A Lamp Unto My Feet Bible Study Website
GENESIS 43-44
Lesson #60
THE PRIME EXAMPLE OF GRACE
- Memory verse: Heb 7:22
- Read Gen 43:1-15
- In the famine, when the food began to run out again, Jacob (Israel) decides to send the brothers back to Egypt to buy more food.
- Notice verse 6 where Jacob tells his sons they should have lied to Egypt’s prime minister about having a younger brother at home. Shades of Jacob’s old nature are still seen from time to time.
- Jacob (Israel) must send Benjamin with the other brothers in order to get food. (8)
- While Benjamin is called a lad simply because he is the youngest brother, his actual age at this time is about 33 years old with 10 sons of his own.
- Judah’s vow
- Judah has become the spokesman for all the brothers.
- Because of Jacob’s hesitation to send Benjamin, judah says he will be a surety for Benjamin.
- What is a surety? Surety = a pledge of responsibility against loss.
- The gifts and the money
- The brothers took gifts for the prime minister.
- The brothers took a double amount of money to pay for the grain they had brought back from Egypt previously.
- Jacob’s (Israel) relationship to his other son, Simeon:
- Simeon remained in Egypt as a hostage. (42:24)
- Notice that it is not a concern over Simeon that drives Jacob back to Egypt for grain. It’s hunger.
- Notice that Jacob does not even mention Simeon by name in verse 14.
- Remember the sin of massacre that Simeon had committed back in Gen 34 to avenge Dinah.
- The sins of his sons probably had caused relationship problems within the family.
- Simeon remained in Egypt as a hostage. (42:24)
- In the famine, when the food began to run out again, Jacob (Israel) decides to send the brothers back to Egypt to buy more food.
- Read Gen 43:16-34 The return to Egypt
- The preliminaries:
- Joseph prepares a special dinner for his brothers.
- The brothers are worried because of the returned money.
- Remember that we discussed in the last chapter how salvation cannot be purchased. It is a free gift.
- The steward represents the actions of the Holy Spirit in our lives today.
- Assurance of peace by the steward reminds us of the Holy Spirit who gives us peace. (23) (Joh 14:26-27 Rom 15:13)
- The dinner:
- The heart of Joseph: (30) Numerous times we see Joseph weep privately over his brothers.
- The Egyptian caste system: (32) Egypt had a social caste system which kept classes of people separate. Joseph observes these social customs.
- The birth order (33)
- Notice that the brothers are arranged around the table according to their birth order.
- In Egypt, only Joseph would know the birth order.
- The brothers noticed this arrangement, and it worried them.
- Joseph makes sure Benjamin gets 5 times more food than the other brothers.
- This is obviously a test of the brothers to see if they will get jealous of Benjamin as they had of Joseph.
- The preliminaries:
- Read Gen 44:1-13 The surprise departure
- Joseph’s instructions:
- The brother’s sacks were filled with food.
- The brother’s money was again returned to them.
- Joseph’s silver cup was planted in Benjamin’s sack.
- The silver cup was a divining cup in which precious stones and nuggets of gold and silver were placed in water and swirled. The patterns were read like tea leaves to determine the future.
- This cup came with the position of prime minister. I would prefer to think Joseph never used it.
- The steward (an illustration of the Holy Spirit) is sent to accuse the brothers of theft.
- Read Joh 16:7-8
- In the same way, the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin.
- The confrontation (6-10)
- The brother’s, convinced of their innocence; agree to the death penalty for the one who possesses the cup, and slavery for the rest of them.
- In bringing people to the Lord, how do you think this illustrates the Holy Spirit’s dealing with people today?
- (Discussion)
- Guilt is determined.
- What do you think Joseph has in mind with this plan of entrapment?
- (Discussion)
- Joseph’s instructions:
- Read Gen 44:14-34
- Judah, the advocate and the surety.
- There is a confession of guilt before God. (16)
- Judah is sure this has come upon them because of their sin against Joseph years ago.
- Judah confirms that they deserve slavery.
- Joseph extends grace and mercy by keeping Benjamin and releases the others to return home to get his father. (17)
- Judah acts on Benjamin’s behalf
- Judah offers to take Benjamin’s place because he is afraid losing Benjamin would kill his father.
- Judah has passed the test for jealousy of his younger brother, Benjamin.
- Judah, the advocate and the surety.
Joseph, a Prefigure of Jesus Christ
| Joseph and His Brothers | Jesus and Mankind |
| The brothers continue to be legalistic in their desire to pay double for the grain.
Gen 43:11,15 |
Non-believers double their efforts to work their way to God. Rom 8:1-3 |
| Joseph’s steward extends mercy and frees them from guilt.
Gen 43:23 |
The Holy Dpirit sent by Jesus extends peace to us when we are freed from guilt through the shed blood of Hesus.
Gen 43:23 |
| Joseph prepares a great feast for his brothers. Gen 43:16 | Jesus Christ will prepare a great feast for his believers called the marriage supper of the lamb. Rev 19:9 |
| Joseph’s brothers are seated according to birth order.
Gen 43:33 |
Believers in Jesus are positioned in the kingdom according to a servant’s attitude.
Mar 10;39-44 Joh 14:2 |
| Joseph’s plan, executed by the steward, is designed to reveal the true sin in his brother’s lives. Gen 44:1,2 | Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, reveals the sin in our lives.
Joh 16:8 Hos 5:15 |
| Joseph’s brothers acknowledge their sin and open the door to being forgiven. Gen 44:16 | We must acknowledge our sin and open the door to being forgiven by God. Rev 3:19-21 |
- Summary and emphasis:
- We cannot purchase our salvation by being a good person or by doing good works.
- It is a free gift by God through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross.
- We, therefore, remain in our sin until we repent and acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
- By doing this we accept the free and personal gift of salvation that God has given to us through Jesus Christ, his Son.
- The action of the Holy Spirit brings us to Christ, reveals our sin, and extends to us God’s peace and grace.
Homework
Genesis 45
- Application of Gen 43-44
- Is there some sin in your life that the Holy Spirit has been highlighting?
- If so, in prayer ask God to forgive you. Accept His forgiveness and ask Him to strengthen you and help you in your Christian walk.
- Preparation for Gen 45
- Read Gen 45:1-28
- What do you learn about forgiveness from this chapter?
- Based on these chapters, list as many ways as you can in which Joseph is a prefigure of Jesus Christ.
- Read Gen 45:1-28
- Memory verse: Luk 6:37
