Summary:Summary:43: 1-1543: 1-15 ~ In Canaan, Jacob, Inc., starts to run low on ~ In Canaan, Jacob, Inc., starts to run low on food so the nine sons (Simeon is in custody in Egypt) food so the nine sons (Simeon is in custody in Egypt) plus a begrudgingly sent Benjamin return to Egypt to plus a begrudgingly sent Benjamin return to Egypt to buy more food. They include enough money to pay buy more food. They include enough money to pay for the first supply of food plus add gifts for Joseph.for the first supply of food plus add gifts for Joseph.

““1414And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you.come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”bereaved.”

43: 16-34 ~ Jacob’s prayer is answered. The brothers 43: 16-34 ~ Jacob’s prayer is answered. The brothers are very distrustful of Joseph’s motives in treating are very distrustful of Joseph’s motives in treating them well, fearing that they are being fattened with them well, fearing that they are being fattened with friendship before the slaughter.friendship before the slaughter.

1515So the men took the gifts and double the amount of So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver, and Benjamin also. They hurried down to Egypt silver, and Benjamin also. They hurried down to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph. and presented themselves to Joseph. 1616When Joseph When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare dinner; they are to eat with me at animal and prepare dinner; they are to eat with me at noon.” noon.” 1919So they went up to Joseph’s steward and spoke to So they went up to Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. him at the entrance to the house. 2020“Please, sir,” they “Please, sir,” they said, “we came down here the first time to buy food. said, “we came down here the first time to buy food. 2121But at the place where we stopped for the night we But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver—the opened our sacks and each of us found his silver—the exact weight—in the mouth of his sack. So we have exact weight—in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back with us. brought it back with us. 2222We have also brought We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food. We don’t know additional silver with us to buy food. We don’t know who put our silver in our sacks.” who put our silver in our sacks.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Note their desire to be honest from the outset. They Note their desire to be honest from the outset. They take the initiative to lay out the entire case. Not half-take the initiative to lay out the entire case. Not half-truths here at all. (This might simply be a matter of truths here at all. (This might simply be a matter of fearing Joseph as a diviner.) fearing Joseph as a diviner.)

1515So the men took the gifts and double the amount of So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver, and Benjamin also. They hurried down to Egypt silver, and Benjamin also. They hurried down to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph. and presented themselves to Joseph. 1616When Joseph When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare dinner; they are to eat with me at animal and prepare dinner; they are to eat with me at noon.” noon.” 1919So they went up to Joseph’s steward and spoke to So they went up to Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. him at the entrance to the house. 2020“Please, sir,” they “Please, sir,” they said, “we came down here the first time to buy food. said, “we came down here the first time to buy food. 2121But at the place where we stopped for the night we But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver—the opened our sacks and each of us found his silver—the exact weight—in the mouth of his sack. So we have exact weight—in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back with us. brought it back with us. 2222We have also brought We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food. We don’t know additional silver with us to buy food. We don’t know who put our silver in our sacks.” who put our silver in our sacks.” 2323“It’s all right,” he said. “Don’t be afraid. Your God, “It’s all right,” he said. “Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon sacks; I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.out to them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Joseph paid their bill . . .Joseph paid their bill . . .

2424The steward took the men into Joseph’s house, The steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet and provided gave them water to wash their feet and provided fodder for their donkeys. fodder for their donkeys. 2525They prepared their gifts They prepared their gifts for Joseph’s arrival at noon, because they had heard for Joseph’s arrival at noon, because they had heard that they were to eat there. that they were to eat there. 2626When Joseph came home, they presented to him When Joseph came home, they presented to him the gifts they had brought into the house, and they the gifts they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground. bowed down before him to the ground. 2727He asked He asked them how they were, and then he said, “How is your them how they were, and then he said, “How is your aged father you told me about? Is he still living?”aged father you told me about? Is he still living?” 2828They replied, “Your servant our father is still alive They replied, “Your servant our father is still alive and well.” And they bowed low to pay him honor. and well.” And they bowed low to pay him honor. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~They must be very perplexed at this point. Why have They must be very perplexed at this point. Why have they been singled out for special notice? After all, they been singled out for special notice? After all, many are coming to Egypt to purchase food.many are coming to Egypt to purchase food.

Out of all of the people that Joseph must have been Out of all of the people that Joseph must have been dealing with, why would he remember details about dealing with, why would he remember details about them?them?

