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JOSEPH AS GOVERNOR OF EGYPT

Text: Genesis 42
30 July 2013

(I) JOSEPH AS GOVERNOR OF EGYPT

1. Joseph governed Egypt by appointment of the Pharaoh (Genesis 42:6a)

2. One of his duties was to oversee the sale of grain in the Famine (Genesis 42:6b)
(II) THE TEN BROTHERS OF JOSEPH IN EGYPT

1. They were brought to see Joseph (Genesis 42:6c)

2. They bowed before the governor Joseph (Genesis 42:6d)
(III) JOSEPH’S RECOGNITION OF HIS BROTHERS

1. He recognised them (Genesis 42:7a, 8a)

2. He remembered the dreams he had as a young lad (Genesis 42:9a)

3. But he acted as a stranger to them (Genesis 42:7b)

4. He spoke roughly to them (Genesis 42:7c)

5. He interrogated them

a) Where do you come from? (Genesis 42:7d)

b) You are spies! (Genesis 42:9b)

c) You have come to see the nakedness of the land (Genesis 42:9c)
(IV) THE DILEMMA OF THE BROTHERS

1. They did not recognise Joseph (Genesis 42:8b)

2. They answered the questions of Joseph candidly

a) They had come from Canaan (Genesis 42:7e)

b) They protest their innocence; they were not spies (Genesis 42:11b)

c) They had come with only one purpose- to purchase grain

d) They were the sons of one man in Canaan (Genesis 42:13)

e) They even disclosed two other details that were not asked for:-

i) They had a younger brother who was at home with their father

ii) They had another brother who had died
(V) THE BROTHERS IMPRISONED

1. Joseph charged them with espionage (Genesis 42:14)

2. He arrested them and put them in jail (Genesis 42:17)

3. They were incarcerated for 3 days (Genesis 42:17)

4. This was well within the authority of the Governor Joseph
(VI) THE TEST

1. They must bring their youngest brother to Egypt (Genesis 42:15)

2. One of the brothers will go back to Canaan and bring back their youngest brother (Genesis 42:16a)

3. Meanwhile, the rest of the brothers would remain in prison (Genesis 42:16b)