His Word Today

³¹ “Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. ³² The men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.’ ³³ When Pharaoh calls you, and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ ³⁴ you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our ancestors’—in order that you may settle in the land of Goshen, because all shepherds are abhorrent to the Egyptians.” (Genesis 46:31–34 (NRSV)

The following, prophetic words of God through His servant Moses return for our consideration and remembrance. They provide us perspective concerning Joseph’s actions found in today’s text.

Genesis 37:5–11 (ESV) says, “⁵ Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. ⁶ He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: ⁷ Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” ⁸ His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. ⁹ Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” ¹⁰ But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” ¹¹ And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.”

Today’s text reveals that what was prophecy when Joseph was a youth of seventeen (Gen. 37:1-2) became a reality when he was a man of thirty-nine (Gen. 41:46; 45:4-6). His brothers have already twice bowed down to him (Gen. 42:6-11; 43:26). Now Joseph directs not only his brothers but also his father as the governor of Egypt. He in effect is ruling and reigning over them. This provides an affirmative answer to his brothers’ question from so long ago (Gen. 37:8).

However, much like the LORD Jesus Christ of whom Joseph was a type, he ruled with the perspective and practice of a benevolent dictator. Joseph’s conduct was in sharp contrast to a future pharaoh who would rule Egypt at the time of Moses’ birth (Ex. 1-2). Joseph not only informed his family of what he would say to pharaoh, but also what they were to say to pharaoh. Joseph made it clear that his family were to reside in the adjacent land known as Goshen. Why?

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “To be a holy nation, Jacob’s sons must reside in a land where, as clearly defined aliens, they will be less likely to adopt a lifestyle that goes against the ways of God. This explains why Joseph moves to secure for his family a place in Egypt. No full-blooded Egyptian wants to associate himself with an “abominable” shepherd (46:31–34), and this will enable the Israelites to become a distinct sub-culture in the land of the Nile.”

John Calvin explains, “Jacob’s offspring will learn to cherish more fervently mutual union between themselves. They will begin to learn how to be God’s people in the world, but not of the world. The Lord often permits Christians to be despised or rejected by the world, that being liberated and cleansed from its pollution, we may cultivate holiness.”

As believers in Christ, the church must love those who do not love God, but conforming ourselves to their standards for their approval and acceptance is disastrous. Though we must not be offensive, we should expect people to be offended by the Gospel message. We must never change the offensive gospel message so as to be less offensive to the fallen world. In other words, we must never use the fallen world’s cultural norms in order to win the culture to Christianity. The only way God converts fallen sinners is by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Let each of us thank the LORD today for being His objects of love and rejoice that He has made us slaves to righteousness, freeing us from our slavery to sin (Romans 6). He is our benevolent dictator. Have a blessed day in the LORD.

Soli deo Gloria!

²⁶ “Then they loaded their donkeys with their grain and departed. ²⁷ And as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his money in the mouth of his sack. ²⁸ He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back; here it is in the mouth of my sack!” At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?” (Genesis 42:26–28 (ESV)

Joseph’s brother, except Simeon, began their long, arduous trip back to their homeland of Canaan and their father, Jacob. They certainly did not expect any surprises on their trip home. They could not have been more mistaken.

They stopped along the way at a lodging place. It was an inn or a shelter in which they would spend the night. It may have been a building or an open air location for overnight camping.

When one of the brothers opened his sack of provisions to give his donkey fodder, or animal feed, he discovered money in the opening of the sack. He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back; here it is in the mouth of my sack!” It was Joseph who was responsible for placing each man’s money in their individual sacks (Gen. 42:25). It would be when the brothers returned home that they discovered that each of their sacks contained money (Gen. 42:35).

It was at this realization that the text says the brothers’ hearts failed them. In other words, their minds, emotions and will were filled with so many thoughts and concerns that they were dumbfounded. They did not know what to do. Additionally, they were scared.

However, it should be noted that they did not say to each other that they were scared of Joseph, the governor of Egypt. Rather, the text says they were thinking about God.

Certainly, they had to wonder if Joseph would now pursue them and have evidence that they were indeed spies. How else could they explain the money? Yet, for the first time, we see these men sensitive to the providential leading and direction by the One, True God: Yahweh.

Dr. John MacArthur explains, “Their guilty conscience and fear of vengeance from God surfaced again in this response to the money with which they had purchased the grain being returned and found in the one sack that had been opened. Later, upon discovering all their money had been returned, their fear increased even further (v. 35).”

