Genesis 45:16-24

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16 Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, "Joseph’s brothers have come." So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well. 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Say to your brothers, 'Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. 18 Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land. 19 Now you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. 20 Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.'" 21 Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. 22 He gave to all of them, to each man, changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments. 23 And he sent to his father these things: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father for the journey. 24 So he sent his brothers away, and they departed; and he said to them, "See that you do not become troubled along the way." ~ Genesis 45:16-24

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 45 where we are witnessing the unfolding of an amazing story before our very eyes. At this point in the narrative, Joseph has been reunited with his once estranged and utterly shocked brothers. The three steps toward forgiveness have been realized, including the injury, the debt incurred by the injury and the cancellation of the debt. Forgiveness has prevailed and this story provides a picture of what we all desperately need in order to enter into a personal relationship with God. Without the forgiveness of our sin, we are doomed to an eternity in Hell.

In v.16 of today's passage we read, "Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, 'Joseph’s brothers have come.' So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well."

During the previous seven years of plenty Joseph was diligent to store up grain for the seven years of famine that he knew was coming. Due to Joseph's obedience his brothers benefitted greatly. The literal translation of the beginning of this first verse is: "And the voice was heard." The message was presented to a pleased Pharaoh. Since Pharaoh had given to Joseph the title of Zaphnath Paaneah which means "the Savior of the World," the picture was made complete. Joseph, yet again, pictured the Lord Jesus who pleased the Father in all that He did. It all worked out because Joseph was perfectly obedient to the call of God upon his life.

In v.17-20 of today's passage we read, "17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, say to your brothers, 'Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. 18 Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land. 19 Now you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. 20 Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.'"

I have always prayed that the Lord would give those whom I love favor in the eyes of those with whom and for whom they have worked. Here God gave favor to Joseph's brothers because of their relationship with Joseph. The believer in Christ has favor with God only because of the work of Christ on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin.

Pharaoh, among other things, gave to Joseph's brother's "grain" which in the Bible always pictures the word of God. The written word always tells us of the Living Word who is the Lord Jesus Christ. Contrary to popular belief, the Bible is not simply a collection of ethical principles, moral platitudes, or abstract life lessons. The Bible has one ultimate plan, one ultimate plot, one ultimate champion, one ultimate King, the Lord Jesus Christ. The goal of the Bible is to usher us into a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus.

Joseph's story had come full circle. The dreams he had when he was yet a teenager came to pass and his brothers bowed down before him. And, since Pharaoh had given the command to Joseph for his brothers to load all their things up and return to Canaan, Joseph could not be held guilty for breaking a previously given command. Pharaoh which means "Great House" pictured God’s rule and authority and because of their relationship with Joseph, Pharaoh showed favor to Joseph's brothers. Pictured here is the fact that there will come the day when "at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth."

In v.21-24 of today's passage we read, "21 Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. 22 He gave to all of them, to each man, changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments. 23 And he sent to his father these things: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father for the journey. 24 So he sent his brothers away, and they departed; and he said to them, 'See that you do not become troubled along the way.'" 

The care Pharaoh provided for Joseph's brother picture for us the care that God the Father will provide Israel during the Tribulation. In Revelation 12:13-14 we read, "Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent." Just as Jacob and his family were given provisions and were protected, so will God protect and provide for Israel during the last three and a half years of the Tribulation. The symbolism of the wings of the eagle are given to signify God’s divine care. The wilderness that Israel will flee to has long been assumed to be the caves at Petra Jordan.

The numbers mentioned in today's passage are significant. Joseph gave to Benjamin 300 pieces of silver. The last time a specific amount of money was given was when Joseph was sold by his brothers for 20 pieces of silver. So, Benjamin was given 15 times the amount for which Joseph was sold. Since the number 15 represents resurrection, the picture here is that of the resurrected Christ. 

The last time 10 animals were noted as being loaded with goods and sent to someone was when Abraham sent his oldest servant to find a wife for his son Isaac. Like then, there is a reason why the number 10 is accentuated here. The number 10 is the number for fullness. These 10 donkeys represent a fullness of what is being sent which includes the "good things of Egypt." The 10 donkeys sent from Pharaoh picture what we have in Christ now which will be given to the Jews in the future. 

The 10 female donkeys were then loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father for the journey. Jacob consistently pictured the unsaved people of Israel in Genesis. To them they are now given grain. The word grain in v.23 is not the one used in the past 4 chapters. Instead it literally was "purified grain." The kernel was cracked and the grain was purified. Throughout this narrative, the grain has consistently pictured the word of God. During the Tribulation, Israel will possess the pure grain which includes the New Testament. The grain, or, the Word of God, always point us to the Lord Jesus Christ. The written Word of God always reveals to us the Living Word of God.

Joseph gave to his brothers one final directive before they departed for Canaan, he said to them, "See that you do not become troubled along the way." Joseph knew his brothers and he knew that it is hard to improve on depravity. Though guilt had done its work in Joseph's brothers' hearts and even though they were forgiven, they were still capable of the worst. We are no different. We know on the authority of God's Word that our past, present and future sins are forgiven, yet we have the command to not feed the flesh which are the sinful desires within us. Not many can carry wealth and not lose our spiritual equilibrium. Sudden wealth or promotion has a way of making us arrogant if we are not careful. As believers we must trust one another but we must be careful to never trust the flesh of the old man.

Genesis 45:6-15

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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. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. 9 “Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry. 10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine.'" 12 “And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you. 13 So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. 15 Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him. ~ Genesis 45:6-15

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 45 where Joseph has just revealed to his brothers his identity. As he did so Joseph elaborated upon the sovereignty of God for his brothers. They obviously lacked his understanding, so, Joseph explained how God is all powerful and all authoritative even to the point of being able to override all other powers and authorities. This is how we can trust Him with anything that happens in our lives because He either causes it or He allows it into our lives. And with God at the helm of our lives, all things will work out for our good and for His glory.

In v.6-8 of today's passage we read, "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. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt."

The famine of Egypt lasted for seven years and at this point in the narrative, they were two years into it. Joseph repeated that it was God who had sent him ahead of his brothers to save them, even though their motives were not good. God has always promised to save anyone who is faithful in faith to Him. This was the case for Joseph's family. This concept permeates through both the Old and New Testaments. Many believe that we either earn or maintain God's favor. This is not true. It was the Lord Jesus who earned our rightness before God and that rightness is a total gift. As believers we can access the blessing that awaits His children while on earth or we can choose otherwise and suffer. God is not the reason we miss out on His blessings, we are to blame for that. 

Through this story of Joseph and his brother we have been given a sneak preview of God's purpose for Israel during the seven year tribulation period. As Jeremiah 30:7 reminds us, it will a time of Jacob's trouble. Jacob is Israel in unbelief and Israel is Jacob as a believer. God's purpose for the Tribulation will be to draw any Israeli into a personal relationship with Him. In Romans 9:27 we read, "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved."

