Study From the Book of Genesis,42

Study From the Book of Genesis,42

Today we study chapter 42 of the Book of Genesis. There are many biblical principles and lessons in this chapter. But I choose the most useful one in the Biblical Counselling.

These men standing before Joseph sold him as a slave 20 years before-yet they were his brothers! Now suddenly here they were, bowing before him, just as he had dreamed.

 Joseph’s life was now thoroughly Egyptian. In fact, he named his first son Manasa means “forgetfulness.” as assign of his estrangement from the painful memories of his family. What was gone through Joseph’s mind as he recognised his brothers? No doubt shock, confusion, and anger. Joseph may have spoken roughly in order to control his emotions.

Joseph remembered the dreams and released his pent-up feelings. He accused his brothers of something he knew they did not do. In this way, Joseph set out to learn whether his brothers had changed for the better. Would they betray each other when under pressure? At the mention of his brother Benjamin, Joseph must have had great difficulty hiding his feelings, and one is no more: these words must have been unbearable to Joseph. Although his brothers supposed that he was dead, he was right before their eyes!

Twice, Joseph accused them of being spies. The brothers must have overwhelmed with fear. They were standing before a man who had absolute, autocratic power. At his word they could be executed.

The brothers felt guilty as they realised that they were punished for what they had done to Joseph many years ago.  Only Reuben had tried to save Joseph on that awful day. His plan to rescue Joseph was thwarted when the brothers decided to sell him to the Midianite traders instead of abandoning him in a pit to die. According to Reuben, the brothers would be punished for killing Joseph.

Structure:

Verses 1-38: Joseph meets his brother in Egypt.

Principle 70, verse 42:22; “---And Reuben answered them, saying, spoke I not unto you, saying: do not sin against the child, and ye would not hear? Therefore, his blood is required.”

Lesson 70: Reuben was not present when his brothers sold Joseph as a slave. And he believed that Joseph was killed and his blood is required. The feeling of guilt is overwhelming in such difficult situation. The feeling guilt cannot be relieved   unless we confess our sins and believe in the Lord Jesus’ forgiveness. 5/7/2026.