Genesis Part 3 Week 5

Day 1 

READ 

Genesis 42:27-28 

²⁷ But when they stopped for the night and one of them opened his sack to get grain for his donkey, he found his money in the top of his sack. ²⁸ “Look!” he exclaimed to his brothers. “My money has been returned; it’s here in my sack!” Then their hearts sank. Trembling, they said to each other, “What has God done to us?” 

Joseph had secretly instructed the payment of his brothers to be put back in their sacks. As they stopped for the night, they were horrified when one of them opened his sack and saw the money. Their first thought was to blame God for their situation. The brothers had a lot to learn. 

REFLECT 

Have you been guilty of questioning God’s goodness when faced with a difficulty? 

RESPOND   

With your friend read Genesis 42:27-34. The brothers made it back to Canaan and quickly reported to their father what had occurred in Egypt. They had not yet opened the remaining sacks.  

Day 2 

READ 

Genesis 42:35-36 

³⁵ As they emptied out their sacks, there in each man’s sack was the bag of money he had paid for the grain! The brothers and their father were terrified when they saw the bags of money. ³⁶ Jacob exclaimed, “You are robbing me of my children! Joseph is gone! Simeon is gone! And now you want to take Benjamin, too. Everything is going against me!” 

The fear of the family continues to grow as both the brothers and their father are terrified at what is happening. Now surely each brother feels guilty and wonders what penalty he will face from the one they referred to as the “governor of the land.” Jacob thought everything was against him but really everything was working out according to God’s sovereign plan.  

REFLECT 

Has there been an occasion when you were frightened and wondered what the outcome would be? Did you later realize God was bringing something good out of what seemed to you to be bad? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 42:35-38. Jacob immediately realized that what was at stake was his son Benjamin. Jacob’s life was so wrapped up in Benjamin he thought if something happened to him he would die.  

Day 3 

READ 

Genesis 43:1-2 

¹ But the famine continued to ravage the land of Canaan. ² When the grain they had brought from Egypt was almost gone, Jacob said to his sons, “Go back and buy us a little more food.” 

Jacob surely remembered that his sons needed to take Benjamin with them if they were to ask for more food. At this point the growing famine caused him to again tell his sons to go to Egypt and buy more food. The possibility of a hungry stomach caused him to momentarily overlook the request they had to return with Benjamin.  

REFLECT 

When struggling with one problem, has a more serious one caused you to forget the other one less serious? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 43:1-14. Even though Jacob resisted letting his sons take Benjamin to Egypt, His sons refused to go if Benjamin could not go with them. Judah reasoned with Jacob and was willing to accept the blame if things turned out wrong. Finally Jacob agreed. It is interesting that with Canaan experiencing famine there was so much family wealth that could be sent back to Egypt as forgiveness and more food was sought.  

Day 4 

READ 

Genesis 43:15-17 

¹⁵ So the men packed Jacob’s gifts and double the money and headed off with Benjamin. They finally arrived in Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph. ¹⁶ When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the manager of his household, “These men will eat with me this noon. Take them inside the palace. Then go slaughter an animal, and prepare a big feast.” ¹⁷ So the man did as Joseph told him and took them into Joseph’s palace. 

When the brothers arrived in Egypt with Benjamin, Joseph recognized him and ordered a large feast to be prepared. The brothers would eat in Joseph’s palace with him. The manager of the household took Joseph’s brothers inside Joseph’s palace and went to begin preparing a big feast. 

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes been caught in circumstances that seemed to be swirling around you so fast you didn’t understand what was occurring? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 43:15-23. The brothers explain to the household manager what had occurred with their money before and more was brought back now. He told them to relax, referred to their God and the God of their father, and acknowledged that he had their money. Then he brought out Simeon to them.  

Day 5 

READ 

Genesis 43:24-25 

²⁴ The manager then led the men into Joseph’s palace. He gave them water to wash their feet and provided food for their donkeys. ²⁵ They were told they would be eating there, so they prepared their gifts for Joseph’s arrival at noon. 

The brothers did not understand what was going on as they anticipated eating with the governor of the land of Egypt. They prepared their gifts for him not knowing it was Joseph. They thought there was a trap being set for them, not knowing everything was happening for their good. 

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes been confused with what is occurring around you, and then later realized it was for your good? Did this cause you to remember Romans 8:28? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 43:24-34. Remember the dreams Joseph had at 17 years of age about his brothers bowing down to him? Surely Joseph remembered this as his brothers bowed before him. First, Joseph asked about his father, and then turned his attention to Benjamin. This caused him so much emotion he had to leave the room to weep. The meal was served in the Egyptian style with the “Egyptian” not eating with the Hebrews. Joseph seated his brothers according to their age and served them from his table, giving Benjamin five times as much as the others.