In Genesis 43 there are three overarching themes that will guide our consideration of this passage: the famine grows in severity, the brothers grow in honesty, and Joseph grows in mercy.<\/p>\n
The Famine Grows in Severity<\/strong><\/p>\n In the last chapter we noted how God uses means to accomplish his purposes; and sometimes those means are difficult means, such as famines. We noted as well how God doesn’t simply use difficult means to accomplish his ends in the world, but to grow and sanctify His people. As we enter in to Genesis 43, we are met at the start, in verse 1, with that very reminder. Not only that, but verse 1 conveys to us that sometimes God doesn’t simply use difficult means, but He takes difficult means and makes them even more severe, in order to accomplish His purposes in His people and in the world.<\/p>\n God heightens the severity of the famine because his work in the life of Jacob and his sons is not done. God does this not because he is mean and cruel, but because He loves Jacob and his family; and He uses means, sometimes severe means, to accomplish his purposes and ends in His people. Be reminded that chapter 42 ended with Jacob refusing to allow Benjamin to accompany his brothers on their journey to Egypt. So God grows the severity of the famine in order push Jacob to the point of letting Benjamin go. Dear Christian reader, God most often does not use miracles or miraculous events to accomplish His purposes in our lives; but rather He chooses the most beneficial route, which sometimes means pushing through the desert, though the heat does increase, instead of turning back to where we were. And in Christ, we rest assured, that though the means may be severe, it is for our good, and it is out of love. As Charles Spurgeon once said, “I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.” Let us learn to do the same.<\/p>\n The Brothers Grow in Honesty<\/strong><\/p>\n Around verses 2-10 we observe, Judah, taking responsibility on himself, as a pledge, for the life of Benjamin, should their father allow him to go to Egypt. What a change this is in Judah – a brother who once sold his younger brother, now puts his life on the line for his younger brother. Some translations say that Judah will be a “surety” for Benjamin. A surety is defined as a person who takes responsibility for another’s performance of an undertaking. In other words, a guarantor.<\/p>\n In a far greater way, Christ is our surety. Christ is the guarantor of our salvation. He laid down His life on our behalf, and He stands before God, holding us in His hand, clothing us in His righteousness. He guarantees for us everything we need for our salvation. We will make it, because Christ guarantees it, He carries us, He holds us fast.<\/p>\n Verse 11-15:\u00a0<\/strong>Here Israel sends gifts ahead to the Egyptian, hoping to appease any anger that may be laying in wait for them. Oh how the brothers show us how many of us think about God. They bring gifts and presents to the governor of Egypt – showing us that they don’t really know him. What would he want with their gifts? He is the one who has spread the feast and prepared the table!<\/p>\n Dear reader, God’s anger will not be appeased by our gifts, nor will we earn brownie points with our presents. What need has the creator of the universe of your gifts? He already owns it. Joseph was not looking for the gifts, he was only looking for Benjamin. My friends, God is not looking for your gifts, or what you think you have to offer him. God is only looking for His Son in you. That is the only measure for our acceptance before God or not.<\/p>\n Verse 14:\u00a0<\/strong>Desperate times call for desperate prayer. Jacob, in a moment of such, prays a prayer of such. Though Jacob had tried to control things by keeping Benjamin, he is here, by the severity of the famine, brought to utter dependence upon God, for there is no other option for him to turn to but perishing. Let us come to the end of ourselves before we are brought to the brink of perishing. Let us see our utter need for God before we are exhausted of all other options. Let prayer be our first resource, not our 911 call; and so let us be always walking in dependence upon Almighty God.<\/p>\n Let us learn these lessons from Jacob’s prayer: a) When we are bereaved, may we pray for mercy from God Almighty; b) May we not wait until we are bereaved, for we are always in need of mercy; c) It is to an Almighty God that we pray, not an incapable god.<\/p>\n Verse 17-22:\u00a0<\/strong>It is worth mentioning here the growth of the brother’s honesty in being upfront about the money in their sacks.<\/p>\n Joseph Grows in Mercy<\/strong><\/p>\n Verse 16:\u00a0<\/strong>As the brothers are approaching, Joseph looks out and sees Benjamin with the brothers; thus immediately, upon seeing Benjamin in their company, tells his servants to prepare the feast for them. Benjamin gives his brothers acceptance before Joseph.<\/p>\n My friends, there is only one thing that will matter when we come before the judgment seat of God – are we in the company of Christ? That is it. That is the only basis upon which we will receive the favor of God or not. That is the difference between feasting or famine; nothing else. Do we have Christ? As Matthew Henry puts it, “…unless we bring Christ along with us in the arms of our faith, we cannot see the face of God with comfort.”<\/p>\n Verse 23:\u00a0<\/strong>Here we observe Joseph’s merciful response to his brothers explanation of the money found in their sacks. What gospel promises come from Joseph’s lips that would later come from Christ’s – “Peace to you. Do not be afraid.”<\/p>\n Joseph then makes quite the theological statement in saying that is was God who put treasures in their sacks. Friends, we are beggars just the same. God has given us a treasure that is the glory of all of heaven, the son of God, Christ!<\/p>\n Verse 24:\u00a0<\/strong>Joseph (by way of his servants) washes his brother’s feet (cleans them up). He then, in later verses sets the feast before them. What a gospel illustration this is! We are beggars, brought in from the streets, dirtied with sin; and Christ washes us clean, gives us pure spotless robes, and sets us down to eat.