Hello! Welcome to today’s bible study on Genesis 42 where we will read about Joseph’s brothers in Egypt and what transpired between them and Joseph. According to Bible scholars, the events of Genesis 42 took place in 1875 B.C. approximately.
I encourage you to turn to Genesis 42 in your Bible. Kindly invite the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read and study Genesis 42. I mention this in all the Bible Studies because it is only through the Holy Spirit that we get fresh revelation and knowledge to understand the word of God. No one else can teach you better than the Holy Spirit Himself. I am using the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, just in case you want to know.
In the Bible Study on Genesis 41, we read about Joseph interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams and his rise to power in Egypt second only to Pharaoh. Well, in this Bible study on Genesis 42 we will read about Joseph’s brothers who went to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph not knowing that it was Joseph.
Backstory on Genesis 41
Pharaoh had two dreams about an upcoming famine in Egypt, but none of his astrologers or magicians could interpret them. The chief butler, who had been restored to his position after Joseph interpreted his dream in prison, remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh about his ability to interpret dreams. Joseph was brought before Pharaoh and interpreted his dreams about the upcoming famine, and also provided a solution.
Impressed with Joseph, Pharaoh gave him his signet ring and raised him to a position second only to himself in all of Egypt. Even Potiphar, under whom Joseph was sold as a slave, was now under Joseph’s authority. Everyone in Egypt was to obey Joseph and bow down to him as his chariots passed by. All this was the doing of the Lord to raise Joseph to a position of power in Egypt.
Without any further delay, let us study together Genesis Chapter 42, shall we?
Genesis 42 Summary
When Jacob learned there was grain in Egypt, he sent his ten sons to buy some, retaining Benjamin at home with him to protect him. Joseph, who was now lord of Egypt, recognized his brothers when they arrived but pretended not to. He accused them of being spies, kept them in prison, and demanded that they bring Benjamin before releasing them.
Joseph told his imprisoned brothers that one of them would stay in prison while the others might return to their families with grain. He also said to bring the youngest brother, Benjamin, to him to prove their trustworthiness.
The brothers discussed their regret over their treatment of Joseph while he pleaded with them in anguish and they did not listen to him when they sought to harm him and sell him to the Egyptians. Reuben, the firstborn, reminded the other brothers how he had warned them not to harm Joseph, but they hadn’t listened. They didn’t know that Joseph understood them, as he spoke to them through an interpreter. Joseph turned away from them and wept, then returned to them and took Simeon, binding him in prison in front of the other brothers.
Joseph gave a command to his officers to fill his brothers’ sacks with grain, to restore every man’s money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. They departed to Canaan from Egypt to their homes. When one of the brothers opened his sack to feed the donkey at the encampment on the way, he saw that his money was there in the mouth of his sack and he informed his other brothers. Their hearts failed them and they were afraid, saying “What is this that God has done to us?”
They then went to their father, Jacob, in Canaan and told him all that happened, how the lord of Egypt (Joseph) spoke roughly to them and took them for spies of Egypt. They also explained that they had told him that they were twelve brothers and that the lord of Egypt had asked them to bring back the youngest to confirm their trustworthiness.
When they checked their sacks, each man found his money there. This frightened Jacob and his sons. Jacob said that he was already bereaved of Joseph and Simeon, and now they wanted to take Benjamin too away from him. He felt like everything was working against him.
Reuben asked Jacob to let him take Benjamin to Egypt and promised that if anything happened to Benjamin, Jacob could kill Reuben’s two sons. But Jacob refused to let Benjamin go with Reuben because Benjamin’s brother Joseph was already dead, and he didn’t want to lose Benjamin too. If anything happened to Benjamin, it would break Jacob’s heart and he go with sorrow to his grave given his old age. Jacob did not know that his son Joseph was still alive and the governor of Egypt. Not did his other sons know about Joseph’s rise to power.
Genesis 42 Commentary
1. Genesis 42:6-8
God turned circumstances in such a way for Joseph that his brothers, who once envied and despised him, came to him for help during a famine. They had to bow down to Joseph thereby fulfilling the two dreams that God had given Joseph about his rise to power – the sheaves of corn bowing down to him and the eleven stars bowing down to him.
