Chapter 42

Before we move to chapter 42 let me summarize where we have been and add some comments. After chapter 38 we heard nothing of the family of Jacob. The Spirit concentrates on Joseph. In chapter 37 we saw how Joseph was sent by his father on an errand of mercy to his brothers, and to inquire into their welfare; that Joseph found them and they were not pleased to see him, and sold him into the hands of the Gentiles.

Then we followed his career in Egypt, and saw that the Egyptian too treated him badly, casting him in prison where he was shamed and humiliated. We saw how God came to his rescue, bringing him out of prison and making him governor of all Egypt. Finally, we learned how that Joseph’s exaltation was followed by a serious famine and Joseph came before us as the dispenser of bread for any in need. But all during this time the brothers of Joseph had faded from view, but now, in the time of famine they come into the picture again.

All of this is clearly a type of Jesus. Joseph foreshadowed the Beloved of the Father, sent to His brothers according to the flesh, seeking their welfare. But they despised and rejected Him. They sold Him, and delivered Him up to the Gentiles. The Gentiles unjustly condemned Him to death, and following the crucifixion, His body was placed in the prison of a tomb. In due time God delivered Him, and exalted Him to His own right hand. Following His ascension, Jesus has been seen as the Savior of the world, the Bread of Life for a perishing humanity.

During the present age the Jews are on the sidelines so to speak. It is the age of the Gentiles. But soon this age will be over and then will come the tribulation era before which the Holy Spirit will be removed from the earth, and a spiritual famine will ensue. It is during this famine that God will once again deal with the Jews, His brothers.

· Genesis 42:1-4 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you keep looking at each other?” He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.” Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him. So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also.

Jacob and his family were in danger of dying because of the famine so his sons were sent to Egypt. This was a prophecy in action. Just a few years after his brothers had rejected Joseph, they were forced by famine to leave their land and go down to Egypt, so a few years after the Jews had rejected Jesus and delivered Him up to the Gentiles, God’s judgment descended on them, and the Romans drove them from their land, and dispersed them throughout the world.

Joseph was unknown and unrecognized by his brothers.

· Genesis 42:6-8 Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.”

Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. How interesting that Joseph was the governor of Egypt but his brothers didn’t know him. So it has been with Jacob’s descendants ever since the time they rejected their Messiah. They believe that he is dead.

Joseph saw and knew his brothers.

· Genesis 42:7 As soon as Joseph saw his brothers he recognized them…..

Yes, Joseph “saw” his brothers and he “knew” them. His eye was on them and he personally knew them. The eye of Jesus has been on the Jews all through this period of rejection and He certainly knew/knows every one of them.

Joseph punished his brothers.

· Genesis 42:17 And he put them in custody for three days.

Joseph not only spoke harshly to his brothers, but he took them in custody for three days. One way to view his behavior is that he was toying with them before he revealed himself as their brother. Another view was that he was punishing them for rejecting him and selling him to the Egyptians. The secret of all of Judah’s suffering during the past centuries is to be found in the fact that they rejected their Messiah and He has been dealing roughly with them ever since. Nothing can account for the hardship of the Jews, but the judgment and discipline of the Lord.

Joseph made known to them a way of deliverance through substitution.

· Genesis 42:18-19,24 On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you shall live, for I fear God; If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back to your starving households. But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do…….He turned away from them and began to weep, but then turned back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.

On the third day he caused Simeon to be bound and declared that this was a test of their honesty. It was the third day when Joseph made known the means of freedom and if they brought their younger brother back they would get Simeon out of custody. Here we see the principle of substitution demonstrated. If people would honestly come to their Savior, their past sins would be forgiven. Simeon was the substitute.

Joseph made provision for his brothers while they were in a strange land.

· Genesis 42:25 Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man’s silver back in the sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. After this was done for them, they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left.

Although they did not recognize Joseph, and although he spoke harshly to his brothers and punished them by putting them in jail, his judgments were tempered with mercy. Joseph would not allow his brothers to starve. They were in a strange land, and he ministered to their needs. The Jews have been severely punished by God and they have suffered as few others have, yet they have been miraculously preserved as a nation. God has provided for them even as Joseph provided for his brothers.

Joseph was made known to his brothers at the second visit.

· Genesis 45:1-2 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. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.

At their first visit, though Joseph knew his brothers, they did not know him. It was on the occasion of their second visit to Egypt that Joseph revealed himself to them. How amazingly accurate is this type. The first time Jesus was seen by His brethren (the Jews) in the flesh, they did not know Him, but when they see Him the second time He will be known by them. This same concept was true of Moses and Israel, Joshua and Israel, and David and his brothers. Each of these was a type of Jesus. The first time He appeared to Israel they rejected Him; but at His second coming they will accept Him as their leader.

Joseph’s brothers confess their guilt in the sight of God.

