Genesis 42, probably one of my favorite chapters in the Bible because we get to see Joseph’s brothers squirm a little. I would suggest you read the chapter but I will give a recap of it for you. It is so important to read the words that God has given us even when we are busy and rushed. I realize it is difficult but frankly, I would rather you read the word than my blog but it would be nice if you could do both.
In chapter 41 we saw that God, through Joseph interpreted the Pharaoh’s dream and that because of that the Pharaoh entrusted Joseph with the entire country of Egypt. For 14 years after that dream Joseph remained in Egypt but was in charge of it. He had 7 years of bumper crops which he had stored up because he knew a famine was coming for another 7 years. At the end of chapter 41 Joseph has opened the storehouses of Egypt because all countries were starving and needed grain.
Chapter 42 begins with Jacob, whom God named Israel and Joseph’s dad, tells his sons to go and purchase grain in Egypt. He would not send Benjamin, Joseph’s little brother because he was worried something would happen to him. I found it a little interesting in verse one that Jacob asked his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” and then in verse two he tells them that there is grain in Egypt and they need to go and get some. I had always thought that they were looking at each other wondering what they should do for food but I thought of something a little different today as I read that. They knew that Joseph had been sold into slavery to men that were going down to Egypt. I just wonder if they were looking at each other thinking about that time, wondering if he might be there, and not wanting to go into that country. What if they saw him or he saw them? Would Joseph try to hurt them? They may have thought he was dead by now. Maybe they were looking at each other thinking they didn’t want to find out the fate of their brother. But their dad had other plans and sent them on their way.
When they got to Egypt they had to go before the governor and request some grain. The governor happened to be their brother Joseph and they bowed before him. Do you remember Joseph’s dream in chapter 37, when he told the brothers the dream, they just laughed because the dream had indicated that they would someday bow down to him. Now Joseph recognized them but they did not recognize him. So, Joseph accused them of being spies. They pleaded with him and told him that they had come to buy food. I think verse 11 reveals their true colors and I am sure Joseph was laughing inside but not a ha, ha funny laugh. (11) We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies. Joseph knew all too well that these were not honest men for they had sold their own brother into slavery. Furthermore, they went and told their own father that he had most likely been killed by a wild beast. So, Joseph’s reply to them, (14) ‘It’s just as I told you: You are spies.’ He then told them that one would be held a prisoner until they brought back their younger brother to prove to him that they were not spies and then he threw them all in prison for three days.
After they had been in prison for three days Joseph told them he was a man who feared God and that if they were honest men, one man would remain in prison and the others were to go back and take food to their starving household. But, he insisted that they return with their brother Benjamin before their brother would be released. After their plight was revealed they began to talk amongst themselves. (21) They said to one another, ‘Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come upon us.’ (22) Reuben replied, ‘Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.’ What is so funny is that they said this in front of Joseph because they did not realize that he could understand them as he had used an interpreter. Joseph wasn’t laughing though, he turned away and wept. He then had Simeon bound in front of them and the others were released.
I am going to stop there with the recap of this passage but I want you to think about some things? We always hear of sweet revenge, is this what Joseph was getting? How would you have responded to the men that hurt you or how do you respond to those that hurt you? Hurt is very difficult, especially when it comes from family or your closest friends but it is so important to move forward and not dwell on the past hurts. Just as Joseph wept and remembered those terrible times, you will see that he did forgive his brothers. Also note, there were consequences for their sins. Consequences may come naturally, such as, stepping out in front of a car and getting hit, that is called a natural consequence. Our Father forgives us but sometimes consequences are what bring us back to Him.
One other thing I want you to take special note of is that Joseph did hurt very badly when his brothers took him away. The scriptures do not reveal this until now but he hurt. What got him through that hurt was a trust and faith in his Heavenly Father. If you are hurting today, I hope that you will put your trust and faith in Him as well and let Him give you rest, as you seek Him with all your heart.
Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheila
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