Genesis 44:28 - Convicted to Tell The Truth

And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:

During their first visit, the brothers account of Joseph was "one is not" giving the impression that he was dead (Genesis 42:13); and, this also agreed to what Jacob said when he heard that Benjamin had to go to Egypt (Genesis 42:36, 38). Although Judah withholds the part about Joseph's bloody coat of many colors (Genesis 37:33), he does not say his brother is dead, only that he had not seen him since and that his father assumes that he is dead.

Genesis 44:27 - Rachel, Joseph and Benjamin

And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons:

my wife bare me two sons: Rachel, Jacob's second wife, bare him his two youngest sons, Joseph and Benjamin. Jacob had twelve sons in all, listed by wife in order of their birth (Genesis 35:23 - 26):

• The sons of Leah were Reuben (the first born), Simeon (2nd), Levi (3rd), Judah (4th), Issachar (9th), and Zebulun (10th).
• The sons of Rachel were Joseph (11th ) and Benjamin (the youngest).
• The sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s servant, were Dan (5th) and Naphtali (6th).
• The sons of Zilpah, Leah’s servant, were Gad (7th) and Asher (8th).

Genesis 44:26 - Judah Sticking to his Story

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.

Totally ignoring his obligation of settling his espionage case in Egypt (Genesis 42:20), Judah told his father we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us (Genesis 43:3). Apparently, Judah has convinced himself of this lie because he was so determined not to return to Egypt, unless he returned with his youngest brother, that he has forgotten all about the espionage charges.

Genesis 44:15 - Can Joseph Certianly Divine?

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?

Like Daniel, Joseph was appointed Chief Diviner; for he was found to have the Spirit of God (Daniel 4:9, 5:11; Genesis 41:38), not because he could find things out with a cup. Joseph gives the impression he used the cup found in Benjamin's sack as a cup of divination (Genesis 44:5) to enhance the cups value and, more importantly, to prompt the question: wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine? If they couldn't believe Joseph's dreams, then how could they believe an Egyptian could use a cup to tell the future?

Genesis 44:9 - Judah's Lofty Rhetoric

With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen.

Like father, like son. Jacob also offered the same death sentence when Laban accused him of stealing his gods; however, Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them (Genesis 31:32). Be realistic about the promises you make, along with it's consequences, and do not enter into agreements that you are not prepared to honor.

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 43:9 - 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 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 42:1 - 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 41:30 - 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 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 37:11 - Overwhelming Feelings of Reverence

And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

Joseph's dream was too wonderful for his father to fathom. However, his father understood to power of dreams so his father observed the saying. Just like when the shepherds spread the word concerning what the angel had told them about baby Jesus; everyone was too amazed to believe Jesus was the Messiah, but Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:17-19).

Genesis 46:29 - Joseph Remembers His Father

And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.

In becoming the lord of all Egypt, Joseph provided a safe haven for his father in the land of Goshen (Genesis 45:9-11), even though his father rebuked him as a child for having the dream (Genesis 37:9-10). In Goshen, Joseph presented himself unto him as evidence of the dream coming true; then they embraced and wept for a long time.

Genesis 35:11 - Adam, Noah, and Jacob

And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

God appeared and made himself known as God Almighty only to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 17:1, Genesis 48.3, Exodus 6:3) ; but of the three, only Jacob (joining the company of Adam and Noah Genesis 1:28, Genesis 9:1) received the blessing: be fruitful and multiply.

Genesis 35:7 - Man of the House

Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

To bring about God's promises, the man of the house must command his household to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just (Genesis 18:19 NIV).

Genesis 35:1 - House of God

And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

Jacob obeyed God; he returned to Bethel, the place where God promised him the land of Canaan (Genesis 28:13) and built there an altar, and he called the place El Bethel (Genesis 35:7).

Genesis 34:10 - To Keep The Peace

And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.

the land shall be before you - To deal with the crisis at hand between the families, Hamor was offering Jacob's family the land of their choice in the same way that Abraham offered Lot the land his choice (Genesis 13:9).

Genesis 32:8 - The Ingratiating Manner of Jacob

And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.

These, the cattle, donkeys, sheep, and servants are to find grace in the sight of my lord in the hope that Esau would be kind to him (Genesis 32:5 CEV).

Genesis 33:3 - Who's serving who?

And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

Jacob bowed himself to the ground seven times because Jacob feared Esau and his dominion (Genesis 27:40). However, at the end of their meeting, Esua acquiesces his servitude to Jacob as his lord (Genesis 33:15).