· Genesis 44:14-16 Joseph was still in the house when Judah and his brothers came in, and they threw themselves to the ground before him. Joseph said to them, “What have you done/? Don’t you know that a man like me can find things out by divination?” “What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servant’s guilt. We are now my lord’s slaves---we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup.”

In Ezekiel God says of the Israelites:

· Ez. 20:43 There you will remember conduct and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done.

So it was with Joseph; he did not reveal himself to his brothers until they acknowledged their evil past. And so will Israel have to turn to God in real repentance before He sends His Son back to them.

Joseph’s brothers were, at first, terrified at his presence.

· Genesis 45:3 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.

When Israel first gazed on Jesus, They rejected Him and actually were responsible for His death. He troubled them because He said he was God and He did miracles that they did not understand.

Joseph acted toward his brothers in grace.

· Genesis 45:4-5, 15 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! 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……And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.

This passage speaks for itself in terms of how Joseph dealt with his brothers. In the same way when Jesus returns, His brother Israelite (the remnant) will be dealt with in great mercy.

Joseph was revealed as a man of compassion.

As we have just seen in verses 1 and 2, Joseph was overcome with compassion for his brothers and he wept. Seven times we read that Joseph wept and each time it was in connection with his loved ones. This should surely remind us of the tenderheartedness of Jesus, who was often moved with compassion for others. It was for His loved ones that He wept. Joseph’s brothers go out praising him. “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.’” Likewise, after Israel has been reconciled to Jesus they will go about telling of the glory of the Messiah.

Joseph’s brothers bow themselves before him as the Representative of God.

· Genesis 50:18-19 His brothers came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?

You will remember that the event that started all the trouble between Joseph and his brothers was that he told them about a dream where they would bow down to him. Well, here this prophetic dream is fulfilled. Joseph’s brothers acknowledge his supremacy and take the place of servants before him. How much clearer could the type be? In a coming day all Israel will fall down before Jesus and acknowledge that He is Lord of lords and King of kings.

Joseph’s brothers lived in a land where there was a famine.

· Genesis 42:5 So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also.

There was nothing in Canaan to sustain them. To remain in Canaan meant that they would starve. So Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain. Such is the condition of those who are the ungodly. Alienated from God, they are living in a world of spiritual famine, and they have no food for the soul.

Joseph’s brothers wanted to pay for what they received.

· Genesis 42:3 Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.

The word “buy” occurs five times in the first ten verses of this chapter. They obviously intended to “buy” that which would sustain them. This is the nature of natural man. His mind does not consider receiving “a gift” from God. He thinks that he must “earn” God’s favor and merit God’s acceptance.

Joseph’s brothers were now having pangs of conscience.

· Genesis 42:21 They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come upon us.

Notice they said this to “one another,” their consciences not yet in the presence of God. The analogy holds good in the experience of the unregenerate. As God begins to work in our soul, the conscience becomes active, and there is acknowledgment of sin, but at this stage the awakened and troubled one has not yet come to the point where he will take the place of a lost sinner before God.

Joseph makes it known that deliverance is by Grace.

· Genesis 42:25 Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man’s silver back in his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey.

The Bread of Life cannot be purchased. It must be accepted as a free gift, if it is received at all. The terms of the Gospel are “without money and without price.” This principle is shown here when Joseph, as a type of Jesus, orders the money to be restored to those who came to “buy” the corn. This is a foreshadowing of the Biblical truth:

· Eph. 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved---and this not from yourselves, it is a gift from God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Jesus Christ to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Joseph’s brothers now enjoy a brief respite.

· Genesis 42:26 …they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left.

The brothers had been brought out of prison, got their corn, and were on their way home. But they had not yet been reconciled to Joseph. Their relief was temporary. Deeper events were before them. Isn’t this just the experience of the awakened sinner? After the first experience of conviction is over, there generally follows a time of relief, a temporary peace is enjoyed, before the sinner is truly and savingly brought into the presence of Jesus.

The brother’s peace is soon disturbed.

· Genesis 42:27-28 At the place where they stopped for the night one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack. “My silver has been returned,” he said to his brothers. “Here it is in my sack.” Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”

The type here is easily interpreted. God will not allow the awakened soul to rest until it rests in Jesus alone. That first peace is often disturbed.

Now notice what we see:

· Genesis 43:1-2, Now the famine was severe in the land. So when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”

The hunger of the soul becomes more acute in the one with whom the Spirit is dealing; the sense of need is deepened; the “famine” conditions of this poor world are felt more deeply. And there is no relief until he come into the presence of the One who is the True Governor of Egypt.

Joseph’s brothers continue to manifest a legal spirit.

· Genesis 43:11, 15 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift—a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds…..So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver, and Benjamin also. They hurried down to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph.