The entire span of the Bible points us to this great culmination of the ages and it was all being pictured right in this beautiful story of grace and reunion between once-estranged brothers. The magnificence of how God has woven the account of Joseph into the account of Israel’s history is simply astonishing. Not a verse, nor even a word in the Old Testament fails to point us to the Lord Jesus Christ. And the exciting thing is that these pictures will come to their fulfillment even in our generation. We are poised with a front row seat as we watch the sovereignty of our God on display right in front of us in these last days.

In v.9-13 of today's passage we read, "9 Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph: God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry. 10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine. 12 And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you. 13 So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.'"

As suddenly as Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, he turned his attention to his father. The brothers pictured the individual tribes of Israel while Joseph pictured the Lord Jesus. Egypt pictured the Gentiles. Even though Joseph's brothers sold him off to Egypt, Joseph reminded his brothers that God was behind it all. While He may not have made it come to be directly, God allowed it all to happen as it did. And Joseph's faith in God was so strong, he was able to endure the worst of pain without becoming angry or embittered. 

In every word, we see Joseph’s understanding of the providence of God in all things. Interestingly, the word "providence" is found only once in the Bible in Acts 24:2. The only usage of this word refers to human providence, and yet Divine Providence permeates the pages of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation! The longer we walk with God, the more we will trust in His providence, and the less we will trust in our understanding of how life should go. I am finding that the providence of God is a lot similar to the way those east of Israel read a document from right to left. For us who live west of Israel that is backwards.

The word "Goshen" mentioned in v.10 means "drawing near." It was a city in Egypt. Joseph reminded his brothers that there would be five more years of famine to come. They must view those five years as a means of the grace of God even though it would be hard on them. It will be during the Tribulation that the remnant according to Revelation 12 will flee to the wilderness to be protected by God. Joseph singled out Benjamin in v.12 because he was the full brother of Joseph and he pictured those Jews who will call on the Lord Jesus as their Savior during the Tribulation. 

In v.14-15 of today's passage we read, "14 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. 15 Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him."

Joseph wept over Benjamin as he embraced him, then he wept over his other brothers as he embraced them. Again, Benjamin represented the Jews who had placed their faith in the Lord Jesus as their Savior to date. Joseph's other brothers represented those Jews who have yet to believe on the Lord Jesus. In fact, the other brothers of Joseph represent the people of Israel who will come to the Lord Jesus during the Tribulation.  

A careful study of the word "kiss" throughout the Bible reveals fifty different passages where this cultural form of showing acceptance is demonstrated. For Joseph and his brothers, the "kiss" required physical proximity, trust, and delight. Within the context of the "kiss" the transgressions of the past and the many years of separation were forgiven and forgotten by Joseph in the context of their shared joy. Although the brothers once shoved Joseph into a pit and sold him into slavery, forgiveness prevailed for those humble enough to admit their sinfulness.

In Psalm 2:12 we read, "Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him."

Genesis 45:1-5

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1 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, "Make everyone go out from me!" So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it. 3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph; does my father still live?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. 4 And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life." ~ Genesis 45:1-5

Today, we transition into Genesis 45 where the main doctrine taught through the life of Joseph, among many others, is unfolding. You will remember that forgiveness involves three steps: the injury, the debt incurred by the injury and the cancellation of the debt. Once we have traveled through these three steps we have given birth to forgiveness and the one who benefits the most is the one who hosts the forgiveness.

For Joseph, the injury took place way back in Genesis 37 when his brothers stripped him of his robe, shoved him into a pit and sold him into slavery. The debt incurred by that injury was the 13 years that Joseph was separated from his dad and his home. The third part to forgiveness as seen through Joseph's story will be revealed today and it is the cancellation of the debt. When we hold onto to feelings of hate and bitterness that came through the ill-treatment of others exacted upon us, we are then being unwise to be defined by them. Letting go of hate and bitterness frees us to enjoy the life the Lord Jesus died to give us.

Joseph's forgiveness of his brother's pictures for us God's forgiveness of sinners. The people of Israel today make up about one percent of one percent of the population of the world. They are an insignificant number in comparison to the multitudes of people on the earth right now. And of them, the vast majority are not forgiven their sin and are not therefore right with God. When God intercepted the life of Abraham so many years before, He gave to him a set of promises, some of which have yet to be fulfilled. The immutability of God would be compromised should the remaining promises go unmet. This will be the point of both the Tribulation and the Millennium that are yet to come.

In v.1-2 of today's passage we read, "1 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, 'Make everyone go out from me!' So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it."

In the previous chapter, Judah, picturing the Jewish people, made an impassioned plea for his brother Benjamin. He offered himself in exchange for Benjamin because he knew that without him, his own father would die in the anguish of his soul. After hearing Judah's words and seeing that there was truly a change in all of the brothers, Joseph could no longer keep himself from tears so he commanded all but his brothers to leave the room. He did this so that he could cover his brothers' sin. It was also his opportunity to reveal himself to them. Only those who have come to the end of themselves qualify for salvation. It was then that Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers and in doing so he extended forgiveness to them.

Joseph’s weeping was so loud it was heard by those in the house of Pharaoh. Joseph’s journey from betrayal to forgiveness is a testament to the transformative power of the grace of God. Sold into slavery by his own brothers, Joseph rose to power in Egypt, only to be faced with the very siblings who had wronged him 22 years earlier. Despite the pain and suffering that he endured, Joseph chose to extend forgiveness to his brothers instead of exacting revenge upon them. It has been said, "To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you."

In v.3 of today's passage we read, "Then Joseph said to his brothers, 'I am Joseph; does my father still live?' But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence."

Joseph's brothers were absolutely blown away when Joseph revealed himself to them. They were so stunned they were speechless. Until this point, they only knew him as Zaphnath Paaneah which means the Savior of the World. The yielded life of the believer in Christ will automatically point others to the Lord Jesus. Amazingly, the more we yield to the Lord the more we will discover meaning, purpose and truth.

Joseph followed his revealing with a question. He asked,  "...does my father still live?" Desiring to lessen their shock in the moment, Joseph asked his brothers about the well being of their dad. The brothers were literally shocked in that moment and they literally could not speak. Giving into hatred became the poison that Joseph’s brothers drank while plotting to put him out of their family. They demonstrated the sinful qualities of disrespect, jealousy, deception, greed, and a lack of genuine love that led them to desire Joseph dead. This explains why they could not speak in that moment. Their sin had ushered them into a state of stupor and they were frozen before the brother they betrayed.

In v.4 of today's passage we read, "And Joseph said to his brothers, 'Please come near to me.' So they came near. Then he said: 'I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.'"

