GENESIS CHAPTER 43
                           ------------------

Verse 1, Jacob had no intention of sending Benjamin down into
  Egypt, but God's purpose was different, so we read "And the
  famine [was] sore in the land."
  Yet the mean while, Simeon is still in Egypt, bound waiting for
  their return with Benjamin.

Verses 2-5, When the corn, which they had gotten in Egypt, was
  depleted Jacob wanted his sons to go back into Egypt to buy
  more corn, but Judah reminds Jacob of what the man in charge,
  who was really Joseph, had told them. They were not to come
  back without their youngest brother.

Verses 6-7, Israel (Jacob) asks Judah why they had even told the
  man that they had a brother. The whole situation is about to
  kill Jacob's soul. He does not want to loose his only remaining
  son by his wife Rachel, whom he loved the most.
  But Judah tells Jacob that the man asked if they had another
  brother. Of course the man being Joseph, knew all about their
  family and knew what questions to ask them.

Verses 8-9, Judah pleads with his father to let him bring
  Benjamin to Egypt with him, that they do not starve to death.
  He wants to be surety for the lad.

   Heb 7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better
     testament.

   surety -
   A. Barnes: "The Greek word for 'surety' properly means
   bondsman: one who pledges his name, property or influence,
   that a certain thing shall be done. When a contract is made, a
   debt contracted, or a note given, a friend often becomes the
   surety in the case, and is himself responsible if the terms of
   the contract are not complied with."

   In like manner Christ became our surety in the covenant made
   before the world began.
   Only a helpless, lost sinner needs a surety.

Verse 10, Judah seems to be worried about the situation. Their
  lives are at stake here along with their families. And had they
  not lingered they would have already been to Egypt and would
  have returned with the corn.

Verse 11, Jacob wants them to bring presents to the man. He wants
to make sure that they bring Benjamin back to him.

Verse 12, He wants them to take double the money. The money that
  they should have paid for the corn the first time and then the
  money for this time. Thinking that the money being in their
  sacks was an oversight by the Egyptian.

Verse 13, Jacob or Israel aggress to send Benjamin with them to
  Egypt.

Verse 14, Israel acknowledges God's sovereignty in the matter. If
  they would return with all of his children then it would be
  because of God's mercy. Remember Simeon is still bound in
  Egypt.

Verse 15, they depart with the presents and the money and also
  with Benjamin.

Verses 16-17, When Joseph sees Benjamin he tells his servant to
  prepare a feast.

Verses 18-22, Joseph's brethren are worried that they are here in
  the man's house because of the money that was in their sacks,
  thinking that he may accuse them of stealing it, so they
commune with they Egyptian who was in charge of the door and told
him the whole story.

Verse 23, The doorman told them not to worry, that he knew all
  about their money, and in fact he had it. He told them that
  their God had been gracious to them.
  We had seen that this was a type of salvation by free grace in
  the preceding chapter. How that they had wanted to purchase
  their salvation with money, but it would be free.
  Here the servant of Joseph is telling them that their God had
  given them treasure in their sacks.

  Simeon is then brought out to them.

Verse 24, They are brought into Josephs house and they washed.

Verse 25, They made ready the presents for Joseph, which they had
  brought from their home.

Verse 26, They present the present to Joseph and once again they
  bow themselves to Joseph, which thing he had foretold them in
  his dreams so many years before and for which thing they hated
  him.

Verse 27, Joseph inquires of them of the welfare of their father
  who is indeed his father also.
  Israel did not come into Egypt with his sons, but through the
  providence of God, he would come unto Joseph.

Verse 28, They tell Joseph that his health is good, and they
  bowed their heads to Joseph and made obeisance to Joseph, not
  realizing who he was.

Verse 29, Joseph had a very special love for his full brother. He
  said, God be gracious to Benjamin.
  It would seem that they would have wondered about those words
  and also the words of Joseph's servant when he had told them
  that their God had be gracious to them.

Verses 30-31, Joseph went out so that he could weep, being that
  he could not contain himself. He then washed his face and
  returned to them.

Verses 32-34, They ate with Joseph while the Egyptians sat
  elsewhere, since they would not eat with Hebrews.

  They were amazed at what was happening.
  Benjamin had 5 times as much given to him as the others.
  Five is the number of Grace.

  They were merry for now, but they had not faced their sin as of
  yet.