GENESIS 42

We’re going to see Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt, and we have reason to believe (based on Genesis 45:11) that this happened in the first two years of the famine. (let’s read)

Genesis 45:6                                                    New King James Version

6  For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.                   (Joseph was talking to his brothers)

In other words, it didn’t take long for the big problems of the world to find their way to the home of Jacob. The famine was not only a world problem; it was going to become a family problem for Jacob.

• The scene switches back to Jacob in Canaan, where the famine was very severe. Hearing that there was plenty of food (grain) in Egypt, but knowing nothing of Joseph’s being there, Jacob sent ten of his sons for supplies. Only Benjamin remained at home. So far as Jacob knew, Benjamin was the only living son of his beloved Rachel. At this point Benjamin is a young man around 25 years of age.

Joseph’s Brothers Go to Egypt

GENESIS 42:1-6                                                                             NKJV

1   When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” 

• Jacob noticed a strange expression among the brothers when Egypt was mentioned, because the brothers knew Joseph was sold as a slave there. Their conscience made them feel terrible any time Egypt was mentioned.
• “The word Egypt in their ears must have sounded like the word rope in the house of a man who has hanged himself.” (Barnhouse)
• Joseph’s brothers lived with a terrible secret for 20 years. They never talked about it, but it never left them. Any mention of Joseph or Egypt brought back the guilt. They needed to be set free from the power of their terrible secret.

2   And he said, “Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die.”

3   So Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. 

4   But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, “Lest some calamity befall him.”  

• Because he lost Joseph some 20 years before, Jacob lived in constant fear that he would also lose Benjamin — the other son of his favorite wife, Rachel. He kept a close, protective eye on Benjamin.

5   And the sons of Israel went to buy grain among those who journeyed, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

6  Now Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth. 

• People refer to Joseph as the “Prime Minister” in Genesis 42:6 because his biblical duties and rank perfectly match the modern definition of a prime minister or an ancient Egyptian “Vizier”.
• They knew that in this time of famine, their lives literally depended on this Egyptian official; therefore, they paid him great respect by bowing. Remember Joseph has assimilated into the Egyptian culture. His character is Hebrew but, he looks like an Egyptian, he talks like an Egyptian, they didn’t recognize him. Famine is not a good thing, but God used it. God can and does use material need and lack in our life’s to get us to do things we normally would never do. Normally, the brothers would never go to Egypt; but their need drove them to Egypt.

GENESIS 42:7-8

7   Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he acted as a stranger to them and spoke roughly to them. Then he said to them, “Where do you come from?”  And they said, “From the land of Canaan to buy food.”

8   So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. 

• When Joseph’s brothers plotted murder against him and sold him into slavery, they did it with the specific intention to defeat his dreams. Instead, by sending Joseph to Egypt, they provided the way the dreams would be fulfilled.
• The great and glorious truth of God’s providence is He can and does use the evil actions of man towards us to further His good plan. This never excuses man’s evil, but it means God’s wisdom and goodness are greater than man’s evil. Surely the wrath of man shall praise You (Psalm 76:9-10)                                                 

Psalm 76:9-10                                                 New King James Version

9  When God arose to judgment,                                                                              To deliver all the oppressed of the earth. Selah

10  Surely the wrath of man shall praise you.                                                                  With the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself.

• In this, Joseph is another picture of Jesus. Jesus sees who we are long before we see who He is. He recognizes you —He knows who you are, and Jesus still loves you.

GENESIS 42:9-10

9   Then Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them, and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land!”

10   And they said to him, “No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food. 

• Joseph did not play games with his brothers. Some commentators believe that if it were up to Joseph, he would have revealed himself to his brothers right then and there. But God recalled the dreams to his mind and guided him to be an instrument for the correction and restoration of the brothers. We can look back some 5000 years and completely see God’s hand in this, but remember they can’t see it.
• God can, and must, sometimes use ways we think are harsh to call us to go to where He wants us to be. We must never resent it, because it was the hardness of our hearts that demanded it (Psalm119:67). Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word 

GENESIS 42:11-13

11  We are all one man’s sons; we are honest men; your servants are not spies.

12   But he said to them, “No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land.”

13   And they said, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and in fact, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no more.”

