Gospel Light Christian Church Thru-The-Bible Series (23.4)

The Book of Genesis

Genesis Chapter 43 - Read this Bible passage once through before referring to the notes below.

Joseph Tests His Brothers for the Presence of Envy

v.1-10 We may be unable to ascertain exactly when Jacob and his family exhausted the supplies they had purchased from Egypt but it is certain that this event took place at least 5 years (cf. 45:6) before the seven-year famine ended (v.1) when Jacob asked his sons to “Go again, and buy us a little food” (v.2).  What is surprising is his sons’ refusal to go to Egypt without Benjamin.  The reason they gave was the demand of the governor – “Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you” (v.3).  The brothers were eager to return to Egypt (v.4) but they were convinced that they had to take Benjamin to clear themselves and free Simeon (v.5).

This response from his sons prompted a frustrated rebuke from Jacob, who saw their mentioning that they had another brother as yet one more sign of what was “ill with [him]” (v.6).  His sons protested their innocence (v.7).  Judah eventually succeeded in persuading Jacob to send Benjamin with him by pointing out that all their lives are in danger, including the “little ones” (v.8), by vowing to take the blame if anything should happen to Benjamin (v.9), by reminding him that they would have made two journeys already if Jacob had allowed Benjamin to go with them earlier (v.10).  The appeal to Jacob reflected a maturity and a sense of responsibility in his character because he did not made a hollow promise – “if I bring him not unto thee,…then let me bear the blame for ever”.

v.11-15 Jacob finally gave permission and wisely counseled his sons to bring “a present” (v.11) to obtain mercy and “double money” to pay for their original purchase as well (v.12) with Benjamin (v.13).  Jacob also prayed that “God Almighty [would] give [them] mercy before the man” (v.14).  Thus, they made their second journey to Egypt and “stood before Joseph” (v.15).

v.16-22 When “Joseph saw Benjamin with them” (v.16), he provided the best oriental hospitality of the day and gave instructions to entertain them with a meal in his house (v.17).  However, the invitation to the meal, which was probably intended as an act of kindness in setting them at ease before testing their jealousy of Benjamin, evoked great fear and guilt among the brothers.  This fear that “he may seek occasion against [them], and fall upon [them]” (v.18) hastened their attempt to make restitution for the money that had been found in their sacks in the earlier trip (v.19-22).  This attempt demonstrated their desire to maintain a totally honest dealing with others.

v.23-25 The response of the steward – “your God, the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money” (v.23) – would have set their hearts at ease with regard to the Egyptian ruler’s anger but would have also troubled them in their understanding of God’s dealings with them because they knew they were guilty before Him of a serious crime against their half-brother over 20 years ago.  This gracious answer is really quite marvelous for it touches on the mystery of God’s concealed and overruling providence in the lives of this men for there is a “treasure” in their sacks but they will only see it later, and not before they have demonstrated the changes in their character.

Simeon was released from prison and the brothers are now conducted into Joseph’s house and treated as guests – their donkeys are fed and they are given water with which to wash their feet (v.25).  They continued to proceed cautiously and prepared “the present” for Joseph on his arrival (v.26)

v.26-31 The brothers approach to Joseph was humble – “they bowed themselves to him to the earth” (v.26).  Joseph’s inquiry after their welfare and the welfare of their father (v.27) must have been comforting to them in what must have a very frightening moment for they answered “and made obeisance” (v.28) again.

Joseph then turned his attention to Benjamin and gave him a significant blessing, “God be gracious unto thee, my son” (v.29).  This might have raised quite a few eyebrows among the prostrated men because the governor had never spoken in that manner with such words to them before!  Making contact with his full-brother, even though at a formal distance, was extremely emotional for Joseph who was moved with compassion (v.30, “bowels did yearn upon his brother”).  It was also an answer to the prayer of Jacob (cf. 14) that mercy may be found “before the man,” which so got a hold of Joseph’s heart that he had to retire to “his chamber” to weep and regain his composure before beginning the meal (v.31).  The tender mercies displayed by Joseph at this point gives further assurances that he was not on a bitter path of hatred and revenge.

v. 32 The meal is served to three different groups – Joseph, his brothers, and the Egyptians.  Cultural distinctions, which forbade Egyptians from sharing a table, although they may share food with the Hebrews, were observed (v.32).  For a 2nd time, Joseph is separated from his brothers at meal time (see 37:25 for the first) but he is no longer the helpless victim in a pit now but the victorious  ruler of Egypt by God’s enabling.  As the victor in this family drama, he does not deprive his brothers of food, as they once deprived him.  A truly Spirit-filled man does not delight in gloating over his position of supremacy over others, neither does he abuse his powers to afflict others for self-gratification.  Believers need to realize that the genuine control of the Holy Spirit over the life of a Christian always transform his relationships and dealings with others because He is a gracious and personable God.

v.33-34 All that has occurred led into the testing of the brothers for envy at the banquet feast.  In what must have been a troubling display of apparent Divine intervention, the brothers realized that they had been seated according to their ages (v.33).  Thus, they “marveled one at another”.  This baffling situation now gives way to the real issue – a definite display of favouritism towards Benjamin.  With an increased sense of exposure to God’s intervention, Joseph focused their attention on Rachel’s “remaining” son by favouring Benjamin “five times” (v.34) over them.  If the men had retained any envy for this son of Rachel, Jacob’s favourite of the lot, this treatment was bound to excite it because the test was calculated to give them opportunity to rekindle the old animosity that caused them to sell Joseph into Egypt (cf. 37:4).  But the fact that “they drank, and were merry with him” revealed that they had the proper response to the test for envy because they could accept preferential treatment towards their brother and still rejoice at the feast.

Joseph’s brothers manifested a greater maturity about their lot in life.  From Judah’s kind speech to his father, their open acknowledgement about the money, to their ability to enjoy the feast in the midst of an open display of favouritism, they showed forth new strengths in their character.  These are changes that are necessary for the nation if they were to be God’s servants through which the blessing could continue.  In this chapter, they promised to take the blame for any disaster (responsibility); they acknowledged their culpability and attempted to make restitution for the money in their sacks (honesty); they retrieved their brother Simeon from prison in Egypt (unity); they recognized that God was at work in their midst (spiritual perception); and they rejoiced in their provision, even while a brother was receiving more than they were (gratitude).  Such is the Spirit-taught maturity of the people of God that God will use to bless the world and there is no difference in these timeless principles to believers today.