Proverbs 9:10 (ESV) says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”  

Joseph’s brothers began to acquire wisdom because they began to reverentially fear God. May this be said of us.

Soli deo Gloria!  

²³ They did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them. ²⁴ Then he turned away from them and wept. And he returned to them and spoke to them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes. ²⁵ And Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, and to replace every man’s money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. This was done for them.” (Genesis 42:23–25 (ESV)

Today’s text informs us that Joseph’s brothers did not realize that Joseph understood what they were saying about the events Moses recorded and which are found in Genesis 37. The reason for this was that an interpreter was present. This was because people from all over the known world were coming to Egypt to buy grain. This meant different languages would be spoken. However, in this case Joseph did not require an interpreter. He understood the Hebrew language because he was a Hebrew.

Lest we think that Joseph was an emotionally calloused and bitter man at this time in his life, the text records that Joseph turned away from his brothers and wept. The Hebrew word for wept means to sob and to bewail. Joseph did not just shed a tear or two. Having turned around from his brothers, he sobbed.

Why did Joseph cry and sob? First, these were his brothers. They had thrown him into a pit and even considered killing him years ago (Gen. 37:18-24). Second, instead of murdering him, his brothers sold him into slavery (Gen. 37:25-28). Thirdly, Joseph must have also recalled his own screams of terror as the Midianites took him as a slave from his home and into Egypt.

Perhaps remembering Reuben’s efforts to spare his life, Joseph does not imprison the eldest brother but rather the second eldest, Simeon. It was Simeon, along with the rest, who willingly participated in the crimes against Joseph (37:21–31).

Then Joseph did something rather interesting. He not only had each grain sack of his nine remaining brothers filled, but he also returned their money which they used to buy the grain. He also gave them ample supplies for their journey home.

Joseph was not a bitter and resentful man. His actions before his brothers prove this to be the case. However, he still remembered the events from when he was a teenager and his brothers’ sin against him.

I’m sure that you have been hurt. People have sinned against you. Perhaps these individuals are even believers in Christ. Do not let any bitterness creep in and take hold in your soul. Remember and meditate upon the words of the Apostle Paul from The Epistle to the Ephesians.

Ephesians 4:31-32 says, “³¹ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ³² Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

May the truth, evidenced by Joseph and explained by the Apostle Paul, be what is seen in each of us today.

Soli deo Gloria!         

We will continue to devote each Lord’s Day in 2022 at hiswordtoday.org to present a portion of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF). For those unfamiliar with the WCF, a brief explanation is appropriate. 

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly as part of the Westminster Standards to be a confession of the Church of England, it became and remains the “subordinate standard” of doctrine (to Scripture) in the Church of Scotland and has been influential within Presbyterian churches worldwide.

It is to that “most precise and accurate summary of the content of biblical Christianity” that we will give our time and attention to each Lord’s Day in the year of our Lord, 2022. I trust you will be edified and encouraged each week by The Westminster Confession of Faith.

Chapter Twenty Seven. Of the Sacraments. Part One.

1. Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace,^a immediately instituted by God,^b to represent Christ and his benefits, and to confirm our interest in him:^c as also to put a visible difference between those that belong unto the Church and the rest of the world;^d and solemnly to engage them to the service of God in Christ, according to his Word.^e

a. Gen 17:7, 10; Rom 4:11. • b. Mat 28:19; 1 Cor 11:23. • c. 1 Cor 10:16; 11:25-26; Gal 3:27. • d. Gen 34:14; Exod 12:48; Rom 15:8. • e. Rom 6:3-4; 1 Cor 10:16, 21.

2. There is in every sacrament a spiritual relation or sacramental union, between the sign and the thing signified; whence it comes to pass that the names and the effects of the one are attributed to the other.^a

a. Gen 17:10; Mat 26:27-28; Titus 3:5.

I encourage you to read the portions of Scripture listed in this post. Have a blessed Lord’s Day.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁸ “On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: ¹⁹ if you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined where you are in custody, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households, ²⁰ and bring your youngest brother to me. So your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so. ²¹ Then they said to one another, “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.” ²² And Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.” (Genesis 42:18–22 (ESV)

A conviction of sin stirred within the souls of Joseph’s elder brothers. Though they have been falsely accused of spying, the LORD brought to their conscious awareness their true guilt. They had sinned against their brother Joseph in the past (Gen. 37:12-28) and the guilt over this sin haunted them in the present.