2. Genesis 42:14-20
Joseph’s human nature got the better of him and he sought to get even by putting his brothers in prison for what they had done to him. Everything that his brothers did to him would have returned to his mind as he relived what they had done to him. However, he feared God; therefore, he let his brothers go and retained only one of them behind so that they could bring to him his youngest brother, Benjamin, Joseph’s only blood brother.
In my opinion, Joseph might have yearned to see his younger brother Benjamin because his mother Rachel died during Benjamin’s birth and he would have been the closest to his younger brother who was the youngest of all of Jacob’s children.
3. Genesis 42:21
Joseph’s brothers finally felt guilty for their actions of betraying Joseph. They recalled the anguish of Joseph’s soul when he pleaded with them to not harm him or sell him to the Egyptians. Yet, when they spoke to Joseph, they told him that he was dead. They explained that they were twelve brothers born to the same father; ten of them had come to where Joseph was, and one of them was dead (Joseph), while the youngest, Benjamin, was with their father. They couldn’t go anywhere else for food, for Egypt was the only place where they could buy grain due to the famine.
4. Genesis 42:25-26
Joseph did what was right in the sight of the Lord. He filled his brothers’ sacks with grain and also returned their money. Despite the wrong that they had done to him, he blessed his brothers and behaved righteously in the eyes of the Lord because he feared God.
Genesis 42 Lessons
1. God cares about you despite your shortcomings
Despite the evil that Joseph’s brothers had done to him, the Lord blessed them and their families through Joseph because of His (The Lord’s) covenant with Jacob. He made a way of escape for them despite their wrongdoings. God’s character is revealed through Joseph here when he chose to bless his brothers with grain and also return their money despite the wrong they had done to him.
2. Your purpose is bigger than you
Joseph’s purpose was bigger than himself. It was not to serve only himself, his wife and children. God raised him to a position of power and gave him favor with Pharaoh to benefit not only Egypt but also all of Canaan. This is a powerful reminder that our purpose is bigger than ourselves and our households. Of course, we do enjoy the benefits of it, but our purpose is for the benefit of others, to serve others, bless them, and reveal the goodness of God to them. In fact, God reveals His goodness to others through us.
3. Be God-fearing and let go of revenge or getting even
We have to strive to be like Joseph and be led by the Holy Spirit. Responding in the flesh can lead to bad repercussions. When the Holy Spirit resides inside us, we have the fear of God in us to guide us to do what is right and to avoid what is wrong. Joseph initially reacted in the flesh by putting his brothers in prison to get even with them for three days. Later, he realized his error, and the fear of God was upon him. As a result, he blessed his brothers with grain and also returned their money. The fear of God made him behave righteously in the eyes of God.
We ought to stop putting God in a box and telling ourselves that God will forgive all our sins while deliberately sinning. Deliberate sin is a no-no. Joseph kept himself from sinning deliberately. We ought to revere God. He is Holy and Just, the Creator of the Heavens and The Earth. Just because He is patient doesn’t mean we should try to take advantage of His forgiveness to keep sinning. We are only fooling ourselves by doing such things. I got a little stirred up in my spirit here writing this second paragraph 🙂
4. Lean not on your own understanding
Joseph could have spent his time in Egypt seething and seeking revenge on his brothers. But he served the Lord and was a slave under Potiphar, willing to interpret dreams based on God’s guidance. He didn’t blame God for his circumstances but was patient for thirteen years (He was sold into slavery when he was 17 and he stood before Pharaoh to interpret dreams when he was 30). Joseph kept himself from sinning, even when facing advances from Potiphar’s wife.
He didn’t lean on his own understanding. If we trust the Lord no matter our circumstances and lean on Him, He will exalt us in due time and deliver us from whatever is keeping us behind just like He did with Joseph. Even if nothing seems to be moving on the surface, He is always working on our behalf.
Conclusion
This concludes the bible study lesson on Genesis 42. I hope you enjoyed this free bible study and found it helpful in your Bible study journey. Feel free to share it with others. Also, share your thoughts about it and what the Holy Spirit has revealed to you about Genesis 42. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. I will get back to you as soon as I can.
What are your thoughts about Genesis 42?
Until next time!