Joseph had made preparation in Egypt for the coming of a terrible seven year long famine. At the end of Genesis 41 we read, “And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.” (Genesis 41:57) Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt. He sent his sons there to buy food. However, as they went to Egypt, they went with the guilt of selling Joseph as a slave into that land. It had now been over 20 years sense that horrible deed was done, but the guilt was still fresh in their minds. Our sins do find us out. “Be sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23) Getting food from Egypt was a matter of life or death for Jacob’s family. The narrative of Genesis 42 is a part of a series of events set in motion years before this time. Jacob sent 10 of his sons to Egypt to buy food. Even though they did not know it Joseph was already there. Benjamin was not sent because his father wanted to protect the last son of his beloved Rachel. When Joseph’s brother reached Egypt they did not recognize their brother, Joseph. They bowed before him in fulfillment of the dreams that he had as a child. (Genesis 37:5-8) Immediately Joseph recognized his brothers but he did not identify himself to them. He spoke harshly to his brothers and accused them of being spies.

          Joseph was using this opportunity to get to see his younger brother Benjamin. Joseph told them that he feared God and the way that they could prove they were not spies was to leave one of their brethren until they brought Benjamin to Egypt. The only thing that they could think about was that they were being punished because of what they did to Joseph. “And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.” (Genesis 42:21) Joseph was touched by the guilt of his brothers. “And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.” (Genesis 42:24) Joseph gave the men bags full of grain, put their money back in their sacks and gave them provisions for their trip home. They were filled with fear when they found their money. This account is the first indication that Jacob suspected that his sons had something to do with Joseph’s disappearance. “And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.” (Genesis 42:36) Jacob is acting like a man of little faith. All things were not against him. Instead, God was acting on his behalf.

          Joseph’s brothers went to Egypt to buy grain --Genesis 42:1-13: We are not told how the word came to him, but Jacob found out that there was grain in Egypt. Likely, he saw grain that some of his neighbors had gotten in Egypt. He asked his sons, “Why are you just sitting here, staring at one another?” When things are difficult we can at least get up and do something! Men are responsible to pray for daily bread for their families, but they must also get up and work to provide it. I have wondered why, during the seven years of plenty and now during the famine, Joseph had not gone to check on his family in Canaan. It was a distance of about 250 miles and maybe even less because Joseph moved “throughout all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:45-46) His trips likely took him to Egypt’s closest border to Canaan. God’s hand had to be in all of this! Joseph’s ten brothers who sold him into slavery now come to buy food from him. At first they do not recognize him and he does not reveal himself to them. Benjamin, Joseph’s younger brother did not make the trip. His father was afraid that something might happen to him. Jacob’s sons traveled along with others from Canaan who were going to Egypt to buy food because of the terrible famine. Joseph’s brother bowed with their faces to the ground before Joseph just as he had dreamed. (Genesis 37:5-8) He questioned them and accused them of being spies. They told Joseph that they were honest men and came from a family of twelve brothers. He was told that the youngest brother was still home with their father in Canaan. He was also told that one of the brothers was dead. Wrong! Joseph was very much alive and they were bowing before him.

          Joseph’s brothers face their guilt -- Genesis 42:14-24: Joseph was hard on his brothers. He called them spies. He said he would put them in prison until one of them went and brought Benjamin back to prove that they were telling the truth. Joseph spoke roughly to his brothers and kept them in jail for three days. Why was Joseph so hard on his brethren?  Possibly it was so that his dream could be fulfilled, or possibly it was to bring them to repentance. He may have been trying to get more information about his family out of them. In any case it brought them to submission. After three days Joseph told them to leave one brother and the others were to take food back for their starving families. He told them, “You must bring your youngest brother to me. Then I will know that you are telling the truth, and you will not be put to death.” He brothers agreed to this arrangement but said, “We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.” (Genesis 42:21) Reuben spoke up, “Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.” (Genesis 42:22) Apparently Reuben believed that Joseph was dead. Joseph could understand what they were saying and it made him cry. Joseph then had Simeon tied up and taken away while they watched. If Simeon was the ringleader when Joseph was sold, his imprisonment would have caused the rest of the brothers to see these events as retribution by God. Joseph might have observed that Simeon now seemed to be least humbled and concerned. He, along with Levi, was the instigator of the slaughter in retaliation for the defiling of Dinah. (Genesis 34:30) When Jacob gave his sons his death-bed blessings, he has nothing good to say about Simeon. (Genesis 49:5-7)

          Joseph’s brothers return to Canaan with bad news -- Genesis 42:25-34: Joseph had his brother’s sacks filled with grain and their money put back in their sacks. He also gave orders for them to be provided with provisions for their trip home. It must have been a sad time as they loaded their donkeys to go home with more bad news for their father. When they stopped for the night one of the brothers found his money in the mouth of his sack. They were trembling with fear as they stared at one another and asked themselves, “What has God done to us?” Their guilty consciences had been awakened. They felt that they deserved God’s curse and punishment. Everything that happened confirmed and increased their suspicions. When they reached home they told Jacob what had happened. “When men have done what they know to be wicked, and evils come upon them, conscience links the two together, and views the one as a punishment for the other.”

          Joseph’s brothers dealt with fright and confusion -- Genesis 42:35-38: When the brothers started to empty their bags all of them found their money in the bag with the grain. They were frightened and so was their father, Jacob. He told them they had taken Joseph and Simeon from him and now they wanted to take Benjamin away also. Then Jacob made one of the saddest statements we read in the Bible, “Everything is against me.” All these things were difficult, but everything was not against him. He had food and money to buy more food. At this moment God used the name Jacob instead of Israel, possibly because of his doubts. Reuben promised to take care of Benjamin. Jacob refused to allow him to go.  He said, “His brother is already dead, and he is the only son I have left.” He said that if anything happened to Benjamin he would die from sorrow and they would be to blame.

          Like Josephus’ brothers, many people are too full of pride to admit that they are sinners. Humble yourself and become a Christian now. To become a Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus as the Christ (Mark 16:16), repent of all sins (Acts 17:30), confess Christ as Lord (Romans 10:9-10) and be baptized for remission of sins. (Acts 2:38) After baptism remain faithful to God. (Revelation 2:10) Remember, there are always consequences for our actions, whether good or bad!