In the immediate aftermath of their agreement with Joseph, set forth in Genesis 42:18-20, the brothers immediately said to one another, ““In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.”

How interesting that their sinful behavior against their brother over twenty years in the past is what they consider in their present situation. The brothers recall Joseph’s distress while he was in the pit and perhaps even when his brothers sold him into slavery to the Midianites (Gen. 37:25-28). This remembrance caused the brothers to consider their current distress. Why did this feeling of guilt occur?

Dr. John Walvoord writes, “A taste of retribution began to awaken feelings in the brothers, feelings that Joseph’s cries for mercy (v. 21) and Jacob’s tears (37:34–35) had failed to awaken. They sensed that having to bring Benjamin back to Egypt against the wishes of their father would be punishment for their having sold Joseph. Since Jacob was still distressed, now they were in distress.”

The eldest brother, Rueben reminded his younger brothers, ““Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.” (See Genesis 37:21-22, 29). Though Reuben did prevent his brothers from killing Joseph and was not involved in selling him to the Midianites, he was complicit in lying to Jacob that Joseph was dead, because a fierce animal attacked and killed him (Gen.37:29-34).

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “As often happens when we are convicted, the Holy Spirit has used outward means of discipline while stirring the brothers’ conscience. Our Lord will use any means necessary to provoke His people to repentance and keep them in the faith.”

John Calvin comments: “God, in order to lead the sons of Jacob to repentance, impelled them, as well by the secret instinct of his Spirit as by outward chastisement, to become sensible of that sin which had been too long concealed.” 

Genuine repentance must arise from a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51). Outward behavior of contrition must be born from a heart of genuine and godly sorrow for one’s sin. May we each see our sin as God sees it when we confess our sin to God and others (I John 1:8-10).  

Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁸ “On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: ¹⁹ if you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined where you are in custody, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households, ²⁰ and bring your youngest brother to me. So your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so. ²¹ Then they said to one another, “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.” ²² And Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.” (Genesis 42:18–22 (ESV)

Joseph placed his brothers in an Egyptian prison for three days after he accused them of being spies (Gen. 42:17). How ironic that the brothers who imprisoned Joseph into a pit and then sold him into slavery (Gen. 37:12-28) are now imprisoned and enslaved by Joseph. Joseph’s brothers presently reaped what they sowed over twenty years earlier.

Dr. R. C. Sproul explains, “Joseph’s accusations and imprisonment of his brothers are a test to see if they are now his spiritual kin. This testing comes about indirectly, for if it were obvious that Joseph was their tester, any godliness they manifested might only be for show. Joseph must see if they will repent for the right reasons; thus, he incarcerated his brothers to help them come clean regarding their sins against him (Gen. 42:17).”  

Immediately following their three days in prison, Joseph spoke to his brothers. He said, “¹⁸Do this and you will live, for I fear God: ¹⁹ if you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined where you are in custody, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households, ²⁰ and bring your youngest brother to me. So your words will be verified, and you shall not die.”

Joseph affirmed to them that he would deal honestly with them when he said, “For I fear God.” One brother would remain confined in the Egyptian prison. The others would return to Canaan with grain for their households. However, the final stipulation was the most significant. To eventually see their imprisoned brother freed, the remaining nine would have to bring Benjamin, their youngest brother, back with them to Egypt.  

John Calvin writes, “Joseph declares that he fears God, which expression is worthy of observation. Doubtless, he speaks from the inward feeling of his heart when he declares that he will deal well and truly with them because he fears God. Therefore, the commencement and the fountain of that good and honest conscience, whereby we cultivate fidelity and justice towards men, is the fear of God.”

What was Joseph’s brothers’ response to this scenario? The text says “And they did so.” The agreed to the conditions Joseph set forth. They really had no other choice.

However, something also stirred within the souls of Joseph’s elder brothers. Though they have been falsely accused of spying, the LORD brought to their conscious awareness their true guilt. They begin to fear God. We will examine this contrition by the brothers when next we meet.

Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹² “He said to them, “No, it is the nakedness of the land that you have come to see.” ¹³ And they said, “We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan, and behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is no more.” ¹⁴ But Joseph said to them, “It is as I said to you. You are spies. ¹⁵ By this you shall be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here. ¹⁶ Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, while you remain confined, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. Or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies.” ¹⁷ And he put them all together in custody for three days.” (Genesis 42:12–17 (ESV)

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “Joseph’s dream of his brothers’ sheaves bowing to his has begun to come true (Gen. 37:5–8; 42:6), but it still remains for his parents and his youngest brother to come before him (37:9–11). However, he does not know if these others are still alive, and so he moves to find out about the rest of his family. Yet Joseph does not reveal his identity to his brothers when they first bow before him (42:7), probably because he assumes they will not tell him, their envied sibling, the truth.”  

