Joseph's Brothers Return to Egypt

INTRO

Joseph was saving the seed that was established in Genesis 3 and carried through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God had put Joseph in place in Egypt to hand out food for all those who had none. Remember there had been seven years of plenty and now they were experiencing seven years of famine. Genesis 43 is set in the midst of the famine.

TEACHING

Genesis 43:1: The famine in the land was severe. Remember the brothers had previously come to Joseph for food. Joseph told them he would keep Simeon until they brought their younger brother, Benjamin, to him.

Genesis 43:2–4: When Israel (Jacob) and his sons had used up all the grain, Jacob told them to go back to Egypt to buy food. Judah reminded Israel that they were to take Benjamin back with them. That was the only chance they had of seeing “the man” (Joseph) and getting access to more food. The tribe of Judah was finally standing up! Judah told Jacob that if he would send Benjamin with them, they would go back to Egypt.

Genesis 43:5–7: Judah reiterated that they would not go without Benjamin. If they didn’t take Benjamin, they wouldn’t get anything. Israel asked the brothers why they had caused so much trouble. Why did they even tell the man they had another brother? The brothers now answered together, telling Israel that the man prodded them. They said, “the man” (Joseph) asked them lots of questions about their father and if they had another brother. The brothers defended themselves, “We answered him accordingly. How could we know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother here’?” (v. 7).

Genesis 43:8: Judah asked his father to send Benjamin with them so they would not die. If the brothers didn’t go back to Egypt, everyone would die from starvation. Israel had to send Benjamin. The seed would have stopped if they hadn’t gone. The seed that had been promised in Genesis 12, 15, 17, and 25 would stop if the family operated in fear.

Genesis 43:9–10: Judah promised he would be responsible for Benjamin. Waltke wrote, “I will bear blame before you all my life. The Hebrew literally reads, I have sinned . . . if he violates the agreement. Judah is willing to take whatever penalty Jacob wishes to inflict on him for the rest of his life, and the patriarch can and will treat his sons harshly.”1 Judah valued the seed and realized that if they did nothing, this family was done.

If we’re not careful, this is the American Church. We can’t stay stagnant inside a building, or it will die. This was a great example of where Jacob needed to release his sons and say “GO” and not be afraid. They wasted time arguing with Israel. Judah said they could have gone and come back twice already. They were afraid to address the issues that really needed to be addressed, and it wasted time.

Genesis 43:11: Because Judah spoke up, they finally had a plan. Jacob told them to take the best products of the land as a gift to Joseph. Where were they getting these “best products” from? They were in the middle of a severe famine! It tells me this family was still wealthy. God’s hand was still obviously on this family.

The brothers were to take: balsam, honey, aromatic gum, resin, pistachios, and almonds. When I think about Israel, I think about honey. Look at the following Scriptures:

• land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8,17).
• Honey is a source of sweetening (Exodus 16:31; Proverbs 24:13).
• Honey is a prized gift (Psalm 19:10; 119:103; Song of Solomon 4:11).
• Honey is medicinal (Proverbs 16: 24).
• Honey never goes bad.
• Honey is a gift (2 Samuel 17:29).

Genesis 43:12–14: Jacob told the brothers to take twice the amount of money and their brother and return at once. This statement from Jacob did not sound like a man of God who claimed the promises of God. What I hear is a man who sat down in sorrow and didn’t function in faith. Both Esther and Jacob spoke out of desperation (Esther 4:16). Esther spoke in desperation with faith. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, like Esther, also spoke from a place of desperation and faith, in contrast to Jacob (Daniel 3;16-18).

Genesis 43:15–16: When the brothers stood before Joseph with Benjamin, it reminds me of Abraham and Isaac. They were nervous and afraid that they might lose their brother. Joseph was excited about having another interaction with his brothers. Dr. Tom Constable pointed out that the brothers had three problems to face: (1) The brothers were carrying a lot of money and didn’t know if they would be accused of stealing; (2) they wondered if Simeon would be released from prison; and (3) they worried they might lose Benjamin.2

Genesis 43:17–22: The brothers were taken to Joseph’s house, and they were afraid. They knew Egyptian slaves were kept in the dungeon of officers’ houses (Genesis 40:3). They explained to Joseph’s steward about the money.

Genesis 43:23–24: You knew this was Joseph’s steward because he talked like Joseph. No Egyptian steward would talk like this unless Joseph was talking to the Lord around him. Simeon was brought out to them. This was a turning point for his brothers!

Genesis 43:25–31: They got their gift ready for Joseph and bowed to the ground before him. Joseph kept living out the dream (Genesis 37). Now the 11 brothers were bowing down. Joseph started to ask questions. He was wise in how he stewarded the conversation. Verse 28 says, “And they bowed down to honor him.” Who were they honoring? Jacob or Joseph? In verse 29, the phrase “When he looked up,” suggests Joseph was bowing down as well. Joseph wept over the sight of Benjamin, but not in front of everyone.

Genesis 43:32–34: Joseph was served the meal at his own table. The brothers were served the meal at a different table, and the Egyptians were served at a third table. Culturally, they would not have eaten together. The brothers were seated before Joseph in order by age and were astonished by their treatment. They were served from Joseph’s table, but Benjamin received five times as much. The 12 brothers were eating and drinking together. There was a unity that had started to take place, and yet the brothers still had no clue who Joseph was.

Genesis 44:1–13: Joseph commanded his steward to put his silver cup in the top of Benjamin’s bag. Joseph set it up so that the brothers would be accused of stealing. The brothers were so sure they were clean that they told the steward to search their stuff. The cup was found in Benjamin’s bag. The brothers were so distraught that they tore their clothes. They then returned to the city.

Genesis 44:14–34: The brothers fell on the ground before Joseph. Judah pleaded before Joseph. Joseph said Benjamin would be his slave. The rest of the brothers could return to their father. Again, this was a complete set-up. He had to get his father back. Judah begged Joseph to let him switch places with Benjamin.

CLOSING

These two chapters set up chapter 45. They are a cliffhanger for what happens next!