saying, “I am his representative substitute and I will bear his punishment. “put his guilt on me so that when you see Benjamin, you see an innocent man and when you see me you see a guilty man.” Dear friends, do you see the parallel between Judah and His Messianic Offspring, Jesus Christ? The same thing has happened for us who are in Christ. When God the Judge of the universe looks on us He sees: Innocent: ransom price fully paid. Why? He sees the blood of the Lamb, the Lion of the tribe of Judah! We have been declared righteous because of His sacrifice. This is a powerful transformation! And surely Judah was not responsible for such a change. It was God who transformed wicked Judah into the righteous leader of Israel’s sons. 

Judah and his brothers return to Joseph and Judah, the leader of the clan pleads for mercy, But Judah steps forward and pleads for Joseph’s mercy. However, Joseph’s verdict is clear, Benjamin will be punished for theft. But Judah will not abide, “

The brothers are then accused of stealing a silver cup. Benjamin is caught with it and Joseph acts like he is furious. But Judah steps forward and pleads for Joseph’s mercy. The man who once rejected his father by leaving their house and marrying a Canaanite, now pleads for Joseph to spare Benjamin out of compassion and care for his father. But he doesn’t stop there! Judah, the man who would not take responsibility for anything and who only sought to protect himself recounts the pledge he made to his father. Then he seeks to redeem Benjamin with his own life. He begs Joseph to let Benjamin go and he will remain in Benjamin’s place and suffer his brother’s punishment. This is what makes Judah a leader. He acts as the corporate head over his brothers. He represents his brothers before Joseph and as their representative, he seeks to bear his brother’s punishment. It wasn’t Judah who transformed himself to become this leader. It was God who transformed evil to good. 

The man who once rejected his father by leaving their house and marrying a Canaanite, now pleads for Joseph to spare Benjamin out of compassion and care for his father. But he doesn’t stop there! Judah, the man who would not take responsibility for anything and who only sought to protect himself recounts the pledge he made to his father. Then he seeks to redeem Benjamin with his own life. He begs Joseph to let Benjamin go and he will remain in Benjamin’s place and suffer his brother’s punishment. This is what makes Judah a leader. He acts as the corporate head over his brothers. He represents his brothers before Joseph and as their representative, he seeks to bear his brother’s punishment. It wasn’t Judah who transformed himself to become this leader. It was God who transformed evil to good. 

In this very action, Judah is demonstrating what His descendent Jesus, the True and Ultimate King will do for His people. “ “4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” “16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us”  “21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 

“4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Dear friends, do you see the parallel between Judah and His Messianic Offspring, Jesus Christ? The same thing has happened for us who are in Christ. When God the Judge of the universe looks on us He sees: Innocent: ransom price fully paid. Why? He sees the blood of the Lamb, the Lion of the tribe of Judah! We have been declared righteous because of His sacrifice. 

“16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us” 

“21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 

Judah was saying to Joseph, “put his guilt on me so that when you see Benjamin, you see an innocent man and when you see me you see a guilty man.” The same thing has happened for us who are in Christ. When God the Judge of the universe looks on us He sees: Innocent: ransom price fully paid. Why? He sees the blood of the Lamb, the Lion of the tribe of Judah! We have been declared righteous because of His sacrifice. 

E. Joseph’s Tests Passed - A Family Reunited (45:1-28)

. 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. 16 When the report was heard in Pharaoh's house, “Joseph's brothers have come,” it pleased Pharaoh and his servants. 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.’ 19 And you, Joseph, are commanded to say, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Have no concern for your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’” 21 The sons of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. 22 To each and all of them he gave a change of clothes, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five changes of clothes. 23 To his father he sent as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.”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

Upon witnessing the amazing change in the heart of the brother who sold him into slavery, Joseph is overcome with grief and can no longer keep testing his brothers, 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” Naturally Joseph’s brothers were shocked and dismayed and filled with the fear of Joseph’s revenge. But see that Joseph recognizes the hand of God orchestrating good out of their evil actions. God sent him and God made him lord of all of Egypt. Joseph testifies how God worked through their evil act in order preserve the covenant family of Israel. When Pharaoh hears of the reunion between Joseph and his brothers he commands Joseph to bring their father and their households back to Egypt and he promises to give Joseph’s family the best land in Egypt as a possession.

And in verse 24 we see Israel hear the news of his son’s survival, “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”

When Pharaoh hears of the reunion between Joseph and his brothers he commands Joseph to bring their father and their households back to Egypt and he promises to give Joseph’s family the best land in Egypt as a possession. When Joseph’s brothers return they tell their father that Joseph is still alive and he is the ruler of all the land of Egypt and they bring him to Egypt. 

