Notes from July 21, 2013 - Genesis 43:15-34

Genesis 43:15-34

READING

15 So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver, and Benjamin also. They hurried down to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph.  16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare a meal; they are to eat with me at noon.”

17 The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph’s house. 18 Now the men were frightened when they were taken to his house. They thought, “We were brought here because of the silver that was put back into our sacks the first time. He wants to attack us and overpower us and seize us as slaves and take our donkeys.”

19 So they went up to Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20 “We beg your pardon, our lord,” they said, “we came down here the first time to buy food. 21 But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver—the exact weight—in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back with us. 22 We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food. We don’t know who put our silver in our sacks.”

23 “It’s all right,” he said. “Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.

24 The steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet and provided fodder for their donkeys. 25 They prepared their gifts for Joseph’s arrival at noon, because they had heard that they were to eat there.

26 When Joseph came home, they presented to him the gifts they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground. 27 He asked them how they were, and then he said, “How is your aged father you told me about? Is he still living?”

28 They replied, “Your servant our father is still alive and well.” And they bowed down, prostrating themselves before him.

29 As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there.

31 After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself, said, “Serve the food.”

32 They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, for that is detestable to Egyptians. 33 The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment. 34 When portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as anyone else’s. So they feasted and drank freely with him.

Question -

What is your reaction when I say ‘family reunion’?  What types of emotions and thoughts do you have regarding this?

BOARD –

Reactions to Reunion

16-18 – Story of the Present

19-22 – Story of the Past

23-25 – Steward and Sons Prepare

26-30 – Suspicious Presentation

31-34 – Special Portion

Reminder of 15 from last week – The men went and stood before Joseph hoping to win favor with Joseph for the transaction of more grain as their primary target

Remember that Jacob is not with them and has resigned himself that he may never see some or all of them again

16-18 Story of Present

16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare a meal; they are to eat with me at noon.”

17 The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph’s house. 18 Now the men were frightened when they were taken to his house. They thought, “We were brought here because of the silver that was put back into our sacks the first time. He wants to attack us and overpower us and seize us as slaves and take our donkeys.”

·    Notice Joseph doesn’t bring up the Spies again?

·    The brothers were taken to the house – they were in fear – they didn’t know verse 16 about the meal like you, the reader do

·    Intial reaction by both – reminder of the prodigal son – dad’s reaction verses brothers and son

·    Story one of negativity

·    What was the story based on?  Why did they believe it would be bad?

·    What is our story of the present and what is going to happen NOW?

·    When we are feeling guilty we generally see things as the worst will come

19-22 Story of Past

19 So they went up to Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20 “We beg your pardon, our lord,” they said, “we came down here the first time to buy food. 21 But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver—the exact weight—in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back with us. 22 We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food. We don’t know who put our silver in our sacks.”

·    They approached the ‘one who is over the house’ or the steward

·    Steward as in on the plan

·    do we think of the past and what we have done bad or good?

·    Does God know your past?

·    What are we trying to make up for in past?

·    When we attend a reunion with ANYONE

23-25 Steward and Sons Prepare

23 “It’s all right,” he said. “Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.

24 The steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet and provided fodder for their donkeys. 25 They prepared their gifts for Joseph’s arrival at noon, because they had heard that they were to eat there.

·    What do you do to prepare for an event?

·    Do you think about what God has done for you?

·    Do you pray before you go?

·    Are you right with God before you get physically right?

·    Then… Preparation for Joseph’s Gifts by the sons

·    Like the holy spirit – The Steward reassures and knows what they have brought – allows them to prepare

·    Credit is, once again, given to God – this time by the Steward

26-30 Suspicious Presentation

26 When Joseph came home, they presented to him the gifts they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground. 27 He asked them how they were, and then he said, “How is your aged father you told me about? Is he still living?”

28 They replied, “Your servant our father is still alive and well.” And they bowed down, prostrating themselves before him.

29 As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there.

·    Are there any favorites or people you like to see more at a reunion than another?  Why is that?

·    Is there anyone missing at a reunion that you wish was there?  Why?

·    What do you talk about at the reunion?

·    Is there someone that is close to you that you haven’t seen that would overwhelm you with emotion?

·    Note that this is also written so that we can see that they still don’t know this is Joseph

·    Joseph asked some questions and then had to get out as emotion overtook him –

·    Just like guys – emotion not always understood and easily worked through

31-34 – Special Portion

31 After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself, said, “Serve the food.”

32 They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, for that is detestable to Egyptians. 33 The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment. 34 When portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as anyone else’s. So they feasted and drank freely with him.

·     What happens in the actual eating?

·     Does Joseph change the traditions he is living in?

·     Why are they astonished in 33?  Remember the story they had told about what was to happen versus what Joseph’s plan and the Steward’s preparation did

·     What as the special portion for Benjamin

·     Would this be suspicious or at all weird?

·     What is the last part of 34?  What does this mean compared to where they were in the first few verses today?

·     Shakar means to get tipsy or be merry – essentially – intoxicated with Him

·     Proper place and time for each thing – tradition and within Egyptian culture

·     Seems that their relationship – although unknown is going ok

·     They did not just feed – they feasted

Final Questions

·     What is our Story on the past and present when we meet with someone?

·     How do we prepare to meet with others (i.e. do we pray with our family before an event?)

·     Who do you care about and what do you feel and/or do when you are with them/without them?

·     When you are with those you love or that are special to you what do you do for them?

·     When we are presented back to God what portion will we have and what will it be like?