Joseph personified forgiveness with the words, "Please come near to me." Then he explained the sovereignty of God by making it clear to his brothers that if he had not ended up in Egypt, he would not have been in the unique position to help them in the midst of the seven-year famine. Joseph would not have been in that position if he had held onto a grudge towards his brothers. When we walk in the flesh we will miss the leading of the Spirit. Joseph knew that it was the God of the Bible who orchestrated the events to come about as they did. And, since he was careful to be defined by God and His culture, Joseph rolled with the punches and adapted to life as God chose to give it to him. Joseph was being defined by the vertical rather than the horizontal.

When Joseph asked his brothers to come near to him, he pictured yet again the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus said similar words when He said, "Come unto Me all who are weak and heavy ladened and I will give you rest." Joseph could have never said those words to his brothers if he were not right with his God. That meant that he had to have forgiven his brothers long before this moment. To the degree that we understand God's forgiveness of us will be the degree that we will choose to forgive others.

In v.5 of today's passage we read, "But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life."

Joseph had a big view of God and since his God was so big, he had big faith. When he told his brothers, "do not be grieved or angry with yourselves," he communicated that he had recognized that his brothers had gotten to the place to do serious business regarding confessing and repenting of the sin that they exacted upon him. Then, Joseph reminded his brothers that God had sent him before them. It is reassuring to know that evil will never overcome God and His purposes. This brings true rest to our souls no matter how difficult the circumstances.

The divine favor that Joseph enjoyed both as a slave and a prisoner was even more clearly confirmed by the supernatural dreams given first by God to Pharaoh's baker and butler, and then to Pharaoh himself. It would have been obvious to anyone that not only did these dreams accurately predict the future, they also paved the way for Joseph's rise to such favor and power in Egypt. Having a sovereign view of God leads us to the place that we transcend in such a way that we are not defined by anything in this world. This is the place of true security when we are being defined by the God of the Bible. 

Genesis 44:24-34

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24 "So it was, when we went up to your servant my father, that we told him the words of my lord. 25 And our father said, 'Go back and buy us a little food.' 26 But we said, 'We cannot go down; if our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down; for we may not see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.' 27 Then your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons; 28 and the one went out from me, and I said, 'Surely he is torn to pieces; and I have not seen him since. 29 But if you take this one also from me, and calamity befalls him, you shall bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave. 30 Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life, 31 it will happen, when he sees that the lad is not with us, that he will die. So your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave. 32 For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father forever.’ 33 Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. 34 For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would come upon my father?" ~ Genesis 44:24-34

Today, we conclude our study of Genesis 44 where Judah the fourth-born son of Jacob and Leah is concluding a passionate speech designed to convince the man in Egypt to spare the life of his brother Benjamin. In this passionate appeal Judah made it obvious that he along with his brothers were becoming apt hosts for the humility that Joseph had so longed to see in them. Most believe humility is a weakness but not in the economy of God. The more we give humility its rightful place in our souls, the greater our confidence in the God of the Bible will increase. It was once said, "A humble man is not afraid of failure. In fact, he is not afraid of anything, even himself, since perfect humility implies perfect confidence in the power of God."

In v.24-29 of today's passage we read, "24 So it was, when we went up to your servant my father, that we told him the words of my lord. 25 And our father said, 'Go back and buy us a little food.' 26 But we said, 'We cannot go down; if our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down; for we may not see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.' 27 Then your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons; 28 and the one went out from me, and I said, 'Surely he is torn to pieces; and I have not seen him since. 29 But if you take this one also from me, and calamity befalls him, you shall bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave."

Judah explained to Joseph that the brothers passed on what they were told to say to their father Jacob. They didn’t hide or try to circumvent the situation, but they made it plainly clear to Jacob that if they returned without Benjamin it would not turn out well at all. And, even though Jacob dismissed the matter at first, he eventually allowed the brothers to return to Egypt for more "grain." The actual word translated "food" is the word for "grain." The word grain throughout the Bible often represents the word of God which speaks of the Bread of Life, the Lord Jesus Christ. The written word was given to us to point us to our Savior, the Lord Jesus without whom there is no life. Even the food that we need is an echo of our need for the Savior, and the key to life is to enter into a personal relationship with Him, allowing Him to define us.

The second wife of Jacob was Rachel, the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. She pictures for us the grace of God and both of her sons pictured for us the Lord Jesus Christ and His ministry on the earth while He was here. Joseph means "God shall add." Joseph, the person and the name pictures the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross where He took away the reproach of the Law for all humble enough to receive the free gift. Joseph's name also means that God through the work of the Lord Jesus adds even the Gentiles who trust in the Lord Jesus into His family. 

Jacob's description of Joseph as torn to pieces pictures yet again the Lord Jesus who was torn so that we could enjoy a mending relationship with our Father. The Lord Jesus was crucified for us but for Israel collectively, they "have not seen Him since." Biblical faith is the ability to see God with our hearts. Faith is the product of hearing the very word of God for ourselves. Israel is pictured here as those who had not heard and thus their faith in the Lord Jesus hasn't been birthed in them yet.

The word "torn" in v.28 is repetitive. It literally reads, "torn, torn." This exact same expression was used in Genesis 37:33 when Joseph’s bloodied garment was presented to Jacob. For Jacob, the heartache never diminished, the memory never faded, and the advanced picture that was given for all to see of Christ yet endures 2000 years later. Israel longs for her Son, their Messiah and yet their love of sin blinds them to Him. Judah finished his presentation to the man with the words of his father, "If I lose Benjamin, I will die." Jacob would go to the grave in death as a result of a broken heart. This was Judah’s appeal to the humanity of the man, the ruler of Egypt.

In v.30-34 of today's passage we read, "30 Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life, 31 it will happen, when he sees that the lad is not with us, that he will die. So your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave. 32 For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father forever.’ 33 Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. 34 For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would come upon my father?" 

The words of this passage are striking, real and authentic. It is as if we are in the room with the actors as the presentation was being made. The writing of this story came to Moses by the Holy Spirit who so carefully utilized the perfect words enabling us to be a part of the story. This is the only possible explanation for the detail and the specific wording which would actually be otherwise unnecessary to give for the overall meaning of the account. The life of Jacob was tied up in the Son of My Right Hand, Benjamin. This is true for you and me, as well. Without the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross, there would be no hope because we would be yet dead to God in our sin without it. 

Judah argued that if Benjamin didn’t return to Israel, there would be no Israel. These words of Jacob clearly describe the current state of the nation of Israel today. In Christ, there is life, without Christ there is only "Sheol," the grave, the place of the dead. The word Sheol is used only four times in the book of Genesis and all four refer to Jacob and his sorrow concerning his sons, Joseph and Benjamin. The use of the word Sheol is not a coincidence. The number four in the Bible consistently speaks of God’s creative work. He is known by the things that are seen. This word reveals that without the Son, there is no revelation of God beyond natural eyesight. There is only the absence of it in death.

