Browse Bible Study Resources

JOSEPH’S ORDERS

Text: Genesis 44
22 October 2013

(I) JOSEPH’S ORDERS

1. Fill the sacks of the children of Jacob with food (Genesis 44:1a)

2. Return the money they used to make the purchases (Genesis 44:1b)

3. Put Joseph’s silver cup into Benjamin’s sack (Genesis 44:2a)

4. The servants of Joseph obeyed his orders (Genesis 44:2b)

(II) THE CHILDREN OF JACOB PLAN TO RETURN HOME

1. They began their return journey early in the morning

2. They were sent away with their donkeys; no one was remanded (Genesis 44:3)

(III) FURTHER ORDERS

1. Joseph’s steward was asked to chase after the children of Jacob (Genesis 44:4)

2. The steward was to:

a) Confront the brothers

b) Charge the brothers for stealing Joseph’s divination cup (Genesis 44:5-6)

(IV) THE RESPONSE OF THE BROTHERS

1. They protested their innocence (Genesis 44:7)

2. The rehearsed what they had said to the steward earlier (Genesis 44:8)

3. If the steward found Joseph’s cup in one of their sacks, that person would pay with his life (Genesis 44:9a)

4. And all of them would become the servants of Joseph (Genesis 44:9b)

5. The steward agreed (Genesis 44:10)

(V) THE SEARCH

1. All the sacks were opened for examination (Genesis 44:11)

2. The divination cup was found in Benjamin’s sack (Genesis 44:12)

3. The brothers almost went out of their mind. How could this have happened? (Genesis 44:13)

4. They returned to Egypt to support Benjamin (Genesis 44:13-14)

(VI) IN JOSEPH’S HOUSE AGAIN

1. The brothers prostrated themselves before Joseph once again (Genesis 44:15)

2. Joseph adopts a stern demeanour (Genesis 44:16)

a) Why had they resorted to stealing?

b) Did they not know that the governor would have found them out?

3. Judah’s lament

a) That God had found out their iniquity and punishing them (Genesis 44:16)

b) He had no other word to offer the governor (Genesis 44:16)

c) He offered all the brothers to bear the burden of the guilt

d) They would stay with Benjamin in prison (Genesis 44:16)

4. Joseph rejects this offer

a) Benjamin would be remanded

b) The brothers can return home (Genesis 44:17)

(VII) JUDAH’S HEART-FELT PLEA

1. He begins by acknowledging the authority of the governor (Genesis 44:18)

2. He rehearses all the events

a) From the time they came to Egypt

b) Till the present moment (Genesis 44:19-30)

3. He pleads for mercy to be shown for the old age of Jacob

4. He offered himself as a replacement for Benjamin (Genesis 44:29-34)