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.”

Genesis 43:11-17

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11 And their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 Take double money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man. 14 And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!" 15 So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, "Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon." 17 Then the man did as Joseph ordered, and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house. ~ Genesis 43:11-17

Today, we continue of study of Genesis 43 where Jacob has just agreed to allow his sons to go back to Egypt with the youngest son Benjamin. Jacob had resisted this for quite some time because Benjamin was the only living son of his wife Rachel, so he thought. Joseph's brothers also thought that their brother was dead and with his death their sin was safely hidden, so they thought.

In v.11-14 of today's passage we read, "11 And their father Israel said to them, 'If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 Take double money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man. 14 And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!'"

Using gifts to help smooth a difficult situation was a familiar approach that Jacob has used in the past with his brother Esau. In addition to the gifts, Jacob told his sons to take double the money and then he finally agreed to allow them to take Benjamin with them to Egypt. Then, Jacob used the name "El Shaddai" translated God Almighty. This unique name of God had been four times so far in the Genesis narrative. The first was when He spoke to Abraham in Genesis 17 at the time of the covenant of circumcision. Then in Genesis 28 when Isaac blessed Jacob before he went away. After that in Genesis 35, "El Shaddai" appeared to Jacob at Bethel. In each of those accounts, a blessing for fruitfulness and a multitude of descendants was promised. Now, out of the hope that those blessings would include Simeon and Benjamin, Jacob invoked the name once again.

El Shaddai, The Almighty God sits on heaven’s throne and superintends over the billions of galaxies that He made. El Shaddai  also watches over the souls of all living on planet Earth at this moment. This is the God who cared enough for all He has ever created to send His Son to restore us to harmony with Him. He doesn't force His will upon anyone and quite frankly there is no excuse for anyone to spend their eternity in Hell.

In v.15 of today's passage we read, "So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph."

Twenty two years earlier the brothers of Joseph sold him into slavery and now they found themselves standing before him without knowing his identity. They had long concluded that he had been dead since then. Here they stood before him and they were about to discover his true identity. Joseph longed to be reconciled with his brothers but they had some more soul searching to do before that would happen.

Joseph's story points us to the greatest love story ever told, the story wherein God chose to remove our sin from us by sending His Son, the Lord Jesus to be our Savior. Like Joseph's brothers we must search our souls before we make the decision to believe that His death on the cross paid the penalty for our sin. Whereas Joseph had been at the mercy of his brothers in Genesis 37, the brothers now find themselves at the mercy of Joseph.

In v.16-17 of today's passage we read, "16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, "Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon." 17 Then the man did as Joseph ordered, and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house."

When Joseph saw his younger brother Benjamin he ordered his steward to take the men from Canaan to his house. He also ordered his steward to slaughter an animal and to subsequently prepare a meal for them. For the third time in three verses, Joseph's brothers were called "the men." The brothers were granted access to Joseph's home because of the presence of Benjamin there with them. This is characteristic of how God has worked in every persons life from the moment we were all born. Everyone has the opportunity to respond to the wooing of God to believe in Him. Since the Bible teaches that man does not seek God on his own, God had to take the initiative to draw man to Himself. He was faithfully careful to reveal Himself to all man through His creation, and those who choose to believe in Him will be given further revelation of His existence. Those who continue to respond positively to the revelation that God gives will be saved. Eternal life is a gift that is received by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. God does not force the truth upon anyone, especially if they are not willing to respond to Him in faith. God's will does not preclude man's will and freedom to respond. 

People often ask, "How can God send someone to hell since they have never heard and thus never had a chance to respond to the Gospel?" To this question I say that unbelievers are not condemned for rejecting the gospel message, they are condemned because of their sin. Our sin is an offense against an eternally holy God, thus the only just punishment must likewise be eternal, which the Bible describes as a place called hell. Justice demands hell for all who cannot solve for themselves their sin problem. And, since sinful man resists the wooing of God to come to Him, they remain dead in their sins and trespasses. They do this because they have chosen to believe the lies of the evil one. 