This narrative underscores the fact that someone must bear the blame for sin. The sentence of our sin will either be carried out by each person or it will be tackled by a substitute. In order for truth to be sustained there must be justice. Judah said that if evil befalls Benjamin, he would bear the blame. In saying these words, Judah was providing a picture of salvation. We can either stand in the Son of My Right Hand or we will face the blame on our own.

The Lord Jesus Christ descended from Judah, and He fulfilled the law as a Jew. It is Joseph and Benjamin who are the sons of Rachel and thus the sons who picture the Christ who was crucified, buried and raised from the dead. Benjamin was being made the substitute for the wrong that his brothers had done. They sold off Joseph and it was Benjamin who received the cup, not them. They, not he, were now under the test to take responsibility for their own wrong actions thus picturing the Lord Jesus on the cross.

Judah finished up this most beautiful monologue with the idea that he would far rather stay there in Egypt as a slave than face what catastrophe would come upon his father if Benjamin hadn’t returned home. This was his final plea and this was where his words came to an end. Now it will be up to the ruler of the land to decide his fate, the fate of Benjamin, and that of Israel. For two thousand years now, the Jewish people have looked to their own righteousness for their salvation. For them, there is no room for Christ because they believe righteousness comes from self before God, not from God upon undeserving sinful man. 

Judah’s actions show that the Jews will someday understand the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. They will come to faith in the Lord Jesus the Son who is of greater affection to God than they are. Our acceptance is not about us fulfilling the Law; the Law can save no one. It is about the Christ who fulfilled the Law on our behalf. Having fulfilled the Law, He rendered a death blow on our behalf to sin and death. And now, we are free to know God for ourselves which places us in a position to make Him known to others.

Genesis 44:18-23

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18 Then Judah came near to him and said: “O my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s hearing, and do not let your anger burn against your servant; for you are even like Pharaoh. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, 'Have you a father or a brother?' 20 And we said to my lord, 'We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, who is young; his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him.' 21 Then you said to your servants, 'Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.' 22 And we said to my lord, 'The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.' 23 But you said to your servants, 'Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.'" ~ Genesis 44:18-23

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 44 where Jacob's eleven sons are found miraculously standing before their brother Joseph in his house in Egypt. They stood before their brother Joseph whom several of them had sold him into slavery some 22 years earlier. Although Joseph had long ago forgiven his brothers, he was determined to see them right with the Lord and subsequently right with him. To accomplish the task, Joseph had set up his youngest brother Benjamin by having his steward make it appear that he had stolen his silver cup.

In v.18 of today's passage we read, "Then Judah came near to him and said: “O my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s hearing, and do not let your anger burn against your servant; for you are even like Pharaoh."

Twenty-two years earlier, Judah had participated in selling Joseph to the Ishmaelite traders from Midian. He, along with the brothers, were being convinced that they had to reap the consequences of what they did so long before. Judah, as the spokesman for all of the brothers, now had the chance to make things right, even if it cost him his own freedom. Judah spoke passionately and eloquently on the behalf of his half brother Benjamin to Joseph.

Scholars have referred to Judah's words here as "one of the masterpieces of Hebrew composition." The short, broken sentences reveal the overwhelming force of Judah’s emotions. He was a broken man as he choked through the words that he carefully chose that day in Joseph's home. Every word found its way to the heart of Joseph as Benjamin stood by speechless like a victim who was about to be sacrificed on the altar.

Judah noted that Joseph was "even like Pharaoh." Pharaoh means "Great House" and that title is a picture of the rule and authority of God from heaven. In Judah's words we are reminded that Joseph was "equal in authority" to Pharaoh. This passage was given by God in His word to reveal to us that our sinful state will never allow us to endure in His presence. This is why we all need a Savior. This is why we all must grapple with the question, "What will do away with our sin?" And, there is only one who qualifies as our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the God-Man, He is one hundred percent God and one hundred percent Man. As the God-Man He overcame sin and death because death could not defeat Him.

In v.19-20 of today's passage we read, "19 My lord asked his servants, saying, 'Have you a father or a brother?' 20 And we said to my lord, 'We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, who is young; his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him.'"

Judah recounted the story of the brothers. His words were a repetition of what had already taken place. Judah recounted these events to Joseph, hoping to provide a proper defense for he and all of his brothers. Jacob had twelve sons from four women. Judah was one of those twelve sons. But in Jacob’s eyes, only one woman ever really mattered and her sons mattered most to Him. Those two sons were Joseph and Benjamin, both born of Rachel. Judah had come to the place of accepting his father’s wrongdoing towards his brothers who were born to Leah. Judah had found acceptance with the pain caused in his life by his dad. It was out of that radical acceptance that he could make his dramatic offer to Joseph on the behalf of his half brother.

It is clear in the Bible that one day soon Israel will stand up for and defend the Servant who once suffered for the forgiveness of mankind's sin. Israel will experience a change of heart which seems impossible in our world today. But first Israel will have to be brought to the place of repentance as Joseph's brothers were here. It will be during the time of the Tribulation or the time of Jacob's Trouble according to Jeremiah 30:7 that one-third of Israel will go from the posture of Jacob to the posture of Israel, from the place of the unbeliever to the place of the believer in the God of the Bible.

In v.21-22 of today's passage we read, "21 Then you said to your servants, 'Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.' 22 And we said to my lord, 'The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.'"

As is always the case in all of the Bible, everything points us to the Lord Jesus Christ and His relationship with sinful man, especially the people of Israel. In fact, we are told in the book of the Revelation that at the end of the Tribulation one third of the people of Israel will recognize the Lord Jesus for who He is and they will enter into a personal relationship with Him. This will happen at His Second Coming when His feet will come down upon the Mount of Olives. At that time according to the Old Testament prophet Zachariah "They will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn." 

In v.23 of today's passage we read, "But you said to your servants, 'Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.'"

It was Joseph’s plan to test his brothers through Benjamin just as God will test Israel through the Tribulation period. Without Benjamin, Judah would have been the servant of Egypt. Similarly, without the Lord Jesus we would be the servants of Satan without even knowing it. In fact, we were the servants of Satan before we were born again and it was then that we became the servants of God after we owned up to our sinfulness and cried out to God for forgiveness. 

All of this underscores 2 Corinthians 4:6 which reads, "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Benjamin was a type of the Lord Jesus Christ who is the only One who makes it possible for us to see the face of God. Only if we believe that through His death we are forgiven of our sin and granted the status of a child of God.