Think about this: once a person has a slight taste of the presence of God in their life, they are likely to double their efforts to please God. They want to turn over a new leaf and try harder to earn God’s approval. This was the way the brothers attempted to win Joseph’s approval. How little did they really know that Joseph was not interested in their presents. And how little does the new Christian understand that Jesus wants only their obedience. But in verse 16 Joseph said:

· Genesis 43:16 “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare dinner; they are to eat with me at noon.”

Likewise Jesus has prepared a spiritual feast for us. He is the provider; we are the receivers.

Joseph’s brothers are made happy again.

· Genesis 43:33-34 The men had been seated before him in order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in amazement. When portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as anyone else’s. So they feasted and drank freely with him.

A superficial observer would have concluded that all was well, but a right relationship had not yet been established. God’s saving work goes much deeper than surface emotions. Remember the parable of the “sower”:

· Matthew 13:20-21, “The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time.”

Joseph is determined to bring his brothers out into the light.

· Genesis 44:1-2 Now Joseph gave these instructions to the steward of the house; “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each man’s silver in the mouth of his sack. Then put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain.” And he did as Joseph said.

It was essential for the wrong that had been done to be settled. A confession of guilt was necessary. And this is the goal God has in view. He desires to bring us into fellowship with Himself. But He is Holy, and sin must be confessed before we can be reconciled to Him.

Joseph’s brothers, at last, take their true place before God.

· Genesis 44:3-4 As morning dawned, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys. They had not gone far from the city when Joseph said to his steward, “Go after those men at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them, “Why have you repaid good with evil?

They had been in the presence of Joseph, but they had not recognized him. They had been happy in his presence and had departed in a good mood. You know, the Lord sends His Holy Spirit to follow up His work in the heart of the soul of the ones He touches. The “steward” brought the men back into Joseph’s presence. It is the Holy Spirit that brings the convicted sinner into the presence of God.

· Genesis 44-16 “What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servant’s guilt. We are now my lords slaves---we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup.”

What a change in their earlier attitude when they affirmed that they were “true men”. Now they make no attempt to clear themselves but acknowledge their guilt, saying that God has found them out. How perfectly this follows the pattern of the Spirit’s work in the sinner. Not until we stop making excuses for ourselves, not until we admit our sinfulness, can we be blessed.

Joseph made himself known to his brothers.

· Genesis 45:1 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.

Now that Joseph’s brothers had acknowledged their guilt he was ready to reveal himself to them. Notice that as he made himself known to his brothers, he demanded that all the servants leave them alone. So it is when Jesus reveals Himself to the self- confessed sinner, nothing must come between them. The sinner must be truly alone with Jesus.

Joseph invites his brothers to come near to him.

· Genesis 45:4 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.”

· Genesis 45:7 “But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”

Can there be anything clearer as far as the type is concerned. The period of separation is over. The grace of Joseph is overwhelming, just as the grace of Jesus is overwhelming to the sinner who finally recognizes that Jesus is truly the Savior. Jesus invites the sinner to come close to Him and then he reveals Himself to them. Jesus has told us in the Word that God sent Him to us to save us and a great salvation it is. Joseph tells his brothers of the full provision made for them.

· Genesis 45:10-11 “You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me ---you, your children and your grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 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.”

How this tells in type, what is in the heart of Jesus! He desires His redeemed to be near Him. Additionally, He promises to care for them and all that they have.

Joseph gives proof that he is fully reconciled to his brothers.

· Genesis 45:15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.

The “kiss” speaks of forgiveness and love. It was the same way that the prodigal son was welcomed home. Notice that it was Joseph who kissed them, not the brothers who kissed Joseph.

God also takes the initiative in our lives. Do not overlook the last phrase. After Joseph kissed them, they talked. When we are reconciled with God, it is important for us to talk with Him.

Joseph’s joy is shared by others.

· Genesis 45:16 When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased.

There was rejoicing all through the palace. Likewise when one sinner comes to Jesus, there is rejoicing in heaven.

Joseph’s brothers now go out seeking others. Joseph gave his brothers a commission when he said:

· Genesis 45:9,13 “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…Tell my father about all the honor accorded to me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”

Our Lord commissions those whom He saves to go out telling others what God has done for them. He also told them to tell others that he, Joseph, was alive. This is what is expected of those whom God has saved. Others need to know that the Savior is alive and has promised to make eternal provision for them.

Joseph gives his brothers a word of admonition as they go out.

· Genesis 45:24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way.”

The flesh is still in us. The Devil seeks to stir up a spirit of rivalry and jealousy. Each of us needs to realize that there is something new within us and that is a spirit of kindness and gentleness.

Now consider what we might call the sequel:

Joseph’s brothers were faithful to the commission given them. They did not invent a message of their own as they approached Jacob. Joseph had told them what to say; their business was to repeat the words of Egypt’s “governor”. Jacob and his household---seventy in all--- went down to Egypt and were royally received by Joseph.

We are not to invent our own message. We are sent out to “preach the Word”, and as we are faithful to our calling, God will reward us, for He had promised that His Word “shall not return to Him void.”