• One is no more: This was a lie and the brothers knew it. They had every reason to believe Joseph was not dead, but condemned to a life of slavery. Perhaps they had repeated the lie to themselves so often they came to believe it. Saying Joseph was dead didn’t make him dead. It’s like us saying Jesus isn’t alive, “doesn’t make Him dead”. Jesus is alive and among us.

GENESIS 42:14-19

14  But Joseph said to them, “It is as I spoke to you, saying, ‘You are spies!’ 

15  In this manner you shall be tested: By the life of Pharaoh, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 

16   Send one of you, and let him bring your brother; and you shall be kept in prison, that your words may be tested to see whether there is any truth in you; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies!” 

17   So he put them all together in prison three days.

18   Then Joseph said to them the third day, “Do this and live, for I fear God: 

• After three days in an Egyptian prison, the brothers were ready to agree to whatever Joseph wanted them to do. They had been humbled and would listen to Joseph’s demands. He had the words of life.

19   If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses. 

GENESIS 42:20-24

20   And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so. 

• Joseph’s demand was clear. They had to prove they were not spies by proving they were honest and that they told the truth about the brother back home. The brothers agreed to this (they did so) but only reluctantly, because they knew their father would never want to let Benjamin leave home.

21  Then they said to one another, “We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us.”

• Their guilty conscience told them this complicated mess was because of the way they treated Joseph before. This was a good sign. The quickness with which they associated these events with their sin against Joseph meant they often remembered that sin.

22  And Reuben answered them, saying, “Did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen?  Therefore, behold, his blood is now required of us.”

• There was not a completely logical connection between their current situation and their previous treatment of Joseph, but a guilty conscience sees every trouble as sin’s penalty.
• The United States government has something called the Federal Conscience Fund, which collects money people send in because they know they cheated the government in some way. People have sent in money because they took army blankets for souvenirs, for cheating on postage, or on income tax. But our consciences are notoriously weak or corrupt. One man wrote the IRS and said, “I cheated on my taxes and can’t sleep at night. Here is a check for $100. If I still can’t sleep, I’ll send the rest I owe.”

23   But they did not know that Joseph understood them, for he spoke to them through an interpreter. 

• In these words, we hear the conscience of the brothers at work. Some describe the conscience as the sundial of the soul. It tells time well enough when there is light, but in darkness it is of no use. 
• At night, you can shine a flashlight on a sundial and make it read any time you want it to. When the sunlight of God’s word shines on our conscience, it is reliable and trustworthy; apart from that, it isn’t always reliable.
• Otherwise, our conscience can be like a circus-trained poodle. Whistle once, it stands up. Whistle twice, it rolls over. Whistle a third time, and it plays dead.

24  And he turned himself away from them and wept. Then he returned to them again, and talked with them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.

• Joseph was overcome with emotion as he saw and understood this work of God in the conscience of his brothers. God had to do a deep work in the hearts of these brothers for the relationship to be reconciled.
• There could be no quick and easy, “We are sorry, Joseph!” in this situation. God guided events so the brothers saw their sin clearly and repented completely before Joseph was revealed and relationship will be restored.
• Yet even before the restoration, Joseph did not allow himself to be bound by bitterness and hatred. He still loved his brothers and wanted to be with them (he returned to them again, and talked with them). He wasn’t happy about their misery, but knew in some way it was necessary.
• He took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes: In a vivid and memorable scene, Joseph bound Simeon and kept him as a prisoner to guarantee the return of the brothers with Benjamin. Simeon was not mentioned as having a prominent role in the selling of Joseph, as both Reuben and Judah were (Genesis 37:21-28), so we don’t know exactly why Simeon was chosen. Perhaps he volunteered.

The Brothers Return to Canaan

GENESIS 42:25

25  Then Joseph gave a command to fill their sacks with grain, to restore every man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. Thus he did for them. 

