Genesis Chapter 42

Israel Drawn to Egypt – Abrahamic Prophesies

JOSEPH continues to be the center of Genesis, with the foreshadowing of Jesus: Joseph is a ‘TYPE’ of Christ/ Messiah. Joseph is now Ruler over Egypt; Pharaoh being like a ‘figurehead’. We begin to see History being made to fulfill Promises given to Abraham. Genesis 15. The world will be given the Jewish Nation, a Nation foretold by God’s Word. Keep in mind the figures of speech: SIMILE: Resemblance; ALLEGORY: comparison by representation; METAPHOR: Representation; HYPOCATASTASIS: An implied resemblance or representation; TYPE: A figure or example of something future; ANALOGY: Resemblance in some areas between things otherwise unlike. Be sensitive to things pointing to Redemption through Jesus.

42:1-2

Jacob hears that there is food in Egypt, that is being sold to those who go to Egypt. Since all areas and lands are experiencing the severe famine, the Israelites are also on the verge of starvation. So Jacob orders his sons to go to Egypt to buy food for his family.

42:3-4

Yet, Jacob fears for Benjamin’s safety, since he believes he is the only son left from his wife, Rachel, so he keeps Benjamin with him in the land of Canaan.

42:5

The ten brothers then join the caravans going to Egypt to buy grain. We are again told that the famine was severe in the land of Canaan. It appears that the Holy Spirit does not want anyone to misunderstand the severity of the situation and the dire need to go to Egypt for food in order to survive.

42:6

The ten brothers come before Joseph who is the Governor, or Ruler, over Egypt, and they bow down before him with their faces all the way to the earth. This type of ‘bowing’, by kneeling down and putting one’s face all the way to the earth, was a way of showing total submission to, and respect for, the person one bowed down to. They knew their lives, and the lives of their families all depended upon them being allowed to buy grain. Keep in mind that Joseph was under no obligation to sell grain to anyone, regardless of who they were, or how severe the need.

42:7-8

Joseph immediately recognizes his brothers, yet knows they do not recognize him. So he acts as though he does not know them, demanding to know where they have come from. We can assume that Joseph speaks to them in Egyptian, having an interpreter speak to them in Hebrew; this would further conceal his identity. Remember, Joseph is shaven and dressed as the Ruler of Egypt; it has also been more than 20 years since the brothers have seen Joseph. The brothers truthfully tell Joseph that they are from the land of Canaan, coming to buy food; yet they do not recognize him.

42:9

This ‘remembrance’ of Joseph’s dreams, does not mean that he had forgotten them, but that he is now keenly aware of all the implications of the dreams. He knows with great discernment that the entire family of Jacob must come to Egypt in order to survive, and that they must be under his Rulership. He speaks harsh accusations to his brothers to test them; accusing them of being spies with a devious purpose to see what weaknesses are in the land of Egypt. This is a serious accusation, that could result in all of them being killed!

42:10-11

Keep in mind that the brothers are speaking to a person they believe is dead! They immediately begin to defend themselves, insisting that they are the Governor’s servants, calling Joseph, Lord, meaning they are putting themselves entirely under his Rulership, subjecting themselves to being his servants, or slaves; continuing to insist they have only come for food! They go on to tell Joseph that they are all one man’s sons; we are true men, meaning we are telling the entire truth. Again, they say they are his servants, and not spies. We begin to see the panic and fear they must be feeling as they realize their dire situation before the Ruler of Egypt.

42:12-13

Joseph pours on the pressure by again accusing them of being spies by saying that they are not telling the truth, that they are really spies with a wicked and evil purpose against Egypt. (13.) Now the brothers are in utter panic, confessing to Joseph that there are a total of twelve brothers, all the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; the youngest son is with their father, and one brother is dead. This they said because of their guilt in believing they had caused Joseph to die. When trials and tribulations come upon people, they often remember their sins, and begin confessing them, believing they are being given the painful situation because of their own sin. That Truth of ‘we reap what we have sown,’ is imbedded deep within our soul and spirit, and comes to mind when hard times come upon us. Our modern version is ‘what goes around, comes around’; yet this fails to really deal with sin.

