Read Genesis 42
Joseph’s Brothers Go to Egypt
1 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” 2 He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”
3 Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him. 5 So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan also.
6 Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. 7 As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked.
“From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.”
8 Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. 9 Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”
10 “No, my lord,” they answered. “Your servants have come to buy food.11 We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.”
12 “No!” he said to them. “You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”
13 But they replied, “Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”
14 Joseph said to them, “It is just as I told you: You are spies! 15 And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 16 Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!” 17 And he put them all 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 stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households.20 But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do.
21 They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.”
22 Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.” 23 They did not realize that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter.
24 He turned away from them and began to weep, but then came back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.
25 Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man’s silver back in his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. After this was done for them, 26 they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left.
27 At the place where they stopped for the night one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack. 28 “My silver has been returned,” he said to his brothers. “Here it is in my sack.”
Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”
29 When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them. They said, 30 “The man who is lord over the land spoke harshly to us and treated us as though we were spying on the land. 31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies. 32 We were twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in Canaan.’
33 “Then the man who is lord over the land said to us, ‘This is how I will know whether you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for your starving households and go. 34 But bring your youngest brother to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the land.’”
35 As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his pouch of silver! When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened. 36 Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!”
37 Then Reuben said to his father, “You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back.”
38 But Jacob said, “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.”
Go Deeper
Genesis 42 is the detailed account of Joseph’s brothers’ first visit to Egypt. This part of the story of Joseph sets the stage of God’s plan for the saving of the nation of Israel (as well as the reconciliation of the family). Jacob had commissioned his sons to go to Egypt to buy grain in order to survive the famine in Canaan. Things were desperate, and this family needed food. Yet, looking deeper, the chapter reveals God’s handiwork in prophecy. Joseph’s dreams as an adolescent are now reality some two decades later in verses 6 and 9 saying in the latter, “….and Joseph remembered the dreams he had about them.”
One can only imagine the emotions of Joseph in this moment. As readers, we can see the sovereignty of God. The eventual patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel bowed to their brother Joseph, and we see how God used this suffering saint of a brother to save the nation of Israel. Only God can take plans motivated by hatred, anger, and jealousy and turn them for good. Romans 8:28 say, “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” Joseph loved God, and God showed His faithfulness to Joseph. He will use the surrendered life to the God we love and do the same for us. It is His promise.
The second half of this chapter reveals the hidden sin of the brothers. We read and sense the fear inside the hearts of each as they unknowingly faced Joseph, the second in command of all of Egypt. The tables have turned for the brothers and now Joseph controls their destiny. Joseph tested his brother’s hearts and integrity through this story inquiring about Benjamin and Jacob. Although he had power to avenge years of needless suffering, Joseph’s heart was driven by obedience to God, and His mercy and love. His family, once dead to Joseph, has now come back to life. Christ died for our sin and only His mercy and love brings us back to life. Joseph, as a foreshadowing of what Jesus would ultimately do, through obedience, offered sustenance and life for the nation of Israel.
We see God at work here from start to finish. Even as the brothers return to Canaan in dismay, God is at work. We may be in desperate circumstances ourselves and, like Joseph, we are to lean into our faith in God and His promises in His word. We are led by a Savior whom we can trust to work for our good and His glory. Verse 35 gives us a glimpse of God’s undying faithfulness to the brothers (and to us!) as Joseph provided the necessary grain and returned their money to pay for it. Isn’t that evidence of the grace of God. Our response can only be praise and surrender to the One we can trust because He is full of grace and truth. To Him be the Glory in all things!
Questions
- What do you think were the emotions of Joseph when he saw his brothers and they bowed to him?
- Do you think the brothers felt any guilt? Explain your thoughts.
- Are you plagued by guilt and unforgiveness in any area of your life? How can you free yourself from this? Discuss this with your Life Group.
A Quote
Matthew Henry, a 17th century theologian said this:
“Jacob gives up Joseph for gone, and Benjamin and Simeon are in peril. He feels all things are against him. It proved to be all things were for him, working together for his good and the good of his family. We often think the same. We are afflicted in body, estate, name and relations; and think all these things are against us, whereas they are really working for us a weight of glory. The Lord rebukes and chastens those for whom he has purposes of love. He sustains the soul as we wait for Him. Seek no other refuge and humble thyself under his mighty hand, and He will answer our petitions and do for us more than we can expect.”
4 thoughts on “Genesis 42”
Here are 6 truths of the faithfulness of God:
•God is a faithful covenant-keeping God for those who love him.
(Deuteronomy 7:9)
•God’s unfailing love and faithfulness is vast reaching beyond the heavens. (Psalm 36:5)
• God does wonderful things he planned long ago. (Isaiah 25:1)
• God is faithful when we are tempted, providing a way out so that it does not overtake us. (1 Corinthians 19:13)
• God is faithful to strengthen and guard from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3)
•God remains faithful even when we are not. (2 Timothy 2:13)
Peace vs guilt
Peace begans with doing the right thing to begin with. BUT if you did do wrong things then peace is after repentance, like Joseph’s brothers. Their guilt popped its head up big. Then they said to each other, “Obviously, we are being punished for what we did to our brother. We saw his deep distress when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this trouble has come to us.”Genesis 42:21 HCSB. BUT GOD had His plan that is going to further His kingdom. Forgiveness: Joseph’s treatment of his brothers demonstrates the power of forgiveness. Although they had hurt him deeply, he was able to forgive them and offer them mercy and kindness. Trusting in God’s plans is hard because God’s plan often involves difficult circumstances that challenge us. BUT GOD was at work to bring about reconciliation and restoration. We believe the lies the evil one says about us, to us, and about us BUT GOD ” When we believe lies – whether it is our fault or not – the lie has power over us. This is why we should learn and love and cherish God’s truth.· God has forsaken me – if believed, that lie has power.· I’m beyond hope – if believed, that lie has power.· I can never confess my sin – if believed, that lie has power.· I’m worthless – if believed, that lie has power.(Guizak)” BUT GOD was working all things together for good (Romans 8:28). He will work our all things out for good if we go to Him, trust Him, relay on Him, learn about Him, lean into Him and more importantly Love Him back as much as is humanly possible.
Thank You God for granting me the grace to face my mistakes. Help me learn from Joseph’s example of forgiveness and restoration. Thank You for helping me find reconciliation and healing in my relationships. Guide me towards unity, grace, and a renewed spirit. Thank You for wisdom and redemption guidance to glorify You. God thank You for the examples all through the Bible of YOUR HESED LOVE. Thank You for freedom of choice but in that freedom that I listen with hearing ears, and see through Your love goggles to do the right thing, everytime. God continue to direct my path as I long for more of You to fill me every minute of every hour of this day in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7 “As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them.”
Much like Esau extending mercy to his brother Jacob after harboring many years of resentment, Joseph similarly “takes the high road” with his brothers. Very impressive!
And yet rather than reveal himself immediately, he still chooses to toy with them for a while . . . poking one’s siblings never gets old!
Sin and guilt: sin will haunt you unless repented.
Forgiveness: we should forgive others that have hurt us as God forgave us.
Honesty: we should be honest with ourselves and with God.
Trust: God proves himself over and over.
Obedience: we should have a healthy fear of God. Judgment will come.
Wisdom: we gain this through the Word of God.
Responsibility: we should share the Gospel.
Thank you, God, for Your Word, grace and persistent fight after me. You are my first love.