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Working through Joseph and his amazing life.
And we left off with Jacob telling his boys to go back to Egypt with a small gift and all the money that Joseph returned to them and to pay more money to buy more grain. That was up to verse 14 so let’s continue to read starting at verse 15:
Genesis 43:15 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Alright back to 15
Genesis 43.15 – 44.17
August 20th 2023
Genesis 43:15 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.
Upon seeing His real true brother, Joseph, in similitude of the promised Messiah and His true bride, said, “Slay, and make ready,” or slaughter and make a feast to entertain these who are mine.
17 And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house.
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.
Again, “guilty consciences need no accuser” as everything causes alarm, suspicion and becomes subject to misinterpretation by the guilty mind.
In this case, they thought Joseph was going to lure them in and capture and put them in prison and take their animals for himself (which were probably in great number) and were meant to carry the corn back to Canaan.
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:
It seems that these men were a bit more contrite and humble now as Joseph has once again turned up the stress factors by inviting them to his own home. In this setting they turned to a steward and poured out their story on him . . .
Saying, O sir, we really did come down the first time to buy food (and then from verse 21-22) they rehearse the whole thing again
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.
23 And he (the servant) 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.
Somehow this servant was aware of the living God and reassured them that He would certainly act on their behalf.
Perhaps Joseph had confided the whole story to him (including what he intended to do in the future) and he is therefore confident in their well-being.
When the said to him, “we cannot tell who put money in our sacks” the servant replies and says, “I had your money,” in other words, I was the one who gave you your in the sacks.” And they he brought Simeon back out to them.
The brothers continue and say at verse 24
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.
Of course, we know that feet washing is a tradition in the middle east.
25 And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon:
Meaning in preparation of Joseph coming at noon they got the present for him ready.
“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.
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?
A better way to understand this might be,
And he asked them concerning their prosperity; and said, “is your father prosperous, the old man who ye told me was 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.”
As the youngest he was probably introduced or presented last. And when he was Joseph looks up and says:
“God be gracious unto you, 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.
Of course a touching scene of the moment Joseph first laid eyes on his true brother and where all these men shared the same father, Benjamin was truly his brother and he had great love for him.
When Paul was speaking to the Jews of His day in Rome, he wrote,
Romans 9:6 “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.”
Remember this principle when it comes to God and His children. For from the Garden till this very day, True Israel, or those whom Yeshua loves, and YAHAVAH from the heart, not by the flesh, ancestory or circumcision.
This is why Paul also says in Romans 2:29
“But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
The picture we have of Joseph and the others standing around him speaks to this – that Yeshua loved and wept over He who was truly His full true brother, and not just those men who were partially related to Him through Jacob.
Let me be so bold as to say that anytime anyone ever has come to God in faith and the spirit of truth from the heart He or she has received them whether genetically right or not because all of God’s children are His only by and through faith which engenders love via spirit and truth.
31 And he (Joseph) 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.
The text seems to suggest that there were three tables, one for Joseph, one for the Egyptians, and one for the eleven brethren.
Why the separation?
The Hebrews were shepherds; and Egypt had been almost ruined by hordes of what were seen as lawless wandering banditti who were known as “Hycsos,” or “King-shepherds.”
They had been run out of Egypt by a man named Amasis but only after they viciously ruled Egypt for 259 years. So, in Egypt there was a hatred and distrust for shepherd-types of people.
Additionally, the Hebrews were known to kill / sacrifice and eat some animals that the Egyptians held sacred.
Because of these things the Egyptians were so superstitious that they would have no social dealings with other Nations to the point that if they needed to use, say a knife, and a foreigner offered use of theirs, they would refuse for fear that the knife was used to eat an animal they worshipped.
These kinds of practices are found in all sorts of cultures even out to the present.
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.
This was a mind blower to these men because they were sat according to birth-right. “The first-born according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth.” This must have greatly astonish these brethren, to find themselves treated with so much ceremony, and at the same time with so much perfect discernment of their respective ages and birthrights.
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.
Notice the type – all of the brethren who proved themselves (doing what Joseph told them to do before returning to him) were invited to eat. All were honored according to the ways of the culture, but the true brother was rewarded with five times the mess as the others.
Many people will teach that there is heaven and there is hell. Period. It is a standard of modern Evangelicalism.
For starters, the notion is utterly foolish as hell and Satan were defeated by Christ, beginning at the cross, then completely at His return with justice and reward for His own.
