Genesis 42:1-20 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Genesis 42:1-20. Let’s go!
Genesis 42:1-2 (NIV)
1 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?”
2 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.”
On verses 1-2: Jacob by this point was old, but his penchant for wanting to get things done and finding that the people around him were too slow was alive and well.
Genesis 42:3-20 (NIV)
3 Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.
4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him.
5 So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also.
6 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.
7 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.”
8 Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.
9 Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”
10 “No, my lord,” they answered. “Your servants have come to buy food.
11 We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.”
12 “No!” he said to them. “You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”
13 But they replied, “Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”
14 Joseph said to them, “It is just as I told you: You are spies!
15 And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.
16 Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!”
17 And he put them all in custody for three days.
18 On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God:
19 If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households.
20 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.
On verses 3-20: Joseph’s brothers, other than Benjamin, arrive in Egypt and bow before Joseph the prime minister, not realizing that they are bowing before their long lost brother. Joseph, knowing it is his brothers, pretends that he doesn’t know them and calls them spies. Joseph’s brothers reply by saying that they are “honest men, not spies” (v11). Joseph decides to test their honesty by having one of the brothers stay in prison while the rest go back to retrieve their youngest brother, to prove indeed that they were telling the truth.
I find it interesting that Joseph’s brothers stand before Joseph and call themselves “honest men”, not realizing that the very brother that they abandoned, sold and lied to their dad about is standing right in front of them. For me it’s a reminder of the tendency of many people to exaggerate their good qualities and downplay their weaknesses, especially when they stand before a higher authority, and especially before God. But God sees through that game we play. Just as Joseph knew how dishonest his brothers could be, so God sees right through the resume we try to give Him. Yet like Joseph, who would show mercy to his brothers, God shows tremendous mercy to us. So instead of exalting ourselves before God, we are much better off humbling ourselves before Him.
Heavenly Father, You see right through me. Nothing is hidden from You, and yet despite all the weaknesses You see in me, You look at me with love, mercy and compassion. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
