THE STORY OF JOSEPH. EPISODE 8. GENESIS CHAPTER 43: AT JOSEPH'S TABLE

 

CHAPTER 43: AT JOSEPH’S TABLE

In this chapter:

Ø   The family of Jacob is in need yet again. The initial grain purchase has been depleted.

Ø    When Jacob prompts the sons to return to Egypt for some more, Judah reminds him that Benjamin has to go down with them this time round.

Ø    Jacob is hesitant at first but Judah insists that there is no other option. He offers himself as a pledge for Benjamin’s safety and Jacob finally agrees, albeit reluctantly

Ø    Jacob therefore doubles the money and gifts that the brothers were to carry with them down to Egypt so as to possibly appease the ruler of Egypt.

Ø    Jacob is however left in a hopeless state and despair as the sons depart on their second trip.

Ø   When the bothers reach Egypt and present themselves before Joseph, Joseph, upon seeing Benjamin with them, ordered for a big feast for them.

Ø   When the brothers were ushered in to Joseph’s house, they were terrified and thought they were taken there to be punished for their ‘wrong doings’ in the previous trip; not leaving the monies behind.

Ø  They sought to explain themselves and pleaded with one of Joseph’s servants. The servants assured them that all was well and that their God, the God of their father had refunded their monies!

Ø  Simeon is brought out to meet the brothers. The brothers are well served in Joseph’s house and even their donkeys fed.

Ø  They prepare a present/ gifts for Joseph ahead of their scheduled meeting with them at noon-day

Ø  Joseph arrives for the meeting; they presented the gift and paid homage by bowing to him. Joseph enquires of the welfare of their father and the brothers report that they old man was all well.

Ø  Upon seeing his full brother Benjamin, Joseph is overwhelmed with emotions and runs out to weep under cover and then returns to dine with the brothers.

Ø   They eat together but they sat separately according to rank, race and age. Benjamin is treated more favorably than his brothers at Joseph’s table.

Ø  The chapter ends on a very merry note, everyone is joyful at Joseph’s table as they eat and drink.

This chapter begins on a very low and tense note but ends in joy and gladness. In this chapter the brothers are treated with ultimate hospitality in Egypt unlike in the previous visit, at least for now. It makes me wonder why none of these gives them a clue as to why all these things were unfolding for them in the way they did.  There seems to be enough clues for these brothers if only they could open their eyes, but they are either too worried at some point or too comfortable at another point to even think through it.

And it is the same for us too; the worries and cares of this world or the pleasures and comforts of this world could both cause us to be blind to what God is doing in, with or around us. We need to pray to God that He may give us the discernment we need to be sensitive in the spirit of his move and work in our lives.

At the beginning of this chapter is a family in deep distress; they have run out of supplies and they now need to take action and head down to Egypt for a second trip. The bread from Egypt could not last long, like the manna that the children of Israel would later receive in the wilderness, one has to keep going for it. Only the Bread of Life and the Water of Life truly satisfy. Jesus tells the Samaritan woman at the well “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14 (NIV)

The second trip down to Egypt is extremely distressful, especially for Jacob; the first trip ended up with one son less, and the second one risks his second most-favorite son. The family needs supply and sustenance but it might come at a very huge cost; they are caught between a rock and a hard place. The family engages in a long discourse on the matter and what is at stake.

In the previous chapter it was Rueben who was trying to convince his elderly father to release his youngest son Benjamin to go accompany his brothers to Egypt for the second trip as required by the ruler of Egypt. In this chapter it is Judah who will take his turn to do the same. And while the father rejects the idea at first, Judah offers a better pledge than his brother Rueben and so his father will eventually agree to release Benjamin. Judah’s offer and pledge to his father for the life and safety of Benjamin is more reasonable than that of Rueben. Remember from previous chapter that Rueben had offered that Jacob kills his two sons, Jacob grandsons, in case Benjamin did not return safely. We discussed that this was a foolish and meaningless offer and Jacob rightly rejected it.  Judah simply gives his word that he will do everything possible to bring Benjamin back to his father. This is what the bible means when it says that we ought not to make unnecessary oaths but rather to let our “yes” be “yes” and our “no” be “no.”

