Genesis 42 45 Joseph From Pharaoh to Family

Genesis 42 - 45 Joseph: From Pharaoh to Family

Joseph’s Brothers Go To Egypt (Genesis 42: 1 -38) • After a long period of famine, Jacob learns that Egypt has a surplus of grain and is willing to sell rations to all who can afford it. • He sends 10 his sons to buy grain. Israel does not send Benjamin because he is the youngest and Israel is afraid something bad will happen to him like what happened to Joseph. • The brothers arrive in Egypt and go to meet the governor. They have no clue that the man they are bowing before and begging for food is their brother Joseph recognizes them and tests their heart. • Joseph begins to toy with them and accuses them of being spies from the land of Canaan. The brothers deny the charge and swear they only are in Egypt to buy food. Joseph orders them arrested and held in jail for 3 jails. • On the third day (ironic it’s on day 3? ? ? ) he lets them out of jail and tells them to prove that they are not spies here to kill Pharaoh, 1 brother must stay behind while the other 9 brothers go back to Canaan and retrieve Benjamin. If they return with Benjamin, Joseph tells them all will be free to leave with bags of grain. • As the brothers discuss what to do in their native language, they assume that the governor cannot understand them. They forget that the governor is Joseph and he understands every word they say. • Reuben tells the brothers that they are atoning for selling Joseph into slavery so many years ago.

• Joseph leaves the room so that he can cry over what is happening. For the first time in years, he is standing before his brothers knowing they are at his mercy and that the dreams they ridiculed him for having are now coming to fruition. (I like to believe he’s crying because after years of wondering if he’s crazy, years of slavery, years of rejection and sorrow, he realizes that God has had a plan for him all this time and now he’s finally seeing it happening, the brothers bowing to him are simply a sign of validation). • Before he returns, Joseph orders bags of grain filled for each brother, extra provisions for their journey back to Canaan and he puts their money (pieces of silver) back in their bags. They won’t realize what Joseph has done for them until they stop for the night on their way back home, one of the brothers reaches into their saddle bag and discovers all the money and extra supplies. The brothers begin to wonder why God is blessing them after such a strange few days in Egypt. • When they return to Israel, they tell him about everything that happened, how Pharaoh’s governor gave them extra rations and their money back, how Simeon is being held in Egypt as collateral and that they are ordered to bring Benjamin back to Egypt. • Israel cries out in anger and tells the sons that because of them Joseph is dead, Simeon has been put in jail and now Benjamin will be killed when he goes to Egypt. • Reuben begs his father to let him take Benjamin back so that Simeon can be released from prison. Israel refuses and Reuben swears he will protect Benjamin.

The Second Journey To Egypt (Genesis 43: 1 -34) • Now the famine is getting really bad and Israel tells his songs to go back to Egypt and get more grain. Judah speaks up and reminds his father that unless Benjamin goes with them Pharaoh’s governor will not see them or sell them anymore grain. • Israel decides that the brothers must go back with Benjamin and try to get Simeon out of jail. He tells them to take extra items from their homes as gifts to Pharaoh’s governor and because they must repay him the silver, to take double the amount of silver as retribution. Judah himself promises to protect Benjamin and offers his life as collateral. • The brothers finally reach Egypt again and ask to speak to Pharaoh’s governor still not realizing it is secretly Joseph. As soon as Joseph sees Benjamin he orders his servants to take all the brothers to his house, slaughter a cow and prepare a feast. The brothers do as they were told, but they think it is a trap to punish them for taking Pharaoh’s silver on the first journey. • Once at the house the brothers try to tell the servant what is happening and that they beg not to get in trouble. The servant tells them not to worry and that the silver was a gift from the God of Israel. Then he goes and gets Simeon. • At noon the men are waiting for Joseph in his house. They are still confused why there is to be a feast if they are being accused of stealing silver. Joseph arrives and the men bow to him and present their gifts.

• Joseph begins to ask the men about Israel, he says they mentioned having an older father on their last journey and he wants to know he is doing. • As the men bow to Joseph and say that their father is well, Joseph notices Benjamin and asks if he is the youngest son that was not on the first journey. Benjamin is his blood brother not half brother like the rest. • Joseph is so overwhelmed with happiness that he has to excuse himself so he can go and cry. After cleaning himself up he orders the feast to begin. • Because of Egytian tradition, Hebrews could not eat at the same table as Joseph. So a second table was set with places for all the brothers to sit in order of their age. They were also served food after the Egyptians and in portion size based on their age rank – yet when it came time to serve Benjamin, he is given 5 times the portion he should have received.

A Silver Cup in a Sack (Genesis 44: 1 – 34) • After the feast, Joseph orders his servants to refill all the brother’s sacks with grain and then place them on their horses. He also orders all their silver returned to them by secretly placing it in their saddle bags just as before. This time, he also orders his personal silver drinking cup hid in Benjamin’s saddle bag. • Joseph allows the brothers to sleep in the house for the night and at day break he sends them back to Israel’s house. He tells his servants to let them get a small start and then to approach them and accuse them of trying to steal the silver cup that is hidden in Benjamin’s saddle bag. • Outside of town, the servants stop the brothers and accuse them of stealing. The brothers say they are innocent and have stolen nothing, they go as far as to strike a deal that if any stolen goods are found then that person should become Joseph’s slave and the rest will go free back to Canaan. The servants agree and produce the cup from Benjamin’s saddle bag. • The brothers in shock make it back to Joseph and throw themselves on the ground at his feet confessing what has happened is not true and that all who did not have anything to do with theft should be released to go back to their father’s house. • Judah asks to speak with Pharaoh’s governor and tells him the whole story of their family: the mothers, the sons, the death of Joseph and how if Benjamin is kept as a slave or killed, the sadness alone will kill their father Israel because he is now so old and weak. • Judah offers himself as a slave so that Benjamin may go free.

Joseph Makes Himself Known (Genesis 45: 1 – 28) • Joseph can no longer keep the fake act going and orders all his servants and slaves to leave the house at once. • When the house is empty except Joseph and his brothers, he begins to cry so loud that the servants outside the house can hear him. Joseph then finally says to his brothers “I am Joseph, is my father still living? ” The brothers are so confused and scared that they don’t answer him. • Joseph orders them to come close to him and begins to tell them his story. He tells them of Potiphar, his time in jail and how he became Pharaoh’s governor. He tells them not to be angry or ashamed because of what they did to him, because in the end that was all a part of God blessing him. • Joseph orders his brothers to go back to Canaan and get Israel, tell him all about Joseph and return to live in the land of Goshen so that Joseph can protect and provide for all the family and their descendants. • The brothers now realize it is really Joseph and everyone begins to cry and hug each other. Joseph tells them that 5 years of famine remain but he will care for them all if they bring Israel to see him.

• It doesn’t take long before Pharaoh finds out what has happened, but he is very happy for Joseph and not only orders the servants to give his family extra supplies for their journey he invites them officially to come live in Egypt under his care. • Pharaoh also offered to send carts with the brothers, so their wives and children would not have to walk or ride on animals. These are all signs that as Joseph has blessed Pharaoh, Pharaoh is blessing Joseph and his family. • The brothers make it back to Israel along with the caravan of gifts and tell their father that Joseph is alive. • At first Israel doesn’t believe them, but after showing them all the gifts and telling him the story, Israel weeps tears of joy and agrees to go see his son in Egypt.