“Recognized and Remembered” Genesis 42:1-18 – Charles Lutz
Introduction
This is week six’s message from the nine-week series “Joseph – What God Intended For Good” that focuses on the life of Joseph and his family as authored by Moses in Genesis.
Last week, we learned how Joseph fulfilled Pharaoh’s trust in him. This week, we will see how Joseph demonstrated kindness toward his brothers.
Message
The story in a nutshell. First Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. He came to be in charge of his master’s (Potiphar) household in Egypt until he was falsely accused of assaulting his master’s wife – for which he was thrown into prison. While in prison, he accurately interpreted the dreams of two fellow inmates. One of the inmates (the cupbearer) was restored to Pharaoh’s service and two years later mentioned Joseph to Pharaoh when Pharaoh had two dreams that needed to be interpreted. Joseph was then brought before him and with God’s help interpreted the dreams. Joseph was then put in charge of Egypt and carried out his plan to prevent starvation for the Egyptians and the rest of the world during a seven-year famine. The story continues to unfold with Joseph recognizing his brothers when they came to Egypt looking to buy food at the beginning of the famine and demonstrating kindness to them.
Read Genesis 42:1-18
Joseph’s Brothers Go to Egypt
42 “When Jacob heard that grain was available in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you standing around looking at one another? 2 I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there, and buy enough grain to keep us alive. Otherwise we’ll die.”
3 So Joseph’s ten older brothers went down to Egypt to buy grain. 4 But Jacob wouldn’t let Joseph’s younger brother, Benjamin, go with them, for fear some harm might come to him. 5 So Jacob’s sons arrived in Egypt along with others to buy food, for the famine was in Canaan as well.
6 Since Joseph was governor of all Egypt and in charge of selling grain to all the people, it was to him that his brothers came. When they arrived, they bowed before him with their faces to the ground. 7 Joseph recognized his brothers instantly, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where are you from?” he demanded.
“From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We have come to buy food.”
8 Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they didn’t recognize him. 9 And he remembered the dreams he’d had about them many years before. He said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see how vulnerable our land has become.”
10 “No, my lord!” they exclaimed. “Your servants have simply come to buy food. 11 We are all brothers—members of the same family. We are honest men, sir! We are not spies!”
12 “Yes, you are!” Joseph insisted. “You have come to see how vulnerable our land has become.”
13 “Sir,” they said, “there are actually twelve of us. We, your servants, are all brothers, sons of a man living in the land of Canaan. Our youngest brother is back there with our father right now, and one of our brothers is no longer with us.”
14 But Joseph insisted, “As I said, you are spies! 15 This is how I will test your story. I swear by the life of Pharaoh that you will never leave Egypt unless your youngest brother comes here! 16 One of you must go and get your brother. I’ll keep the rest of you here in prison. Then we’ll find out whether or not your story is true. By the life of Pharaoh, if it turns out that you don’t have a younger brother, then I’ll know you are spies.”
17 So Joseph put them all in prison for three days. 18 On the third day Joseph said to them, “I am a God-fearing man. If you do as I say, you will live.”
Outline
1. Joseph recognizes his brothers.
2. Joseph remembers his dreams.
3. Joseph fears God.
4. Joseph demonstrates kindness.
Concluding Remarks and Application
Yet to be determined