Joseph Forgives His Brothers

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Introduction

Last week we saw how Joseph was finally released from his time of captivity in Egypt. He had faced several great injustices at the hands of his brothers and Potiphar’s wife, and was forgotten by a man he had helped and encouraged.

• Who can tell me what sustained Joseph through all of these events over 13 years? Joseph saw that God was with him in all of his circumstances. God had granted him favor with those he worked under.
• • Write on the board, “How did Joseph find it in his heart to forgive his brothers?”
  Is Joseph the only one who received God’s blessings? No, those around him were also blessed by God as Joseph served faithfully.

  We need to remember that it is not Joseph that we should see as the hero in these events, but God. It was God who blessed Joseph and gave him favor in the sight of his masters. We can surely seek to emulate Joseph as a man who honored God with his choices, but we rely on God’s grace in our lives to live a life of godliness.

  Today, we are going to look at how Joseph reconnected with his brothers. We want to understand how Joseph reacted to his brothers as well as how God provided for Israel’s family to continue.

Joseph Confronts His Brothers

We are going to look at a large chunk of Scripture today, so we are going to be jumping through the text a bit. I will fill in the gaps as we move along. We are going to begin in Genesis 42 and move through the end of chapter 45. Refer to the History of Genesis to remind students of the timing of these events.

Let’s read Genesis 42:1–25 together to understand how Joseph met his brothers. Have someone read the passage aloud.

• Who sent his sons to Egypt? Jacob, or Israel.
• What did he send them for? He sent them to buy grain from Egypt.
• What was Jacob’s concern? He thought his family would die if they did not buy food from Egypt. The famine had affected Canaan as it had Egypt.
• Which of the brothers were sent? The 10 older brothers were sent while Benjamin stayed behind.
• Were they the only ones seeking food in Egypt? No, there were others there (v. 5).
• Why did the brothers come to Joseph? Joseph was in charge of distributing the grain.
• How did the brothers approach Joseph? They bowed before him with their faces to the ground (v. 6).
• What is the mention of dreams in verse 9 pointing back to? This is referring back to Joseph’s dreams where the sheaves of grain and the sun, moon, and stars were bowing down to Joseph. He recognized the fulfillment of those dreams in this moment.
• Did they recognize one another? Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him (v. 8).
• Why do you think the brothers did not recognize Joseph? He no doubt was dressed like an Egyptian, and it had been many years since they had seen him.
• How did Joseph treat his brothers? He treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them.
• What did Joseph accuse them of being? Spies.
• What figure of speech did Joseph use to describe the famine? He accused them of coming to spy out “the nakedness of the land.” This refers to the loss of vegetation making the land “naked.”
• Why would a spy be sent to a land in famine? They would be looking to see if the land was vulnerable to attack because of the famine. Joseph was making a reasonable accusation.
• How did the brothers respond? They asserted their innocence and said they had never been spies.
• What did they tell Joseph about their family? They told him that they were a group of twelve brothers from one man, having left their youngest brother in Canaan.
• What did the brothers believe had happened to Joseph? They used the phrase “is no more” as a euphemism to show that they thought Joseph was dead.
• Did Joseph know they were telling the truth? Yes.
• What test did Joseph propose? He told them that one of them must return and bring back their youngest brother to prove themselves.
• Did Joseph carry through with this plan? No, he locked them up for three days and then changed his plan.
• Who did Joseph swear by in verse 15? He swore by the life of Pharaoh.
• Why might Joseph have done this? While we don’t know explicitly from the text, Joseph might have been trying to keep his cover, acting as an Egyptian.
• How does this relate to what he told his brothers in verse 18? On the face, it would have seemed almost contradictory to be an Egyptian and to have believed in and feared God, but many people were polytheists. The word “Elohim” is used to refer to God.
• Why did the brothers believe they were facing this adversity? They thought they were being repaid for their treatment of Joseph many years prior (vv. 21–23).
• What language had been used in these discussions? Verse 23 tells us that an interpreter was being used, so Hebrew was spoken by the brothers, and Joseph was speaking Egyptian.
• How does this become important in verse 24? Joseph was obviously able to understand his brothers, so using the interpreter was another part of Joseph’s pretending to be an Egyptian. This also allowed Joseph to understand what they were saying about being responsible for Joseph’s supposed death. Joseph was overcome with emotion, turned away from them, and wept.
• How did the brothers part? Joseph bound Simeon and kept him as a hostage, sending the other nine brothers away with sacks full of grain, the money they had brought, and provisions for their journey.