42:14-17

Joseph again severely tells them; It is I, by my authority as the Ruler of Egypt, who has accused you of being spies! Therefore, you will be tested for your truthfulness, by the very life of Pharaoh, you cannot leave this land until, and unless, your youngest brother comes here to Egypt! You are to send one of you back to the land of Canaan, to bring your brother back to Egypt; while the rest of you will be kept in prison. This will be the test to prove whether there is any truth in your words. Otherwise, by the life of Pharaoh, you will be proved to be spies! This would mean certain death to the nine who remained in prison! Then he puts them all in prison for three days! They no doubt thought that they were all going to die at this point.

42:18

During those three days they probably didn’t get much sleep, or rest, but probably all discussed their situation, their past sins, and no doubt reviewed their very lives up to this point! Remember, Joseph was thrown into a pit by these very same brothers; thinking he was to die. Where else, in the future, do we see these three days? Jesus, dead and buried for three days! Remember, during that time, all the followers of Jesus thought he was dead and gone forever! Joseph now has them brought out of the prison and tells them to do what he has commanded and they will live, as he reverences and fears God. For the first time, they have some hope, as the Ruler of Egypt has told them he knows God! Notice that Joseph does not ‘get even’ or have an attitude of ‘you’re getting what you deserve’. Instead he keeps true to the Truth God has revealed to him, having an attitude of patience, forgiveness and discernment in doing God’s Will for his own life, and the lives of all his family. It is extremely difficult to remain positive, kind, forgiving and loving to those who have harmed us. Yet, we remember that Jesus died for us when we were hateful, sinful, disobedient and unloving!

42:19-20

Joseph continues by stating, that IF they are true men, meaning they speak and keep their words as True Men must do, then they are to leave one of their brothers to remain in prison, and he, Joseph, will relent and let the rest of them have grain to be carried back for those in their households who are weakened from hunger and starvation. Yet, they must still bring back their youngest brother to Joseph, so that their words can be proven as true; and then they all shall be allowed to live.

42:21-22

Now we see that some true soul searching has been done, as they confess that they are truly guilty regarding their brother, Joseph. Even though they saw the distress, anguish and suffering of his soul, begging them to let him go; their hard hearts, jealousy and greed, had caused them to ignore his pleas. So they now believe they had earned their own current distress and difficulty. Keep in mind that they had also ignored the suffering and tears of their own father regarding his belief that Joseph was torn apart by a wild animal. Think of the years of suffering they had allowed their own father to experience! Reuben goes on to tell them that they had also ignored his warnings to not sin against the boy; now his blood was required of all of them! They believed that anyone who killed another, God would require their own blood. They all knew the story of Cain and Able. Do you ever ignore God’s laws and commit sin, even though you know there are severe consequences? Remember; The wages (what you earned) of sin is DEATH! Romans 6:23a.

42:23-24

Yet none of them knew that the Governor (Joseph) understood them because he, had been communicating with them through an interpreter. After hearing their heartfelt confessions of sin and guilt, Joseph turns away from them and leaves their presence and weeps. He then composes himself and returns to them, again speaking through an interpreter. Joseph binds Simeon in front of the other brothers, no doubt so they can see for themselves the sorrow they have all caused, and has him kept in prison. Remember, that Simeon was the brother who took a lead part in persecuting Joseph; thus the brothers would all recognize that his being ‘selected’ was probably a further ‘proof’ that God Himself was dealing with them. Joseph continues to put the pressure on his brothers so they will fully repent of all their lies, hardheartedness, greed, jealousy and deceit. Half-hearted repentance is of no value at all; we must TRULY repent, and turn away, from ALL sins and selfishness. Saying ‘I’m sorry’, yet NOT doing anything to mend the damages done, is WORTHLESS! If you are truly repentant, you will do, and say, whatever is necessary to heal the hurt and damages done. That is why, in a Court of Law, Restitution is required! Just as saying ‘I forgive, but I’ll NOT forget’, is a lie from the pit of hell; you REALLY have done neither one! If you truly forgive, then you have learned to love an unlovable person. Remember how unlovable you were when Jesus died for you?

