Genesis 43:1 - 45:28: The Second Visit to Egypt
From Betrayal to Redemption: Joseph's Journey of Reconciliation.
In Genesis 42, we see the accounts of Joseph's Brothers' first visit to Egypt to buy grains, where Joseph imprisoned Simeon, his brother, resulting in their second visit to Egypt. Also, we saw God's providence over Joseph as he went through the wicked act through his Brothers and still God made him a powerful man in Egypt. Joseph's Brothers felt guilty for what they did to Joseph in the past and learnt the importance of repentance.
The Decision to Return to Egypt
To fully appreciate the flavour of the two visits, it is necessary to compare them throughout this account of the second visit. This visit not only looks backwards but also gives us a hint of the third journey, when the whole family moved to Egypt for good.
Jacob's Reluctance, Judah's Pledge, and God's Mercy
Jacob was still the head of the family, and until he withdrew his opposition to another visit, his sons could not leave. At last, hunger and Judah's promise to stand surety for Benjamin made Jacob relent. This reminds us of the tricky reunion with Esau and Jacob (Genesis 32: 7-21), and now Jacob puts his trust in a man in Egypt and prayers. Jacob's prayers show the lack, but God's mercy still outruns Jacob's expectations. He prayed that 'he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back' (Genesis 43:14). The other brother here, Jacob, meant Simeon.
Genesis 43:14 CSB: May God Almighty cause the man to be merciful to you so that he will release your other brother and Benjamin to you. As for me, if I am deprived of my sons, then I am deprived.”
Jacob’s Concern and His Sons’ Guilty Conscience
Jacob was concerned for Benjamin's safety, and his sons were worried that their sins in the past would be revealed because whenever anything unexpected occurred, panic overtook them. They would be uneasy with the judgement of their judgement. (Genesis 42:18,23 and 33).
Genesis 42:18, 23, 33 CSB:[
18] On the third day Joseph said to them, “I fear God #— #do this and you will live.
[23] They did not realize that Joseph understood them, since there was an interpreter between them.
[33] The man who is the lord of the country said to us, ‘This is how I will know if you are honest: Leave one brother with me, take food to relieve the hunger of your households, and go.
Joseph’s Kindness and the Banquet of Reconciliation
When they met again, Joseph was kind towards them, enquired gently about 'your aged father' blessing Benjamin, and finally treated them to a banquet. Joseph's harsh questions (Genesis 42: 6-16) were not forgotten during their previous meeting in chapter 42. The Brothers were astonished when Joseph discovered the order of their ages (Genesis 43:33). Despite everything, they took it for what it was and ate and drank freely with him.
Genesis 42:6-16 CSB: [6] Joseph was in charge of the country; he sold grain to all its people. His brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the ground. [7] When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from? ” he asked. “From the land of Canaan to buy food,” they replied. [8] Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. [9] Joseph remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies. You have come to see the weakness of the land.” [10] “No, my lord. Your servants have come to buy food,” they said. [11] “We are all sons of one man. We are honest; your servants are not spies.” [12] “No,” he said to them. “You have come to see the weakness of the land.” [13] But they replied, “We, your servants, were twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no longer living.” [14] Then Joseph said to them, “I have spoken: ‘You are spies! ’ [15] This is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. [16] Send one from among you to get your brother. The rest of you will be imprisoned so that your words can be tested to see if they are true. If they are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies! ”
Genesis 43:33 CSB: They were seated before him in order by age, from the firstborn to the youngest. The men looked at each other in astonishment.
Judah’s Redemption and the End of Family Animosity
The next morning, just as they were congratulating themselves on being able to leave Egypt safely with Simeon, Benjamin was arrested for stealing silver cups, and this brought all of them to Joseph's palace. It was a collapse of a world built on hatred, lies, and deception, and it revealed their true personalities. In particular, the hard-hearted Judah, who had proposed the sale of Joseph into slavery (Genesis 37:27) and also demanded that his daughter-in-law be burnt (Genesis 38:24), showed himself a changed man. Judha, in the longest speech in Genesis, pleaded for Benjamin's release, explaining the effects that Benjamin's non-return would have on their aged father, and finally offering to take his bother’s place himself. This incident clears the age-long animosity between the sons of Leah (such as Judah) and the sons of Rachel (Joseph and Benjamin). Jacob's love for Rachel and her sons was so deep that he considered them his real family, yet the other sons chose Egyptian slavery to break their father's heart (Genesis 44: 33-34).
Genesis 37:27 CSB: Come on, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh,” and his brothers agreed.