Joseph accused his elder brothers a second time of being spies against Egypt. In their defense, they began to reveal details of their family who lived in Canaan. They described their family as consisting of twelve brothers, the sons of one man. They acknowledged the existence of an even younger brother, Benjamin, who we know remained with his father Jacob (Gen. 42:1-5).

Interestingly, the mention that one of their brothers “is no more.” This is a euphemism to mean that one of their brothers was dead, or perhaps missing. They did not know that Joseph, the brother they sold into slavery so many years ago and perhaps they thought was dead, was the individual who was before them.

Puritan commentator Matthew Henry writes about Joseph’s brothers that “they were very submissive. They spoke to him with all the respect imaginable: ‘Nay, my lord’ (v. 10)—a great change since they said, ‘Behold, this dreamer comes.’ They very modestly deny the charge: We are no spies. They tell him their business that they came to buy food, a justifiable errand, and the same that many strangers came to Egypt upon at this time. They undertake to give a particular account of themselves and their family (v. 13), and this was what they wanted.”

Joseph again accused them of being spies (vs. 14). Joseph initially imprisoned his brothers for three days. He also tested them by saying that they would remain prisoners until their youngest brother came to Egypt. The brothers who threw Joseph into a pit, and later sold him into slavery (Gen. 37:12-28), are now the ones in prison.

Dr. Sproul explains that, “Under pressure, they confess that Benjamin is still alive and begin to allay Joseph’s fears about his brother’s fate. But Joseph does not know whether they have come to acknowledge their guilt for the way they got rid of him. In fact, they gloss over his fate, merely saying that Joseph, before whom they unknowingly stand, is “no more” (v. 13). Joseph accuses his brothers not only to find out about the rest of his family, but also to punish them for their sins. They are put in prison, for example, just as Joseph was imprisoned by them in the pit (37:24).”  

Galatians 6:7–8 (ESV) says, “⁷ Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ⁸ For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”  

Take the necessary steps today to repent of your sin knowing that you will reap what you sow. The consequences of sin can be far greater than we ever thought imaginable.  

Soli deo Gloria!

⁸ “And Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. ⁹ And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them. And he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land.” ¹⁰ They said to him, “No, my lord, your servants have come to buy food. We are all sons of one man. WE have are honest men. Your servants have never been spies.” (Genesis 42:8–11 (ESV)

Joseph recognized his brothers. However, they did not recognize Joseph. Remember, it has been over twenty years. Joseph was no longer a teenager (Gen. 37:1-2). Additionally, while Joseph’s brothers looked like the Hebrew shepherds they had always been (Gen. 37:1-12), Joseph looked and dressed like an Egyptian (Gen. 41:14, 42). Not only did Joseph appear as an Egyptian, but also an Egyptian ruler.

Joseph not only recognized his brothers but he also remembered his dreams from when he was but a teenager (Gen. 37:5-11). Twenty plus years had passed and Joseph experienced many difficulties, but God providentially brought Joseph’s dreams to reality.

Dr. Don Carson writes, “No sooner had Joseph said, ‘God has made me forget … all my father’s household’ (41:51) than his brothers turned up in Egypt. And what was more surprising, considering the many visitors who came to Egypt at that time, Joseph saw them there. He recognized them but, of course, they failed to recognize him.”

Joseph began testing his brothers by immediately accusing them of being spies. He would do this four times (Gen. 42:9, 12, 14, 16). Why did he do this? The most probable answer was to see if his elder brothers had changed. God led Joseph to confront his brothers’ sin and to see if there was true repentance for what they had done to him.

Joseph devised a series of circumstances to test them. His accusations against his brothers would eventually result in Joseph reuniting with the rest of his Hebrew family. This would include not only with his younger brother Benjamin, but also his father Jacob.

Have you ever confronted someone because of their sin? It may have been their sinful behavior in general, or a sin committed against you in particular. Whenever confrontation concerning sin occurs, God commands the more spiritual person to handle the situation in a humble and gracious manner (Galatians 6:1).