See how God used the news of

5. God’s Power to Preserve and Prosper Israel ()

A. Journey to Egypt (46:1-27)

1 So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

26 All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own descendants, not including Jacob's sons' wives, were sixty-six persons in all.27 And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.

If you remember, God came to Israel, when he first left Caanan as a young man and promised that he would prosper his offspring and that He would be with him. Now, as on old man leaving Canaan, God comes to Jacob once more, “2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” 3 Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. 4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes.” On top of his promises to prosper Israel’s offspring and to be with him, God promises that He will bring Israel and his people home again to the promised land. And this time, Israel isn’t leaving Canaan as one young man with no family. Not counting all the servants in Israel’s household, there are seventy  people that journey to Egypt to settle there. God is already making Israel’s family into a great nation. 

“13 God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. 14 But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions

B.  Israel’s Family and Israel’s Record of the Move (46:8-27)

Abraham’s descendents are not coming to Egypt as a small family. Not counting all the servants in Israel’s household, there are seventy  people that journey to Egypt to settle there. God is making Israel’s family into a great nation. 

B.  God Blesses Israel, Israel Blesses Pharoah (46:28-47:12)

28 He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. 30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.” 31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father's household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ 33 When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians. 1 So Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan. They are now in the land of Goshen.” 2 And from among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh. 3 Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, as our fathers were.” 4 They said to Pharaoh, “We have come to sojourn in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants' flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. And now, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.” 5 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. 6 The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.” 7 Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 And Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of your life?” 9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.” 10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. 11 Then Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. 12 And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their dependents.

After reuniting with his father, Joseph instructs his family to tell Pharaoh that they are shepherds and keepers of livestock so that they might be given the fruitful land of Goshen. In Egyptian culture shepherds were considered one of the lowest people groups in society and were usually kept outside of the royal cities. So in verse 5, when they come before Pharaoh and request the land of Goshen, Pharaoh is happy to oblige, “5 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. 6 The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.” 7 Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.” Again we see the Abrahamic promise of blessings to the nation here with Jacob blessing of Pharoah.

C.  God Prospers Israel in the Midst of Adversity (47:13-31)

13 Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished by reason of the famine. 14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought. And Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. 15 And when the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our money is gone.”16 And Joseph answered, “Give your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone.” 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. He supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year. 18 And when that year was ended, they came to him the following year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is all spent. The herds of livestock are my lord's. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our land. 19 Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we with our land will be servants to Pharaoh. And give us seed that we may live and not die, and that the land may not be desolate.”20 So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for all the Egyptians sold their fields, because the famine was severe on them. The land became Pharaoh's.21 As for the people, he made servants of them from one end of Egypt to the other.22 Only the land of the priests he did not buy, for the priests had a fixed allowance from Pharaoh and lived on the allowance that Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their land. 23 Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have this day bought you and your land for Pharaoh. Now here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. 24 And at the harvests you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and as food for yourselves and your households, and as food for your little ones.” 25 And they said, “You have saved our lives; may it please my lord, we will be servants to Pharaoh.” 26 So Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt, and it stands to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth; the land of the priests alone did not become Pharaoh's. 27 Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were 147 years. 29 And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying place.” He answered, “I will do as you have said.” 31 And he said, “Swear to me”; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed.

When the years of famine continue, the people of Egypt begin to have to sell what they own to Pharoah. In one year they sell all their livestock to Pharaoh. And remember who’s in charge of the royal livestock? Israel and his family. . In the next year the entire nation of Egypt sells all their land to Pharaoh and become indentured servants to him. See here God’s fulfillment of the promise to bless those who bless His people. Pharoah blessed Joseph and then God blessed Pharaoh by giving complete ownership of all the land of Egypt. Furthermore, God blesses all of Egypt by prospering Israel in the land of Goshen and multiplying all their endeavors. You see, since Israel’s family cared for the livestock of all of Egypt which belonged to Pharoah, the livestock in Egypt prospered in the midst of the famine. Therefore, food supply was kept in abundance through the blessing of God. After experiencing this prosperity for 17 years, Israel comes to the end of his life and makes Joseph promise to return him to the land to be buried with his fathers. 

6. Jacob’s Prophetic Pronouncement ()

A.  The Incorporation of Manasseh and Ephraim (48:1-22)

After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you.” Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed. 3 And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.’ 5 And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. 6 And the children that you fathered after them shall be yours. They shall be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. 7 As for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).” 8 When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.” 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.” 12 Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near him. 14 And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). 15 And he blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, 16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” 17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.” 20 So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’” Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover, I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.”

