Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. The famine

a. It had affected Egypt

b. It had also affected Canaan

2. News that Egypt had grain

a. Jacob spoke to his sons

b. He sent them to Egypt to purchase grain to prevent starvation

c. But he retained Benjamin at home Genesis 42:4

JOSEPH AS THE GOVERNOR OF EGYPT

1. Egypt cried out to the Pharaoh in their distress Genesis 41:55a

2. The Pharaoh told them to see Joseph

a. He was the appointed governor of the land

b. He managed the problem of the severe famine

c. He held great power over all Egypt

THE SONS OF JACOB IN EGYPT

1. The brothers had come to Egypt to buy grain

a. They had to bow to the Governor of Egypt

b. This was the expected respect to be shown to the Governor

2. Joseph immediately recognised them Genesis 42:7-8a

3. But the brothers did not recognise Joseph Genesis 42:8b

REMEMBERING THE DREAMS OF OLD

1. Joseph remembered the dreams that he was given

2. He had shared these dreams

a. With his brothers

b. With his father Genesis 37:5-11

3. What God had shown him in a dream when he was a young lad, was being fulfilled

THE DEEP PLAN OF JOSEPH

1. “You shall be tested” Genesis 42:15

2. This was essentially Joseph’s plan right from the start

3. But this plan was deep and the brothers could not fathom what was happening

THE ACCUSATION MADE AGAINST THE BROTHERS I

1. The charge against the brothers

a. “You are spies” Genesis 42:9a

b. “You have come to see the nakedness of the land” Genesis 42:9b

c. This was a serious charge

i) They could be imprisoned

ii) They could be executed

2. The protest of the sons of Jacob

10 And they said to him, “No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food.
11 We are all one man’s sons; we are honest men; your servants are not spies.”

Genesis 42:10-11

a. They spoke humbly

b. They were not haughty anymore

c. “Your servants”

i) They had come only to buy food

ii) They knew the danger they were in

THE ACCUSATION MADE AGAINST THE BROTHERS II

12 But he said to them, “No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land.”
13 And they said, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and in fact, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no more.”
14 But Joseph said to them, “It is as I spoke to you, saying, ‘You are spies!’

Genesis 42:12-14

1. Joseph insisted that they were spies Genesis 42:14

2. The sons of Jacob sought to explain further

a) “Your servants”

b) They were originally 12

i) One was still at home

ii) One was no more

THE TEST PROPOSED

15 In this manner you shall be tested: By the life of Pharaoh, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.
16 Send one of you, and let him bring your brother; and you shall be kept in prison, that your words may be tested to see whether there is any truth in you; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies!”
17 So he put them all together in prison three days.

Genesis 42:15-17

1. The Governor will test the truth of their words

2. He demands to see their youngest brother

3. They would be imprisoned in the meanwhile

4. If they cannot prove their words, then they would be accounted as spies!
Severe would be the penalty if they were spies!

5. For good measure, the brothers were imprisoned for 3 days!

CONCLUSION

1. The dreams of God

a) Joseph had not understood them when they were first given

b) It took years before Joseph finally understood them

2. The testing of the brothers

a) Joseph could not trust them

b) He had seen their bad behaviour close up

i) He had to give a bad report of them to Jacob

ii) They wanted to kill him

iii) They finally sold him

c) How could he trust them?