• Joseph gave a command: The events that follow were not an accident nor a mistake, but something that Joseph commanded. Whether he was aware of it or not, God guided this spirit-filled man to do some strange things that would bring about true repentance and reconciliation with the brothers.
• God was working His plan through Joseph: This wasn’t just as if Joseph was playing practical jokes on his brothers or just trying to make life difficult. We don’t know how much he sensed it, but this was all guided by God. To restore every man’s money to his sack: This was an unexpected and wonderful blessing. The grain had to be expensive, and Joseph put their money back in the sacks of grain appointed for each brother.
• And to give them provisions for the journey: Joseph gave them more than their money back; he also gave them what they needed for the journey. He took care of them from beginning to end.
• The money was hidden:  We can assume that the provisions were given immediately and openly (otherwise they would not have been of much good). Joseph gave them what they needed to get by, but also much treasure beyond.
• Joseph did this for his brothers before they were reconciled: They had yet to repent or ask forgiveness — yet He loved them and cared for them. He gave to them and they didn’t even know it!
• In the same way, Jesus gives us unexpected, undeserved blessings. Some are obvious and up front, and some are hidden to be discovered later — but He gives to us even before we were reconciled to Him.

GENESIS 42:26-28

26  So they loaded their donkeys with the grain and departed from there. 

27  But as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey feed at the encampment, he saw his money; and there it was, in the mouth of his sack.

28  So he said to his brothers, “My money has been restored, and there it is, in my sack!” Then their hearts failed them and they were afraid, saying to one another, “What is this that God has done to us?”

• He saw his money; and there it was, in the mouth of his sack: This was a tremendous shock to the brothers. We aren’t told which one it was, but it was one of the nine (remember, Simeon was imprisoned). The last thing they expected to see was their money returned.
• This was a test — not from Joseph — but from God. What would they do with the money? What would be revealed about their heart?

1. The deceptive heart would hide it.
2. The lying heart would make up a story about it.
3. The proud heart would think it deserved it.
4. The superficial heart would think nothing of it.

• We are tested by what Jesus gives to us: — and Jesus tests the heart. What we do is important, but God goes deeper than the action itself and wants to develop not only our behavior, but also our character.
• Their hearts failed them and they were afraid: This was strange. It was as if they had just won the lottery, but they weren’t happy at all. Instead, they were afraid. They were so afraid that their hearts failed them and they had to talk to each other about it.
• They were afraid, and they only knew part of it: They only discovered the money in one brother’s sack. We don’t know why they didn’t immediately check the other sacks, but they did not. They were afraid, because they were already suspected as spies. Now, they could also be accused as thieves. They were afraid, because of their guilty consciences.
• What is this that God has done to us: Their consciences were under such great bondage that they even regarded something good as punishment from God. A guilty conscience doesn’t even know how to handle gifts from God.
• Until we are reconciled with Jesus, we usually don’t know what to do with God’s gifts.

GENESIS 42:29-32

29  Then they went to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan and told him all that had happened to them, saying: 

30  “The man who is lord of the land spoke roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country. 

31  But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies. 

32  We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is with our father this day in the land of Canaan.’ 

GENESIS 42:33-36

33  Then the man, the lord of the country, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, take food for the famine of your households, and be gone. 

34  And bring your youngest brother to me; so I shall know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. I will grant your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.’ ”

35  Then it happened as they emptied their sacks, that surprisingly each man’s bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. 

36  And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me.”

• When the brothers finally made it home, they told their father Jacob the truth. The last time they came back missing one of the brothers, they told a lie, making up a story about Joseph being attacked by a wild animal. They even had his bloody coat of many colors to give false evidence to their lie. The fact that they told the truth here was a small step forward a good step. Good things often start small.

Zechariah 4:10 a                                             New King James Version

10   For who has despised the day of small things?

GENESIS 42:37-38

37  Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.”

38   But he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone. If any calamity should befall him along the way in which you go, then you would bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.”

• My son shall not go down with you: Not only did Jacob insist that Benjamin would never leave the house, but he also spoke as if he only had one son. 
• Apparently, Jacob didn’t think too much of Simeon. It didn’t matter to him that Simeon might spend the rest of his life in an Egyptian jail.
• Many years before, God wrestled with Jacob and overcame him. Jacob was left with a limp as a reminder of that experience. Still, my son shall not go down with you shows that the wrestling was not yet over. There was still more to do, and more of Jacob to yield to God.
• If any calamity should befall him: At this point, Jacob could not bear to trust God again. He lived protecting himself against future pain. God was about to bring Jacob good news — greater than he had ever hoped:

1. The beloved son you believed was dead is really alive.
2. The living son has been exalted to the highest place.
3. The living son gives the bread of life.
4. The living son is the savior of the world.
5. The living son means you can trust God again.
6. The living son gives hope to the hopeless.