Genesis 42:1-38

March 26, 2017

Lord’s Day Worship

Sean Higgins

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The sermon starts at 19:00 in the audio file.

Or, When Joseph’s Brothers Could Ignore Their Sin No More

There are no statutes of limitations on sin before God. A statute of limitations sets the maximum amount of time that is permitted to pass for the bringing of certain kinds of legal action. In Washington State there are some crimes for which legal action must be taken within one year, others within two years, three years, and up to ten years. For example, lander and libel and assault must be reported within two years, trespassing and property damage and personal injury must be reported within three years. The more time that passes from the offense the more difficult it is to discover and examine the facts.

Some crimes have no statute of limitations. Most states have no limitations for prosecuting kidnapping, arson, or forgery. No state has a limitation for prosecuting murder.

Israel’s family did not live under 21st century American law. Israel’s family did not even live under Mosaic law. But law exists in the universe because the Creator is righteous. God is a certain way and He has made the world, and all men in the world, whether in ancient Egypt or modern America, in such a way that sin requires a reckoning. Every sin must be dealt with before God. Even if it appears that sin goes unnoticed or unproven and so unpunished, it only appears that way to us and for a time. No sin escapes God.

In a spasm of envy and bitterness and anger, Joseph’s brothers sold Joseph to traders heading to Egypt. Joseph was a tattle-tale. Joseph was favored by their father and flaunted a many-colored robe. Joseph was the eleventh of twelve and yet crowed about his dreams of preeminence. One time when Joseph went to check on his brothers they schemed to kill him, but decided to make a little money by disposing him into slavery. Their brother’s blood was still on their hands.

They had maintained this lie to their father for twenty years. Who knows how often they thought about Joseph; they probably tried not to. But while God may harden a man’s conscience, God has not decreed a time restraint on guilt. Even after two decades the brothers recall their sin. There are no statutes of limitations in the conscience.

In chapter 37 Joseph was sold as a slave in Egypt. In chapter 39 he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and put in prison. In chapter 40 he interpreted the dreams of the baker and cupbearer and was forgotten again. In chapter 41 he was summoned by Pharaoh to interpret a dream, and then he was appointed by Pharaoh to oversee the collection and distribution of grain during seven years of abundance and seven years of famine respectively. The famine has hit, hit hard, and hit not only in Egypt but “over all the earth” (Genesis 41:57). The stage is set for a family reunion.

A Reckoning with Famine (verses 1-5)

The land of Canaan was affected by the famine (as stated in verse 5). In Abram’s day, a famine in Canaan caused him to seek food (food refuge = “refood” maybe?) in Egypt. Though Egypt wasn’t growing grain at this time, Egypt did have grain in the bank.

When Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” How he learned that food could be purchased across the border we don’t know, but we do know that he was still recognized as the leader by his grown sons. His question scorns their passivity, as if he said, “Sitting around staring at each other isn’t going to get us any food.”

He urged them, ”Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die.” There’s no reason to think that Jacob exaggerated. Their situation was desperate and warranted the difficult trip.

Verse 1 identified Jacob’s “sons” but now ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain. Referring to them as brothers is a signal, and that only ten of the eleven depart will also[...]