42:25

Then privately, without them knowing it, Joseph commanded that their sacks be filled with grain and that all their money be placed secretly back inside their sacks. He also provided necessary provisions for them to make the journey back to Canaan. All their donkeys were loaded with the grain sacks and provisions and the nine brothers left for Canaan.

42:26-28

At their first stop for rest on the long journey back home, one of the brothers opened his sack to give his donkey food and he saw his own money near the top of the sack. He immediately tells his other brothers that his money he had paid for the grain is back in his sack! Now all of them became afraid and their hearts failed them. They all trembled and said to each other: “What has God done to us?” They now feared that the Ruler (Joseph) would accuse them of STEALING from Pharaoh. Notice that they still were filled with guilt and fear, knowing that God was dealing with them. They also know that they would have to confess all this to their father, telling them they HAD to bring Benjamin back to Egypt in order to rescue Simeon from certain death. Keep in mind that they still do not know how long this famine will last.

42:29-34

When they returned to Canaan and their father, Jacob; they tell him all that had happened to them in Egypt. They tell Jacob that the Governor of Egypt took them for spies and spoke harshly to them. We told him we are true men, not spies. We further told him that we are 10 of 12 brothers, all with the same father, one brother is dead and the youngest brother is with our father in Canaan. They continue by telling Jacob that the Lord of the country told them he would test them to see if they were truthful and honest by keeping Simeon in prison until they brought back their younger brother to the Governor. IF they did as they were commanded, then he would release Simeon and they would be allowed to do business in Egypt.

42:35

As they carefully unpack their sacks of grain, they each discover the money they had paid for the grain was back in each man’s own sack. Now they were all terrified, both the brothers and Jacob; because the exact payment from each brother was back in his own sack! The brothers secretly knew that God was dealing with them for their sin against Joseph; and perhaps also for other unconfessed sins!

42:36

Jacob instantly realizes the seriousness of the bundles of money that should have gone to Pharaoh being back in their possession. He tells his sons that all of them have bereaved him, causing him great grief and sorrow as Joseph was dead, Simeon was as good as dead, and now they wanted to take Benjamin from him! All these things that are happening are all against him, meaning they are all bringing evil and suffering to him. We can imagine the guilt, grief and sorrow each brother must have been feeling. Sometimes we need to feel the repercussions of our actions in order to understand that all sins brings some kind of sorrow, grief and suffering. EVERY sin brings sorrow and pain to our Creator God, do we realize that we CAUSE our Creator to suffer?

42:37-38

Reuben again steps up and offers the lives of his two beloved sons if he does not bring Benjamin safely back to Joseph. Yet Jacob refuses to allow Reuben to take Benjamin to Egypt to rescue Simeon, stating that if Benjamin, the only remaining child of Rachel, were to be harmed it would cause him such extreme and terrible grief that he would die and go to the grave (the place of Sheol).

God’s ways are far beyond our human understanding. As this prophetic scenario unfolds, we see that situations that appear hopeless and beyond any way of being turned to good, are used by God for the ultimate good of everyone. Not just for their physical well being, but even more important, for their spiritual growth and well being. All the brothers needed to learn to believe and trust God; to believe and trust the dreams God had given Joseph, and most of all, to repent from their evil thoughts and ways. Is the Holy Spirit showing you areas of your life that need repentance? Are there sins that have caused you and others grief, sorrow and suffering? You and I are not immune to selfishness, pride, arrogance, unforgiveness, jealousy, lies, and a host of other sins that stop us from having a holy, pure and fulfilling relationship with our Creator, Lord and Savior. Begin right now by asking God to clearly identify the areas you need to repent of. Seek God’s Will for your life; seeking to obey Him regardless of what others do or say. Joseph chose to obey even in the most horrible and depressing circumstances. As he passed tests allowed by God, his character traits were developed and strengthened. Only after Joseph continually obeyed God, did God raise him to a position of power. God CANNOT bless us IF we refuse to obey Him in ALL areas of our life. Wonder why God is NOT answering your prayers? Maybe there is an area of your life you need to repent of. Joseph became more and more like Jesus as he Trusted God for everything. Remember, YOU are NOT in control! Any control you may think you have is only an illusion. God is in Control of EVERYTHING!