Jacob takes precaution to try and appease the ruler of Egypt by having the sons to pack various gifts for him on this second trip. And he does more; he makes them carry double the money to compensate for the money that had been returned in their sacks in the first trip. In the previous chapter, we discussed how the return of their monies in the sacks points us to the free gift of salvation that comes through and in Christ alone. So Jacob here is trying harder to purchase the salvation of his family by literally doubling down on his giftings. This is a picture of works-based salvation; where one thinks that they stand a better chance of earning God’s salvation through their own good deeds.

As we shall see as the story progresses, this will not in any way move Joseph who has already made plans to be a generous and gracious host to his brethren who are yet to even recognize him. All the efforts to appease Joseph could not amount to anything; all that Joseph was looking for is truth and honesty and the proof of life for his full brother. And so for us; until God gives us His righteousness by grace, through faith, our works of righteousness trying to earn His salvation is all futile and filthy before him. The prophet Isaiah puts it this way when talking about how the people of Israel (the descendants of Jacob) had fallen away from God’s ways and yet trying to appease Him with their acts of self-righteousness: All of us have become like one who is unclean and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isaiah 64:6, NIV)

While the above verse has often been misused to argue that our good deeds in the Lord do not matter, it simply teaches that until our hearts have been put right with God, everything we might try to do, whether be acts of service or any good deeds, in order to earn God’s righteousness, is all in vain. Martin Luther is quoted as having said, “The most damnable and pernicious heresy that has ever plagued the mind of man is that somehow he can make himself good enough to deserve to live forever with an all-holy God.” All our good deeds and works must proceed from God’s saving act upon us and can never precede it in the order of salvation. Good works are rather the fruits and never the root of our salvation.

Jacob, this time round, says a prayer over his sons on their journey down to Egypt (verse 14). During the first visit we don’t see Jacob doing this and if he indeed prayed for them, it is not recorded. But this time he is distressed and worried and this causes him to stop and say a prayer. The psalmist says in Psalm 86:7: In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me. (NKJV) More often than not, people remember to pray when they are in distress and not the same when all seems to be going well. While it is wise and advisable to pray when we are in trouble, it is even much more recommended to pray at all times.

The bible in numerous places exhorts the believer to pray at all times, continuously without ceasing irrespective of the prevailing circumstances; in good times and in bad times. In the above verse in Psalms, we see the psalmist vowing to pray whenever he is in trouble. But several Psalms later, he says he will pray as long as he lives: Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! (Psalm 116:2, NLT)

Jesus Himself, we are told in the gospel of Luke 18:1, told the people a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. The Apostle Paul also teaches on this issue on various occasions. To the church in Thessalonica he writes, pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, ESV). Again, when he writes to teach the Church at Ephesus about the full armor of God, he mentions continuous prayer as part of the deal, he says: And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Ephesians 6:18, NIV).

As parents, we must not cease to pray for our children, at all times, in all seasons and under all circumstances. We can learn from Samuel, the prophet of the LORD upon the nation and children of Israel. Samuel considered it to be a sin for him to cease from praying and interceding for the people. He says: Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. (1 Samuel 12:23, ESV).

Jacob is however is in deep distress even after praying and he says, “As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.” (verse 14b, ESV). We should learn to take everything to God in prayer and leave it for him to take it from there. It does not benefit in any way, to worry even after we have prayed about something.  Jacob is distressed here because he does not understand what God is doing with his family right now; he seems to have forgotten all the good promises God made to Abraham and Isaac, Jacob’s forefathers. And the same for us, much of the time our worry is based on our ignorance or forgetfulness of God’s promises to us in his Word.

When the brothers reach Egypt, Joseph sees Benjamin in their midst and orders for a feast to be prepared for the brothers right in his house. Joseph is now satisfied that his younger brother is all well and safe, his heart is at peace now. While all the feast is being prepared for the brothers, fear and confusion engulfs them all over again. For some reason, all they can read from this extravagant hospitality by the ruler of Egypt, is punishment. Punishment, they suspected, for carrying away the monies for the grain purchase during their last visit to Egypt. But what is causing all this, you may ask. It’s their guilt conscience I would say.

It is the guilt, as we saw in the previous chapter, for whatever they did for their brother, who until now they are not aware of his whereabouts or welfare. But they also know that their lost brother might be somewhere in Egypt, where they had sold him to; so, every time they are in Egypt or the name Egypt is mentioned, their guilt conscious come alive all over again. This is what the writer of Proverbs means when he says: The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. (Proverbs 28:1, ESV).