<\/p>\n Imagine how wonderful it will be when our journey and pilgrimage is through and we make it into the arms of Christ, and He washes our feet, wipes our tears, bandages our wounds, and sets us down to eat with him.<\/p>\n Verse 30:\u00a0<\/strong>Notice the great compassion and love Joseph has for his brothers, particularly Benjamin here, his only full brother, by the way.<\/p>\n Verse 33:\u00a0<\/strong>As they are set down to the feast, Joseph orders his brothers according to their birth order. He then gives Benjamin, the youngest son of Rachel, five times the portion of any one else.<\/p>\n I believe that Joseph is testing his brothers here, to see if they show any signs of jealousy toward the youngest for getting preferential treatment (as they did years earlier to him). No jealousy surfaces from the brothers as they all respond by amazement, and drinking to their merriment.<\/p>\n What an example this is of what happens with the gospel takes root in our lives. When that happens, we are able to celebrate and be happy with and for one another. Even with those whom God has given more earthly blessing to than others. How can we do this? Because we all have more than we deserve in Christ. We all have acceptance before God in Christ- what more could we want for?<\/p>\n Verse 32:\u00a0<\/strong>Though we have a wonderful illustration of how Christ sets the feast for us, there are imperfections with this picture; and this reminds us that Christ’s feast is better. Here, the brothers are separated from Joseph and the other Egyptians because it was an abomination to the Egyptians to eat with a Hebrew.<\/p>\n But there are no divisions at Christ’s table, ethnic, class, or otherwise. We are all one in Christ (Ephesians 2v11-22 & Colossians 3v11). Christ the King sets the table, and He Himself is our feast.<\/p>\n Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n My friends, let us come to the feast. Let us come before the King of Kings, by the side of Christ. Let us come with happy hearts to be filled full of Christ, our treasure. Let us come with empty hands. As Joseph spreads the feast for his brothers, so Christ prepares everything that the poor sinner receives. Friends, we are poor sinners; let us come to Christ to receive from His hand.<\/p>\n Or would we be so foolish to come before the throne without our surety? Would we be so foolish to refuse to come? Would we be so foolish to perish? There is an exclusivity to salvation. Would we be so foolish as to neglect the only way to the feast?<\/p>\n Men often seek treasure and feasting and happiness out in the world, believing there to be something of substance there. But in the end there is only famine and perishing. But though the world be perishing for their great lack, there is yet great feasting in the house of God. There is feasting in the midst of famine with Christ. There is great joy in the midst of sorrow with Christ!<\/p>\n Christian, though the way be narrow, though the journey be long and difficult, though we feel as if we should give up at times, take heart to know that we have Christ along with us, the guarantee that when we arrive at the gates of Heaven, we will be ushered into the room of feasting and joy forevermore! Christian, don’t give up to perish along the way. Persevere, keep the faith, stand firm, fight the good fight of faith. Christ is yours forevermore.<\/p>\n Is your path difficult? Are you pierced from within and without? Do you face harm and hatred for Christ? Then know it is the narrow way. As Charles Spurgeon once said, “Though now my path is strewn with thorns, I know it is the King’s highway.” Let us travel the way with Christ. Joy and feasting awaits.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In Genesis 43 there are three overarching themes that will guide our consideration of this passage: the famine grows in severity, the brothers grow in honesty, and Joseph grows in mercy. The Famine Grows in Severity In the last chapter we noted how God uses means to accomplish his purposes; and sometimes those means are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":685,"featured_media":3568,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,25,30,32],"tags":[73,114,197,205,274,480,486,487,539,557,562,645,664,669,678,679,696,699,702,765,836,882,887,1014,1056,1105,1226,1238],"class_list":{"0":"post-3567","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-commentary","8":"category-faith","9":"category-preaching","10":"category-theology","11":"tag-73","12":"tag-again","13":"tag-benjamin","14":"tag-bible","15":"tag-christ","16":"tag-famine","17":"tag-feast","18":"tag-feasting","19":"tag-genesis","20":"tag-god","21":"tag-gospel","22":"tag-in","23":"tag-israel","24":"tag-jacob","25":"tag-jenkins","26":"tag-jesus","27":"tag-joseph","28":"tag-joshua","29":"tag-judah","30":"tag-lord","31":"tag-moses","32":"tag-old","33":"tag-on","34":"tag-rags","35":"tag-riches","36":"tag-scripture","37":"tag-testament","38":"tag-there","39":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/05\/desk-and-bible.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3541,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/abundance-in-christ-commentary-and-gospel-thoughts-on-genesis-41v46-57\/","url_meta":{"origin":3567,"position":0},"title":"Abundance in Christ – Commentary and Gospel Thoughts on Genesis 41v46-57","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"April 30, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In this passage we will observe four elements of the grace of God: the abundance of grace, the forgetfulness of grace, the fruitfulness of grace, and the exclusivity of grace. The Abundance of Grace Verse 46:\u00a0Moses tells us that Joseph, at this time, is now 30 years old. This marks\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/tombe_doumsou_2-crop.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/tombe_doumsou_2-crop.