Genesis 44:14-17

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14 So Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there; and they fell before him on the ground. 15 And Joseph said to them, “What deed is this you have done? Did you not know that such a man as I can certainly practice divination?” 16 Then Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; here we are, my lord’s slaves, both we and he also with whom the cup was found." 17 But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so; the man in whose hand the cup was found, he shall be my slave. And as for you, go up in peace to your father.” ~ Genesis 44:14-17

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 44 where yet again we see glimpses of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. In today's passage, we see Joseph's brothers being turned back to Egypt again to face the punishment of the man because his silver cup was found in the sack of the youngest brother, Benjamin. The cup had been placed in Benjamin's sack by the steward of Joseph per Joseph's instruction for him to do so. This was a trial to see how Joseph's brother would respond to the heat that would be placed upon Benjamin for supposedly stealing Joseph's cup.

Joseph's goal was to prick the conscience of his brothers so that they would turn to God. The fear of the Lord should be our chief means of obeying the Lord. It is our conscience that sounds an alarm when danger is near. This is why the Bible refers to our fear of God as the "the beginning of wisdom." We are wise when we keep short accounts with the Lord. Anyone with a tender conscience toward the Lord is keenly aware of every infraction against Him. He recognizes sin as rebellion against the holy God. He understands that to keep short accounts with God is to confess his sin to the Lord quickly.

In v.14 of today's passage we read, "So Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there; and they fell before him on the ground."

At that point Judah stepped up to the plate of leadership on the behalf of his younger brother because he was the one who vowed to his father that he would see that Benjamin would be returned to him. Other than Benjamin, none of the other brothers are named in this entire account. It was up to Judah to make things right. 

It is from the name "Judah"  that we get the word "Jew" which means "thank God." In Genesis 29:35 we read, "And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I thank the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah." The name of Judah is a reminder that the best motivation for our obedience to God is gratitude, gratitude that we recognize the truth which is always the best thing for us.

When Joseph's brothers arrived at Joseph's house, they prostrated themselves before him. Along with their torn clothes, they humbled themselves in his presence. Humility is such a valuable commodity. It is humility that gives feeling to our hearts before God. Pride always lurks just around the corner desiring to lure our hearts away from God. It is pride that makes us artificial and it is humility that makes us real. Humility is the fuel that attracts the Spirit of God to the lowly and needy soul.

In v.15-16 of today's passage we read, "15 What deed is this you have done? Did you not know that such a man as I can certainly practice divination?" 16 Then Judah said, "What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; here we are, my lord’s slaves, both we and he also with whom the cup was found."

At this point Joseph questioned his brothers sternly. In response, Judah knew none of them could clear themselves before Joseph. He then said something that none of his brothers had ever said, "The God punishes us for our sins." In acknowledgment of what they deserved, Judah offered all of the brothers to Joseph as slaves for their deeds of the past and the supposed rebellious deed of Benjamin.

In v.17 of today's passage we read, "But he said, 'Far be it from me that I should do so; the man in whose hand the cup was found, he shall be my slave. And as for you, go up in peace to your father.'"

Joseph was now ready to test the sincerity of the brothers personally. In response to their offer, he made his own claim, and it was on Benjamin, the Son of My Right Hand. He would be his slave and the rest of the brothers would be free back to their father. Sin must always be judged or it will reign over us all. I shudder to think of how important it was for the Lord Jesus to come and condemn sin and death through His death and His resurrection.

At his birth Benjamin was named Ben-Oni by his mother meaning "Son of My Suffering." Jacob renamed him Benjamin which means "Son of My Right Hand." Like the Lord Jesus, before the exaltation there was suffering. Benjamin pictured Christ who drank of the cup of God's wrath. You will remember that the word "divination" comes the word which means "serpent." It was the serpent that was in the Garden of Eden who tested man. He failed and was condemned. The serpent that was lifted up by Moses was used to point all to the cross of the Lord Jesus where the humbled are pardoned. The first resulted in God’s wrath while the second resulted in God’s forgiveness. One brought death while the other brings life to all who are humble enough to believe that His death on the cross of Calvary paid the debt that was created by our sinfulness.

It was through the cross that God conquered sin and death. The cross of the Lord Jesus Christ not only reveals to us God's righteousness, holiness and justice, it also reveals God's love, mercy and grace. They are all to be seen shining together there on that hill on the edge of Jerusalem. If we do not see them all, we have not seen the One who hung on that cross who laid down His life for us.

Genesis 44:6-13

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6 So he overtook them, and he spoke to them these same words. 7 And they said to him, “Why does my lord say these words? Far be it from us that your servants should do such a thing. 8 Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? 9 With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.” 10 And he said, “Now also let it be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and you shall be blameless.” 11 Then each man speedily let down his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack. 12 So he searched. He began with the oldest and left off with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 Then they tore their clothes, and each man loaded his donkey and returned to the city. ~ Genesis 44:6-13

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 44 where we find Joseph's steward catching up to his brothers as they traveled back home to Canaan. The brothers had been set up by Joseph in hopes that they would come clean regarding their earlier sin of selling him into slavery. Joseph had to be tough with his brothers because in order to forgive them of their sin against him they had to confess and repent of said sin. 

Confession of our sin and repentance from it is the soil within which the forgiveness of God melts our hearts to the point of our obedience to Him. In Psalm 32 King David illustrates to us the importance of confession. When we remain silent about our sin, when we don’t confess it. When we justify it, ignore it, or excuse it, it will eat away at us. Unconfessed sin has a crippling effect on our whole being, including our body and our soul. Unconfessed sin always leads us to disintegration, perversion and death; and what is worse, it hinders the believer's fellowship with God.

Sin is the enemy of our faith in the God of the Bible. Sin always takes us farther down the road than we wanted to go. It always keeps us longer than we wanted to stay, and it always costs us more than we would ever want to pay. Such is the nature of sin, it is a brutal dictator that wants to rob us of our hearts ability to see God. This is why God makes such a big deal about faith. Faith is seeing Him with our hearts and as our hearts are trained accordingly, when we see Him with our eyes the encounter will be ever so much more profound. We will not see Him in the same way when we see Him with our eyes. Having a heart that is trained to see Him will heighten ever so much more the way we will see Him with our eyes.

In v.6-7 of today's passage we read, "6 So he overtook them, and he spoke to them these same words. 7 And they said to him, 'Why does my lord say these words? Far be it from us that your servants should do such a thing.'" 

During their first visit, Joseph tested his brothers by asking them to go back home and to come back with their youngest brother Benjamin. This latest test was the framing of Benjamin for a crime that he didn’t commit in order to teach the brothers a heart lesson, a lesson of seeing God with their heart. Through his steward Joseph falsely accused his brothers of repaying his good with evil. After hearing the accusation, the brothers entered an immediate protest of innocence. They were confident that they were innocent and had been falsely accused of this crime including Benjamin. They needed broken hearts and God was using Joseph to help them see Him with their hearts. Only broken hearts truly see God.

In v.8-9 of today's passage we read, "8 Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? 9 With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves."

