Genesis 42 – Study

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Genesis 42:1-13

1 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, ‘Why do you just keep looking at each other?’ 2 He continued, ‘I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.’

3 Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him. 5 So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan also.

6 Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. 7 As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. ‘Where do you come from?’ he asked.

‘From the land of Canaan,’ they replied, ‘to buy food.’

8 Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognise him. 9 Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, ‘You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.’

10 ‘No, my lord,’ they answered. ‘Your servants have come to buy food. 11 We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.’

12 ‘No!’ he said to them. ‘You have come to see where our land is unprotected.’ 13 But they replied, ‘Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.’

A. Find Out:

1. How many brothers went to Egypt? v.3
2. Which brother remained behind? v.4
3. What did the brothers do when they came before Joseph? v.6
4. How did Joseph differ from his brothers? v.7
5. What did he accuse them of being? v.9
6. With what result? v.11,13

B. Think:

1. Why did the brothers eventually go to Egypt?
2. What suddenly came flooding back into Joseph’s memory?
3. Why do you think he accused them of being spies?

C. Comment:

At last the famine reaches Canaan where Joseph’s brothers seem rather loath to leave and go on a long journey. Eventually at Jacob’s instigation they go and eventually arrive in Egypt to appear before the ruler. As soon as they come before him, Joseph recognizes them but quickly realizes that they don’t recognize him. Whether it’s just that he’s twenty years older, or it’s that they simply never expected Joseph to be alive, or that he’s in a completely different context, the brothers don’t recognize him now.

Imagine you were Joseph. The last time you saw them they were selling you into slavery. They were deceitful and evil. He doesn’t know if they are still like that. Will they tell him the truth if he asks them about their father and his brother? Joseph decides to put them on the defensive, because then they will start talking as they try to defend themselves. There is wisdom in this, for as he questions them, they start to tell about their past and about him (who they believe is dead) and about their father and younger brother. Gradually Joseph is getting to hear what he wants to hear, the story of the past from their point of view.

In this part of the story, we are on a knife-edge. Humanly Joseph could not wreak vengeance on these brothers who brought him years of suffering. But that doesn’t accord with all else we’ve been seeing in this man. Will he remain righteous in this position of power?

D. Application?

1. It has taken over 20 years for God’s word through the dreams to be fulfilled. Do we understand that God often takes a long time to fulfil His word?
2. Rest in the things He has promised you.

Passage: Genesis 42:14-24

14 Joseph said to them, ‘It is just as I told you: you are spies! 15 And this is how you will be tested: as surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 16 Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!’ 17 And he put them all in custody for three days.

18 On the third day, Joseph said to them, ‘Do this and you will live, for I fear God: 19 if you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households. 20 But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.’ This they proceeded to do.

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 on 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.’ 23 They did not realize that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter.

24 He turned away from them and began to weep, but then came back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.

A. Find Out:    

1. How did Joseph say he would test the truth of what the brothers had been saying? v.15,16
2. What did he next do with them? v.17
3. What did he then propose? v.19,20
4. Why did they feel this was happening? v.21
5. How did Joseph feel when he heard this? v.24a
6. Who did he hang on to? v.24b

B. Think:

1. What was Joseph obviously trying to achieve?
2. Why do you think he was doing it in this way?
3. What did the brothers obviously feel?

C. Comment:

As Joseph continues to challenge his brothers who, remember, still don’t recognize him, he is clearly working to get them to bring their younger brother to him. His excuse is that he wants to check to see if what they are saying is true. It is probable that, having remembered how they had treated him, Joseph wonders if they had similarly treated his younger brother in the same way, as the two of them had had a different mother (Rachel). If he revealed himself to them and they had destroyed Benjamin they would only cover it up.

In the way he deals with them Joseph ensures they would actually bring their younger brother to Joseph to verify what they had been saying. To “soften them up” Joseph has them imprisoned for three days. They are likely to be more desperate and speak freely now.   Adverse circumstances draw the truth out of us.

       The brothers clearly feel stricken about all of this and believe it is happening because of what they had done to Joseph all those years before. Their guilty feelings are revealed and, as Reuben upbraids them for what they had done, Joseph is highly moved by what he hears, yet he holds onto Simeon to force their hand. In all this Joseph’s wise strategy is to reveal the truth and bring the whole family to him.  He doesn’t use his power to beat them into the truth but uses wisdom to draw the truth out of them, without them realizing what is happening.

D. Application?

1. Joseph shows no signs of unforgiveness. Have you forgiven ALL who have ever offended you?
2. Thank the Lord that He forgives you when you confess your sins.

Passage: Genesis 42:25-38

25 Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man’s silver back in his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. After this was done for them, 26 they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left.

27 At the place where they stopped for the night one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack. 28 ‘My silver has been returned,’ he said to his brothers. ‘Here it is in my sack.’

Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, ‘What is this that God has done to us?’

29 When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them. They said, 30 ‘The man who is lord over the land spoke harshly to us and treated us as though we were spying on the land. 31 But we said to him, “We are honest men; we are not spies. 32 We were twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in Canaan.”

33 ‘Then the man who is lord over the land said to us, “This is how I will know whether you are honest men: leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for your starving households and go. 34 But bring your youngest brother to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the land.”’

35 As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his pouch of silver! When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened. 36 Their father Jacob said to them, ‘You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!’

37 Then Reuben said to his father, ‘You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back.’

38 But Jacob said, ‘My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my grey head down to the grave in sorrow.’

A. Find Out:

1. What 3 things did Joseph ensure the brothers had before they left? v.25
2. When did they discover the silver? v.27
3. What was their reaction to finding it? v.28,35
4. What was Jacob’s response to their story? v.36
5. How did Reuben stand out? v.37
6. But what was Jacob’s response? v.38

B. Think:

1. Why do you think they were afraid when they found the silver?
2. Why is Jacob adamant about not letting Benjamin go?
3. Who had tried to save Joseph? (37:21) What does his offer say?

C. Comment:

As the brothers leave, Joseph instructs his servants to give them the required grain and provisions, but also to slip their silver back into their sacks. It is not until one of them, during the night, opens his sack, that they discover the first of the silver. Their reaction is interesting. They fear and assume God is punishing them. Why? Well, perhaps they assume Joseph will realize that they have come away without paying for the grain and will either come after them or will further accuse them when they return with Benjamin. When they arrive home and find the rest of the silver, that conclusion is strengthened. They, of course, cannot see that Joseph is perhaps just seeking to bless his own family.

Jacob, when he is told the story, is completely distressed. Years ago he lost his favorite son and now his second favorite is being threatened. He cannot cope with that and refuses to let Benjamin go. For Israel the circumstances seem beyond understanding and he cannot see that there is good behind them. At this moment, the chosen family is in confusion and cannot see that God is working behind the scenes for their provision, blessing and long-term history.

D. Application?

1. Ask the Lord to help you be someone who is not afraid to do the right thing even though it appears to be difficult.
2. Ask him for courage today.