God now, has been reconciled to the world.
We recall that in John 8 Yeshua is speaking to the Jews around him, who were from all the tribes. And then we read:
John 8:30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
This is the first stage of discipleship – merely believing on Him. Faith. It is a choice. Some choose to see evidences through eyes of faith, others refuse.
And verse 31 says
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on him,
“You are going to heaven and those who do not believe me are going to hell.” Period. Done. Right. That simple message is super easy to digest and teach, right?
But it’s not biblically sound. No, he says to those who BELIEVED ON HIM
“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed (meaning, you are TRULY my disciples)
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Truly His disciples, truly His brother. Truly free? How? Why? Because they would
Continue in His word
They would know the truth and
The Truth would set them free.
When Moses was working with and leading the Nation of Israel, YAHAVAH comes to Him and says in Exodus 25:8
Exodus 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.
This tabernacle was a detailed map of the Kingdom of heaven above, with specific dimensions with specific accesses by specific people types.
So, YAHAVAH has them create this tabernacle and the scripture (along with tradition) says that there was an outer court, and inner court and a holy of Holies, where YAHAVAH would come and visit once a year.
The outer-court was accessible to anyone who sought YAHAVAH – gentile, Jews – all who sought to enter in to that place.
Of course outside of the tabernacle was a world who did not care to spend time there, so we have the non-seeking world represented there.
The inner court was accessible only to Jews and their priests, then the Holy of Holies was accessed by one Man only, the High Priest, once a year when YAHAVAH would come and dwell.
Tradition says that the Holy of Holies was also know as “the Life,” and that the inner court was called “the truth” and the outer court was called “the way.”
When Yeshua comes and says to His own disciples, “I am the way, the truth and the life, “we might see this as Him saying-
If you want into the Kingdom itself, into the way or the outer court, just believe on me, like these Jews did in John 8.
But, we might suggest that He then adds, but if you are my disciples indeed you, like will be Jews who continue in my word – learning of me, knowing of me, and loving the commandments.
And if you want to enter into eternal life, the holy of holies, you will not only know the truth but you will go beyond this and you will allow the truth to set you free.
Then you enter into the life, or the very presence of YAHAVAH, not just believing (which is the way) not just learning the truth (the Truth) but doing and embracing the Truth (which means embracing the LIFE>
How does knowing and DOING the truth make us free?
Because Life is only fully lived when you are free and emancipated from every hindrance and that is possible only in and through love.
Love is the only path to genuine liberty. Love.
When Yeshua proclaimed, “I am the way, the Truth and the Life, he was speaking to this house above, where there are many mansions.
The picture and type offered when the real brother of Joseph receives five times the amount over the others is a picture for all because He is Josephs true brother just like those who are truly Jesus brothers will receive the same – more than those who just believe, more that those who just know the truth, but equal to Christ who perfectly loved.
Alright, lets read forward into chapter 44 now beginning at verse 1
1 And he (Joseph) commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s money in his sack’s mouth.
2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.
3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.
4 And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, “Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?”
5 Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.
6 And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.
7 And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:
8 Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks’ mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord’s house silver or gold?
9 With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord’s bondmen.
10 And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.
11 Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.
12 And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.
13 Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.
14 And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.
15 And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?
16 And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.
17 And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.
Okay back to verse 1
Genesis 44:1 And (Joseph) commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s money in his sack’s mouth.
2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.
The strategy here seems to have been to cause Joseph’s brothers extreme distress once they discovered the cup in Benjamins bag.
3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.
4 And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, “Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?
5 Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.”
The cup of Joseph, and the manner in which it is described, has been the conversation among many scholars for years.
Some suggest that Joseph would never have resorted to looking into a cup the way the ancient soothsays and magicians did and that it was merely a drinking vessel. Period.
Unfortunately, what the text says (in the least) has the servants of Joseph suggest that this cup was used by him to divine messages from the other side which admittedly could have been suggested to keep the brothers offtrack to Joseph’s identity with them assuming he was a soothsaying Egyptian.
Divination by cups has been around for a long time. Reading tea leaves, the Holy Grail and the like all speak to looking into cups to determine events. Thousands of years in existence.
Remember, there were some mashed up practices that existed when the Nation of Israel engaged with Egypt and perhaps this was one of them.
Some of these practices have come to us already like the astrology works of Laban and the pagan practices that Abraham escaped from.
All of this was before the Law was established where a defining line was drawn by God on the popular practices around in that day.