In their defense, Joseph's brothers reminded Joseph's steward that they had previously brought back the money from their previous trip, even after they had been out of the reach of Egypt’s authority. They reasoned that it would not have made sense for them to take a cup made of silver when they could have taken more valuable gold. In their attempt to save their butts, Joseph's brothers missed the deeper lesson here which is: "Whose value system defines us most?"

In v.10 of today's passage we read, "And he said, 'Now also let it be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and you shall be blameless.'"

Joseph declared that the brother who had his silver cup in his sack would be Joseph's slave and the other brothers would be set free to go back home. Fair justice always demands the punishment of a thief. That moment when the thief on the cross heard the words of the Savior, "Today, you will be with me in Paradise" comes to mind here. The one who had the cup would be punished in the place of all others. This was a picture of what the Lord Jesus did for all of us. Benjamin who was falsely accused provided his brothers a picture of the coming Messiah the Lord Jesus. The whole of the Bible makes it undeniably clear that those who trust in the Lord Jesus as our Savior are blameless in the eyes of God.

In v.11-12 of today's passage we read, "11 Then each man speedily let down his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack. 12 So he searched. He began with the oldest and left off with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack."

The steward hid the cup in Benjamin's sack before they had left for Egypt, and in a dramatic and suspenseful way it was discovered on the road back home. He went from one brother to the next, from the oldest to the youngest in the process. The order of the search was carefully pointing us all to a much deeper truth, it points us to the people of Israel and the work of Christ on their behalf. This search went through the sons of Israel and ended with the son whose name means "Son of My Right Hand." Benjamin also known as Ben-Oni, "The son of my sorrow," points all to the cross where the Lord Jesus conquered sin and death for all who would learn to see God with their hearts.

Joseph ordered this scenario because he wanted to know his brother's attitudes toward Benjamin. This is why the steward orchestrated these events as he did. For them the question was: What will you do with Benjamin? For all of mankind the ultimate question is: What will we do with the Lord Jesus' invitation to believe on Him? Will we remain unforgiven and dead in our sin? Or, will we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that the Lord Jesus is Lord over sin and death?

In v.13 of today's passage we read, "Then they tore their clothes, and each man loaded his donkey and returned to the city."

Once it was revealed to them that Benjamin had the silver cup of Joseph, the brothers collectively tore their clothes as a sign of their deep distress. As a result, they surrendered themselves collectively to whatever fate that awaited them back in Egypt. When we have sinned and we don’t immediately confess it as such, sin will encourage us to avoid the truth by covering up the truth. When we don’t immediately confess sin, we then create shadows that appear true. Unconfessed sin makes us myopic; it makes us nearsighted to the consequences of our sin. When this happens, our ability to reason correctly worsens with time. 

Unconfessed sin makes liars of us with time. To cover up our sin is evil. If we do not expose it, it will eat away our hearts for God like a bacterium eats away at one’s flesh. It is difficult to receive God’s love while we continue to hold on to our sin. For those who refuse to let go, God has been known to remove His blessing, not as a form of punishment, but in an attempt to make us feel our weakness without Him. God knows our attachment to our idols hinder us from receiving the full measure of His love, and He loves us too much to leave us to our sin.

Genesis 44:1-5

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1 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, "Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack. 2 Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain money." So he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. 3 As soon as the morning dawned, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys. 4 When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, "Get up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, 'Why have you repaid evil for good? 5 Is not this the one from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed practices divination? You have done evil in so doing.'" ~ Genesis 44:1-5

Today, we transition into Genesis 44 where the main message that God desired to bring about through the life of Jospeh is coming into full view. God had worked things out in such a way that Joseph, having been injured which injured a debt, is about to forgive his brothers. But, before he would forgive them, they had to be led to the point of confession and repentance. 

In order to be made the Lord of Egypt, Joseph had to suffer first. But after the suffering came his exaltation as the number two most important and powerful man in the world. And before he was to forgive and reveal himself to his brothers, it would be necessary for Joseph to put his brothers through a test to refine them. Our tests or trials are really important because they reveal to us our utter need for God to be God in our lives. There is no testimony with tests. To the degree that we come to the end of ourselves will be the degree to which we will see God for who He is and we will allow Him to be God in our lives.

In v.1-2 of today's passage we read, "1 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, 'Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack. 2 Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain money.' So he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken."

While sharing a meal with his brothers, Joseph made available to them a lot of wine and they had a few too many drinks. While the brothers were in a rather happy state, Joseph prepared them for the test of their lives. Joseph gave to the steward of his house certain instructions to fill their sacks with an abundance of food and also the money that they brought to purchase the grain from Joseph. He also ordered his steward to put his silver cup in the sack of Benjamin. This cup would be the picture of the cup that the Lord Jesus endured on our behalf as He hung on the cross of Calvary.

I find it most interesting that instead of using the word "food" like he did in the previous verse, Joseph used the word "grain." This word has been used five times so far in context to describe the grain being bought by the brothers. It implies breaking. The different Hebrew words used here for food and grain will soon make sense as the end of the story rolls out.

The steward complied with the instructions and did exactly as Joseph had directed. Every step of the process here showed a careful and methodical plan to determine what Joseph desired to come to fruition. It was all intended to lead to how he would ultimately deal with his brothers and it will all focus on Benjamin whose name means the Son of My Right Hand.

In v.3 of today's passage we read, "As soon as the morning dawned, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys."

According to the way this verse was constructed in the Hebrew, we learn that at the initial light of the day the brothers of Joseph were sent away. It implies that it was at the time when the light first came out. This is the only time this exact expression is used in the Old Testament and it corresponds with Matthew 28:1 which reads, "Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb."

In v.4-5 of today's passage we read, "4 When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, 'Get up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, 'Why have you repaid evil for good? 5 Is not this the one from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed practices divination? You have done evil in so doing.'"

Completely aware of when they left and knowing the amount of time it would have taken his brothers to get out of the city, Joseph gave orders to his steward to bring his plans to a climax. The steward would have certainly had guards with him. When Joseph's steward caught up to the 11 brothers he asked them why they "repaid evil for good." This is a common theme in the Bible, seen from the Garden of Eden all the way through the book of the Revelation. And it has been a part of the human condition ever since the Fall in Genesis 3. 

The ultimate example of this was when God sent the Lord Jesus to be crucified on the behalf of evil mankind. And, the cup which was placed in Benjamin’s sack by Joseph's steward held a special purpose, one which points the reader of the Bible to its fulfillment when the Lord Jesus went to the cross of Calvary. Joseph used this cup to test Benjamin and it appeared that Benjamin had stolen the expensive cup and had failed the test. 

I find it quite instructive that the word translated "divination" is the verb from which is derived the same word in noun form, "serpent." It is also the same word translated "serpent" in the Garden of Eden and also the bronze serpent which was held up in the wilderness to save the people when they were bit by a snake. This serpent is referred to by the Lord Jesus in the New Testament in John 3:14-15 which reads, "14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." The serpent was a picture of the Lord Jesus who was made sin on our behalf. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." All who look to Him as Savior will receive forgiveness of their sin and subsequently the life of God will be in them.

