But He answered and said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’” - Matthew 4:4
Usually my wife goes to the grocery store once a week to buy food for the family. Sometimes I go shopping with her. As most of us know, when you have kids at home it takes a lot to keep everyone fed. We try to plan ahead and make a grocery list each week of the things we’ll need. For our family, food is one of the largest expenses in our monthly budget. We spend a lot of money on it. Everyone needs food to survive, and Jacob’s family was no different.
Last week we talked about Joseph’s remarkable and sudden rise to power in Egypt. He wisely oversaw the collection of surplus grain during the 7 years of abundance. Then, when the 7 years of famine began, the Egyptian people and foreigners from the surrounding regions began to cry out for bread. Unable to produce crops, they were desperate to purchase food from the reserves and storehouses located in Egypt.
Today’s message is somewhat reminiscent of our weekly trips to the grocery store. Jacob and his family needed food, so he sent his sons to go buy some. Let’s explore what happened...
I. COMING TO EGYPT (v1-7)
During the several years that Joseph spent as Potiphar’s servant, then as a prisoner, and finally as the new prince, his elderly father Jacob and his brothers remained in Canaan. When the great famine struck, like many others they found themselves in need of food. Jacob knew that there was grain available in Egypt so he sent 10 of his sons on a journey to purchase a supply of it. Jacob did not send Benjamin, who was quite a bit younger than his brothers, with them on this trip for fear that something bad might happen to him.
The brothers, less Benjamin, made their way to Egypt and came before Joseph. It had been over 20 years since they’d last seen him. They did not recognize him as their long lost brother, though Joseph did recognize them. In fulfillment of the dream Joseph had when he was a boy, the brothers bowed down before him. Rather than revealing his true identity, Joseph kept it concealed. Instead he sternly asked them why they’d come, to which they responded that they wished to buy grain.
I used to wander why Joseph didn’t immediately tell his brothers who he was. His actions seemed purposefully deceptive and somewhat mean-spirited. In truth, however, he acted shrewdly in order to test their integrity and trustworthiness. After all, the last time they were together his brothers hated him, conspired to kill him, and sold him to foreign merchants. Had they changed at all? Did they regret their decisions? Had they matured in their character? The Bible actually encourages believers to be righteously shrewd in their dealings (Matthew 10:16).
II. BEING IN EGYPT (v8-28)
Joseph accused his brothers of being foreign spies who’d come to survey the land for potential weaknesses. The brothers insisted that they’d come simply to buy food and had no ill intentions. They described themselves as honest men from the land of Canaan, 12 sons of 1 father - the 10 of them, a younger brother who’d stayed home with dad, and another brother who they believed to be dead. Joseph feigned doubt about their claim of innocence and posed a test. He would allow 1 of them to return home and bring back their younger brother as proof of their testimony, but before doing so he placed all of them in prison for 3 days.
During this time, Joseph lightened the severity of his original proposal. So on the third day, rather than keeping all of them confined except for 1, he allowed them all to go except for 1. The brothers conversed among themselves in their native language, not realizing that Joseph could hear and understand them. They expressed remorse for how they mistreated Joseph years ago and reasoned that justice had finally befallen them. Reuben reminded them that he’d been against harming Joseph (Genesis 37:21-22). When Joseph overheard their discussion, he turned away and wept. After regaining his composure, he took Simeon, bound him in their presence, and returned him to the jail.
The remaining brothers started home for Canaan with the grain that they’d purchased. Unbeknownst to them, Joseph had given their money back to them as well. Along the way, 1 of the brothers discovered that the portion of money he’d taken to buy the food was still in his bags. When he told the others they were all upset. If the Prince of Egypt already believed them to be spies, what would he think when he discovered that they’d not fully paid him for the grain?
III. RETURNING FROM EGYPT (v29-38)
When the remaining brothers finally arrived at home, they told their father Jacob about what had happened to them. They explained that the prince had accused them of being spies and was currently and indefinitely holding Simeon hostage until they proved otherwise. They were to bring their youngest brother back to Egypt as evidence of their truthfulness. Then, and only then, would he be released and they be allowed to trade in the land.