From here, I am going to compress the storyline a bit as we continue through this account. As the brothers journeyed back to Canaan, one of them realized that his sack not only contained the grain, but also the money he had brought to pay for it. Look at verse 28. Read “At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?” Even here we see that these brothers acknowledged God’s hand in the affairs of men, but they thought they were being disciplined by him—their consciences still guilty regarding their treatment of Joseph many years prior.

They recounted to Jacob what had happened in Egypt. As they discovered that each brother’s money had been returned, Jacob despaired the loss of Joseph and Simeon, refusing to allow them to take Benjamin back to Egypt lest he be lost as well.

After some time, the food was running out, and Jacob, who is referred to as Israel in this chapter, asked his sons to go back to Egypt for more food. Judah objected, saying they would go only if Benjamin was sent with them because of the threats of Joseph. Israel finally agreed because of their dire situation, and sent them with many gifts to give to the Egyptian.

Look at 43:14 with me. Read “May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”

• What did Israel acknowledge in this verse? He recognized that the outcome was in God’s control as his sovereign Lord. He prayed for God’s mercy in their interaction, and he acknowledged that God might indeed allow his sons to be lost to him. Israel demonstrated his dependence on and trust in God in all things.

  When the ten brothers arrived in Egypt, they were taken to Joseph’s house. They thought they were about to be enslaved, but the unimaginable happened. Simeon was brought to join them, as the steward told them God had blessed them by putting the money in their grain sacks. As Joseph entered, they again bowed before him and offered the gift they had brought from Israel. Joseph asked about their father’s welfare and was overwhelmed when he greeted Benjamin, hurrying out of the room to weep and gather himself.

  After a lavish meal and too much to drink (the phrase “were merry” is the same word to describe Noah’s drunken state in Genesis 9:21), the brothers departed the next morning with their sacks full of grain.

Let’s key in on a few verses in chapter 44. Joseph had his silver cup hidden in Benjamin’s sack as the brothers returned to Canaan.

• How did the brothers respond when the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack (vv. 12–13)? They tore their clothes, a sign of great anguish in their culture.
• How did they appear before Joseph (v. 14)? They fell before him on the ground. This is the third time the text describes the brothers bowing before Joseph.
• Joseph said that he would let the ten return home while Benjamin remained as his slave since he had “stolen” the cup. Who responded and how (vv. 18–34, especially 18 and 32–34)? Judah had convinced Israel and had pledged to protect Benjamin (43:8–10), so he intervened, offering to take Benjamin’s place lest his father die of grief having lost his two favorite sons.

Let’s read about how Joseph ended the suspense. Have someone read Genesis 45:1–15 aloud.

• How did the brothers respond to Joseph’s revelation? They could not speak, dismayed in his presence. They were standing before the brother they thought they had killed over 20 years ago.
• In verse 5, Joseph told them not to be worried or mad at themselves. What reason did he give them? He told them that God had sent him to Egypt to provide for the rescue of many people from the famine.
• What two groups were saved according to verse 7? The many people who survived the famine, but especially the “remnant on earth” of the household of Israel.
• What was Joseph recognizing in acknowledging the salvation of the children of Israel? The covenant to Abraham could not be fulfilled if Israel’s house was wiped out.
• What apparent contradiction do you see in verse 8? Joseph knew that it was his brothers who had sold him and sent him to Egypt, but he said that God was the cause. The intersection of man’s actions and God’s sovereign control over the affairs of men was in Joseph’s mind. God had directed his steps in Egypt.
• What did Joseph command his brothers? He called them to return to Canaan and bring back the whole family to live in Egypt.

Discover the Truth

Now that was a big chunk of text in a short amount of time. I hope you will take time to read through it in detail this week. But I want us to focus on one key idea as we wrap up this section. All of the intricate details and the back-and-forth between two lands was to bring about a specific end—the salvation of the house of Israel from a great famine.

The Holy Spirit guided Moses as he wrote these words that tend to sound like a major conflict. Joseph’s brothers were absolutely responsible for their choice to sell their brother, but God is the one who sent Joseph to Egypt. It was this understanding of God’s sovereign hand that allowed Joseph to forgive his brothers for such a wicked act that had caused him so much grief. They were right to feel guilty and fear God’s judgment for their wicked act and for lying to their father.

Let’s jump ahead a few years and read another passage that sheds more light on this idea. Turn to Genesis 50:15–21 and let’s see if Joseph changed his mind once Israel died. Have someone read the passage aloud.