This is why we read in Deuteronomy 18:10-12 where Gods says
10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
It is hard to believe that Joseph would have consulted cup-divination since he received dreams and the ability to interpret dreams without them.
BUT – this does not mean he didn’t – because there was no established law against it.
Consider some of the options as to the purpose and intention of this cup in this setting. Was it a prop? Was it real to Joseph in terms of powers? Or was it really just his personal cup that he drank from and others assumed that he used it to divine? Perhaps he let them think this about him and not having the law was not fearful of the reputation?
Hard to hell
6 And he (the servant) overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. (that He was given from Joseph)
7 And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:
8 Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks’ mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord’s house silver or gold?
9 With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord’s bondmen.
These men were convinced of their innocence and spoke rashly as to what they were willing to receive as punishment if they were wrong.
10 And he (the servant) said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.
In other words, “I accept your terms – whomever the cup is found will be my servant and the rest shall be blameless.”
11 Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.
12 And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.
Talk about a shocker. I mean – on so many levels. Israel had allowed them to take Benjamin with them to Egypt and now Benjamin is proven, at least by these circumstances, to be a thief!
13 Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.
14 And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.
15 And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?
This was a hint to them because Joseph had divined to them before in and through his dreams. It’s almost like He is saying to them, “don’t you know that such a man as I has dreams that come true?”
16 And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.
And here we have a picture of what God loves, and desires and seeks from those who are implicated, in sin, and have done wrong –
Humble contrition, admittance of fault, and surrender into His hands.
Here the brothers admit that Elohiym had found out their iniquity and placed themselves honestly before Pharaoh’s right-hand man for judgment.
Understand our God – He knows that as humans we can and will do wrong. From the start. He knows that we are capable of and every single person who has ever represented Him, sought Him or been in His hands has broken His law, His will and His commandments.
He knew we would, He knows we have, He knows that we will.
But there are those who only seek Him, only trust Him, and only look to Him and no others – and this is central to the biblical model of what God desires.
Even men like David, who did some pretty messed up stuff, I mean, super messed up stuff, “God calls him a man after His own heart.”
Why? Because David was after hotly the heart of God. He never turned to idols. David amidst His sin openly and contritely allowed himself to be transparent, repentant, humble.
Don’t hide from your God. Ever. Don’t ever ever turn to other gods to fill your hearts, your lives or to believe that they can love or help you more than Him.
Go to Him – not men – and tell Him your honest hearts, your most sinister minds, and place your will in His loving hands.
Sere Him and Him alone no matter what. He knows.
This is what these guilty brothers have finally done before Joseph, who sat on a throne as a type over them.
They seem to believe that Benjamin had actually stolen the cup and this must have really be shocking in light of the fact that he had received five times the food from Joseph.
But Joseph pushes even deeper in on them and says:
17 And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.
In other words Joseph says, “I am keeping the man who took my cup – the rest of you go back home to your father.”
“And they all turned and silently accepted their fate and left Benjamin behind.”
“No?”
No.
Verse 18
18 Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.
Judah, having put his neck on the line in taking Benjamin to Egypt makes himself the speaker here and says,
19 My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother?
20 And we said unto my lord, “We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.
21 And thou saidst unto thy servants, “Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.”
22 And we said unto my lord, “The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.”
23 And thou saidst unto thy servants, “Unless your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.”
24 And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.
25 And our father said, “Go again, and buy us a little food.”
26 And we said, “We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man’s face, except our youngest brother be with us.”
27 And thy servant my father said unto us, “Ye know that my wife bare me two sons:
28 And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:
29 And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.”
30 Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad’s life;
31 It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.
32 For thy servant (meaning me, Judah) became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.
33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.
34 For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.
And we discover, in Judah, selfless, sacrificial love first for His Father, and then for His brother, and lastly for His own well-being.
Do we not see a perfect picture of the One who will come through the Line of Judah, offering Himself up for the betterment of His Father, the betterment of His brother to the detriment of His own well-being?
We do.
And in His name, and His cause, even in His very spirit, we too look to the others around us – and in the Spirit of this selfless, sacrificial, insufferable love, we too choose to act.
For our father, we turn the cheek, we die to our flesh, we live by the Spirit, and to those around us? Our brothers and sisters? we put them first, we offer ourselves up in their place for sorrow, and we show actionable love and concern for all.
We will stop here and continue forward next week.
Questions/Comments/Prayer
David/ Taylors family / Laura / Guetkey’s / Margo
