Genesis 43:31 - Time to Break Bread

And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.

Set on bread: After inquiring about Jacob and Benjamin (Genesis 43:28-29), Joseph is now ready to eat. He said nothing about the gifts he received (Genesis 43:25), because he is content with the news about his father and seeing his brother, Benjamin.

Genesis 43:30 - The Tears of Joseph

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.

Joseph's reunification produced many emotional tears of deep affection and compassion he had for his family. Tears of sorrow for sympathizing the suffering his family had to endure (Genesis 42:24; Genesis 45:2). And tears of joy for the blessing of having another chance to reunite with his family, especially with his brother Benjamin (Genesis 45:14), and his Father Jacob (Genesis 46:29).

Genesis 43:29 - Joseph's first time seeing Benjamin?

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.

Benjamin is Joseph's only full brother (Genesis 35:24). Some biblical scholars insist that Benjamin was born after Joseph was sold into Egypt. However, I believe that opinion is easily refuted with Genesis 35:22. In the end, it does not make a big difference.

Genesis 43:28 - The Evil Bow Before the Good

And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.

The sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance (Genesis 37:9) because the upright shall have dominion (Psalm 49:14). God loves justice and will never forsake the righteous; eventually, evil will pay tribute to good (Proverbs 14:19).

Genesis 43:26 - Deja vu All Over Again

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.

Here, we see the dream about the sheaves come true (Genesis 37:7). The first deja vu was triggered when Joseph's brother bowed themselves down before him on their first visit (Genesis 42:6). However, this time all eleven brothers are bowed down just as his dream predicted.

Genesis 43:23 - Was Simeon in on the secret?

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.

And he brought Simeon out unto them: Did Joseph let Simeon in on the secret while his brothers were at home worrying about the espionage case? I don't think so, Simeon was the second oldest and did nothing to prevent Joseph from being sold into slavery.

Genesis 43:21 - Judah Shows his Courage

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.

In the face of adversity, Judah told the story just as it happened; even admitting to finding the money at the Inn (Genesis 42:27) which ran the risk of having to justify why they didn't return at that point. I believe Judah is speaking here on behalf of his brothers, because he is the leader of this expedition and the one responsible for Benjamin (Genesis 43:3-14).

Genesis 43:9 - A Better Covenant

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:

Judah's offer to take responsibility for the welfare of Benjamin was more convincing than Reuben's. Judah made an agreement that he was ready to honor (Genesis 44:32); whereas, being confident that nothing would happen to Benjamin, Reuben made an offer that was too lofty to be taken seriously (Genesis 42:37). Here, Judah is proving himself to be more of a leader, while Reuben is proving himself to be more untrustworthy.

Genesis 43:3 - Proof of Their Cowardliness

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.

Pharaoh did not say: Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. Egypt was awaiting their return to settle their espionage case (Genesis 42:20). However, the brothers were ready to abandon Simeon and become fugitives of Egypt if Jacob refused to let Benjamin return.

Genesis 42:38 - Inconsolable Sorrow

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.

then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave: Returning home without Benjamin would break Jacob's tender heart. He would become as one dead (Genesis 44:31); living out the rest of his days without a remedy to rekindle his zeal for life, mourning for his sons until the day he dies (Genesis 37:35).

Genesis 42:20 - Joseph's Do-or-Die Ultimatum

But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.

Knowing that his brothers would soon need corn again, Joseph demanded to see Benjamin on their next visit. If they do not bring him, Joseph makes it clear that they shall not see his face and live (Genesis 43:5, Genesis 44:23), for they will be considered guilty of espionage.

Genesis 42:13 - An Inaccurate Account of Joseph

And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.

The best lie contains some truth but not the whole truth. and one is not: It's true that Joseph was missing ( Genesis 37:30); but he was not presumed dead, as his brother tried to make it sound (Genesis 44:20).

Genesis 42:10 - Paying Homage to Joseph

And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.

Does Joseph indeed reign over his brothers (Genesis 37:8)? my lord: Is an expression of respect and reverence to one who has dominion over the affairs of state. thy servants: Is an expression of submission to one in authority. Therefore the answer to the question is yes; for Joseph has the absolute dominion over all who are in need of corn, including his brothers.