• How do Joseph’s words help us understand the relationship between man’s responsibility and God’s sovereignty? He acknowledged that his brothers’ will was to bring evil upon Joseph, but that God had used those evil actions to bring about good.
• Did Joseph bring judgment upon his brothers? No, he said he was not in the place of God to pass judgment. He understood that vengeance was God’s prerogative (Romans 12:19).
• How did Joseph demonstrate that his forgiveness was genuine? He did not just forgive, but he continued to bless them by providing for their needs and the needs of their families.

  Joseph knew that the God of his fathers was faithful to keep his covenant. He knew that God was with him, granting him favor as he served in Egypt. He knew that God had revealed the dreams and had fulfilled them. If God gives the dreams and brings them to pass, he must be all-powerful and all-knowing. But he chooses to use the actions of men and women to bring his will to pass. To be sure, there is a degree of mystery in this, but we see it so clearly in this passage that we dare not deny it.

  While God’s justice must not be dismissed, neither must his mercy be forgotten. Both of these meet in Jesus Christ. In his death, we see the same thing Joseph experienced and recognized. What the Jews and Romans meant for evil, God the Father used for good in reconciling sinners to himself as the Son hung on the cross. The truth Joseph proclaimed has always been true, and it continues to be true today. His example of forgiveness and blessing to his brothers points to what we can receive in Christ.

Relief for Israel

Now we are going to turn to the reunion between Joseph and his father, Israel. As they journeyed to Egypt in the wagons provided by Pharaoh, they stopped in Beersheba where Israel offered sacrifices. During the night, God appeared to Jacob where he reaffirmed the covenant by affirming the continued growth into a great nation and the return to Canaan after his death. Read 46:1–4 aloud. Now lets’ jump to verse 26 and read to the end of the chapter. Have someone read the passage aloud.

• How large was the house of Jacob at this point? 70 people.
• What land did they settle in? Goshen, a region in northeast Egypt.
• How did Joseph greet his father? He fell on his neck and wept for a long time.
• What was Israel’s response to seeing his son? Having seen his long-lost son, he said that he was now ready to die.

Discover the Truth

What looked like a bleak future was turned into great prosperity for both Joseph and his father’s household. It wasn’t accomplished in an instant, but God was there, directing it all to his desired end.

• How much time had passed since Joseph had seen his father? He was sold into Egypt when he was about 17 (Genesis 37:2). He was 30 when he was appointed vizier of Egypt (41:46), meaning 13 years had passed. Then there were seven years of plenty, bringing us to 20 years. And it was two years into the famine because Joseph had said that there were five years of famine remaining (45:11). So, it had been about 22 years that Joseph had been dead in Jacob’s mind.

  Jacob was 130 at this point (47:9) and would live for another 17 years in Goshen before he would be buried in Canaan. His family prospered under the care of Joseph and Pharaoh. But they don’t get the credit—God does. God warned of the famine and gave Joseph the wisdom to lead the region through those dreadful years. God had promised to make Israel’s household a great nation, and he is always faithful to keep his promises.

Pointing to Christ Activity

We are going to take this opportunity to recognize how many of the things we have learned about Joseph are connected to concepts in the New Testament, specifically connected to Jesus. We always want to keep in mind as we study the Old Testament that God’s character does not change. Looking at these connections can help remind us that God is in control of all of history as well as the future. Turn to the Pointing to Christ activity in your Student Guides, and in a few minutes we will discuss what you found. Have the students work in groups to complete the activity in their Student Guides. If you are not using the Student Guides, print the activity and pass it out.

Connect to the Truth

While many people think that the Old and New Testaments are drastically different, the God who rules over both periods of time does not change. The themes we see in the New Testament are found throughout the Old Testament, though sometimes in shadows and types. While the New Testament never calls Joseph a type of Christ, there are surely many connections between the two. Discuss the following passages.