The brothers therefore approach the steward who was assigned to them by Joseph and went at length to try and explain to him how they ended up with their monies back in their sacks during their first visit. They also explain that they had brought back all the money and more for the new intended grain purchase, as well as numerous gifts for the ruler of Egypt. The steward did not receive any of their monies and gifts but instead reassured them saying “Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.” (Verse 23, NIV)

What an assurance! It is yet another sweet and refreshing reminder of the free gift of salvation that God has provided and as we discussed it in the previous chapter. The steward is not lying when he says that he received their silver. But he says that it is their God, the God of their father that had given them the treasure in their sacks. Salvation is God’s treasure given freely to us and we ought to be eternally grateful for it.

The brothers receive more than they could have ever asked for, imagined or expected, far much more than they deserved: they were welcomed into the ruler’s/governor’s mansion, given water to wash their feet, and even their donkeys fed with fodder! This is a great example of grace: God’s extravagant, unmerited, undeserved, favor to us. We ought to join the Apostle Paul giving glory; to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, (Ephesians 3:20, ESV). And we must remember that all this great blessing and favor is coming because of these brothers’ relation to Joseph. God’s grace and favor can only come to us through and in Christ alone. This reminds me of one of my most favorite modern ‘hymns’. It’s the song called “Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me” by the group CityAlight.

Verse one and chorus of the song says:

What gift of grace is Jesus, my redeemer

There is no more for heaven now to give

He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom

My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace

 

For my life is wholly bound to His

Oh, how strange and divine, I can sing: All is mine!

Yet not I, but through Christ in me

In fact, the assurance that God’s grace through Christ has paid up our debt in full drives away all of our fears. Unlike the brothers of Joseph, we the brethren of Jesus have nothing to dread, all our debt has been paid and our guilt fully pardoned. Another verse and chorus in the same song says:

No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven

The future sure, the price it has been paid

For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon

And He was raised to overthrow the grave

 

To this I hold, my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh, the chains are released, I can sing: I am free!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

Eventually, Joseph arrives home and the brothers presented the gifts to him and they bowed down before him to the ground. (verse 26b). This is a complete fulfilment of the first dream that Joseph had, as recorded in chapter 37:5-7. The bothers, all the 11 of them, are now fully subject to Joseph although they don’t, as yet, recognize him. You see, God was the source of the dreams that Joseph had, and so they had to come true, however long it took. It has been more than twenty years by now since the dreams came to Joseph but now God brings them to pass. The promises of God, though they may tarry in fulfillment, will always and truly, in due course, come to pass.

Joseph inquires again about the welfare of their now elderly father and the brothers report that he is all well as they bow once again paying homage to Joseph. Joseph is overcome with emotions of affection towards his full brother Benjamin and had to rush out to secretly wipe away his tears of joy. He must have been more than anxious to meet Benjamin all these years. It must have been a painful over 20 years of separation; like a long dark and hopeless night, but now the morning has come. Scripture teaches that Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5b, NKJV). If you are going through a long, dark and hopeless night right now, keep the faith, trust God, soon the night will be over and the morning will be here. And your painful tears will be turned into tears of joy. This life that we live here under the sun is like a long and dark night, and we long for the morning when we can be joined with our big Brother, our greater-than-than-Joseph, even the Lord Jesus Christ.

Again in the same song, talking about the dark night, another verse says:

The night is dark but I am not forsaken

For by my side, the Saviour He will stay

I labour on in weakness and rejoicing

For in my need, His power is displayed

 

To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me

Through the deepest valley, He will lead

Oh, the night has been won, and I shall overcome

Yet not I, but through Christ in me

Verse 33 is an interesting one. It says in the NLT: Joseph told each of his brothers where to sit, and to their amazement, he seated them according to age, from oldest to youngest. I asked ChatGPT the mathematical odds or probability that Joseph could get it right in one attempt, at arranging the 11 brothers this way, assuming that he had no prior knowledge about them. The probability of arranging them in the exact correct birth order by random guessing is an astounding and astronomical 1 in 39,916,800, say about 1 in 40 million. This explains why, in the verse, the Bible says that the brothers were amazed/marveled/astonished at this very genius act by Joseph. There are many insightful gleanings that we could derive from this portion of scripture.

