Dave Burnette's Commentary

Genesis Chapter 43

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Moses
Date Penned: (1450-1410 BC)
Overview: The Record of God's Chosen People (c 23-50)
Theme: The Story of Joseph (c 37-50)
Message: Joseph Lets Benjamin Go (v 1-34)

Genesis 43 Commentary

(43:1) Jacob's Desperation - Jacob and his sons had no relief from the famine. They could not see God's overall plan of sending them to Egypt to be reunited with Joseph and fed from Egypt's storehouses. When you are praying for relief from suffering or pressure and God is not bringing it as quickly as you would like, remember that he may be leading you to unexpected blessings.

(43:9) Judah's Accountability -  Judah accepted full responsibility for Benjamin's safety. He did not know what that might mean for him, but he was determined to do his duty. In the end, Judah's stirring words caused Joseph to break down with emotion and reveal himself to his brothers (44:18-45:3). Accepting responsibilities is difficult, but it builds character and confidence, earns others' respect, and motivates us to complete our work. When you have been given an assignment to complete or a responsibility to fulfill, commit yourself to seeing it through.

(43:11) Rare Gifts Given - These gifts of balm, honey, spices, pistachio nuts, and almonds were highly valuable specialty items not common in Egypt. Because of the famine, they were even more rare.

(43:12) Jacob Shows Integrity - Joseph's brothers arrived home from Egypt only to find in their grain sacks the money they had used to pay for the grain (42:35). Some months later, when it was time to return to Egypt for more food, Jacob instructed them to take extra money so they could pay for the previous purchase as well as for additional grain. Jacob did not try to get away with anything. Now in his older age, he had become a man of integrity who paid for what he bought, whether he had to or not. We should follow his example and guard our integrity. A life of honesty is worth far more than the money we might gain by compromising it.

(43:23) God Gets Glory - How did the money get into the sacks? Joseph instructed his servants to replace the money and likely told his household manager to explain it with this response. Note that the household manager credited their God, not some Egyptian deity.

(43:32) Joseph Remains True to God - Why did Joseph eat by himself? He was following the laws of Egypt's caste system. Egyptians considered themselves highly intelligent and sophisticated. They looked upon shepherds and nomads as uncultured and even vulgar. As a Hebrew, Joseph could not eat with Egyptians even though he outranked them. As foreigners and shepherds, his brothers were lower in rank than any Egyptian citizens, so they had to eat separately too.


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Obey the Lord


Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter, making application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. There are many applications we can make from each day's text. Today we Continue in the book of Genesis with Chapter 43, and in today's text, we see God's plan for Joseph's life to continue to unveil as God puts in motion a plan to restore this family completely. This family is Israel, and the 12 sons are the 12 tribes of the Jewish race to come, of which Jesus Christ is the most noteworthy. Making an application makes me think of God's massive plan for our life and how important obedience is to His plan. What if Joseph was not obedient in all the obstacles he faced? It would have altered the Jewish race. It makes me think of the importance of my obedience. If I make wrong choices to temptations, it will affect me and my life but maybe also affect God's bigger plan for my life. Our obedience should be our #1 priority after our salvation because it affects the big picture for our lives and our kids. How about you? Do you see obedience as your #1 priority? Just think of how it affects God's big plan for your life.

 

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Genesis 43


Genesis 43

 1And the famine was sore in the land.

 2And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.

 3And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

 4If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:

 5But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

 6And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?

 7And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?

 8And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.

 9I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:

 10For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.

 11And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

 12And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight:

 13Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:

 14And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.

 15And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

 16And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.

 17And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.

 18And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.

 19And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,

 20And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:

 21And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand.

 22And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.

 23And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.

 24And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.

 25And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.

 26And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.

 27And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?

 28And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.

 29And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.

 30And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.

 31And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.

 32And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

 33And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another.

 34And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of their's. And they drank, and were merry with him.