Genesis 42:8 - Their Long Lost Brother

And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

but they knew not him: Joseph was just a teenager when his brothers sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:2). Now, 22 years later (Genesis 41:46; Genesis 45:6), Joseph is a full grown man and unrecognizable by his brothers.

Genesis 42:1 - The Wake-up Call

Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?

Why do ye look one upon another? Overwhelmed and sinking into despondency, Jacob's sons were looking to each other for answers, even upon hearing the good news that there was corn in Egypt. However, Jacob's faith remained grounded in the truth that God would not abandon His people in the midst of despair. So upon hearing the good news, Jacob knew immediately what to do; he sent his 10 sons to Egypt (Acts 7:12), for they were unable to act on their own accord.

Genesis 41:56 - Reaching Out During Hard Times

And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.

Joseph was wise to opened all the storehouses to sell corn. During hard times, people are extra sensitive and will curse those that store up excess for themselves. However, blessed are those the are willing to barter at a fair exchange rate to help those that are in need (Proverbs 11:26).

Genesis 41:46 - From the Pit to the Palace

And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

After 13 years of bondage Joseph stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt just as David stood before King Saul; they were liked immediately and made to be the king's right-hand man (Genesis 37:2; 1 Samuel 16:21).

Genesis 41:44 - Egypt's Stamp of Approval

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.

Joseph was the head honcho in charge of everything in Egypt, it's government and possessions. Nothing in Egypt could be done without his consent. He had a firm command over of it's top officials and was responsible for training it's advisors in wisdom (Psalm 105:21-22).

Genesis 41:38 - Where is the wise?

And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?

Where shall wisdom be found? Like Joseph, Daniel was commended for his understanding in all visions and dreams according to the Spirit of God that dwelt within him (Daniel 4:8); for the wisdom of man could not comprehend the hidden wisdom of the Spirit (Daniel 5:8).

Genesis 41:30 - God's Purpose for Joseph in Egypt

And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land

and the famine shall consume the land:This famine was not only very severe in Egypt, it also devastated the land of his father's household in Canaan (Genesis 47:13). For this reason, God placed Joseph in Egypt to be a savior to his people.

Genesis 41:28 - The Universal Communication of God

This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.

There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries in the dreams of man. Just as God showed unto Pharaoh the future in a dream, God also showed King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future (Daniel 2:28). God speaks to whomever he wishes, to both the believer as well as the non-believer.

Gensis 41:18 & 22 - Paraoh's Two Dreams

My Bible references Genesis 41:18 to verse 3, and Genesis 41:22 to verse 6.

I believe the connection lies somewhere in between the subtle differences noted in Pharaoh's reiteration of his dreams to Joseph; however, I am struggling in making the connection.

Commentators suggest that some of the changes noted in Pharaoh's reiteration are due to the fact that Pharaoh did not grasp the implications of the symbolism. While other commentators suggest that Pharaoh purposely disguised these essential points, to test Joseph's ability to interpret.

Genesis 41:15 - The Secret of Dreams

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.

Joseph can understand a dream to interpret it because God shares his secrets with those that have respect for Him and are accounted righteous (Proverbs 3:32, Psalm 25:14).

Genesis 41:11 - Anytime, Anywhere Communication

And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.

God's communication is always present, even while in confinement. God gave the baker and butler each a dream with a meaning of its own while they were in prison (Genesis 40:5), and likewise, God heard Jonah's prayer from within the belly of a fish (Jonah g2:2).

Genesis 41:10 - The Chief Butler remembers Joseph.

Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker:

The ward in the captain of the guard's house was a prison, the same place where Joseph was imprisoned (Genesis 40:3).

Genesis 40:23 - The Sin of Forgetting

Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

This was a case of "out of sight, out of mind" in the face of good times. The butler had good intentions on helping Joseph but he forgot him as though he were dead (Psalm 31:12). When times are good we have a bad habit of forgetting those that helped us succeed (Amos 6:6, Hosea 13:6). This sin of forgetfulness happens when we become overly preoccupied with our own affairs which overshadows the interest of others.