Genesis 43:32-34

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32 So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. 33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another. 34 Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him. ~ Genesis 43:32-34

Today, we conclude our study of Genesis 43 where Joseph was meeting with his brothers in his house in Egypt. The dream that Joseph had some 20 years before was just coming to fruition. The ultimate reason God gave to Joseph those two dreams was to point everyone to the Lord Jesus Christ before whom all mankind ever created or will be created will one day bow our knees. The end of all of our yearnings and searches is the Lord Jesus. All roads in the Bible lead to the Lord Jesus. From Genesis to Revelation, the Lord Jesus is the story. 

In v.32 of today's passage we read, "So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians."

In the dining area at Joseph's house in Egypt, there were at least three separate tables, or three areas for dining. Joseph was set by himself certainly as a sign of his position and authority. But there was still another separation, that of the Egyptians and the Hebrews. The Egyptians who dined there were high officials. It was wrong for the Egyptians to eat with foreigners because of past foreign invaders.

In v.33 of today's passage we read, "And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another."

Without noticing that their brother was the ruler of Egypt, Joseph designated a seat at the table according to the age of his brothers. This was Joseph's way of letting his brothers know that he knew who they were and it was confirmation that he knew that Benjamin was their true brother. When it dawned on them that they are seated in this particular arrangement, their minds were blown. The fact is that they came from four mothers and some were born very close in time because of this. The chances of anyone guessing their age and birth order, particularly 11 of them in sequence, would have been unimaginable. Their seating that day in Joseph's house mirrors the seating of the tribes of the sons of Israel in Revelation 7. Since the destruction of the temple in AD70, the tribe of each individual Jew is actually unknown and yet 12,000 will be sealed from each tribe according to the list given in Revelation 7.

In v.34 of today's passage we read, "Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him."

As we have pointed out before, Benjamin, as well as Joseph were types of the Lord Jesus Christ. Joseph was a type of Christ in His first advent, rejection, death, resurrection, and present exaltation among the Gentiles, and not believed on by Israel. Benjamin was a type of Christ in that he was the "son of sorrow," pointing us to the cross the Lord Jesus Christ. Benjamin was also the "son of my right hand" which the Lord Jesus will be in His future millennial Kingdom.

Toward the end of today's passage we read, "Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of his brothers." Joseph granted five times as much food to Benjamin to show them that he was the favored brother even though he was the youngest. He was a son of Rachel, who consistently pictured God’s grace. Joseph used an object lesson to instruct his brothers that day. The entire time that Joseph had been removed from his brothers, Benjamin had been there with his brothers. Benjamin was called the "Son of My Suffering" by Rachel and the "Son of My Right Hand" by Jacob. 

The Apostle Paul was from the tribe of Benjamin. He was also the Apostle to the Gentiles. And his consistent message was grace. The grace of God in Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. And not only Paul, but all Jews who have received Christ as Lord and Savior. Each is a faithful witness to the righteous remnant preserved by God. This was what Joseph was actually hinting at in this meal: that Christ is Lord of all; Christ is the Son of the Right Hand; and Christ is the Son who suffered, fulfilling the law and granting us grace, pictured by Benjamin.

Genesis 43:24-31

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24 So the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed. 25 Then they made the present ready for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they would eat bread there. 26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down before him to the earth. 27 Then he asked them about their well-being, and said, "Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?" 28 And they answered, "Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive." And they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves. 29 Then he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, "Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me?" And he said, "God be gracious to you, my son." 30 Now his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. And he went into his chamber and wept there. 31 Then he washed his face and came out; and he restrained himself, and said, "Serve the bread." ~ Genesis 43:24-31

Today, we return to our study of Genesis 43 where we find the brothers who had sold Joseph into slavery standing before his servant who did a series of things that put the brother’s minds at ease. Since Joseph was a picture of the Lord Jesus, his steward was a picture of the Holy Spirit. The grace demonstrated here is reminiscent of the grace of God who invites poor, vile and rebellious man into a personal relationship with Himself through the finished work of the Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary.

In v.24-25 of today's passage we read, "24 So the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed. 25 Then they made the present ready for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they would eat bread there."

With the matter of the money and their brother Simeon resolved, the steward led the brothers of Joseph into the house of Joseph. Once again, Joseph's brothers are referred to as "the men." By doing this, God was continuing to make an impersonal evaluation of the brothers as He desired to reveal the motivation of their heart. What the men had only a moment ago feared and tried to stave off is now a welcomed gesture as they stopped to wash their feet while the steward fed their donkeys. Water was brought to them to prepare them for a relaxing and enjoyable meal in Joseph’s house. The object lessons of bread and water are used throughout the Bible pointing all to the Lord Jesus who remedied man's sin problem and who is our sustenance.

It was at that point that the brothers presented gifts that their father had put together before they left Canaan. This included balm, honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. These six gifts were the best of the fruits of the land and would be a worthy gift even to the king. The only gift that satisfies the righteous demands of our Heavenly Father is His gift given to us from the foundation of the world.

In v.26-28 of today's passage we read, "26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down before him to the earth. 27 Then he asked them about their well-being, and said, 'Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?' 28 And they answered, 'Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive.' And they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves."

This was the fulfillment of the dream that Joseph had more than 20 years earlier. In that dream Joseph's brothers knelt before him. When Joseph told them of the dream, his brothers were so angered that they wanted to kill him. But, this wasn’t just a dream fulfilled in Joseph, it is a dream which is fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no knee, Jew or Gentile, that won’t bow before Him at the end of time as the Bible tells us. The story of Joseph and his brothers looks forward to that time when 1/3 of Israel's people will bow their knee before the Lord Jesus in faith. Oh, everyone will bow the knee but only 1/3 of those Jews on the earth at that time will bow the knee in belief. The others sadly will bow the knee in unbelief. Only after they all bow the knee will they understand that the Lord they have bowed to will be the very one they sold off to the gentiles.

According to v.27 of today's passage Joseph inquired about their father Jacob. Jacob was born in the year 2169 BC and today's passage was set in the year 2299 BC, making Jacob right at 130 years old. At such an advanced age, every day is precious and Joseph wondered about Jacob's well being. Jacob delayed in allowing the brothers to return to Egypt and in that amount of time, Joseph was uncertain if his father was still alive. 

In v.29 of today's passage we read, "Then he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, 'Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me?' And he said, 'God be gracious to you, my son.'"