"God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it."

Genesis 43:1-10

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1 Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, "Go back, buy us a little food." 3 But Judah spoke to him, saying, "The man solemnly warned us, saying, 'You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.' 4 If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, 'You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.'" 6 And Israel said, "Why did you deal so wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you had still another brother?" 7 But they said, "The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, 'Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?' And we told him according to these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, 'Bring your brother down?'" 8 Then Judah said to Israel his father, "Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I myself will be surety for him; from my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. 10 For if we had not lingered, surely by now we would have returned this second time." ~ Genesis 43:1-10

Today, we transition into Genesis 43 where Jacob is meeting with his sons regarding the return of their brother Simeon from prison in Egypt. Since Israel's twelve sons were to be used of God to establish the nation of Israel, God had to do some kind of work within them before He would work through them. God is always desirous to do a deep work in us so that He might work powerfully through us. God was preparing them to be the leaders that Israel needed them to be, so, God tested them. 

In v.1-2 of today's passage we read, "1 Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, 'Go back, buy us a little food.'"

With the increase of severity of the famine came more desperation. Desperation is quite uncomfortable but there is good to be found therein because desperate people do desperate things. Like the woman with an issue of blood for twelve years. It was a huge risk for her to squeeze her way through the crowd to get to the Lord Jesus, but she was desperate for deliverance. The good news behind desperation  is that it brings us to the end of ourselves. It brings us to the place of honesty and of faith, which is the place of true freedom.

Up to this point Jacob would not consider sending his sons back to Egypt with Benjamin as Joseph had requested in the previous chapter. But, if desperation in God’s people is what it takes for God to move us into His will, then desperation is what He will send. All of his life Jacob strived with and resisted God and he was a picture of modern day Israel, a whole nation of people who do the same with God today. For Israel, there has been exile and punishment for their unbelief, but the future says they will be restored to a personal relationship with their Creator. In order to bring about the anticipated meeting between Jacob and Joseph, the famine had to intensify. It was Chuck Swindoll who once said, "The swift wind of compromise is a lot more devastating than the sudden jolt of misfortune."

As we read in the Scriptures, in order to bring about a meeting between the Lord Jesus and Israel, God will send the time Jeremiah refers to as the time of Jacob’s trouble. Daniel refers to this seven year period of time as the seventieth seven. Jacob is Israel in unbelief and Israel is Jacob as a believer. The New Testament calls this time a time of great tribulation. During this seven year period of time the people of Israel will be ushered into the place of desperation and out of their utter desperation they will cry out to God and He will respond to their cry with grace and mercy. The story of Jacob here follows that same path, foreshadowing the events of the coming seven year Tribulation.

In v.3-5 of today's passage we read, "3 But Judah spoke to him, saying, 'The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.'"

Earlier, in Genesis 42, Reuben tried to convince Jacob that Benjamin needed to return to Egypt with his brothers to retrieve Simeon who was in prison but Jacob had refused. Judah then stepped forward to convince Jacob to allow Benjamin to go. Judah was in line for the birthright because his three older brothers had all committed offenses which disqualified them from that right. Judah reminded Jacob that they had been given by the man in Egypt a solemn warning to return with Benjamin or else. If the brothers had returned to Egypt without Benjamin, the story would not have turned out in the way they desired.

In this narrative, Joseph pictured the Lord Jesus Christ while the brothers pictured all the tribes of Israel. Like Joseph, Benjamin was a picture of the Lord Jesus. If the brothers had returned to Egypt without Benjamin they would have no standing to expect acceptance and favor from Joseph. Pictured here for us is the ardent truth of the Bible that without having believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, we cannot have a right standing before the Lord or enter into His heaven. It is only the Lord Jesus Christ who can save us from the damning result of our sin. It is only the Lord Jesus who can wash our sins away and it is only He who our burdens can relieve.

In v.6 of today's passage we read, "And Israel said, 'Why did you deal so wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you had still another brother?'"

