A Feast at Joseph’s Palace
Review:
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- God is preparing Joseph’s brothers to be leaders of his chosen people.
- God’s testing is having a significant impact on Jacob and his sons.
- The brothers were terrified (again).
Lives are being changed.
Was it Godly Sorrow or Worldly Sorrow?
Genesis 43:19-34 NLT
A Feast at Joseph’s Palace
19 The brothers approached the manager of Joseph’s household and spoke to him at the entrance to the palace. 20 “Sir,” they said, “we came to Egypt once before to buy food. 21 But as we were returning home, we stopped for the night and opened our sacks. Then we discovered that each man’s money—the exact amount paid—was in the top of his sack! Here it is; we have brought it back with us. 22 We also have additional money to buy more food. We have no idea who put our money in our sacks.”23 “Relax. Don’t be afraid,” the household manager told them. “Your God, the God of your father, must have put this treasure into your sacks.
I know I received your payment.” Then he released Simeon and brought him out to them.
24 The manager then led the men into Joseph’s palace. He gave them water to wash their feet and provided food for their donkeys. 25 They were told they would be eating there, so they prepared their gifts for Joseph’s arrival at noon.
26 When Joseph came home, they gave him the gifts they had brought him, then bowed low to the ground before him. 27 After greeting them, he asked, “How is your father, the old man you spoke about? Is he still alive?”
28 “Yes,” they replied. “Our father, your servant, is alive and well.” And they bowed low again.
29 Then Joseph looked at his brother Benjamin, the son of his own mother. “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” Joseph asked. “May God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Then Joseph hurried from the room because he was overcome with emotion for his brother. He went into his private room, where he broke down and wept. 31 After washing his face, he came back out, keeping himself under control. Then he ordered, “Bring out the food!”
32 The waiters served Joseph at his own table, and his brothers were served at a separate table. The Egyptians who ate with Joseph sat at their own table, because Egyptians despise Hebrews and refuse to eat with them. 33 Joseph told each of his brothers where to sit, and to their amazement, he seated them according to age, from oldest to youngest. 34 And Joseph filled their plates with food from his own table, giving Benjamin five times as much as he gave the others. So they feasted and drank freely with him.
Examine the Scriptures
Genesis 43:18 NLT
18 The brothers were terrified when they saw that they were being taken into Joseph’s house. “It’s because of the money someone put in our sacks last time we were here,” they said. “He plans to pretend that we stole it. Then he will seize us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys.”
From the previous lesson.
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- The brothers are terrified (again).
Genesis 43:19-34 NLT
A Feast at Joseph’s Palace
19 The brothers approached the manager of Joseph’s household and spoke to him at the entrance to the palace. 20 “Sir,” they said, “we came to Egypt once before to buy food.
21 But as we were returning home, we stopped for the night and opened our sacks. Then we discovered that each man’s money—the exact amount paid—was in the top of his sack! Here it is; we have brought it back with us.
- The brothers are completely vulnerable and feeling the weight of God’s judgment on their consciences.
- God’s testing is having an impact on Jacob and his sons.
The brothers displayed:
Honesty
Desire to settle their debt.
- Were the brothers experiencing Godly Sorrow or Worldly Sorrow?
2 Corinthians 7:10 NLT
10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
Psalm 51
For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
blot out the stain of my sins.
2 Wash me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin.
3 For I recognize my rebellion;
it haunts me day and night.
4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
and your judgment against me is just.
5 For I was born a sinner—
yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
6 But you desire honesty from the womb
teaching me wisdom even there.
7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Oh, give me back my joy again;
you have broken me—
now let me rejoice.
9 Don’t keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
and they will return to you.
14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
15 Unseal my lips, O Lord,
that my mouth may praise you.
16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
- Worldly sorrow provides opportunities for teaching Godly sorrow.
22 We also have additional money to buy more food. We have no idea who put our money in our sacks.”
23 “Relax. Don’t be afraid,” the household manager told them. “Your God, the God of your father,
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was being active in this story, and that fact was recognized by the Egyptian household manager.
must have put this treasure into your sacks.
This is a powerful statement.
Treasure (most translations) implies more than just a payment for a purchase.
Put the money in your sack as a gift. (ERV)
Isaiah 45:3 NLT
3 And I will give you (Cyrus) treasures hidden in the darkness—
secret riches.
I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord,
the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.
I know I received your payment.”
- The Egyptian household manager recognized that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was active in this narrative.
Then he released Simeon and brought him out to them.
24 The manager then led the men into Joseph’s palace. He gave them water to wash their feet and provided food for their donkeys.
Usual Eastern hospitality.
An act of courtesy to a traveler.
- The brothers are treated with courtesy by the Egyptian household manager.
25 They were told they would be eating there, so they prepared their gifts for Joseph’s arrival at noon.
Guests of the governor of Egypt.
26 When Joseph came home, they gave him the gifts they had brought him, then bowed low to the ground before him.
Joseph’s boyhood dream (37:5-8)
27 After greeting them, he asked, “How is your father, the old man you spoke about? Is he still alive?”
28 “Yes,” they replied. “Our father, your servant, is alive and well.” And they bowed low again.
- Joseph was no longer treating his brothers harshly.
29 Then Joseph looked at his brother Benjamin, the son of his own mother.
The son of his own mother.
“Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” Joseph asked. “May God be gracious to you, my son.”
“May God”
Elohiym – the supreme God – same name as in Genesis 1:1
A demonstration of favoritism.
An answer to Jacob’s prayer.
Genesis 43:14 NLT
14 May God Almighty give you mercy as you go before the man, so that he will release Simeon and let Benjamin return. But if I must lose my children, so be it.”
- Joseph recognized the fact that God played a significant role in this narrative.
30 Then Joseph hurried from the room because he was overcome with emotion for his brother.
Painful memories.
Joy and thanksgiving.
Joseph and not seen Benjamin for 20 years.
He went into his private room, where he broke down and wept. 31 After washing his face, he came back out, keeping himself under control.
Joseph was not ready to reveal his identity.
Then he ordered, “Bring out the food!”
32 The waiters served Joseph at his own table,
Joseph’s rank was clearly displayed with a table set just for him.
Since Joseph was not ready to reveal his identity, he could not sit with his brothers since Egyptians would never sit with Hebrews.
and his brothers were served at a separate table.
The Egyptians who ate with Joseph sat at their own table, because Egyptians despise Hebrews and refuse to eat with them.
- Egyptians normally despise Hebrews.
33 Joseph told each of his brothers where to sit, and to their amazement,
he seated them according to age, from oldest to youngest.
“to their amazement” indicates that the brothers took note of Joseph’s seating arrangement.
How could the Egyptian governor have known this?
More divine intervention?
Genesis 42:21 NLT
21 Speaking among themselves, they said, “Clearly we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn’t listen. That’s why we’re in this trouble.”
34 And Joseph filled their plates with food from his own table, giving Benjamin five times as much as he gave the others.
A clear demonstration of favoritism.
The brothers were confronted with generous and gracious dealings from God through Joseph, who tested their tolerance by reenacting the favoritism toward Rachel’s son that had galvanized their earlier hostility.
- The brothers did not appear to react negatively to Joseph’s demonstration of favoritism toward Benjamin.
So they feasted and drank freely with him.
From terrified (verse 18) to feasting and drinking freely.
- The brothers appeared to experience some degree of comfort feasting and drinking with the governor of Egypt.
- God is gradually preparing Joseph’s brothers to be leaders of his chosen people.
