A Lamp Unto My Feet Bible Study Website
GENESIS 42
Lesson #59
GOD’S PLAN IN PROGRESS
- Memory verse: Mat 6:14
- Read Gen 42:1-20
- Joseph, as prime minister of Egypt, spent 7 good years of plenty storing grain for the 7 years of famine ahead.
- When the years of famine came to the Middle East, his family back in the Promised Land decided to journey to buy grain in Egypt.
- Jacob, Joseph’s father, sends the 10 brothers to Egypt
- But he does not send the youngest, Benjamin.
- Remember that only Joseph and Benjamin were the natural born children of Jacob’s favorite wife, Rachel before she died. Jacob believed that Joseph was dead.
- He keeps Benjamin at home because he wanted to protect from loss since he was his only other child born from Rachel. (4)
- The brothers have it in mind to buy the grain and 5 times in the first 10 verses it mentions this intent.
- Joseph had been a teenager when his brother last saw him. He is now about 37 years old (41:46,53-54). Now he spoke Egyptian, dressed like an Egyptian, and had great power and authority. It is not surprising his brothers did not know him.
- The brothers bow before him, and Joseph remembers the dreams he had back in Gen 37:7,9.
- (Discussion) Describe Joseph’s attitude toward his brothers (7-17)
- Is there resentment or just caution?
- Is there a plan or uncertainty in Joseph’s mind?
- Is there punishment or grace in Joseph’s actions?
- Jacob, Joseph’s father, sends the 10 brothers to Egypt
- The agreement:
- One brother would be kept hostage until they brought Benjamin back with them.
- (Discussion) Why do you think Joseph did this?
- Read Gen 42:21-38
- Simeon was left in Egypt. Why Simeon?
- Simeon was the second born son, Reuben being the oldest.
- The oldest was responsible for the welfare of his brothers.
- Remember Reuben talked the others out of killing Joseph. Reuben did not know the others had sold Joseph into slavery.
- Joseph probably did not pick Reuben because of that. The next in birth order was Simeon. Evidently Joseph simply chose the next in line.
- (Discussion) What do you think the brothers have learned in the years since Joseph left home?
- The brothers in general:
- Joseph recognized the remorse and wept. (24)
- Reuben only justifies himself (42)
- Meanwhile, back at the ranch: The family reaction: (28, 35-36)
- Jacob’s sorrow at the loss of Simeon.
- The brother’s fear at the return of their money.
- (Discussion) Why do you think Joseph returned their money?
- Notice their reaction in verse 28:
- “What is this that God has done to us?”
- This is guilt over their sin of selling Joseph into slavery. They are convinced that God is against them.
- (Discussion) Are they right?
- Read Jam 4:6
- Jacob’s fear at the potential loss of Benjamin.
- Remember that fear is the opposite of faith.
- We do not see either Jacob or any of his sons turn to God for help, for guidance, for forgiveness, or for protection.
- Verse 21 indicates that the brothers have lived with their sin for a long time without ever forgetting what they had done to their brother, Joseph.
- They have a healthy fear of God, but they do not know the mercy and forgiveness of God. It’s often the opposite with us today.
- We have knowledge of God’s mercy and forgiveness but we often do not have a healthy fear of God.
- The brothers in general:
- Simeon was left in Egypt. Why Simeon?
God’s historic plan seen through Joseph’s life
| Joseph despised and
Rejected Gen 37 |
Jesus despised and rejected Mat 27:1 | |||
| Joseph sent to the Gentiles
Gen 39 |
Jesus sent to the Gentiles for trial
Mat 27:2 |
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| Joseph unjustly condemned to prison
Gen 39:20 |
Jesus unjustly condemned to crucifixion
Mat 27:24 |
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| Joseph released and exalted
Gen 41 |
About
20 years |
About
2,000 years |
Jesus raised from the dead and exalted
Act 3:15 Phi 2:9 |
|
| Joseph deals with his brothers in famine
Gen 42-44 |
The
Passage Of Time |
Jesus deals with the Jews in spiritual famine
(7 year Tribulation) Deu 11:30-31 |
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| Recognition of Joseph by his brothers
Gen 45:1 |
Recognition of Jesus by the Jews
At the 2nd coming Zec 12:10 |
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| Restoration of a relationship and provision
Gen 45:10-11 |
Restoration of relationship and provision in the millennium
Rev 20:4 |
Joseph a Prefigure of Jesus Christ
| Joseph and His Family Relationships | Jesus and His Family Relationships |
| Joseph’s brothers are driven out of their own land. Gen 42:1-3,5 | The Jews reject Christ and are driven out of their land in 70 AD. |
| Joseph’s brothers lived in a land where there was no grain. Gen 42:5 | The Jews, alienated from God, live in spiritual famine. Amo 8:11 |
| Joseph’s brothers wished to pay for what they received. Gen 42:3 | Jesus’ salvation is a free gift of which no one can buy or earn. Rom 5:15-17 |
| Joseph was unknown and unrecognized by his brothers. Gen 42:6,8 | Jesus is unknown and unrecognized by a majority of Jews.
2The 2:10-12 2Cor 3:13-16 |
| Joseph saw and knew his brothers.
Gen 42:7 |
Jesus has always seen and known God’s chosen people, the Jews.
Jer 16:17 Hos 5:3 |
| Joseph breaks down his brothers’ prideful attitude.
Gen 42:7-9 |
Christ breaks down the sinner’s prideful attitude before He brings healing.
Mat 15:25-28 |
| Joseph punished his brothers. Gen 42:7,17 | God chastens the Jews because he loves them. Hos 9:17 Heb 12:7 |
| Joseph’s brothers were put into prison for 3 days. Gen 42:17 | Just as Jesus was in the tomb for 3 days paying for our sin, the sinner is made to realize he deserves only punishment.
Rom 6:23 |
| Joseph’s brothers felt guilty because of their sin against Joseph. Gen 42:21 | The sinner feels guilty because of sin.
2Cor 7:10 |
| Joseph showed a way of deliverance through substitution – Simeon
Gen 42:17-19,24 |
Jesus showed a way of deliverance through his own substitution for sin. Act 5:31 |
| Joseph made it clear that deliverance is by grace. Gen 42:25 | Jesus makes it clear that salvation is by grace. Eph 2:8-9 |
| Joseph made provision for his brothers while they were in a strange land. (Judgment tempered with mercy)
Gen 42:25 |
The Lord makes provision for the Jews, blessing them abundantly, while they are far from God.
Jer 30:11 |
| Joseph’s brothers enjoy a brief respite from famine before fear sets in.
Gen 42:26 |
Jesus’ working with the sinner gives a temporary sense of peace before the sinner realizes he needs a relationship with the Lord. |
| The hunger of Jacob and his sons eventually becomes more acute.
Gen 42:27-28 |
The sinner realizes more and more his desperate need for a relationship with Christ. Act 16:30-31 |
Homework
Genesis 43-44
- Application of Gen 42
- What can you learn from Genesis 42 that can help you with troubled family relationships?
- Preparation for Gen 43-44
- Read Gen 43 and Gen 44
- What do you see in Judah’s actions that remind you of Christ?
- Based on these chapters, list as many ways as you can in which Joseph is a prefigure of Jesus Christ.
- Read Gen 43 and Gen 44
- Memory verse: Heb 7:22
