Simeon Bound
Gen 42:18 And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:
Joseph doing a work in his brothers hearts gives them a plan, and says reassuringly "I fear God" . It is reassuring to know that he who controls, also fears God, and is accountable to him. A foolish leader would mock God, whoa to the people whose leaders mock God and do not fear him for they serve satan and death.
Gen 42:19 If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:
Gen 42:20 But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.
Corn (or grain) would be given but Benjamin must come to supposedly show that the men were true and not spies. One of them must be bound , held hostage until Benjamin is brought forth to Joseph.
Gen 42:21 And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
Gen 42:22 And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.
The brothers knew they were getting what was coming to them for having no mercy on young Joseph. God is not mocked.
Gen 42:23 And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.
Gen 42:24 And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.
Hearing his brothers own up to their sin made Joseph weep. How many have been mistreated by family, would not each shed tears if they heard the family members be remorseful? The greatest pain comes from close friends and family who have betrayed their position of trust to God. God will requiire much from them until they have learned the lesson. Simeon was chosen to be bound for a time. There will be a lesson learned from this. We learn from the hard times, it is Gods way of teaching us. Each lesson learned is a step closer to being like Jesus.
Free Corn
Gen 42:25 Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them.
Joseph secretly restored their money in the sacks of corn. This appears as an act of kindness, grace. But there was more to this. Beware of free gifts from another, it may be a trap.
Gen 42:26 And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence.
Gen 42:27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth.
Gen 42:28 And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?
They had fear when they saw their money in the sacks. Fear often comes suddenly when we feel all is well. Fear is of satan, but it is also the result of unconfessed sin. In this the devil has access. They thought that God surely was punishing them for their sin in some way. Well they might fear, for they had sinned greatly in selling young Joseph and in the Old Testiment law God did punish sin swiftly.
Gen 42:29 And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them; saying,
Gen 42:30 The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country.
Gen 42:31 And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies:
Gen 42:32 We be twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.
Gen 42:33 And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone:
Gen 42:34 And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffic in the land.
Gen 42:35 And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.
They still had not recognized Joseph, as the Lord of the land. Now the father too was fearful of what had happened. Simeon was held hostage and the "true men" the remaining brothers, would they be accused of stealing back their money?
Gen 42:36 And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.
Gen 42:37 And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.
Gen 42:38 And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
The blessings of free corn had a price. Would Simeon die, or perhaps also Benjamin, their fathers dear son from Rachel? What would this cost Reuben, would it mean his two sons might die too. All this remorse because of the sin of selling Joseph. Would the old father die in sorrow, because of the sins of his vengeful sons? Sin has a price, all that is done will be tainted by it, you may get by but you want get away. Praise God for Jesus and grace. Our sins are forgiven, we no longer fear Gods judgment. Still satan reminds us of the past. But satan, why bother? You are a liar, we need not fear, we are the children of the most high God and we are forgiven and made free. Thank you Jesus.
Judah's Responsibility
Some time had passed, maybe months and Simeon is still held hostage. The land is still without rain. The brothers must face their father again and then Joseph. We all hate problems but eventually they must be faced if they do not go away. The famine continues, they must have more corn to survive. There is no other way but to return to Egypt.
Gen 43:1 And the famine was sore in the land.
Gen 43:2 And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.
Gen 43:3 And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
Gen 43:4 If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:
Gen 43:5 But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
Judah is speaking for the brothers. He knows the conditions of the Lord of Egypt for survival. He knows that he must meet these conditions. Joseph had set the conditions for the brothers to receive corn and life, they new and believed them.
Their are conditions to salvation of our souls. Jesus must be received for the forgiveness of sins, there is no other way. People say "we will go to God another way", no they will not. God has set the conditions for salvation. It is through his son Jesus for life, there is no other way.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Gen 43:6 And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?
Gen 43:7 And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?
These questions were to draw out information by Joseph. He knew of the brother. This was all in his plan for Gods purpose.
In witnessing for Jesus asking the right questions can help bring Gods purposes into view. By their answers you can tell the condition of their heart. Hopefully then there will be the sharing of the gospel, and the power of God for a new life. Nothing is more important.
Gen 43:8 And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.
Gen 43:9 I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:
Gen 43:10 For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.
Judah now offers to take full responsibility for the safety of the brothers and bringing back the food. Remember it was Judah that Satan used to suggest the selling of Joseph. At last he is acting responsibly. Satan will use anyone and any means to try to defeat God's purposes. We must watch our thoughts and actions to be sure we are not being used of Satan to destroy anothers hope.
Gen 43:11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:
Gen 43:12 And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight:
Gen 43:13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:
Gen 43:14 And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
Father Israel sends special foods to gain the Egyptian Lords favor. Also the 10 brothers brought double the amount of money (silver) 20 pieces of silver, the price that Joseph was sold for by the slave traders. They are prepared to return to Egypt. When we must face the troubles we should be prepared as best we can. This includes reading scriptures of the problem and praying appealing to God from his promises.. Thank you LORD for your word.
Gary
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