2929As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?”brother, the one you told me about?” And he said, And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” “God be gracious to you, my son.” 3030Deeply moved at Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there. wept there. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~More odd behavior from Joseph. He blesses Benjamin More odd behavior from Joseph. He blesses Benjamin with a heretical blessing, then runs out of the dining with a heretical blessing, then runs out of the dining area, not feeling too well. (Literally: his guts (seat of area, not feeling too well. (Literally: his guts (seat of emotions) were in knots.) emotions) were in knots.)

2929As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?”brother, the one you told me about?” And he said, And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” “God be gracious to you, my son.” 3030Deeply moved at Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there. wept there. 3131After he had washed his face, he came out and, After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself, said, “Serve the food.”controlling himself, said, “Serve the food.” 3232They served him by himself, the brothers by They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, for that is detestable to Egyptians. Hebrews, for that is detestable to Egyptians. 3333The The men had been seated before him in the order of their men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment. looked at each other in astonishment.

2929As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?”brother, the one you told me about?” And he said, And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” “God be gracious to you, my son.” 3030Deeply moved at Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there. wept there. 3131After he had washed his face, he came out and, After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself, said, “Serve the food.”controlling himself, said, “Serve the food.” 3232They served him by himself, the brothers by They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, for that is detestable to Egyptians. Hebrews, for that is detestable to Egyptians. 3333The The men had been seated before him in the order of their men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment. looked at each other in astonishment. 3434When portions When portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as anyone else’s. So portion was five times as much as anyone else’s. So they feasted and drank freely with him. they feasted and drank freely with him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The brothers must have been pretty confused, but the The brothers must have been pretty confused, but the food was food was good. good.

11Now Joseph gave these instructions to the steward Now Joseph gave these instructions to the steward of his house:of his house: “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each man’s silver in the as they can carry, and put each man’s silver in the mouth of his sack. mouth of his sack. 22Then put my cup, the silver one, Then put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain.” And he did as Joseph said. the silver for his grain.” And he did as Joseph said. 33As morning dawned, the men were sent on their As morning dawned, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys. way with their donkeys. 44They had not gone far from They had not gone far from the city when Joseph said to his steward, “Go after the city when Joseph said to his steward, “Go after those men at once, and when you catch up with those men at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid good with them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil?evil? 55Isn’t this the cup my master drinks from and Isn’t this the cup my master drinks from and also uses for divination?also uses for divination? This is a wicked thing you This is a wicked thing you have done.’ ”have done.’ ”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Joseph clearly engages in some deception here which Joseph clearly engages in some deception here which is neither condoned nor condemned.is neither condoned nor condemned.

66When he caught up with them, he repeated these When he caught up with them, he repeated these words to them. words to them. 77But they said to him, “Why does my But they said to him, “Why does my lord say such things? Far be it from your servants to lord say such things? Far be it from your servants to do anything like that! do anything like that! 88We even brought back to you We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found inside from the land of Canaan the silver we found inside the mouths of our sacks. So why would we steal silver the mouths of our sacks. So why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house? or gold from your master’s house? 99If any of your If any of your servants is found to have it, he will die; and the rest servants is found to have it, he will die; and the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves.” of us will become my lord’s slaves.” 1010“Very well, then,” he said, “let it be as you say. “Very well, then,” he said, “let it be as you say. Whoever is found to have it will become my slave; Whoever is found to have it will become my slave; the rest of you will be free from blame.”the rest of you will be free from blame.” 1111Each of them quickly lowered his sack to the Each of them quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. ground and opened it. 1212Then the steward proceeded Then the steward proceeded to search, beginning with the oldest and ending with to search, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. sack. 1313At this, they tore their clothes. Then they all At this, they tore their clothes. Then they all loaded their donkeys and returned to the city. loaded their donkeys and returned to the city. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The brothers will not abandon Benjamin. They could The brothers will not abandon Benjamin. They could just tell Jacob what happened and not really care. It just tell Jacob what happened and not really care. It would not be like selling Joseph so many years would not be like selling Joseph so many years earlier. earlier.

