RECAP - Joseph Tests His Brothers Genesis 42:1-44:34
JOSEPH TESTS HIS BROTHERS (GENESIS 42:1-44:34) LUKE 8:17
CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORDS:
1. "Joseph's ten brothers went down to buy (HORSES, GRAIN) in Egypt. But Jacob did not send Joseph's brother (BENJAMIN, ISAIAH) with his brothers, for he said, 'Lest some calamity befalls him.' " GENESIS 42:3-4
2. "Now Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who (SOLD, TALKED) to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the (EARTH, SKY)." GENESIS 42:6
TRUE OR FALSE:
3. So Joseph recognized his brothers, and they recognized Joseph too. GENESIS 42:8
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5. "Then Joseph gave a command to fill their sacks with (MUD, GRAIN), to restore every man's money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey." GENESIS 42:25
6. "And it came to pass when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from (JERUSALEM, EGYPT), that their father said to them, 'Go back, buy us a little food.' " GENESIS 43:2
TRUE OR FALSE:
7. "So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went down to Egypt; they stood before Joseph." GENESIS 43:15
CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORDS:
8. "Now the men were (EXCITED, AFRAID) because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, 'It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may seek an occasion against us and fall upon us, to take us as (SLAVES, PRINCES) with our donkeys.' " GENESIS 43:18
9. As the brothers were heading home, Joseph commanded, 'Put my cup, the (SILVER, GOLD) cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain money.' " GENESIS 44:2
10. Now the cup was found in the sack of Benjamin, and as the brothers again stood before Joseph, "Judah said, 'What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? (GOD, PHARAOH) has found out the iniquity of your servants; here we are, my lord's slaves, both we and he also with whom the cup was found.' " GENESIS 44:16
Joseph Reveals Himself To His Brothers
Genesis 45:1-16
We will see that mercy is shown in a situation where mercy was not deserved. That is how God deals with us. He gives us mercy even though we do not deserve it. And because God is merciful towards us, we should be merciful towards others.
1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So, there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11 I will provide for you there because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise, you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’ 12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.” 14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward, his brothers talked with him. 16 When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were Pleased. 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, 18 and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’ 19 “You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20 Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.’”
LESSON TIME!
In Luke 6:36, Jesus says, "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful."
We live in a wicked world where people use us, cheat us, hate us, and treat us spitefully; yet we are called to love people who mistreat us because our Heavenly Father first loved us. Joseph forgave and showed mercy to his brothers after they had mocked him, hated him, sold him into slavery, and had even conceived a plan to kill him.
1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So, there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.
Joseph had seen his brother’s humble hearts and it probably encouraged him to reveal himself to them.
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household, and ruler of all Egypt.
Joseph missed his family. He still loved his brothers even though they had shown hatred to him.
This is a good picture of God’s heart towards this world. God’s love for us--when we were still enemies when we wanted nothing to do with Him--compelled Him to send His only Son to die on the cross for us.
What does John 3:16 say?
Joseph called his brothers near just as our Lord does us.
Although Joseph's brothers initially feared him, we need not fear our God,
for by Jesus' blood and forgiveness we may come boldly to His throne of grace (Hebrews 10:19-23; Colossians 1:19-20).
We are free from our sin and our pasts through
our belief in Jesus and His forgiveness; we may have free fellowship with God (Romans 8:1).
We see Joseph’s brothers were really amazed or blown away that this was Joseph.
Not only was it Joseph, but he was not having them thrown into prison or killed for their past actions.
What past action would they be fearful of?
He was not bitter or angry towards his brothers. Joseph knew that God had sent him to Egypt before his family to help them during the famine.
God was using Joseph to protect the nation of Israel. Joseph was able to recognize that although his brothers meant evil toward him, God meant it all for good (Genesis 50:20).
He acknowledged that God had been in control of his life; God's will,
not man's, controlled the circumstances of his life. With this realization, he was able to forgive those who had wronged him.
9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11 I will provide for you there because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise, you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’
Not only will Joseph be joined with his family again, but he will provide abundantly for them.
Again, Joseph’s words remind us of the heart and love of God for His children. He desires to be near to us and draws us close to Him to dwell in His amazing goodness.
Just as Joseph was to provide for his family, so God provides for His children.
He has promised to "supply all our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).
12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”
Joseph tells his brothers to make "haste" to tell their father that Joseph was alive and to tell him of all his glory in Egypt.
Joseph wanted to see his father as soon as possible. We see another picture. Our Heavenly Father commissions us to tell this spiritually dead world that Jesus lives and is wonderful. By His grace, we are to make haste and spread the news of the only One who can save man's starving soul.
How can we know Jesus as Lord?
14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward, his brothers talked with him. 16 When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were Pleased.
Joseph then kissed all of his brothers expressing his love and care for them.
Truly God had meant for good all that had happened to Joseph.
He brought Joseph’s family back together; He provided for them in times of severe famine.
God was with Joseph through all of his difficulties and enabled him to stand strong and keep a tender heart.
Ultimately, Joseph recognized that it was God, not man, who was in control of his life, allowing him to show mercy to those who offended him.
Who ells forgot about Joseph?
Jacob will one day will summarize Joseph’s character—a character made strong through “fiery” trials.
In Genesis 49:22-24, we read: “Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a well, His branches run over the wall. The archers have bitterly grieved him, shot at him, and hated him. But his bow remained in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob.”
As we look to our “Mighty” God, He will enable us to stand strong, even when others have treated us cruelly or unfairly, even in the face of betrayal by those we have loved.
With His help, we can forgive those who have sinned against us.
Joseph was called to suffer before He would see God’s promises fulfilled.
Joseph's life in many ways is a picture for us of Jesus’ life:
he was greatly loved by his father,
hated by his brothers,
plotted against,
sold for 30 pieces of silver,
arrested unjustly,
made to suffer,
and then went from suffering to becoming the savior of those who had rejected him.
MEMORY VERSE
LUKE 6:36 “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”
Next Week-
Jacob Moves to Egypt Genesis 45:17-50:26
PRAYER
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