Joseph Part 10

Genesis 44+

This morning we will see the aftermath of the dinner the brothers and Joseph had.

Things get a little weird here.

We are going to cover chapter 44 and beyond a little, so let’s move right in

vs. 1

The New International Version Chapter 44

Now Joseph gave these instructions to the steward of his house: “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each man’s silver in the mouth of his sack. 2 Then put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain.” And he did as Joseph said.

3 As morning dawned, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys. 4 They had not gone far from the city when Joseph said to his steward, “Go after those men at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil? 5 Isn’t this the cup my master drinks from and also uses for divination? This is a wicked thing you have done.’ ”

6 When he caught up with them, he repeated these words to them. 7 But they said to him, “Why does my lord say such things? Far be it from your servants to do anything like that! 8 We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found inside the mouths of our sacks. So why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house? 9 If any of your servants is found to have it, he will die; and the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves.”

10 “Very well, then,” he said, “let it be as you say. Whoever is found to have it will become my slave; the rest of you will be free from blame.”

11 Each of them quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. 12 Then the steward proceeded to search, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack

As Joseph sends his brothers on their way, he sets forth a plan to see if who his brothers are now

will they defend Benjamin

do they care at all?

Benjamin is accused and the penalty is to become Joseph’s slave

vs 13

The New International Version Chapter 44

At this, they tore their clothes. Then they all loaded their donkeys and returned to the city.

14 Joseph was still in the house when Judah and his brothers came in, and they threw themselves to the ground before him. 15 Joseph said to them, “What is this you have done? Don’t you know that a man like me can find things out by divination?”

16 “What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants’ guilt. We are now my lord’s slaves—we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup.

They tore their clothes out of grief

Their response shows they are not the heartless, and deceitful men they seemed to be 20 + years ago

Now, we know they still hid what they had done to Joseph

but in this case, they are doing everything in their power to keep him from being a slave.

Over the next few verses, Judah recaps the first meeting with Joseph

then tells Joseph of everything that happened when they realized they had to come back and bring Benjamin.

He expresses the concern that he has for their father

then in verses 33 and 34, Judah volunteers himself instead of Benjamin to be the slave of Joseph.

These brothers could have run away after Benjamin was accused, instead they did what was right.

Chapter 45 verse 1

The New International Version Chapter 45

Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.

3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.

Joseph was so full of emotion, he couldn’t hold it in anymore

His brother’s, however, were not ready for this information

it says her, they were terrified.

Of course they were terrified.

To an extent, Joseph had been toying with their emotions

and their first though is not going to be, “oh good, the brother that we thought about killing and the sold into slavery is here, he will not harm us”

vs. 4

The New International Version Chapter 45

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. w

8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

What Joseph has put together is that these things did not happen by chance

The brothers didn’t just happen to be in Dothan instead of Shechem at the time Jacob sent him to them

It wasn’t by chance a caravan of Ishmaelites came through right as they sat down to eat.

it wasn’t an accident he was sold by the ishmaelites specifically to potifar.

it wasn’t a coincidence that the chief baker and chief cup bearer ended up jailed at the same place he was.

These specific things happened in a specific order because God is in control

Joseph had to go through years of suffering so he could be in a place to help a multitude.

Because of this, many lives were saved.

When you feel like all is lost, and start to wonder why things just keep happening, know this

We do not have power over God

We do not have power over His timing

He is not a genie who just grants our wishes when we pray

He has a plan, the question is, are you willing to be a part of that plan!