Here, Jacob is referred to as Israel by Moses who wrote the book of Genesis. Five times in the previous chapter, the name Jacob was used. The name Israel was used only when speaking of the sons, not the man. In this chapter, Jacob is never used and Israel is used three times. The last time the name Israel was used for Jacob the man was back in Genesis 37 when he sent Joseph up to look for his brothers. In that chapter, Joseph was thought to have died and now Jacob was thinking that he may lose Benjamin as well. There is Jacob and there is Israel. There is reliance on self and there is reliance on God. This is a picture of the option we have every day, that of walking in the Spirit or that of walking in the flesh. We do well to look at this man and decide how we will conduct our own lives. 

Judah’s change is one example among many in Scripture of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. His heart had been softened to the point that he was convinced of his sin. His mind had been enlightened in the knowledge of God and his will had been yielded and renewed. He was truly establishing himself as a leader among the sons of Israel, which is characteristic of his kingly tribe.

In v.7 of today's passage we read, "But they said, 'The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, 'Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?' And we told him according to these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, 'Bring your brother down?'"

The man in Egypt was the second most powerful man in the world and he had asked them specifically about their youngest brother and the sons of Jacob had answered truthfully. It never would have dawned on them that one thing would lead to another. There was no evil intent in their answers, just the facts. The man, Joseph, also asked about their father and they answered accordingly. This was when Joseph specifically asked for their youngest brother to brought down to Egypt.

In v.8-10 of today's passage we read, "8 Then Judah said to Israel his father, 'Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I myself will be surety for him; from my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. 10 For if we had not lingered, surely by now we would have returned this second time.'"

Interestingly, at that point in time Benjamin was about 30 years old. He was no longer a little boy. Judah expressed his desire to be a sacrifice. Back in Genesis 37, Judah was the one who recommended selling Joseph when he was in the pit. In Genesis 38, Judah was the one who traded his signet ring, cord, and staff for a tryst with a prostitute who turned out to be his daughter-in-law. In both of those incidents, Judah pictured the Jewish people being defined by the flesh. It was that same Judah who offered himself as the pledge for Benjamin. God was clearly at work in the heart of Judah.

The return of the brothers back to Egypt was delayed by an unspecified amount of time. It had to be quite a long period of time because as we are told in v.2 it was enough time for their grain from Egypt to have been eaten. Returning with Benjamin in tow was the key to have a hearing with the Old Testament figure who pictures more than any other the Son of God's right hand, the Savior of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ. At the end of time as we know it, we will all discover that if we had made the decision to believe on the Lord Jesus, the Son of God's Right Hand, then we will learn that we had averted eternal damnation. The judgement wasn't averted for the Lord Jesus because the punishment that He endured on the cross was rightfully ours. As a result of believing on the Lord Jesus as our Savior we will spend eternity in heaven and not in hell. 

Genesis 42:35-38

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35 Then it happened as they emptied their sacks, that surprisingly each man’s bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. 36 And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me.” 37 Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.” 38 But he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone. If any calamity should befall him along the way in which you go, then you would bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.” ~ Genesis 42:35-38

Today, we conclude our study of Genesis 42 where the primary lesson from the life of Joseph is being fleshed out. That primary lesson is forgiveness. It was Lewis Smedes who once said, "To forgive is to set a prisoner free and to discover that the prisoner was you." As we mentioned earlier in our study of Genesis, forgiveness involves three parts: the injury, the debt created by the injury and the choice to cancel that debt. Joseph's brother injured him by stripping him of his robe that his dad had given him, by shoving him into a pit that he could not get out of, and by selling him to Ishmaelite traders from Midian who were on their way to Egypt.

In v.35 of today's passage we read, "Then it happened as they emptied their sacks, that surprisingly each man’s bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid."