Genesis 40:14 - It's a two-way street.

But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:

There is a marked resemblance between Joseph's request in consideration for his kindness and that of Rahab's. They both asked for help to be rescued and did not expect to be paid for their services. Their expectation was an act of kindness for a act of kindness in return (Joshua 2:12). I scratch your back; you scratch my back.

Genesis 40:8 - As a Instrument in God's Hands.

And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

Joseph knew he could interpret the dream but only as a medium by which God would give them the answer they desired (Genesis 41:16 NIV).

Genesis 39:21 - Peace of Mind in Troubling Times

But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

God granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden because God was please with the way Joseph lived his life (Proverbs 16:7).

Genesis 39:10 - Avoid falling under the spell of passion.

And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

she spake to Joseph day by day - Potiphar's wife's intense desire to have sex with Joseph was relentless. Not only did Joseph continually refuse her illicit sex offers, he also took care not to be with her. By avoiding her, she couldn't entice him with her smooth offers of how having sex with her would be harmless and something to be enjoyed (Proverbs 7:18). Don't believe the lie, sexual immorality is harmful and something not to be enjoyed.

Genesis 39:9 - For Righteousness Sake

There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? There is a marked resemblance between Joseph's reason for not sleeping with Potiphar's wife and that of King Abimelech's reason for not sleeping with Sarah, Abraham's wife (Genesis 20:6). In both cases, sin was avoided for the sake of righteousness, gained through divine awareness. Man's righteousness is not only the result of human motives, for we also suffer for the sake of doing what is right.

Genesis 39:6 - A Good-looking Man

And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

There is a marked resemblance between Joseph's appearance and that of King David, they were both well-known for their striking handsomeness (1 Samuel 16:12 NIV).

Genesis 39:3 - Taking the Righteous Path

And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

His master saw that the LORD was with him because God's blessings crown the head of the righteous for all to see ( Proverbs 10:6). The LORD made all that he did to prosper because the righteous succeed in everything they do (Psalm 1:3). Like Joseph, take the righteous path, shining your light for all to see in everything you do.

Genesis 38:14 - Playing the Harlot

And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.

she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath - Prostitutes often dress seductively and spend most of their time in the streets and in public places soliciting their body indiscriminately for money (Proverbs 7:12). Avoid them at all cost, being careful not to be ensnared by their seductive ways.

Genesis 38:13 - Timnath or Timnah?

And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.

Timnath was not the Timnath of Sampson (Judges 14:1), which is on lower ground than Adullam. Most likely, it is the Timnah of Joshua 15:10, 57, about 10 mile west of Bethlehem.

Genesis 38:11 - Back Home: Used, Childless & Widowed

Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house

Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house as this was the custom for widowed women without children (Leviticus 22:13; Ruth 1:12-13). However, Reuben was lying; he had no intention of allowing Shelah to marry Tamar.

Genesis 38:9 - Levirate Matrimony & Onanism

And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.

The seed should not be his because the first born son would carry on the name of Er so that his dead brother's name would not be forgotten in Israel (Deuteronomy 25:6). Spilled it on the ground is considered a form of contraception from which we get the term "onanism." Although Onan did not masturbate, masturbation ends with the same result - a wasted ejaculation.

Genesis 37:31 - The Object of Resentment

And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;

This verse highlights the dangers of parental favoritism; the ostensive show of favoritism sometimes result in children filled with spite. Joseph's coat of many colors distinguished him as Jacob's favorite (Genesis 37:3). His brothers resented their father for making the coat so they used it out spite in convincing their father of Joseph's death.

Genesis 37:28 - Friend In Deed

Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Midianites merchantmen... drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit - A person who gives assistance to another in need is a friend in deed. Just as God used foreigners to rescue Joseph, a Cushite man rescued Jeremiah from starving to death in a pit. (Jeremiah 38:7-13 NIV).

Genesis 37:24 - In Desperate Need of God

And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.

Like Joseph, Jeremiah was also thrown into a pit and was in desperate need of God (Jeremiah 38:6). Spiritually, you can also find yourself suddenly thrown into a pit. When you find yourself in the pits, look to God to lift you out and get you back in step (Psalm 40:2).