THROUGH THE BIBLE COMMENTARY
This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears.
Bruce McGee, Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
GENESIS
CHAPTER 43
1 And the famine was sore in the land. 2 And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food. 3 And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. 4 If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: 5 But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. 6 And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother? 7 And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down? 8 And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. 9 I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever: 10 For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.
When the food they had purchased was gone, Jacob insisted that they boys go
again to Egypt and buy more. He knew that God would not let him starve, but
he despised to ask - even though his own son Simeon was kept in Egypt in prison.
The Bible speaks of another famine: a famine "..of the WORD." If we ever
witness this, may we remember to travel as far for spiritual food as they
did for physical food.
Judah, of course, reminded Jacob they CANNOT go unless they take Benjamin. For
the man in Egypt (Joseph) had said they could not come to him unless they had
their brother.
It is true today, that none can see God's face unless he comes with JESUS, the
Brother of salvation.
Juday, as Reuben had done, makes a proposition and offers his own life for Benjamin's.
See how bitter Jacob is. He says, "Why did you ever tell the man that you
HAD a brother?"
Aren't we like this sometimes? For we say, "Oh. If things were different!"
11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: 12 And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight: 13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man: 14 And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
Jacob consents to Judah's proposition with three conditions:
1) Take DOUBLE money. A price now, and restoration for that purchased last time (vs 12).
2) Take a PRESENT; special fruits from their land
NOTE: It was true what Satan said in Job 2:4, "Skin for skin, yeah, all that
a man hath will he give for his life."
Oh! How weak and frail is the spirit of man!
Jesus said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life
for his friends." (John 15:13)
15 And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. 16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon. 17 And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.
When Joseph saw Benjamin, he called for a feast to be prepared at his home.
18 And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses. 19 And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house, 20 And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food: 21 And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand. 22 And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.
The problem of the money being returned was weighing heavily on their hearts.
So they found the steward of Joseph's house and explained the matter to him.
23 And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.
Notice the stewards answer. Watch carefully now. It was not HE who replaced the
money! He says, "..I had your money." What they paid him he had kept!
Therefore, he must have had some part in the plot to bring this whole
family back to Egypt. (see also chapter 44:1-6)
But note also that the steward said "GOD...hath given you treasure..."
This steward was a result of Joseph's faith - He was a believer.
GOD had seen to it that the steward had the money, and that the money
was placed in their bags also!
24 And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender. 25 And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there. 26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.
The steward sees that these men are treated as preferred guests. They are
given water to wash, and their stock is cared for. While they are waiting
for "the man" (Joseph), they decided to lay out the present Jacob had sent.
27 And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive? 28 And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance. 29 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. 30 And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.
Joseph paid no attention to the present, but asked them of their father and family.
And when he saw Benjamin again, he pronounced a blessing upon him.
But then, Joseph's emotions overcame him and he had to withdraw for
a moment.
31 And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread. 32 And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians. 33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another. 34 And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.
Now Joseph calls for the meal. And he observes two of THEIR customs,
although one is unknown to them. First, he set them apart from the Egyptians.
Second, Joseph fed them and made sure his brother Benjamin got the greater amount.
What have we learned from this today? Do you see that it is important
to receive spiritual food?
Is it important to give up our pride, our selfishness, and our bitterness
in order to receive that food from God?
Christian, are you willing to "lay down your life" for a brother?
Does God feed the WHOLE world? And yet, does he not feed His OWN PEOPLE
a DOUBLE portion? (Physically and spiritually.)
Please continue to follow along in Bible study with us.