Genesis 38:24 CSB: About three months later Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law, Tamar, has been acting like a prostitute, and now she is pregnant.” “Bring her out,” Judah said, “and let her be burned to death! ”
Genesis 44:33-34 CSB: [33] Now please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave, in place of the boy. Let him go back with his brothers. [34] For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the grief that would overwhelm my father.”
Joseph Reveals His Identity and God's Divine Purpose
During Judah's readiness to sacrifice himself for his brother and father, Joseph revealed his own true identity and the divine purpose behind his suffering. God used his brothers' evil deeds to save lives (Genesis 45:7). 'It was not you who sent me here but God' (Genesis 45:8). This would sum up the purpose of Joseph's story. God overrule human deeds, whether be it good or evil, to achieve his saving purpose. The Lord declared to Abraham that through his 'offspring, all nations on earth will be blessed' (Genesis 22:18), and through Joseph and the famine relief programme, this promise was partially fulfilled.
Genesis 45:7-8 CSB: God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. [8] Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Genesis 22:18 CSB: And all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed my command.”
God's Sovereignty, Human Responsibility, and True Reconciliation
God's sovereignty controls human affairs, Genesis does not deny people full moral responsibility for their deeds. It affirms both truths simultaneously by emphasising the deep hurt caused by the brothers' actions, Jacob's unquenchable grief, Joseph's slavery and unjust imprisonment, and the brothers' guilty consciences. It is this belief in human guilt and responsibility that lies behind Joseph's harsh treatment of his brothers both here in Genesis 42: 14-15. Not until Judah confessed their guilt, which referred to their sin of selling Joseph (Genesis 44:16) and showed true repentance by offering to take Benjamin's place is forgiveness and reconciliation possible. As soon as that point is reached, however, Joseph's generosity knew no bounds, and he made every provision for his family's homeward journey.
Genesis 42:14-15 CSB: [14] Then Joseph said to them, “I have spoken: ‘You are spies! ’ [15] This is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.
Genesis 44:16 CSB: “What can we say to my lord? ” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed your servants’ iniquity. We are now my lord’s slaves #— #both we and the one in whose possession the cup was found.”
Jacob’s Shock, Conviction, and Renewed Hope
When they finally reached home, Jacob was stunned by the news and did not believe what his sons told him. Eventually, however, he was persuaded, and after twenty years of mourning, he at last expressed hope again (Genesis 45:28).
Genesis 45:28 CSB: Then Israel said, “Enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go to see him before I die.”
Application
Even through times of betrayal and hardship, God can still work on reconciliation and redemption. We see in Joseph's forgiveness towards his brothers who sold him into slavery demonstrated God's sovereignty to use evil actions for good - as God gave Joseph a powerful position and saved his family during the time of famine through him. Later, Joseph tested his brothers by bringing Benjamin to Egypt, and this changed the hearts of his brothers since selling Joseph to Egypt. Despite the brothers, Joseph still forgave them and thus demonstrated God's mercy and love. We also learn of the deep love within the family between Joseph and his brother, especially for Benjamin, and the willingness to protect him.
Key Note
1. Partial Fulfilment of Joseph's Dream
This is still a partial fulfilment of Joseph's dream (Genesis 37: 9-10 and Genesis 42:6).
Genesis 43:26 CSB: When Joseph came home, they brought him the gift they had carried into the house, and they bowed to the ground before him.
Genesis 42:6 CSB: Joseph was in charge of the country; he sold grain to all its people. His brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.
2. Egyptians’ Dislike
The Egyptians’ dislike of eating with foreigners is often mentioned in classical writers.
Genesis 43:32 CSB: They served him by himself, his brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who were eating with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, since that is detestable to them.
3. The Cup was Used for Divination
I am not sure that the cup was used for divination and served to make the charge of theft more threatening.
Genesis 44:5 CSB: Isn’t this the cup that my master drinks from and uses for divination? What you have done is wrong! ’ ”
4. Joseph’s Disappearance
For the first time, Joseph learnt how his father had reacted to his disappearance (Genesis 37:33).
Genesis 44:28 CSB: One is gone from me #— #I said he must have been torn to pieces #— #and I have never seen him again.
Genesis 37:33 CSB: His father recognized it. “It is my son’s robe,” he said. “A vicious animal has devoured him. Joseph has been torn to pieces! ”
5. Father to Pharaoh
Father to Pharaoh. e.g. his chief adviser.
Genesis 45:8 CSB: Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
6. Goshen
Goshen was in the Eastern Nile Delta.
Genesis 45:10 CSB: You can settle in the land of Goshen and be near me #— #you, your children, and your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and all you have.