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/tombe_doumsou_2-crop.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/tombe_doumsou_2-crop.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3534,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/commentary-and-gospel-thoughts-on-genesis-41v1-45\/","url_meta":{"origin":3567,"position":1},"title":"Commentary and Gospel Thoughts on Genesis 41v1-45","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"April 23, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In this passage we find three themes that relate to Joseph typifying Christ: resurrection, interpretation, and ascension. We will explore these and observe other lessons of principle for the Christian life. Verse 1:\u00a0This verse is here to connect us with where we left off, and to tell us how long\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/027-joseph_interprets_pharaohs_dream-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/027-joseph_interprets_pharaohs_dream-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/027-joseph_interprets_pharaohs_dream-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/027-joseph_interprets_pharaohs_dream-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/027-joseph_interprets_pharaohs_dream-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/027-joseph_interprets_pharaohs_dream-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3551,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/josephs-brothers-there-and-back-again-commentary-on-genesis-42\/","url_meta":{"origin":3567,"position":2},"title":"Joseph’s Brothers: There and Back Again – Commentary on Genesis 42","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"May 7, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In this passage there are three themes that will consider: God strikes the land with famine, God strikes Joseph with tenderness, and God strikes the brothers with guilt. God Strikes the Land with Famine In the opening verses of Genesis 42 we are met by Jacob and his sons back\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/05\/531131259.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/05\/531131259.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/05\/531131259.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3505,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/commentary-and-gospel-thoughts-on-genesis-39v1-6a\/","url_meta":{"origin":3567,"position":3},"title":"Commentary and Gospel Thoughts on Genesis 39v1-6a","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"April 3, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In Genesis 39 the narrative focus shifts back to Joseph, after a short detour in chapter 38 (of which provides stark contrasts with chapter 39). Verse 1:\u00a0This chapter begins by picking up right where the end of chapter 37 left off; with Joseph being sold to Potiphar, an Egyptian, an\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/170125131714-open-bible-super-tease.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/170125131714-open-bible-super-tease.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/170125131714-open-bible-super-tease.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/170125131714-open-bible-super-tease.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/170125131714-open-bible-super-tease.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3574,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/the-lord-comforts-his-servant-a-commentary-on-genesis-46\/","url_meta":{"origin":3567,"position":4},"title":"The Lord Comforts His Servant: A Commentary on Genesis 46","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"June 4, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Outline: God's Peace, Presence, Promise, Provision, and Protection. God's Peace (v1-3) Verse 1: When Jacob, on his journey to Egypt arrives at Beersheba, he makes a sacrifice to God, and God visits him there. It is interesting that Beersheba is where both Abraham and Isaac lived for a time during\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/06\/coffee-books.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/06\/coffee-books.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/06\/coffee-books.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/06\/coffee-books.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3584,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/god-meant-it-for-good-commentary-on-genesis-50v15-21\/","url_meta":{"origin":3567,"position":5},"title":"God Meant it for Good: Commentary on Genesis 50v15-21","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"July 9, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"For as long as we\u2019ve been going through Genesis, I have been looking forward to this passage that we find ourselves in today. There are several highlights that stick out in the book of Genesis, and I have to say that this is one of them \u2013 particularly Joseph\u2019s classic\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/07\/40806-openbible-bible-unsplash-aaron-burden-287555-1200w-tn.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/07\/40806-openbible-bible-unsplash-aaron-burden-287555-1200w-tn.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/07\/40806-openbible-bible-unsplash-aaron-burden-287555-1200w-tn.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/07\/40806-openbible-bible-unsplash-aaron-burden-287555-1200w-tn.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/07\/40806-openbible-bible-unsplash-aaron-burden-287555-1200w-tn.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3567","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/685"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3567"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3567\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3568"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3567"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3567"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3567"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}