The Story

The story of Joseph and his brothers in chapters 42 to 45 is very beautiful. Little children feel its charm, and there is a tender something about it which brings tears to many older eyes. We must take pains to preserve this charm in our presenting of the story. It may be well to depart somewhat from our usual method in our study of these chapters. Let us say just enough to make the scene living to the children and then reverently read the chapters with them. It may leave a clearer memory of the story if we give one lesson to chapter 42, describing the first visit of the brothers, and make our long reading from chapters 43 to 45, describing the second visit. If carefully planned and done, these lessons will be long remembered.

Pharaoh had raised Joseph to great power in Egypt. What were some of the things which showed that Joseph was ruler of the country? What did Joseph do in the seven years of plenty? What did he do when the years of famine came?

One day, Joseph saw ten of his brothers among the people who came to buy grain. Where had they come from? Why had they come? As they bowed down before him, Joseph knew them, but they did not know him.

Does their bowing down to Joseph remind you of dreams that Joseph had long before? Joseph could also understand when they talked with each other, but they did not know it, for he spoke in the Egyptian language and the interpreter repeated in their language what he said to them.

One of the brothers was not there, the youngest, Joseph's own brother Benjamin. He wished to know about Benjamin, whether the brothers had been kind to him and to their old father. He loved his brothers and could not keep back his tears. But could he trust them? So he spoke roughly to them and called them spies, enemies of the country, and said that they must bring Benjamin with them when they came again or they should not see his face and he would not sell them grain. He kept one of the brothers, Simeon, when he sent the others home, to make sure that they would come again with Benjamin. Another thing troubled them. Joseph gave them back their money, putting each man's money in his sack of grain, and they found it when they opened their sacks. They could not tell why this was done. They were afraid it was some plan to do them harm. When they came home and told Jacob their story, and told him that the great man in Egypt had said that Benjamin must come with them when they came again, Jacob was troubled. He loved Benjamin so much, and he had fears for his safety with the brothers and in the strange land of Egypt.

Have you all a good map of Egypt to look at? It is a strange country, all desert outside of the strip of land which is kept green by the overflow of the Nile. There is famine in Egypt if the Nile fails to overflow the fields. This was probably what happened in the seven years of famine after the years of plenty. But Joseph collected corn in the years of plenty and was ready to sell it to the people when the famine came. The famine was not alone in Egypt, but all the neighboring countries suffered also, even the land of Canaan, where Joseph's father, Jacob (or Israel), lived, some two or three hundred miles away. They heard that there was corn (or grain) to be bought in Egypt, and Jacob sent ten of his sons down to buy corn. You can trace the way on your map, along the Mediterranean shore and across the Isthmus of Suez, which was then much narrower than it is now.

It was Joseph who sold the grain. As they came and bowed down before him, Joseph knew his brothers, but they did not know him. Does their bowing before Joseph remind you of a dream that Joseph had long ago? Let us read the story. (Gen. 42) Joseph longed to make himself known to his brothers, but first he wanted to know if they could be trusted. Had they been kind to the youngest brother, Benjamin? He was not with them. So Joseph bound Simeon, and kept him till they should come down to Egypt again bringing Benjamin with them. He pretended that he thought they were spies. The Egyptians were always watchful lest some enemy should come into their country through the great highway from the east.

Joseph had learned the language of the Egyptians, which was different from the language that his brothers spoke. He understood their language, but he spoke to them through an interpreter. That is, he spoke to the interpreter in the language of Egypt, and he told them in their own language what Joseph said.

Joseph returned each man his money in his sack, so that really he made them a present of the grain. They did not understand why he did it, but went home to their father greatly troubled. And you can understand that the old father would be greatly troubled also, for twice the brothers had come home with one brother missing, and now they wanted to take his youngest son Benjamin, whom he loved so much. "If mischief befall him," he said, "by the way in which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave."

If we were acting out this story, do we know what feelings we ought to have and to express if we were taking the part of Joseph when he saw his brothers, and what feelings we ought to have if we were taking the part of the brothers? What if we were taking the part of the old father Jacob?

1. From what country and city did Joseph's brothers come to buy corn? To what country did they come?

2. How did Joseph treat his brothers? Why?

3. What did he say that they must do? Which of the brothers did Joseph bind?

4. What can you tell about the money that the brothers brought to pay for corn?

5. Tell about their return to Jacob.

Spiritual Study

The most helpful glimpse of deeper meaning in this story grows from the thought that Joseph represents the Lord loving and caring for us in hidden ways while we are living our natural life in the world, occupied in natural interests and natural knowledge. How tenderly He loves and longs for us to know His love! Sometimes the Lord's ways seem harsh and His words seem harsh. Really His ways toward us and His words are all from love. (A. 5422, 5423, 5511)

Joseph loved Benjamin and longed to have him with him, and could not reveal himself to the brothers till Benjamin came. Go back to the thought which we had that Joseph and Benjamin, the last-born of Jacob's sons, represent more spiritual developments than are represented by the other brothers. They represent a conscious relation with the Lord: Joseph a loving sense of the Lord's help, very obscure in our worldly Egyptian state, and Benjamin an understanding of it. Perhaps in the present experience of the Christian Church Benjamin is now timidly coming to Joseph in Egypt, fearful that the knowledge of the Lord which is real and precious to us in more spiritual states will hardly be able to take its place among the knowledge and experience of the world. Joseph needs Benjamin, and no harm befalls him. (A. 5411)

The money which the men brought was returned in their sacks. Paying for the grain represents the feeling that we are able of ourselves to acquire truth and strength of character. We cannot do this; it is the Lord's gift. He invites us to ""buy wine and milk, without money and without price." (Isa. 55:1) This truth was represented by the returning of their money to the brethren. They could not buy food; they must take it as a gift. (A. 5488)

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