# 50 2023 Dev. Ge. 42:1.God’s Provision! Read all of chapter forty two first . We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Ge.42:1 “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.’”
Ch.42 continues the story of Joseph in Egypt. God placed Joseph where He needed him to be to fulfill God’s purposes. Now, Joseph had been in Egypt for ten years or more. He had spent 3 years as a slave, he spent the next seven years collecting grain and now he is selling the grain.
Vs.1-7 As we saw in the former chapter, “all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph…”, that included Joseph’s brothers. Jacob sent all his sons to buy grain in Egypt but he kept Benjamin at home. It becomes obvious that Benjamin replaced Joseph in Jacob’s estimation. The ten brothers arrive in Egypt and present themselves to Joseph whom they did not recognize. Joseph, however, did recognize his brothers.
Vs.8-17 Joseph accuses his brothers of being spies, they do everything to try and convince Joseph otherwise, telling him about their family and that one brother was still at home. That motivated Joseph to test them by demanding they bring their younger brother. Joseph locked them up for three days, one day for every year he was a slave.
Vs.18-26 “On the third day, Joseph said to them, ‘Do this and you will live, for I fear God:’” Joseph sent them back to Canaan with grain but he locked up Simeon. The brothers started to discuss their situation and blamed each other for selling Joseph, which caused their problems now. They did not realize Joseph could understand what they discussed. Even so Joseph filled their bags and sent them on their way, with the promise that they would return with Benjamin. Actions have consequences, both good and bad!
Vs.27-38 When they found that their silver was returned to them they feared for their lives. “Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, “What is this that God has done to us?” They all saw what was happening to them was punishment, more than likely these events were teaching them the awareness of what they put Joseph and their father through. They told Jacob all that transpired, But “Jacob said to them, ‘You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!”’
It sounds as though Jacob had suspected that Joseph was lost through their actions. “Jacob said. ‘My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left…”’ yes the only one of his mother, Jacob’s favorite wife. Jacob had not yet learned one thing about the detriment of favoritism. God uses our shortcomings to bring about His purposes. Praise the Lord!
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