Dr. R. C. Sproul explains, “Confronting someone in sin is always difficult. Perhaps you are a parent who must discipline a child. Maybe you are an elder tasked with confronting a church member engaged in unrepentant sin. Whatever the case, it is hard to speak the truth in love when hard truths must be told. But God often uses our confronting of others to lead them to repentance. Do not be afraid to confront sinners, but always do it with compassion and the hope it will produce repentance.”

Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁶ “Now Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. ⁷ Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them. “Where do you come from?” he said. They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” (Genesis 42:6–7 (ESV)

One author writes, “Every long separation is a test: A test to see how powerful or how weak the will of reuniting is.”

Today’s text makes it quite clear that Joseph was in charge of the world-wide food distribution during the seven-year famine (Gen. 41:25-36). This was because the LORD providentially appointed him, through the Pharaoh of Egypt, to be governor over the land (Gen. 41:37-45).

Jacob directed his ten older sons to go to Egypt and buy grain (Gen. 42:1-5). Joseph’s elder brothers came to Egypt along with many others to purchase food. This was because the famine not only affected Egypt, but also the land of Canaan.

Moses writes, “And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.” The irony here is striking. Joseph’s dreams as a youth (Gen. 37:5-11) become a reality when he is a man. It has taken over twenty years, but the LORD fulfilled His providential plans for Joseph.

Joseph recognized his brothers. However, they did not recognize Joseph. Remember, it has been over twenty years. Joseph is no longer a teenager (Gen. 37:1-2). Additionally, while Joseph’s brothers looked like the Hebrew shepherds they had always been (Gen. 37:1-12), Joseph looked and dressed like an Egyptian (Gen. 41:14, 42). Not only did Joseph appear as an Egyptian, but also an Egyptian ruler.

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “Pharaoh’s dreams have come to pass (chap. 41), but Joseph is still waiting to see his family again, which would fulfill the dreams of his youth (37:5–11). This fulfillment begins today when his brothers, out of the innumerable multitude of foreigners looking for food, “happen” to come before their once-hated brother instead of one of the numerous officials Joseph would have had under him to help distribute the grain. Yet we know this is no coincidence. God has orchestrated events to make Joseph lord over his brothers (42:6)”

Events unite to bring about the Lord’s plan for His people. They always do.

Dr. Sproul concludes, “A famine “happens” to occur in Canaan and Egypt. Joseph’s brothers “happen” to come before him instead of some other nameless official. Indeed, God is sovereign over all history. Even when things seem out of control and those who hate the church are in power, nothing happens that God cannot use for good. We should therefore be comforted in these troubled times.”  

Soli deo Gloria!   

“When Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” ² And he said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die.” ³ So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. ⁴ But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might happen to him. ⁵ Thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.” (Genesis 42:1–5 (ESV)

Twenty plus years had passed since Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery and then told their father Jacob that his favored son was dead (Gen. 37). However, the LORD has a providential way of working through the events in our lives; not only for His glory but also for our benefit (Rom. 8:28-30).

Joseph was unaware how a devastating famine would reunite him with his elder brothers. It would be by God’s providence that the dreams of Joseph as a teenage shepherd in Canaan (Gen. 37:5-11) would be fulfilled as a man who governed the land of Egypt.

Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt. The text does not say how long the famine had been in effect. Moses did write that the famine spread over all the land (Gen. 41:56). This would include Canaan.

Jacob criticized his ten elder sons for their inaction. “Why do you look at one another?” ² And he said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die.”

However, Jacob did not let his youngest son Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, travel with them. Jacob feared that Benjamin might be hurt and harmed. Jacob’s thinking was probably affected not only by his age, his love for Benjamin, but also by his memory of Joseph’s reported death twenty years before.

Therefore, Joseph’s ten elder brothers came to Egypt to buy grain. They were among many others who came from Canaan for the same reason. The famine was that extensive.

Dr. R.C. Sproul explains, “We see in today’s passage, the hunger present in the land of the Nile (41:55) was also found in Palestine. Learning that food was available in Egypt, Jacob tells his sons to straighten up and go there to buy grain (42:1–2, 5). Unbeknownst to him, the availability of food is due to the wisdom of his son Joseph, and a worldwide famine has occurred, in God’s providence, in order to bless and protect God’s people by bringing them into Egypt (46:1–4).”

We see in today’s text, and the unfolding narrative, that there are no coincidences. God remains in complete control of all the circumstances of life. This was not only true in Joseph’s life, but also in our own. May each of us rest in that biblical truth.

Soli deo Gloria!