“Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die.” (Genesis 42:2)
Jacob heard (Genesis 42:2)
Naomi heard (Ruth 1:6)
People have to hear something before they can come
People have to be shown something before they can come
Even in those days when there was no television, social media, the news travelled so far.
Why did Jacob not sent Benjamin along with his other sons to Egypt?
3 So Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, “Lest some calamity befall him.” (Genesis 42:3-4)
After what had happened to Joseph, Jacob was no doubt suspicious of his sons, and that’s why he kept Benjamin at home.
Now that Joseph was gone, Jacob’s youngest son (Benjamin) was his only living link with his beloved Rachel, and the old father wasn’t about to lose the second of his two favourite sons.
Notice, how Jacob spoke:
“My son (Benjamin) shall not go down with you, for his brother (Joseph) 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 grey hair with sorrow to the grave.” (Genesis 42:38)
Now Joseph was the governor over the land, and it was he who sold to all the people of the land; and Joseph’s [half] brothers came and bowed themselves down before him with their faces to the ground. (Genesis 42:6)
The dream that Joseph saw was being fulfilled. Joseph definitely knew that but that did not make him proud because God had severely dealt with him. And Joseph remembered the dreams he had dreamed about them (Genesis 42:9)
And they did so. Then they said to one another, “We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us.”
Your sin shall find you (Genesis 42:21)
Scripture says, “Take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23)
Why did Joseph select Simeon to be the hostage when Reuben was the firstborn?
And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes. (Genesis 42:24)
Joseph probably did this because he appreciated Reuben’s attempt to rescue him from his brothers, and Simeon was Jacob’s number two son. Simeon was also known to be a cruel man (Read Genesis 34:25; 49:5), and perhaps Joseph hoped to teach him a lesson.
We don’t know how many family secrets Jacob shared with his favourite son Joseph or what part they played in this decision.
Also, when I think of the way Joseph behaved toward his brothers, the verse that comes to mind is Romans 11:22: “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God” (“Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God,” NIV).
Despite the severity of his voice and some of his acts, Joseph was unquestionably compassionate to his brothers, and everything he did was done for their own betterment. His motivation was love, and his goal was to get them to the point of repentance and reconciliation. This is something we should keep in mind the next time we feel God is treating us unfairly.
Then Joseph gave a command to fill their sacks with grain, to restore every man’s money to his sack (Genesis 42:25)
Confession: Money is my servant. I say to my servant, “go” and he goes “come” and he comes.
Why did Jacob reject Reuben’s generous offer of bringing back Simeon?
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.” But he said, “My son shall not go down with you. (Genesis 42:37-38)
Reuben was out of favor with his father for what he had done.
And it happened, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine; and Israel heard about it. (Genesis 35:22)
Reuben should have kept quiet, but perhaps he felt obligated to act like a leader since he was Jacob’s firstborn son.
When Jacob was on his deathbed, he called his son and said:
3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn,
my might, the first sign of my strength,
excelling in honor, excelling in power.
4 Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel,
for you went up onto your father’s bed,
onto my couch and defiled it. (Genesis 49:3-4)
Chapters
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 10
- Chapter 11
- Chapter 12
- Chapter 13
- Chapter 14
- Chapter 15
- Chapter 16
- Chapter 17
- Chapter 18
- Chapter 19
- Chapter 20
- Chapter 21
- Chapter 22
- Chapter 23
- Chapter 24
- Chapter 25
- Chapter 26
- Chapter 27
- Chapter 28
- Chapter 29
- Chapter 30
- Chapter 31
- Chapter 32
- Chapter 33
- Chapter 34
- Chapter 35
- Chapter 36
- Chapter 37
- Chapter 38
- Chapter 39
- Chapter 40
- Chapter 41
- Chapter 42
- Chapter 43
- Chapter 44
- Chapter 45
- Chapter 46
- Chapter 47
- Chapter 48
- Chapter 49
- Chapter 50