DBG - January 17 - Genesis 43-44

In this chapter we see Jacob reluctantly sending his sons, including Benjamin, back to Egypt to purchase more food.

vs. 1 – This is probably the next year after the events of the previous chapter.

vs. 2 – Jacob wants to send the same brothers, minus Simeon who is still incarcerated in Egypt and Benjamin who he does not want to lose, to Egypt to buy more food as they did the previous year.

vs. 3-5 – Judah refuses to go unless Benjamin accompanies them, as Joseph had commanded them to do.

vs. 6-7 – Jacob blames them for putting him in this situation.  It is a true accusation but not for the reasons he thinks.  He thinks they should not have told the Egyptians about their youngest brother back home.  In reality, the only reason they are going to Egypt is because the brothers had sold Joseph into slavery and God providentially placed him atop the Egyptian government.

vs. 8-10 – Judah promises his own life as surety for Benjamin’s safe return.  He blames his father in part for their predicament in that he did not allow Benjamin to go back with them immediately upon their return in the previous chapter

vs. 11-14 – Jacob has no choice but to send Benjamin with his brothers to Egypt.  He prepares to send a gift with them to hopefully soften the response of Joseph.  He also sends the money that Joseph had sent back along with an additional doubled amount to pay for the grain.  He is doing everything in his power to try to sway the situation in his favor.

vs. 15-16 – For the first time in twenty years Joseph sees his younger brother Benjamin.  Seeing him helped assure Joseph that it was safe to attempt to reconcile with his family.

vs. 16-18 – Joseph prepares to eat the midday meal with his brothers.  This makes them fear another plot is at work against them.

vs. 19-22 – The brothers attempt to plead their innocence regarding their money they fund returned in their sacks of grain.

vs. 23-25 – The steward speaks kindly to the brothers.  Through words and deeds his attempts to set their minds at ease.  Simeon is brought from his captivity to join them and they are treated as honored guests.

vs. 26-28 – The brothers present Joseph with the gifts their father had sent.  He finds out that Jacob is alive and well.

vs. 29-30 – What a beautiful scene when Joseph sees his younger brother for the first time in 20 years.  His heart is so moved that he excuses himself to weep privately.

vs. 31-34 – The setting of the feast is described.  No one can eat until their master Joseph returns and gives the command to begin.  The custom of the time did not allow the Egyptians and Hebrews to eat together, so the two groups were separated.  As the brothers are set in their places, they discover they have been set in order from eldest to youngest.  In this small detail Joseph was trying to communicate that he knew more about them then they realized.  Benjamin was treated grandly, with five times more food is placed before him compared to the others.

In this chapter we see Joseph’s plan completed and the softened hearts of his brothers laid bare.

vs. 1-2 – The next phase of Joseph’s testing of this brothers involved repeating the return of their money in the sacks of grain.  Also Joseph’s personal cup was placed in the sack belonging to Benjamin.

vs. 3-6 – The brothers depart the next day, but Joseph sends his steward after them to claim they have stolen from Joseph.

vs. 7-9 – The brothers deny any wrongdoing.  They unknowingly condemn Benjamin by saying that whoever had the missing cup would be put to death.

vs. 10-13 – The search, conducted oldest to youngest, reveals the cup in the possession of Benjamin.  No mention is made of the money being found that had also been placed in the bags.  We can only assume that Joseph only focused the ruse on the theft of the cup with little concern for the money.  Egypt had much money, but Joseph only had the one cup he used.  The brothers ripped their robes, a sign of great despair and remorse.

vs. 14 – Note that it is Judah who is the spokesman here.  He seems placed as the leader instead of the eldest Reuben.  To explain why this, revisit the note on 35:22.

vs. 16 – Judah, as spokesman, for the brothers, does not mount a defense but puts them all at the mercy of Joseph.  This is significant.  They could have blamed Benjamin and possibly escaped, but they all willingly laid down their lives in attempt to protect their youngest brother.

vs. 17 – Joseph’s judgment is that the obviously guilty party, Benjamin, would have to remain in Egypt and become a slave.

vs. 18-32 – Judah lays out their predicament before Joseph.  Jacob had very reluctantly allowed Benjamin to come to Egypt with them that Judah believes the shock of him not returning would kill Jacob.  In vs. 28 Judah makes a partial confession about what they had done to Joseph, not telling the whole truth but repeating the cover story that assumed he had been killed.

vs. 33-34 – Judah offers himself as substitute for Benjamin, forfeiting his own life so that his brother could return.

I want to highlight something that Joseph does that is sadly missing many today, especially our men.  Seven times we find Joseph weeping:

So many today have lost such passion. Those that shed tears have been deemed weak.  We would do well to remember that our Lord Himself wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41) and at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35).  “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” – Psalm 34:18

Our hymn today, written by John Newton, takes up the theme of Joseph, specifically his forgiveness and compassion on his brothers, and uses it as a picture of Christ’s love for sinners.

When Joseph his brethren behold,
Afflicted and trembling with fear;
His heart with compassion was fill'd,
From weeping he could not forbear;
A while his behaviour was rough,
to bring their past sins to their minds;
But when they were humbled enough,
He hasted to shew himself kind.

How little they thought it was he
Whom they had ill-treated and sold!
How great their confusion must be,
As soon as his name he had told!
"I am Joseph, your brother he said,
"And still to my heart you are dear;
"You sold me, and thought i was dead,
"But God, for your sakes sent me here."

Though greatly distressed before,
When charg'd with purloining the cup;
"They now were confounded much more,
Not one of them durst to look up,
"Can Joseph, whom we would have slain,,
"Forgive us the evil we did?
"And will he our household maintain?
"O this is a brother indeed!"

Thus, dragg'd by my conscience, I came,
And laden with guilt to the Lord;
Surrounded with terror and shame,
Unable to utter a word:
At first he look'd stern and severe,
What anguish then pierced my heart;
Expecting each moment to hear
The sentence, "Thou cursed depart."

But oh! what surprise when he spoke,
While tenderness beam'd in his face;
My heart then to pieces was broke,
O'erwhelm'd and counfounded by grace;
"Poor sinner, I know thee full well,
"By thee I was sold and was slain;
"But I died to redeem thee from hell,
"And raise thee in glory to reign.

"I am Jesus, whom thou hast blasphem'd,
"And crucify'd often afresh;
"But let me henceforth be esteem'd
"Thy brother, thy bone, and thy flesh;
"My pardon I freely bestow,
"Thy wants I will fully supply;
"I'll guide thee and guard thee below,
"And soon will remove thee on high.

"Go publish to sinners around,
"That they may be willing to come,
"The mercy which now you have found,
"And tell them that yet there is room."
Oh, sinners, the message obey!
No more vain excuses pretend;
But come without further delay,
To Jesus, our brother and friend.