When it became apparent that Israel’s death was soon coming, Joseph brings his sons to receive his father’s blessing. 3 And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.’ 5 And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. 6 And the children that you fathered after them shall be yours. They shall be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. . Because Joseph was the favored son he received the double blessing that was normally reserved for the oldest son and this double blessing is passed to each of his sons. But when Manasseh and his younger brother Ephraim are brought before Israel, Israel gives Ephraim the greater blessing. This was done to symbolize that the younger Ephraim will carry on the covenant blessing that Israel was given by Isaac, just as Jacob received the blessing over his older brother Esau. Ephraim is Israel’s choice to carry on the royal line of the seed. Even in his last moments, Israel has a scheme. And in a way, Israel’s desires for Ephraim are honored by God. The man who was to lead the entire nation of Israel into the promised land was an Ephraimite by the name of Joshua, the assistant to Moses.

B. The Destinies of the 12 Tribes (49:1-27)

Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come. 2 “Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob, listen to Israel your father. 3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. 4 Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence, because you went up to your father's bed; then you defiled it—he went up to my couch! 5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords. 6 Let my soul come not into their council; O my glory, be not joined to their company. For in their anger they killed men, and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen. 7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel. 8 “Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons shall bow down before you. 9 Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? 10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. 11 Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey's colt to the choice vine, he has washed his garments in wine and his vesture in the blood of grapes. 12 His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk. 13 “Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea; he shall become a haven for ships, and his border shall be at Sidon. 14 “Issachar is a strong donkey, crouching between the sheepfolds. 15 He saw that a resting place was good, and that the land was pleasant, so he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant at forced labor. 16 “Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. 17 Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a viper by the path, that bites the horse's heels so that his rider falls backward. 18 I wait for your salvation, O Lord. 19 “Raiders shall raid Gad, but he shall raid at their heels. 20 “Asher's food shall be rich, and he shall yield royal delicacies. 21 “Naphtali is a doe let loose that bears beautiful fawns. 22 “Joseph is a fruitful bough,  a fruitful bough by a spring; his branches run over the wall. 23 The archers bitterly attacked him, shot at him, and harassed him severely, 24 yet his bow remained unmoved; his arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), 25 by the God of your father who will help you, by the Almighty who will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that crouches beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. 26 The blessings of your father are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents, up to the bounties of the everlasting hills. May they be on the head of Joseph, and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers. 27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,  in the morning devouring the prey and at evening dividing the spoil.”

After blessing the sons of Joseph, Jacob gives a prophetic pronouncement to the rest of his sons. Here he tells each of his sons of the destiny of each of their descendants. What is clear from this is that God’s nation will not arise out of one of Israel’s sons but that it will be comprised of the descendants of all of Israel’s sons.  This moment sets the destiny for the future for the Nation of Israel and in reality, all the World. Starting in verse 8, Jacob tells Judah a prophecy about his descendents. “8 “Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons shall bow down before you. 9 Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? 10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. 11 Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey's colt to the choice vine, he has washed his garments in wine and his vesture in the blood of grapes. 12 His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.”

Israel begins by telling his firstborn, Reuben, that he will not have the preeminence that would normally belong to the first born because of the sin he committed against the concubines of his father. Then he tells Simeon and Levi that their descendents will be scattered throughout the promised land because of the mass murder they committed to avenge the rape of their sister Dinah. As we shall see later, the scattering of the Levites will be a good and honorably privilege. However, the Simeonite scattering will not be so.

Jacob then tells Judah a prophecy about his descendents. And this passage is very important so underline it, highlight it, star it, whatever you want, look with me starting in verse 8 “8 “Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons shall bow down before you. 9 Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? 10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. 11 Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey's colt to the choice vine, he has washed his garments in wine and his vesture in the blood of grapes. 12 His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.”

Now lets break this down. He starts by likening Judah to a lion and declares to him that his father’s sons shall bow down to him, signifying that Judah’s descendents will rule in the promised land. It will not be Joseph who rules, but Judah. Moreover, this rule will last forever. He says in verse 10, that the scepter and the ruling staff shall not depart from Shiloh, a descendant of Judah. The phrase peoples at the end of verse 10 is more accurately translated nations and from this we see that not only will Shiloh rule over Israel, He will rule all the nations of the earth. Moreover, His kingdom will be one of Eden-like prosperity. Grapevines will be so strong that He will be able to tie his donkey to them. Wine and milk will be so abundant that you could wash your clothes with wine and drink so much milk it will make your teeth white. This prophecy indicates that God has chosen Judah’s descendents to be the kingly line. There will be a descendent of Judah, Shiloh (who’s name means Peace), who will come and rule over all the people not just of Israel but all the world and His Kingdom will be Eden-like. This Shiloh is the Seed that was promised in . Listen to the words of Isaiah “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace - Sar Shalom. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.” This Prince of Peace of Isaiah is the same Shiloh from . He is the Lord Jesus Christ the Lion of the Tribe of Judah