Firstly, it is beyond me why and just how the brothers missed the whole point that this guy must be someone who knows them too well, possibly their blood brother! Well, maybe they attributed it to the prominent Egyptian magician craft. Just like the Jewish religious leaders (Pharisees) attributed the miracles of Jesus to the power of Beelzebub in (Matthew 12:22-30, Mark 3:20-27). But the real deal in both of these instances is just how people choose to turn a blind eye on the obvious especially regarding the person of Christ.

For instance, the odds that one person can fulfill even a fraction of the Messianic prophecies in the Jewish OT are simply astronomical, to say the least. Theologians and Bible scholars estimate that there are about 300-400 prophecies in the OT concerning the Messiah. One scholar, a mathematics professor and theologian named Peter Stoner, in his book Science Speaks (1958) applied the principle of probability to Messianic prophecies. He focused on just eight specific prophecies and calculated the odds of one man fulfilling all of them by chance. His estimate: 1 in 10¹⁷ (100 quadrillion).

Stoner went further to estimate the probability of one man fulfilling 48 specific prophecies. His estimate: 1 in 10¹⁵⁷. This number is so large that it exceeds the estimated number of atoms in the observable universe (~10⁸⁰). Imagine that, yet Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled, not just eight or 48 but over 300 prophecies! And still some, in fact, many Jews to date, do not believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Promised and Prophesied Messiah! Unbelief, in most cases, is a matter of heart than that of the mind(intellect).

Today, in our post-modern world, even with the overwhelming scientific evidence that the universe must have had a beginning and an intelligent designer, a lot of people still reject all the evidence both in science and in philosophy and argue that there is no immaterial reality in the universe, that is to say there is no God. Again, with all the historical and philosophical evidence for Christ’s life, death and most importantly His resurrection, most people in the world and in history have rejected Him as the only One and True Way to Life and Salvation.

Another gleaning we could derive from the passage is with the regard to a running theme in our study; how Joseph typifies Christ in so many ways. Here, we see the unsearchable wisdom and understanding that Jesus has, being reflected in Joseph’s ability to make this sitting arrangement, at least from his brothers’ perspective. Jesus knows everything, just like he recognized Nathanael under the tree before meeting him. John 2:24-25 also tells us that Jesus fully knows the human nature and what is in each man’s heart. We can however also be encouraged here to know that Jesus is our big brother who knows us fully, our weaknesses, fears, struggles and needs.

In fact, the story of Joseph as we continue to study it here, is one of the greatest proofs of the concept of Unity of Scripture: Let’s get a definition of this concept from the Topical Encyclopedia in Biblehub.com: “The concept of the Unity of Scripture refers to the belief that the Bible, despite being composed of 66 books written by various authors over approximately 1,500 years, presents a coherent and unified message. This unity is seen as a testament to its divine inspiration, with God as the ultimate author orchestrating its composition.

Central to the unity of Scripture is its Christ-centric focus. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible points to Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. In Luke 24:27, it is recorded that Jesus, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, "explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself." This indicates that the Old Testament anticipates Christ, while the New Testament reveals and expounds upon His life, death, and resurrection. (https://biblehub.com/topical/u/unity_of_scripture.htm)

The story of Joseph illustrates this concept in a such a spectacular way in the sense that Joseph typifies Christ in so many ways in this story, that there can only be one conclusion: the Bible is one big, coherent and inspired story pointing to the One main and ultimate character: the Christ! 

And finally, now, see what happens when the brothers are now re-united; there is a great feast. Joseph settles down with the brothers in a great feast full of joy and gladness. The bible also teaches that Jesus will one day present us, his brethren, before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, (Jude 1:24). Scriptures also tells us of a great feast prepared in heaven in honor of Christ and His bride. John the revelator was instructed to write: “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” (Revelation 19:9, NLT). Someday, soon, there will be a big re-union of the Greater-Than-Joseph with His brethren and there will be a great deal of joy and celebration. Will you be there, among the number? If yes, do you long for it?

The last verse and chorus, still in the same song says:

With every breath, I long to follow Jesus

For He has said that He will bring me home

And day by day I know He will renew me

Until I stand with joy before the throne

 

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus

All the glory evermore to Him

When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat:

Yet not I, but through Christ in me!