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Genesis 42:9-24: Harsh treatment.

We may feel that Joseph was unduly hard on his brothers to treat them as he did. On the face of it, this seems quite cruel behaviour. But the twenty fourth verse provides an insight into his heart. He loved these men. He did all he did purposefully – just as the Lord Himself disciplines us for our good (Hebrews 12).

‘The true interpretation of Joseph’s treatment of his brethren is to be found in the supposition that he repeated toward them, as nearly as possible, the behaviour that they had shown to himself at the pit’s mouth, and this with no thought of retaliation, but that their consciences might be awakened, and that he might discover if they would deal differently with Benjamin than they had dealt with him. He needed to be sure of their repentance before he could trust himself to them again. His purpose, therefore, was in part secured when he heard them saying to each other in the dear old home-tongue, which they never expected him to understand, ‘’We are verily guilty because of our brother.’’ So God deals with us. The east wind blows bitterly in our faces…but behind them all is the tenderest love…’ F.B. Meyer: ‘Devotional Commentary’, p.30.

Joseph knew that Benjamin had to come to Egypt, because, so far, only ten brothers had bowed to him, but the dream said ‘’eleven’’: 37:9). When we are immersed in God’s Word we can know what we can expect, and so live by faith, and not by sight.

Genesis 42:7-8: A distant echo.

^“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.”

There is a distant echo of the story of Jesus in verse 8.

Although twenty-two years had passed, Joseph could easily recognise his brothers. But he was in Egyptian dress and spoke through an interpreter. They could not have conceived that this great Egyptian ruler was their long lost little brother Joseph.

Jesus came as Israel’s Messiah, but His ‘bretheren’, by and large, did not recognise Him. Their eyes were blinded.

However, there is coming a day of glorious revelation – something else paralleled in the Joseph story. Stay tuned!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I pray for that day when all Israel will be saved.

Genesis 42:3-6: Sure Word.

^“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 there was famine in the land of Canaan also.⁶ Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.” NIV

If God says something will happen, it will! We need not doubt it. The miraculous annals of fulfilled Biblical prophecy tells us it is so.

Of course, we must be clear we are not deluding ourselves; that we are not imagining God said it. But if it is in the Bible, and we understand it correctly, the Lord will bring it to pass in His own good time – even if it entails years of patient waiting on our part.

In this incident the ‘’sheaves’’ were gathering around the ‘’sheaf’’ and bowing down (Gen.37:7). His brothers had asked: ‘’Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?’’ (37:8). The dream fuelled their hatred. But it was God’s Word, and that Word is unstoppable.

‘’Not a single one of all the good promises the LORD had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came to true’’  (Joshua 21:45 New Living Translation).

PRAYER: Please forgive me, Lord, for the times I walk by sight and not by faith; when I live on feelings and not on every life giving Word which proceeds from your mouth

Genesis 42:1-2: If you know the answer…

“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.” NIV

How many of us regularly know the answer for a problem we are facing, yet we do the equivalent of Joseph’s brothers – essentially, nothing?! Maybe it’s because we don’t like the answer we know. It entails danger, difficulty and effort to lay hold of it. But there is an answer. Change is possible, but it is rarely without some cost. So it may feel easier to live with the status quo, even though you don’t like it.

What ‘answer’ are you evading at the moment, and why?

Yesterday we saw a comparison between Joseph and Jesus –  both exalted to a high place, and using their power and authority to feed the hungry. But I should also draw a contrast: whereas bread could be bought from Joseph, Jesus offers Himself, the Bread of life, without money and without price.

PRAYER: Lord, please forgive me for living with what I need not live with, when there is an answer in you. And forgive me for not always liking, or wanting, the answer

Genesis 41:53-57: Go to Jesus.

^“53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, ⁵⁴ and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food.⁵⁵ When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”⁵⁶ When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. ⁵⁷ And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.” NIV

We have, from time to time, noted that Joseph is a ‘type’, a foreshadowing of Jesus. Nowhere do we see this more clearly than here. We live in a world where there is gnawing spiritual hunger. It is there, whether people admit it or not. But when they do acknowledge the presence of their hunger, they may look for satisfaction in the wrong places (55). It is our task to point to Jesus; to say, ‘Go to Jesus and do what He tells you.’

Many years later, Jesus was to say, ‘’I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty’’ (John 6:35: New Living Translation).

The whole world is ‘hungry’ – in fact, starving. But in Jesus, and Him only, we will find all we need to satisfy us (57).

PRAYER: Thank you Lord, that Jesus is able to answer all the needs of the human soul. Forgive us, please, for all the times we look for satisfaction in other places. Help us to come to Jesus, and to keep on coming; to keep on looking to Him, until we see Him face to face.

Genesis 41:50-52: Journals in flesh.

^“50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. ⁵¹ Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, ‘It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.’ ⁵² The second son he named Ephraim  and said, ‘It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.’” NIV

Some Christians find it helpful to keep a journal. They may write some of their prayers in there. They may also record important salient of God’s dealings with them. Even the best memories can fail, and a journal might help you remember. Also, who can say how much your little book may bless and encourage someone who comes across it after you are gone?

