Introduction
Joseph’s brothers are afraid when they find out who he is.
Verses
1Then Joseph couldn’t control himself before all those who stood before him, and he called out, “Cause everyone to go out from me!” No one else stood with him, while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
2He wept aloud. The Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.
3Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Does my father still live?”
His brothers couldn’t answer him; for they were terrified at his presence.
His brothers couldn’t answer him; for they were terrified at his presence.
4Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.”
They came near. He said, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.
They came near. He said, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.
5Now don’t be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
6For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are yet five years, in which there will be no ploughing and no harvest.
7God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance.
8So now it wasn’t you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
9Hurry, and go up to my father, and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says, “God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me. Don’t wait.
10You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you will be near to me, you, your children, your children’s children, your flocks, your herds, and all that you have.
11There I will provide for you; for there are yet five years of famine; lest you come to poverty, you, and your household, and all that you have.” ’
12Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaks to you.
13You shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. You shall hurry and bring my father down here.”
14He fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.
15He kissed all his brothers, and wept on them. After that his brothers talked with him.
16The report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” It pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.
17Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals, and go, travel to the land of Canaan.
18Take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.’
19Now you are commanded to do this: Take wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.
20Also, don’t concern yourselves about your belongings, for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.”
21The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.
22He gave each one of them changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothing.
23He sent the following to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provision for his father by the way.
24So he sent his brothers away, and they departed. He said to them, “See that you don’t quarrel on the way.”
25They went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan, to Jacob their father.
26They told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” His heart fainted, for he didn’t believe them.
27They told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them. When he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob, their father, revived.
28Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
Questions
1. How did Joseph's brothers react when they found out who he was?
v 3 ... His brothers couldn’t answer him; for they were terrified at his presence.
2. How did Joseph respond to their reaction at finding out who he was?
v 5 Now don’t be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
3. What did Joseph say to his brothers as they departed to bring the rest of the family to Egypt?
v 24 … He said to them, “See that you don’t quarrel on the way.”
Summary Points
- v 1 to 3 When Joseph makes himself known to his brothers, they are afraid because of what they did to him
- v 4 to 15 Joseph tells them “God sent me here to preserve life”. He tells them that as there are still five more years of famine to come his father and the rest of his family should come to Egypt where Joseph will provide for them
- v 16 to 20 When Pharaoh hears that Joseph's brothers have come, he invites all Joseph's family to come and live in Egypt
- v 21 to 28 Joseph sends wagons from Egypt with the brothers so they can fetch their father. Jacob initally doesn't believe Joseph is still alive, but agrees to go to Egypt when he sees the wagons Joseph has sent
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