1414Joseph was still in the house when Judah and his Joseph was still in the house when Judah and his brothers came in, and they threw themselves to the brothers came in, and they threw themselves to the ground before him. ground before him. 1515Joseph said to them, “What is Joseph said to them, “What is this you have done? Don’t you know that a man like this you have done? Don’t you know that a man like me can find things out by divination?” me can find things out by divination?” 1616“What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? “What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants’ guilt. We are now God has uncovered your servants’ guilt. We are now my lord’s slaves — we ourselves and the one who my lord’s slaves — we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup.” was found to have the cup.” 1717But Joseph said, “Far be it from me to do such a But Joseph said, “Far be it from me to do such a thing! Only the man who was found to have the cup thing! Only the man who was found to have the cup will become my slave. The rest of you, go back to will become my slave. The rest of you, go back to your father in peace.” your father in peace.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Here is the ultimate test of character for the brothers: Here is the ultimate test of character for the brothers: Will you abandon Benjamin to save yourselves Will you abandon Benjamin to save yourselves (giving you a greater inheritance) or will you stand by (giving you a greater inheritance) or will you stand by him. Are you changed?him. Are you changed?

If they are unchanged, Benjamin is better off with If they are unchanged, Benjamin is better off with Joseph.Joseph.

1818Then Judah went up to him and said: “Please, my Then Judah went up to him and said: “Please, my lord, let your servant speak a word to my lord. Do not lord, let your servant speak a word to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, though you are equal to be angry with your servant, though you are equal to Pharaoh himself. Pharaoh himself. 1919My lord asked his servants, ‘Do My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’ you have a father or a brother?’ 2020And we answered, And we answered, ‘We have an aged father, and there is a young son ‘We have an aged father, and there is a young son born to him in his old age.born to him in his old age. His brother is dead, and His brother is dead, and he is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his he is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’father loves him.’ 2121“Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down “Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me so I can see him for myself.’ to me so I can see him for myself.’ 2222And we said to And we said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father; if he leaves my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father; if he leaves him, his father will die.’ him, his father will die.’ 2323But you told your servants, But you told your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’ you will not see my face again.’ 2424When we went back When we went back to your servant my father, we told him what my lord to your servant my father, we told him what my lord had said.had said.

2525“Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy a little “Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy a little more food.’more food.’ 2626But we said, ‘We cannot go down. Only But we said, ‘We cannot go down. Only if our youngest brother is with us will we go. We if our youngest brother is with us will we go. We cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’brother is with us.’ 2727“Your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that “Your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons. my wife bore me two sons. 2828One of them went away One of them went away from me, and I said, “He has surely been torn to from me, and I said, “He has surely been torn to pieces.” And I have not seen him since.pieces.” And I have not seen him since. 2929If you take If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in misery.’will bring my gray head down to the grave in misery.’

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Twenty years earlier, they had no concern for Jacob’s Twenty years earlier, they had no concern for Jacob’s reaction.reaction.

3030“So now, if the boy is not with us when I go back “So now, if the boy is not with us when I go back to your servant my father and if my father, whose life to your servant my father and if my father, whose life is closely bound up with the boy’s life, is closely bound up with the boy’s life, 3131sees that the sees that the boy isn’t there, he will die. Your servantsboy isn’t there, he will die. Your servants will bring will bring the gray head of our father down to the gravethe gray head of our father down to the grave in in sorrow. sorrow. 3232Your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to Your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father. I said, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, I my father. I said, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!’life!’ 3333“Now then, please let your servant remain here as “Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy my lord’s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. return with his brothers. 3434 How can I go back to my How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come upon my father.”see the misery that would come upon my father.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The sons of Jacob have changed from what they The sons of Jacob have changed from what they were.were.~ they are being honest (the big lie about Joseph)~ they are being honest (the big lie about Joseph)~ they are seeking to preserve Benjamin’s well-being~ they are seeking to preserve Benjamin’s well-being~ they show compassion for their father~ they show compassion for their father~ Judah takes the primary leadership role in ~ Judah takes the primary leadership role in preserving his preserving his competition’s place. competition’s place.

As we trace the entire lineage thus far from Abraham As we trace the entire lineage thus far from Abraham to Jacob’s sons, we see no miracles and no mighty to Jacob’s sons, we see no miracles and no mighty displays of power. Most of what we see, other than a displays of power. Most of what we see, other than a few scattered dreams, are people who are stumbling few scattered dreams, are people who are stumbling along while responding to (or downright resisting) the along while responding to (or downright resisting) the grace of God who works it out right. grace of God who works it out right.

All of these past 20 years, God had this objective that All of these past 20 years, God had this objective that would be accomplished regardless of how greatly the would be accomplished regardless of how greatly the brothers had tried to interfere with the plan. (Actually, brothers had tried to interfere with the plan. (Actually, the plan is older than that.)the plan is older than that.)