• Philippians 2:9–11: Just as Joseph rose to power and all peoples bowed down to him as God had intended and prophesied, every knee will bow to Jesus as the ultimate King. All peoples throughout all time and from every nation will bow before the King of kings.
• Matthew 1:21: As Joseph was the savior of the physical life of many people, including the house of Israel, so Jesus is the spiritual Savior sent to the house of Israel, and to all peoples who will come to him for rescue from their spiritual famine.
• Matthew 26:59–60: Just as Joseph was falsely accused of sin by Potiphar’s wife, Jesus was falsely accused and condemned though he was innocent.
• Luke 23:34: Just as Joseph forgave those who had sinned against him, Jesus forgave those who were responsible for his death (also consider Romans 5:6–8).
• Acts 2:22–24: Just as Joseph was taken to Egypt as a slave, thrown in prison, and finally raised to power to save many according to God’s definite plan, so Jesus was delivered up to death by God’s foreknowledge and definite plan. God was directing both events, as evil as they were on the human level, in order to bring about his plan of salvation.
• 1 Corinthians 2:7–8: What Joseph’s brothers and Potiphar’s wife did to hurt Joseph, God used for good in the end. Joseph did not understand this during the trial, but it was clear as he came through the trial. Likewise, the Jews and Romans who crucified Jesus meant harm to Jesus, but God used their evil acts to bring about good through Jesus’ sacrificial, substitutionary death for sinners on the cross.
• As you consider all of these passages in light of Romans 8:28–30, how do you see God’s hand in the trials you face? Discuss various answers, reminding all that for those who are in Christ, God’s sure work of conforming them to the image of Christ will involve trials of many kinds. Even when we don’t understand what is happening in the moment, we can trust God because of his character (faithful, loving, omnipotent, omniscient, etc.).

Application

As we think about what we have read about Joseph—the trials in his relationships and the injustices done to him—we can see a wonderful example of one who trusted in God and recognized his hand in all that came to pass. But it was not because Joseph was a great man that he was able to persevere in these trials and recognize God’s hand. It was because he knew and trusted in a great God. Joseph is our example, but we must fix our minds on God and his character just as Joseph did.

Joseph was able to forgive because he trusted God. Joseph was able to trust in the future because he knew the God who held that future. Joseph recognized that God had promised to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob a land, a great nation, and a Seed (Offspring). God brought about the saving of Jacob’s family through Joseph’s trials and exaltation. God is faithful to keep his promises, and we serve the same God Joseph trusted in. We can see more of his faithfulness in the life of our Savior. God uses evil in this world to bring about his good plans. We also have the testimony of many throughout church history and others in our own life to remind us of God’s work in our own lives. And even more, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, guiding us and reminding us of God’s faithfulness.

Let us make sure that we think of how we can apply these ideas as we leave and go out into the world we live in. We want to make sure that we are not merely hearing the Word, but seeking to be doers of what we read in it.

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  As you consider the whole account of Joseph, what do you find the most encouraging? Discuss various answers.
• When Joseph told his brothers that he knew God had preserved a “remnant” through all of these events, what was he acknowledging about God? He was acknowledging God’s faithfulness to keep his promise. God had promised to send a Savior, and Joseph knew he would carry through with that promise given to his fathers.
• What promise of God would have been broken if Israel’s family had perished in the famine? Without someone surviving from Israel’s family, the line that God promised the Seed (Offspring) through would be broken, and we would have no hope of salvation. Joseph clearly knew of this promise and was trusting in it as he watched the events unfold.
• When Joseph finally revealed himself to his brothers (45:3–5), they hesitated and did not come near to him, even as he was seeking to restore the relationship with them and bless them. How does this compare to the way you relate to God when you recognize your own sin before him? It can be hard to think that when we have sinned against someone that they will want to be with us, and we carry those thoughts into our relationship with God. But because of what Jesus has done on our behalf, we can go immediately to him when we sin, and confess, trusting that he will cleanse us from that sin and restore our relationship (1 John 1:8–9). If we think that we need to stay away from God or punish ourselves for a while (do penance) before we repent, we are forgetting that we cannot pay for our own sin, and that Christ already has. We can run to him immediately as a good Father and trust that he will receive us in our repentance. And God continues to bless us as his adopted children, giving us all that we need and great blessings beyond our needs.
• In what way can you relate to Joseph’s willingness to forgive his brothers? In what way do you struggle to forgive? Discuss various answers. Remind the students that we don’t look to Joseph as our example, but to Jesus as the perfect example and the one who has made our forgiveness possible. We have been forgiven much and can forgive as we have been forgiven.
• As you consider all of the details of how God worked to save Israel’s household, how does this help you trust God in your own trials? Discuss various answers.

Group Prayer

Be sure to pray with your class before you dismiss them.

• Praise God for his faithfulness to his promises.
• Ask God for his Spirit to work in our hearts to help us forgive others.
• Thank God that we can come to him and receive forgiveness in Christ.