As the brothers unpacked from the long journey, all of them discovered that their share of the money that had been originally sent to purchase the grain was still in their bags. Had they inadvertently taken the grain without paying for it? Both Jacob and the brothers were fearful of how this oversight would further aggravate the situation. Upon reflection, Jacob stated that he would not let Benjamin return with them. Reuben spoke up and swore to protect Benjamin, offering the lives of his own 2 sons as a pledge, but Jacob refused. With Joseph gone and now Simeon, Jacob couldn’t bear the possibility of losing Benjamin too.
Though Reuben was simply trying to console his father’s worries, his willingness to offer his own sons as collateral was fool-hearted, brazen, and reckless. Reuben had betrayed Jacob years earlier by sleeping with his concubine Bilhah (Genesis 35:22) and had lost all credibility in his father’s eyes. Reuben’s assurance that he’d protect Benjamin was empty and hollow, because his reputation spoke louder than his words. Going forward, Reuben’s role as leader would diminish and Judah would rise to become the prominent brother.
CONCLUSION
In closing, we must remember that all of this was an elaborate, multi-pronged test. Joseph knew that his brothers weren't spies. Still, he wanted to know if they’d changed. He’d heard them expressing remorse about how they’d treated him years ago, but was their shame genuine? Did they truly regret what they’d done or were they just upset that it had finally caught up to them? Were they willing to abandon yet another brother or would they act differently this time? Would they deal honestly with Jacob and bring back the grain money? Perhaps most importantly, was his younger brother Benjamin, the only other son of Rachel, alive and well?
Joseph tested his brothers. Sometimes God tests us. He places us in certain situations to see how we will react. We will choose to do what is honest and right? Will we obey God and trust in His promises and power? In fact, our entire lives are a test. Are we passing or failing?
One final observation before we go… Throughout this series I have pointed out several similarities between the story of Joseph and that of Jesus Christ. Let me add yet another. The brothers were starving and came to Joseph for food because he was the only one who had grain. So also, Jesus is the Bread of Life, and the exclusive source of salvation and spiritual provision (John 6:35). In Him we find sustenance and eternal life.
Usually my wife goes to the grocery store once a week to buy food for the family. Sometimes I go shopping with her. As most of us know, when you have kids at home it takes a lot to keep everyone fed. We try to plan ahead and make a grocery list each week of the things we’ll need. For our family, food is one of the largest expenses in our monthly budget. We spend a lot of money on it. Everyone needs food to survive, and Jacob’s family was no different.
Last week we talked about Joseph’s remarkable and sudden rise to power in Egypt. He wisely oversaw the collection of surplus grain during the 7 years of abundance. Then, when the 7 years of famine began, the Egyptian people and foreigners from the surrounding regions began to cry out for bread. Unable to produce crops, they were desperate to purchase food from the reserves and storehouses located in Egypt.
Today’s message is somewhat reminiscent of our weekly trips to the grocery store. Jacob and his family needed food, so he sent his sons to go buy some. Let’s explore what happened...
I. COMING TO EGYPT (v1-7)
During the several years that Joseph spent as Potiphar’s servant, then as a prisoner, and finally as the new prince, his elderly father Jacob and his brothers remained in Canaan. When the great famine struck, like many others they found themselves in need of food. Jacob knew that there was grain available in Egypt so he sent 10 of his sons on a journey to purchase a supply of it. Jacob did not send Benjamin, who was quite a bit younger than his brothers, with them on this trip for fear that something bad might happen to him.
The brothers, less Benjamin, made their way to Egypt and came before Joseph. It had been over 20 years since they’d last seen him. They did not recognize him as their long lost brother, though Joseph did recognize them. In fulfillment of the dream Joseph had when he was a boy, the brothers bowed down before him. Rather than revealing his true identity, Joseph kept it concealed. Instead he sternly asked them why they’d come, to which they responded that they wished to buy grain.
I used to wander why Joseph didn’t immediately tell his brothers who he was. His actions seemed purposefully deceptive and somewhat mean-spirited. In truth, however, he acted shrewdly in order to test their integrity and trustworthiness. After all, the last time they were together his brothers hated him, conspired to kill him, and sold him to foreign merchants. Had they changed at all? Did they regret their decisions? Had they matured in their character? The Bible actually encourages believers to be righteously shrewd in their dealings (Matthew 10:16).