The brothers already knew that the man in Egypt had their money returned to their sacks. Just after departing from Egypt one of them found the money in his sack and later, when they got back home, they all discovered their money in their own sacks. They had traveled at least a day before finding the money. Once again their fear factored into their lives. With reference to fear, there is quite the dichotomy being given here between Joseph and his brothers. We all fear. It is what we do with our fears that is most important. I love the words of Tolkien when he said, "Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens." Most say farewell thinking they have averted their fear. Not so fast my friend! Ultimately that which we fear the most defines us most. And, that which we believe in the most determines how we react to our fears. This was the great difference between Joseph and his brothers. Joseph consistently turned to God through his fears.

In v.36 of today's passage we read, "And Jacob their father said to them, 'You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me."

Jacob believed his son Joseph was dead and he believed it was the brother’s fault. Whatever his state, he demonstrated here a continued lack of faith in the God of the Bible. When we are in the habit of feeding the flesh, we lose sight of God's power and sovereignty, but when we are consistent at feeding the Spirit of God in us, we will see God more clearly. As a result, we will see that God is bigger than whatever we fear.

Jacob cried out, "all these things are against me." No wonder his sons were defined by a victim's mentality with him as their example. Jacob, not his brother Esau, was the covenant son. Regardless of what happened, God was in control of his past, present, and future. The Lord had appeared to Jacob personally several times and had made unconditional assurances to him. But, Jacob had his eyes fixed on himself and his circumstances far more than he did on the Lord.

The last time God had spoken to Jacob directly was when he had returned to Bethel from his father-in-law's house after many long years. At that time, God made certain promises to Jacob about his descendants and the land of promise. About twenty years after that, God gave to Joseph two dreams which showed that God was with Joseph like he was with Jacob. Since then, as far as the Bible records, the Lord remained silent, although he revealed truth to Joseph right on. Jacob had taken the silence of God as abandonment. But, the very things that Jacob felt were against him, every one of them that he mentioned here, actually worked out for his good. Joseph’s removal from Jacob's life seemed to him to be an evil which weighed him down. Instead, God used it all to bring Joseph into the land that could save them all during the time of famine. God always has a plan behind all of the trials that come into our lives, we must be determined to trust Him no matter what comes.

In v.37 of today's passage we read, "Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, 'Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you."

Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob and Simeon was the second. Reuben was also the full brother of Simeon. Reuben was the son who tried to save Joseph from being killed by his brothers, hoping to eventually get him back to Jacob. Here, Reuben was most concerned about getting Simeon released from prison in Egypt. In his desire to get him back, he knew that he had to take Benjamin with him to Egypt. And in order to do that, he made a crazy offer.

In v.38 of today's passage we read, "But he said, 'My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone. If any calamity should befall him along the way in which you go, then you would bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.'"

Jacob was not ready to let Benjamin go to Egypt with his brothers. The famine hadn’t taken its full toll on him quite yet. This meant that the time hadn’t reached its fullness. Jacob was worried about losing the only other son whom Rachel had borne to him. Here, in troubled Jacob, we are given a picture of you and me at any given moment of weakness, when we lose sight of God’s promises and His faithfulness to us. When in our lives we have seen God’s hand at work in an evident way, it is then that we are quick to praise the Lord and to allow Him to have His way with us. But when things do not go the way we think they should go, we start to question God's goodness. It is in these moments that God wants to do His deepest work in us. The question is always, "Will we let Him have His way?" True faith, growing faith trusts Him through these times. Of course, this is a lot easier said than done, but it is a must if we are to truly grow deeply in the Lord.

It is the nature of biblical faith to hold onto God's faithfulness when we have no clue how things will turn out. The blindness involved in the development of our faith in God is of an utter necessity because without it our faith will not grow. The tearing of the muscle of our dependency upon the Lord is always painful. This development of our heart's ability to trust God causes us to act on what we haven't experienced yet and to believe the promises that God has given us in His Word that haven't been fulfilled yet. This is a must scenario because there is no development of intimacy with Him without it. There is no intimacy to any relationship without simply trusting.

CS Lewis once said, "To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable."