• : Genesis Chapters
• 42
• 43
• 44

Severe famine & Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt for food

• Joseph serves his brothers
• Benjamin singled out
• Key Verses and Themes
• Joseph’s dream fulfilled

Gen 2:6, 43:26, 28,

In these verses, we see the literal fulfilment of Joseph’s dreams that we read about in

• Gen 37:5-9

Mercy

— A general theme we observe in this chapter is Joseph showing mercy to his brothers despite what they have done to him, namely selling him into slavery out of extreme jealousy and hate, which led to a lot of suffering for him in Egypt. In

Week 6

, we saw some similarities between Joseph and Christ, and this week we see another major similarity in the mercy Joseph possesses and shows to his brothers.

References to the New Testament & our Church practices

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See discussion questions.

• Discussion Questions

GENESIS 42

Why didn’t Jacob send Benjamin with his brothers the first time they went to Egypt, and why was he so reluctant to let him go after that?

After “losing” Joseph, Jacob was more protective of Benjamin, his youngest son, and feared losing him too, especially since Benjamin’s only full blood brother was Joseph (they are Rachel’s sons).

Why did Reuben say “his blood [Joseph] is now required of us” in Gene 42:22 when talking to his brothers?

• Remember from
• Gen 37:22

that Reuben wanted to rescue Joseph from his blood-thirsty brothers, and in

Gen 37:29

we see his anguish over realizing that they sold Joseph while he was away. But why say “his blood is required of us”?

• See
• Gen 9:5-6

, where God gives Noah and his sons a law regarding this.

Why couldn’t Joseph’s brothers recognize him?

Firstly, the last thing they would expect is for Joseph to now be the 2nd-in command to Pharaoh in Egypt, but Joseph also would have been dressed like an Egyptian ruler, with their head covering, earrings/jewelry, possible face markings (makeup), etc. Additionally, as we read in

• Gen 42:23

, Joseph spoke to them through an interpreter.

GENESIS 43

Why were the brothers astonished that Joseph sat them according to their birthright? (Oldest to youngest)

Since they believe he is a complete stranger to them, they must have assumed he had some sort of power of divination that he set them in order like that. Divination and other practices of the devil were more commonplace in these times, as men were more given over to the devil and his demons.

• GENESIS 44

Did Joseph admit he practices divination in Gen 44:15?

No, he was still acting as if he was an Egyptian to his brothers. So he said that to make it more believable.

This Week's Study

—Make a concerted effort to read what we skip in class, as now the gaps are bigger, and some important context is left out.