To lift one’s eyes from a biblical standpoint didn’t just mean to see something or someone, it meant that Joseph noticed his brother. Joseph had already seen Benjamin with his eyes, but now there was the mental acknowledgement of him. Joseph saw Benjamin in a way that he hadn’t before. He acknowledged who he was and how he was related to him as he then explained by saying "his mother’s son." All eleven of his brother’s were there, but only Benjamin was the son of Joseph's mother. He knew it was Benjamin, but to feign a lack of knowledge, he asked if this was the one they had told him about before. And then, without giving them a chance to answer his question, Joseph said to Benjamin "God be gracious to you, my son." It is only the grace of God that enables Him to have a heart for sinful man.

In v.30-31 of today's passage we read, "30 Now his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. And he went into his chamber and wept there. 31 Then he washed his face and came out; and he restrained himself, and said, 'Serve the bread.'"

After seeing his brother, Joseph was deeply moved. He was so moved that he had to go away from them into his office to weep. This reminds me of the time when the Lord Jesus wept. When He returned to the news that Lazarus was dead and had been in the tomb for 4 days. He was told by both Mary & Martha that if He had been there, Lazarus would not have died. The Lord Jesus knew Lazarus had died and that He would raise him from the dead, but He chose to feel Mary and Martha’s pain with them. The Lord Jesus cried even though He knew Lazarus was dead before He got the news. He cried even though He knew that Lazarus would be alive in just a few moments. He cried even though He knew death would not win forever. The Lord Jesus wept because this world is full of pain, regret, loss, depression, and devastation. He wept because knowing the end of the story doesn’t mean we can’t cry at the sad parts. This allowed Him to enter in that hard place with Mary and Martha. He chose to bear it with them to help them through it.

After weeping a bit, Joseph washed his face and returned to his brothers. Joseph wanted to cry out, "I am your brother" but he knew his time had not yet come. He knew his brothers had to be tested and proven true before He revealed Himself to them. At that point, Joseph ordered the bread to be served. Throughout the Bible "bread" is used to point us yet again to the Lord Jesus Christ. Mentioned some 492 times in the Bible beginning in Genesis and continuing right through Revelation, bread reminds us that our Maker is our sustenance. 

The Lord Jesus was born in Bethlehem which means "House of Bread." Alphanumerically, it means nativity. The place of the nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ was in the House of Bread who is the place of life. When we go to the House of Bread to accept God’s forgiveness of our sins, we see again how God feeds our souls with something we must have in order to spiritually survive. His bread is the only kind that leads to eternal life. His bread is His very life which yields the sustenance for us  to exist. Without Him we can do nothing of lasting value.

Genesis 43:18-23

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18 Now the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, “It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may make a case against us and seize us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys.” 19 When they drew near to the steward of Joseph’s house, they talked with him at the door of the house, 20 and said, “O sir, we indeed came down the first time to buy food; 21 but it happened, when we came to the encampment, that we opened our sacks, and there, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; so we have brought it back in our hand. 22 And we have brought down other money in our hands to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.” 23 But he said, “Peace be with you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. ~ Genesis 43:18-23

Today, we return to our study of Genesis 43 where the sons of Jacob have returned to Egypt with their youngest brother Benjamin per the requisition of the man in Egypt. The man in Egypt was their brother but they had yet to discover who his identity. They just thought that he was a powerful Egyptian in Egypt.

In v.18 of today's passage we read, "Now the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, 'It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may make a case against us and seize us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys.'"

Due to their guilty conscience Joseph's brothers needed not to be accused. The judgment of God weighed on their conscience. God gave all of mankind a conscience which serves us as a compass especially when we are lost, but only if we allow it. The sons of Israel were facing the consequences of bad decisions and their conscience was eating away at them. The conscience that we were created with is among the first two missionaries that God gave us.

Joseph's brothers had considered what they did to Joseph the last time they were in Egypt and now they have the added burden that they didn’t turn back when they originally found the money in their sacks as they headed home. These events made them frightened because of the importance of the place they had been brought. The wisest course of action when they left the last time, though obviously a difficult one, would have been to return and mention the money immediately. But with Simeon in prison, they would have been scared to even do that. 

In v.18 we read, "... that he may make a case against us." When translated literally these words mean, "that he may roll upon us." This statement was a metaphor which was borrowed from the sport of wrestling. When one overturns another, he "rolls on top of him to pin him down." The brothers were afraid because the man of Egypt could have accused them and left the blame on them. In fact, as the ruler, he could have turn them into slaves.

In v.19-22 of today's passage we read, "19 When they drew near to the steward of Joseph’s house, they talked with him at the door of the house, 20 and said, 'O sir, we indeed came down the first time to buy food; 21 but it happened, when we came to the encampment, that we opened our sacks, and there, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; so we have brought it back in our hand. 22 And we have brought down other money in our hands to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.'"

Joseph's brothers' conscience bothered them so much that they wanted to convince Joseph's steward they had done nothing wrong. They knew that if they could resolve the apparent problem before entering the house, they could avoid what they feared when lunchtime arrived. They were convinced that the door of the house was the last spot that they could resolve their problems with the man before they were to be consigned to their fate.

So now, they were given the chance to explain how they ended up with the money they originally paid. Each time they used the word "sack" it was a different word than what was originally used to describe the sack. The word used here is only used 15 times in the Bible and all in this story between Genesis 42 and Genesis 44. The word comes from a root which means to spread out. Just as the sack was spread out to reveal the money, the story was spread out to reveal the hearts and motives of the brothers.

Joseph used the unfolding events to discern the condition of his brothers’ hearts. And, according to v.22, the brothers brought the original money back and their explanation was that they had no idea how they got their original money back. They had done everything they could do to convince the steward that they did nothing wrong. They did this long before Joseph returned and could hold a trial against them. All they could do at this point was to hope that their story would be believed. 

In v.23 of today's passage we read, "But he said, 'Peace be with you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.' Then he brought Simeon out to them."

It is obvious that Joseph had taught his steward about the God of grace because God's culture had been passed along to him. The treasure, as the steward said, was given to them by their "God." This was a picture of God's grace, something no one can earn or purchase. The grace of God is revolutionary. He is the only author of grace because no one else is in the position to impact our eternity like Him. Therefore, it is His grace and only His grace that screams, "You are loved." Grace declares that God is no longer angry with us. Grace states that we are under no obligation to please God with religious activity. Grace invites us to receive the free gift of forgiveness and once we have, grace declares us as loved and liked by God just as we are. We need not change to impress God or others because He has received us as sons and daughters through His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The final activity in today's passage is that Simeon was returned to his brothers. This had to be to them a big relief because if it were the intention of the man of Egypt to arrest them, then they would have left Simeon in his prison. Instead, Simeon was brought out to join them. Simeon means "He who hears." The brothers were about to hear the truth of their story and they were about to be presented with the biggest decision of their lives. Stay tuned to our next study of Genesis 43 to see how it will turn out. In Proverbs 8:34 the Lord says to us, “Happy are those who listen to me.”