II. BEING IN EGYPT (v8-28)
Joseph accused his brothers of being foreign spies who’d come to survey the land for potential weaknesses. The brothers insisted that they’d come simply to buy food and had no ill intentions. They described themselves as honest men from the land of Canaan, 12 sons of 1 father - the 10 of them, a younger brother who’d stayed home with dad, and another brother who they believed to be dead. Joseph feigned doubt about their claim of innocence and posed a test. He would allow 1 of them to return home and bring back their younger brother as proof of their testimony, but before doing so he placed all of them in prison for 3 days.
During this time, Joseph lightened the severity of his original proposal. So on the third day, rather than keeping all of them confined except for 1, he allowed them all to go except for 1. The brothers conversed among themselves in their native language, not realizing that Joseph could hear and understand them. They expressed remorse for how they mistreated Joseph years ago and reasoned that justice had finally befallen them. Reuben reminded them that he’d been against harming Joseph (Genesis 37:21-22). When Joseph overheard their discussion, he turned away and wept. After regaining his composure, he took Simeon, bound him in their presence, and returned him to the jail.
The remaining brothers started home for Canaan with the grain that they’d purchased. Unbeknownst to them, Joseph had given their money back to them as well. Along the way, 1 of the brothers discovered that the portion of money he’d taken to buy the food was still in his bags. When he told the others they were all upset. If the Prince of Egypt already believed them to be spies, what would he think when he discovered that they’d not fully paid him for the grain?
III. RETURNING FROM EGYPT (v29-38)
When the remaining brothers finally arrived at home, they told their father Jacob about what had happened to them. They explained that the prince had accused them of being spies and was currently and indefinitely holding Simeon hostage until they proved otherwise. They were to bring their youngest brother back to Egypt as evidence of their truthfulness. Then, and only then, would he be released and they be allowed to trade in the land.
As the brothers unpacked from the long journey, all of them discovered that their share of the money that had been originally sent to purchase the grain was still in their bags. Had they inadvertently taken the grain without paying for it? Both Jacob and the brothers were fearful of how this oversight would further aggravate the situation. Upon reflection, Jacob stated that he would not let Benjamin return with them. Reuben spoke up and swore to protect Benjamin, offering the lives of his own 2 sons as a pledge, but Jacob refused. With Joseph gone and now Simeon, Jacob couldn’t bear the possibility of losing Benjamin too.
Though Reuben was simply trying to console his father’s worries, his willingness to offer his own sons as collateral was fool-hearted, brazen, and reckless. Reuben had betrayed Jacob years earlier by sleeping with his concubine Bilhah (Genesis 35:22) and had lost all credibility in his father’s eyes. Reuben’s assurance that he’d protect Benjamin was empty and hollow, because his reputation spoke louder than his words. Going forward, Reuben’s role as leader would diminish and Judah would rise to become the prominent brother.
CONCLUSION
In closing, we must remember that all of this was an elaborate, multi-pronged test. Joseph knew that his brothers weren't spies. Still, he wanted to know if they’d changed. He’d heard them expressing remorse about how they’d treated him years ago, but was their shame genuine? Did they truly regret what they’d done or were they just upset that it had finally caught up to them? Were they willing to abandon yet another brother or would they act differently this time? Would they deal honestly with Jacob and bring back the grain money? Perhaps most importantly, was his younger brother Benjamin, the only other son of Rachel, alive and well?
Joseph tested his brothers. Sometimes God tests us. He places us in certain situations to see how we will react. We will choose to do what is honest and right? Will we obey God and trust in His promises and power? In fact, our entire lives are a test. Are we passing or failing?
One final observation before we go… Throughout this series I have pointed out several similarities between the story of Joseph and that of Jesus Christ. Let me add yet another. The brothers were starving and came to Joseph for food because he was the only one who had grain. So also, Jesus is the Bread of Life, and the exclusive source of salvation and spiritual provision (John 6:35). In Him we find sustenance and eternal life.