GENESIS CHAPTER 42 ------------------ Verses 1-2, Jacob had discovered by observing others passing through or had received some report that corn was being sold in Egypt. And when he discovered that there was corn there he asked his sons why do they look so bewildered and at their wits end, just gazing at one another. He commanded that they go down into Egypt and BUY corn. It is always the natural man's reasoning to BUY his salvation with his own works. The word BUY appears 5 times in the first 10 verses. Verses 3-4, Joseph was in Egypt which left 11 of Jacob's sons with him, but Jacob would not let Benjamin go with the other ten lest some evil befall him. He did not want something to happen to Benjamin which he thought happened to Joseph. Benjamin was Joseph's full brother and half-brother to the other 10. Jacob loved Joseph and Benjamin with a special love. Notice in verse 3 that 10 are not called Jacob's sons, but rather Joseph's brethren. It is Joseph who is in view here, he is the type of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was the one that his brethren had sold into Egypt. It is Joseph who they will met and do obeisance to. Verse 5, The ten brothers of Joseph, and sons of Israel, came into Egypt to buy corn and were among others who were buying corn. The famine was in the land of Canaan, which was normally a very fruitful land, which shows God's hand in the matter. Egypt had corn, because of Joseph's knowledge of the famine before it arrive, which knowledge God had given him. Therefore God in His mighty providence is driving Joseph's brethren to him. Verse 6, Joseph's brethren bow down to him, him being the governor of the land and in charge of the corn, and not knowing that he was their brother, Joseph. But they fulfilled the dream that was told them so many years before. Gen 37:7 For, behold, we [were] binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. 8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. Joseph's brethren do not know who he is. They suppose that he is dead and gone. But he is the one to whom they will have to depend on. Just as the Jews rejected Christ and crucified him and think that he is dead, so to Joseph's brethren do not recognize him and think that he is dead. Compare Zech 12:10 Compare Zech 13:6-7 (This may be speaking about the false prophets in the previous verse, however.) But the Jews thought that Jesus was a false prophet and trust him though for it. JOSEPH PUNISHES HIS BRETHREN ---------------------------- Verses 7-8, Joseph knew his brethren even though they knew him not. Compare also 43:7 He speaks ROUGHLY to them. Joh 2:24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all [men], 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. Christ will deal roughly with the nation of Israel before his return. The great tribulation period will be Jacob's trouble. Verse 9, Joseph remembered all what had happened, the dreams that he had told them and their hatred toward him and he will chastise them now, but the end will be for their good. He charges them with being spies. Dr. Haldeman writes, "Joseph was the cause of their troubles now. Joseph was punishing them for their past dealing with himself. The secret of all Judah's suffering during the past centuries is to be found in the fact that the rejected Messiah has been dealing 'roughly' with them..." Verses 10-17, They explain to Joseph what has happened, but he wants them to bring their younger brother to him, thereby proving who they are and he puts them into prison THREE days. They show their self-righteousness by saying we are "TRUE MEN" in verse 11. They thought that they were TRUE and had come to buy their salvation. He is dealing roughly with his brethren, till they know who he is. READ Mat 23:29-39 He speaks of the Pharisees but also to the nation of Israel, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem..." Verses 18-20, Though Joseph is dealing roughly with them yet he is preserving their lives. God has dealt roughly with the nation of Israel, yet has preserved them. In verse 19 we see substitution. The ONE being held. Verses 21-22, We see their guilt for what they had done to Joseph starting to come home. They remembered what they had done and believed that what was coming upon them was for what they had done to Joseph. Judah will remember one day what they have done to Messiah. Verses 23-24, Joseph knew that they were speaking about him. He left them and wept. But the time was not right that he should be revealed to them yet. Jesus said, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not!" (Mat 23:37). READ Luke 19:41-44 JOSEPH MADE KNOWN TO THEM A WAY OF DELIVERANCE THROUGH SUBSTITUTION. -------------------------------------------------------------------- "Let ONE of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison..." Gen 42:19 Gen 42:24 And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes. Haldeman, "On the third day he caused Simeon to be bound in the place of his brethren, and declared that by this means they might be delivered, in the third day era, that is to say, on the resurrection side of the grave..." Verses 25-28, All of their money had been restored to them. They CANNOT buy salvation. They have the corn that is necessary to sustain their lives, but the money that they brought to buy it is restored unto them. They came to buy corn, but instead, it was given to them freely. A note here: Yet they are still in unbelief. The terms of the Gospel is without money and without price. They are astonished at what has happened to them. Their false peace and their false security in their ability to buy and sustain themselves has been shattered. Verses 29-34, They go back to the land of Canaan and relate to their father all that had befell them. Verse 35, They were afraid when they saw the money in their sacks. Something is amiss here. Why did they not have to pay for the corn? Of course we see grace here, that salvation can not be bought. Verse 36, Jacob is grieved about what has transpired. Now he has two sons gone and they want to take Benjamin away from him also. Verse 37, Reuben wants to be surety for Benjamin. Compare 43:9 where Judah says the same thing. Verse 38, Jacob refuses to send Benjamin to Egypt, even though Simeon is in prison in Egypt. However the first verse in the next chapter will remedy that situation.