Genesis 68
THE FUFILLMENT OF THE COVENANT
(Genesis 42:1-15)
Introduction:
Chapter 42 of Genesis deals with the incident in which Joseph, who suddenly became prime minister of Egypt, reunites with his brothers for the first time in over 20 years amidst a long ordeal of hardship. According to Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dream, seven years of plenty were followed by seven years of famine in Egypt and the surrounding area. This famine also struck the land of Canaan, where Joseph's family lived. So Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain. The events in this chapter strongly suggest that Jacob's family's plan to migrate to Egypt is gradually being realized.
The events that had been unfolding around Joseph began to unfold around Jacob's family. When the whole world suffered from famine, Jacob's family in Canaan also went to Egypt to buy grain to solve the famine (verses 1-5). The brothers who came to buy food and Joseph meet again after about 20 years,
but the brothers do not recognize him, and only Joseph recognizes them and tests them (verses 6-25).
After returning to Canaan, the brothers report to Jacob about the events in Egypt and become afraid when they see a wad of money in their grain sacks
(verses 26-38). In this way, this chapter shows that Jacob's family's plan to move to Egypt is gradually being realized.
1. The Bible
1) God’s covenant (prophesies)
2) The fulfillment of the covenant
3) The proof to those who believe
2. Joseph possessed the covenant and a dream.
1) Gen. 37:1-11
2) He wasn’t disappointed even in crises. (Gen. 37:23-25, Gen. 39:1-6)
3) He didn’t despair even in temptations. (Gen. 39:7-18)
4) He did not fail even in prison. (Gen. 40:1-22)
3. The dream God gave Joseph was fulfilled exactly.
1) Famine (Gen. 41:53-57)
v. 53. The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end,
v. 54. and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food.
2) His brothers bowed before him (Gen. 42:6) Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph's brothers
arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.
3) He never forgot the dreams and their fulfillment (Gen. 42:9) Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them,
"You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected."
4) Joseph’s strategy (Gen. 42:9-15)
4. Where did this grace come from, and how did it come to him?
1) Moses’ theme and concern
Gen. 3:1-6, Gen. 3:15, The forefathers of faith
2) The people of the covenant
3) One who had a dream from early on
4) Man of faith
5) Man of complete prayer (Gen. 39:1-2, 39:6)
6) Man of wisdom (Gen. 41:16, 25)
7) A person moved by the Holy Spirit (Genesis 41:37-38)
Conclusion: Joseph testing his brothers.
Joseph recognized his brothers who had come to Egypt to seek food and framed them as spies to test them. This was to find out what Joseph was up to
with his father Jacob and younger brother Benjamin, and to see whether the older brothers had reflected on their past wrongdoings and changed.
This is because, no matter how brothers they are and people whom Joseph loves, repentance for their sins and a changed life are essential for God's people. Although the sins committed by saints during the sanctification process do not affect salvation, they are related to the reward given by God on this earth
and in the final judgment.
Therefore, as Apostle Paul said, believers must turn their lives around with fear and trembling (cf. Philippians 2:12) and act so as not to go against
the word of God. When we do this, we can receive blessings and gain glorious salvation on this earth.
The brothers, who hated Joseph because of the dream God gave him and sold their flesh and blood into slavery in a foreign land, have now come
before Joseph and received food to save their lives. Even though Joseph experienced many hardships, he did not blame his brothers and enjoyed
the blessings of Immanuel.
Joseph's appearance typifies the infinite love of Christ, who accomplished the work of salvation by shedding tears and blood toward humans dying from sin today.