For a few years, I have been trying to keep a journal. I realise this is not for everyone, but it helps me. It’s not as detailed as it might be, but I am often encouraged (and even surprised!) as I read back through these notes. Again and again I can trace God’s providential goodness in the things I’ve jotted down.

As I read these words in Genesis today, the thought strikes me that Joseph wrote a journal in flesh. He encapsulated the story of God’s grace towards him in the names of ‘’Manasseh’’ and ‘’Ephraim’’.

 Whether or not you keep a journal, determine that by God’s grace you will remember His goodness.

PRAYER: Lord, I don’t like the land of suffering, and, if I’m honest, I’d rather not be there. But I acknowledge you do some of your greatest work amid it’s barren wastes. Help me not to fight you, but to surrender to you at all times, and trust your loving purposes.

Genesis 41:41-49: ‘Bow down!’

^“41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.’ ⁴² Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain round his neck. ⁴³ He made him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, ‘Make way^[!’ Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.⁴⁴ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.’ ⁴⁵ Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.⁴⁶ Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and travelled throughout Egypt. ⁴⁷ During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. ⁴⁸ Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. ⁴⁹ Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.” NIV

I understand that a better translation of the words ‘’Make way!’’ (43) would be ‘’Bow down!’’  We again see Joseph as a ‘type’ of Christ. Jesus passed through suffering into glory, and before Him one day, ‘’every knee’’ will ‘’bow’’ and ‘’every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father’’ (see Philippians 2:1-11, especially 9-11).

• We need to ensure that we are bowing down now to the LORD Jesus Christ, with our whole lives laid before Him in submission and surrender;
• We need to call people from all nations to acknowledge the true and rightful Kingship of Jesus (‘’All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…’’ Matthew 28:18, 19), knowing that the King is always with us as we go on His Mission;
• We need to believe that in the end everyone ‘’in heaven and on earth and under the earth’’ will bow the knee to Jesus. Finally, all will be well.

I heard a preacher say, just this morning, that Jesus owns every room. Every room we find ourselves in – He owns it. It may be an office full of blaspheming, unbelieving colleagues, but He owns it.

Things can change. Did Joseph ever say, ‘Pinch me, I must be dreaming!!?’ Probably not. But he could have said, ‘Pinch me, I dreamt this!’ (See 32). His destiny was also ‘’firmly decided by God’’, and at the right time he found himself in a very different place and position.

Things can change. Jesus Christ is Lord, and He will have the final say in the universe…and in your life.

Genesis 41:17-40: In due time.

^“17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, ¹⁸ when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds. ¹⁹ After them, seven other cows came up – scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. ²⁰ The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. ²¹ But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up. ²² ‘In my dream I saw seven ears of corn, full and good, growing on a single stalk. ²³ After them, seven other ears sprouted – withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. ²⁴ The thin ears of corn swallowed up the seven good ears. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.’ ²⁵ Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, ‘The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. ²⁶ The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears of corn are seven years; it is one and the same dream. ²⁷ The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterwards are seven years, and so are the seven worthless ears of corn scorched by the east wind: they are seven years of famine. ²⁸ ‘It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. ²⁹ Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, ³⁰ but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. ³¹ The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. ³² The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon. ³³ ‘And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. ³⁴ Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. ³⁵ They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. ³⁶ This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.’ ³⁷ The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. ³⁸ So Pharaoh asked them, ‘Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?’  ³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. ⁴⁰ You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.’NIV

‘God invested thirteen years in making a man out of Joseph; when it comes to building character, God is never in a hurry.’ Warren W. Wiersbe.

‘’Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time’’ (1 Peter 5:6).

‘’Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’’ (Matthew 25:21).

The pattern in the Christian life, as we follow Christ Himself, is suffering and then glory (1 Peter 5:10).

We have walked with Joseph through the unjust suffering. It is now ‘’due time’’ for his promotion.

He was able to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams (25-32) with clarity and authority. But he went beyond this to give wise advice (33-36). The king liked the plan Joseph outlined, and decided that there was no one better suited to do the job than he. Note that ‘’spirit’’ is not capitalised in (38), because Pharaoh would not have had theological understanding of the Holy Spirit. However, he sensed that there was something different about this young man – something of a divine presence within him. May it be that we too, in our pagan world, stand out from the crowd for the glory of God.

Genesis 41:14-16: Glorifying God.

^“14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh. ¹⁵ Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.’ ¹⁶ ‘I cannot do it,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh, ‘but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.’ NIV

A good looking little boy was in a sweet shop in Scotland. Another lady in the shop praised him – possibly for his appearance. When she’d gone, another lady, working behind the counter, said to him, ‘Flattery is like perfume sonny. You can sniff the bottle, but you mustn’t swallow it!’

As we exercise our spiritual gifts, let’s aim to do so in the same spirit as young Joseph (16). There is no need for false modesty. That can come across as stupid. But we do need to find ways to make sure we point to God and give Him the glory only He deserves.

Here are two quotes from F.B. Meyer:

‘Our light must so shine that men may turn from us to Him from whom we have derived it.’

‘When the heart is full of God, the tongue will be almost obliged to speak of Him.’

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for the encouragement which comes my way; that, at times, I get to ‘sniff the bottle’. But please help me to consciously and deliberately place every compliment at your feet. Such words do not belong to me; they are for you. To you, Lord, be all the glory.