The objective was to preserve the line of Christ, The objective was to preserve the line of Christ, through the first of the sons of Leah who would prove through the first of the sons of Leah who would prove to have at least some character. to have at least some character. Remember that God has no concern about the Remember that God has no concern about the outward appearance. With him, it is all a heart thing.outward appearance. With him, it is all a heart thing.Remember that God’s tendency is to by-pass the Remember that God’s tendency is to by-pass the established people and go with the people that society established people and go with the people that society would overlook. Heirless Abraham, Isaac the second, would overlook. Heirless Abraham, Isaac the second, Jacob the weasel, Leah the “weak-eyed,” Judah the Jacob the weasel, Leah the “weak-eyed,” Judah the fourth born of the unloved wife, Joseph the former fourth born of the unloved wife, Joseph the former slave and forgotten convict.slave and forgotten convict.We do not have the advantage of thinking that we are We do not have the advantage of thinking that we are too insignificant or messed up to be of service.too insignificant or messed up to be of service.

God has the big picture in mind, God has the big picture in mind, which is not about you, but includes you.which is not about you, but includes you.

Look at the wonderful brothers of Joseph. Look at the wonderful brothers of Joseph. Would they have thought for a moment that God Would they have thought for a moment that God would have had any interest in them. would have had any interest in them. Was God helping them to get their rights, their fair Was God helping them to get their rights, their fair share, in the face of this Joseph come lately who gets share, in the face of this Joseph come lately who gets undeserved favor from their father? He even shared undeserved favor from their father? He even shared his ego-centric dreams.his ego-centric dreams.From everything that we know about the brothers, From everything that we know about the brothers, there is nothing about them that would merit God’s there is nothing about them that would merit God’s affection. There is sloth, lechery, jealousy, scheming, affection. There is sloth, lechery, jealousy, scheming, hatred, lying and so on.hatred, lying and so on.God was going to use them, like it or not. Far better God was going to use them, like it or not. Far better for everyone involved if they would have cooperated for everyone involved if they would have cooperated with the plan. How would God have gotten Joseph to with the plan. How would God have gotten Joseph to Egypt if they had cooperated and not been jerks.Egypt if they had cooperated and not been jerks.

Resistance is foolish.Resistance is foolish.

It is very easy to say in retrospect, “Jesus lead me all It is very easy to say in retrospect, “Jesus lead me all the way” once the conclusion, for now, is clear. The the way” once the conclusion, for now, is clear. The hard thing is to say, “Surely God is with us,” when we hard thing is to say, “Surely God is with us,” when we are in the dungeon.are in the dungeon.

It is very easy to say, “God is with you,” to someone It is very easy to say, “God is with you,” to someone who is in the middle of some adversity when you are who is in the middle of some adversity when you are not in the adversity. Join them without speaking.not in the adversity. Join them without speaking.

Take homes:Take homes:

To be jealous or envious of someone is To be jealous or envious of someone is actually a critique of God.actually a critique of God.

Repent sooner. Waiting only delays the Repent sooner. Waiting only delays the inevitable and decays the situation even more.inevitable and decays the situation even more.

Trust that God is at work in the chaos. His Trust that God is at work in the chaos. His objective will not be deterred by broken objective will not be deterred by broken transmissions, disease or the sins of others.transmissions, disease or the sins of others.

In all things, God is in control.In all things, God is in control.versesverses

God controls everything.God controls everything.

How often are we in the presence of the grace How often are we in the presence of the grace of God , and miss it entirely, or misperceive it?of God , and miss it entirely, or misperceive it?

Take homes:Take homes:

We can wait, having spent years We can wait, having spent years

in anxiety and/or guilt, in anxiety and/or guilt, or we can choose to recognize or we can choose to recognize

that God is indeed totally sovereign, that God is indeed totally sovereign, that he is weaving it all together that he is weaving it all together

so that it all comes out right. so that it all comes out right.

In all things, God is in control.In all things, God is in control.versesverses

God controls everything.God controls everything.

Take homes:Take homes:

This is not fatalism,This is not fatalism,

but rather a confidence but rather a confidence that in the endthat in the end

the chaos will make sensethe chaos will make senseand bring us to a tree, a riverand bring us to a tree, a river

in the city of God.in the city of God.

In all things, God is in control.In all things, God is in control.versesverses

God controls everything.God controls everything.

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while,

“He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.”

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

~ Hebrews 10:35-39~ Hebrews 10:35-39