Moreover, His kingdom will be one of Eden-like prosperity. Grapevines will be so strong that He will be able to tie his donkey to them. Wine and milk will be so abundant that you could wash your clothes with wine and drink so much milk it will make your teeth white. This prophecy indicates that God has chosen Judah’s descendents to be the kingly line. There will be a descendent of Judah, Shiloh (who’s name means Peace), who will come and rule over all the people not just of Israel but all the world and His Kingdom will be Eden-like. This Shiloh is the Seed that was promised in . Listen to the words of Isaiah “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace - Sar Shalom. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.” This Prince of Peace of Isaiah is the same Shiloh from . He is the Lord Jesus Christ the Lion of the Tribe of Judah

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace - Sar Shalom. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

This Prince of Peace of Isaiah is the same Shiloh from . He is the Lord Jesus Christ the Lion of the Tribe of Judah

C. Jacob’s Burial Instructions and Death (49:28-33)

28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him. 29 Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah— 32 the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.” 33 When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people.

After blessing his sons who would become the forefathers of the twelve tribes of Israel, Israel commands his sons to return him to the burial property of Abraham. Israel left the promised land as a youth to run from his brother Esau. God worked to bring him back to the promised land but then he was taken to Egypt by his sons. His last wish is to return to the promised land of God. In the grand-scheme of things, this is a foreshadowing of when the nation that bears Israel’s name will leave Egypt and return to the promised land as well. 

7. Finale ()

A. Jacob’s Funeral (50:1-14)

Then Joseph fell on his father's face and wept over him and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days. 4 And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, 5 ‘My father made me swear, saying, “I am about to die: in my tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.” Now therefore, let me please go up and bury my father. Then I will return.’” 6 And Pharaoh answered, “Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear.” 7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father's household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. 10 When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. 11 When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim; it is beyond the Jordan. 12 Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, 13 for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 14 After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father

The final chapter of this book ends with the death of Israel. What is amazing here is that Israel was mourned for and embalmed. He acted like a king in life when he blessed Pharoah himself and he was treated like a king in death by the Egyptians. Moreover, not only did his sons weep for him, but the Egyptians wept as well and went with Israel’s sons to bury him in Canaan. The sight of this large burial party was so vast that the neighboring nations notice and are amazed.

B.  Joseph Reassures His Brothers (50:15-21)

15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him.18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

After their father’s death, Joseph’s brothers were once more filled with fear of Joseph and his just retribution. So they come to Joseph and pledge their servitude. But Joseph responds in verse 19, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” God fights for His people by transforming evil into God. He preserves them by transforming tragedy into triumph and he refines them by transforming wickedness into righteousness. And as we move forward from Genesis, God’s work of transforming evil to good will be on display, century after century.  Evil began with the fall but in the end God will transform evil to good through the work of His Son, Shiloh, the Prince of Peace, the Seed who was promised. 

“Here it is, God has transformed evil to good. He transformed what Joseph’s brother’s meant for evil against him into the preservation of all God’s people during a famine. Moving forward from Genesis, God’s work of transforming evil to good will be on display, century after century.  Evil began with the fall but in the end God will transform evil to good through the work of His Son, Shiloh, the Prince of Peace, the Seed who was promised. 

C. To Be Continued (50:22-26)

22 So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father's house. Joseph lived 110 years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph's own. 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

As Joseph’s life draws to a close we are left with a problem. God has promised Abraham that his descendents will inherit the Promised Land of Canaan. God has promised Israel that His family will become a great nation. But as we come to the final verses of this book we are left with a large family, in a foreign land. This is the end of Genesis but it is not the end of the story. As Joseph reminds his brothers before his death, ““I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

he reminds his brother’s of God’s promise to Abraham to bring the nation of Israel out of the land of Egypt and back to the promised land. He then dies and is buried like a king as well. This is the end of Genesis but it is not the end of the story. 

Questions for Application

What do we learn about the character and nature of God through His actions with Joseph and Judah?

What do we learn about fighting temptation from Joseph and Mrs. Potiphar?

What important characteristics of the Messiah are established by Judah’s character and actions?

What story or truth about God has stood out to you the most from Genesis?