Joseph: Powerful Mercy (Part II)

• Review:
  • Joseph is 2nd in power in Egypt, but his family does not know that he is even alive
  • There is a destructive famine across the then known world

  • Which is the only country that has food?

  • Who is in charge of distribution?

  • Joseph’s family comes to Egypt to buy food from Joseph
  • Joseph pretends like he does not know them

2They do not recognize Joseph

• They sold Joseph into slavery, now they beg for food from him to survive

• How do we understand that the brothers have adapted over the last 20 years to what they did to Joseph?

• How has Jacob changed?

• As a people interested in justice…how are we to respond?

• Joseph reacted to his brothers with surprising emotion – what was it?

• Joseph decided to play a game with his brothers. What did he do?

• The brothers arrive back home and what did they tell their father about the meeting with “The Man?” Was their story true?

• What final problem did the brothers have when they unpacked their bags?

3The Problem…The Food Runs Out

• Sounds the same as the beginning of chapter 42…yet different. How? (Gen.43:1-2)

• Judah suggests that they would not even be able to see “the Man” unless Jacob lets Benjamin accompany them Gen.43:3-5
• Judah eventually brings the conflict to an end with the same logic that sent them to Egypt in the first place…we will die without food! Gen.43:8-10
  • Now there is more at stake – Judah brings up the ’s welfare
  • Judah was willing to “stand surety” for
  • This was a very risky offer
  • This could mean that Jacob could demand Judah’s life if he didn’t return with Benjamin
  • Overall, the need was – they could have made the journey 2 times in the days it took to debate this request of Joseph

4The Solution…Go Buy Food

• Jacob relinquishes & sends the brothers again to Egypt…with Benjamin Gen.43:11-14

  • Perhaps this is a glimpse at the Jacob we knew before who trusted God as his audience with his brother Esau grew near?

  • Jacob’s method of “reaching out” to the Egyptian ruler was very similar to how he “reached out” to the heart of Esau to calm his anger
  • Jacob only tacks Benjamin on at the end of the permission speech
  • In this process, Jacob has now sent EVERYTHING that he has to Egypt
  • Jacob also sends them with a – how is this significant in Jacob’s life?
  • Jacob refers to God as “ ” – why?

  • How much faith do you think that the last phrase of Jacob’s prayer reveals?

5The Tension Rises as the Brothers Address “The Man”

• The reaction of “The Man” was expected to simply be letting Simeon go and supplying the brothers with their request for food – instead, they get a dinner invitation. Gen.43:15-16
• The brothers explain finding the money delicately Gen.43:20-22
• Joseph himself changes in his attitude toward the brothers Gen.43:26-34
• Joseph remembered his dreams, but still there were only 10 brothers and no parents Gen.43:26
• Suddenly, Joseph sees Benjamin Gen.43:29
  • Up to this point – Joseph was “The ”
  • Up to this point – the brothers were “The ”
  • Here suddenly, Benjamin is called “brother” and “ ’s ” – to emphasize the bond between Benjamin & Joseph
• Finally, the scene is culminated in a party arranged by “The Man” Gen.43:33-34
  • Benjamin is served more than the others at the dinner
  • The seating arrangement is also particular in some way so much so that the brothers were “stunned”
  • Joseph was luring these boys into a false sense of – and with enough alcohol, they fell right into his hands

6Joseph Plans His Next Test… “Let the Games Begin II”

• As the brothers recover from their banqueting, Joseph sets them up Gen.44:1-3
  • He gives them than they bought
  • He returns their
  • He hides his in Benjamin’s bag
  • The brothers hit the road, unaware of the problems ahead
• Joseph sends his servant to accuse the brothers of wrong-doing Gen.44:4-5
  • He accuses them outright
  • The servant’s accusation presumes that these brothers even know what the silver cup was all about!
  • This was probably more of a than a cup
  • “Divination” was with (water, wine, oil, etc.) in a special bowl in Egyptian times
• The brothers defend themselves based on their proven character Gen.44:7-9
  • They argued that they returned the money on their previous trip
  • They were so confident of their innocence that they offered the guilty man’s life for punishment while the other brothers would be enslaved
  • Suddenly, Joseph’s games become clear…he is singling out Benjamin

  • Would they sacrifice him to save their own skin?

  • Would they treat him as they did Joseph? (Gen.44:10)

• So, the party is searched Gen.44:11-12
  • The brothers are so convinced of their innocence that they “leap” from their steeds
  • The tension mounts as the search begins with the oldest and works down to the youngest
  • The tragedy of this story is, once the search begins, the fate of the thief is sealed by the brother’s own words…
  • As the story comes to a climax, Benjamin’s life hangs in the balance and the brothers’ fate remains in great jeopardy.
  • And the reader waits with bated breath…
  • The silver cup is found and the brothers begin a VERY long journey back to face “The Man” for their crime

  • Why would Benjamin decide to do this terrible thing and risk their lives?

  • What would “The Man” do to them?

  • What would happen to Benjamin; the one they swore to protect?

  • What would their father think as he waits days, months, and years with no word and nothing left?

  • The brothers remain silent, but their actions speak volumes.
  • “When Joseph disappeared, it was only Jacob who tore his clothes; now all the brothers do, the first clear sign of fraternal solidarity. Whereas they had contrived to dispatch Joseph to Egypt, this time they voluntarily return with Benjamin to Egypt.”
  • - G. Wenham (WBC, vol.2, p.425)

  • But…what fate awaits them?