Jacob Sends His Sons to Egypt
Genesis 42:1-24
I. Famine in Canaan (vs. 1-5)
a. Who in the narrative first sees hope for relief from the famine and where is that hope?
b. How desperate does Jacob see their need?
c. Why did only ten of Jacob’s sons travel to Egypt?
d. Did the sons of Israel travel alone to Egypt?
II. Joseph’s Brothers in Egypt (vs. 6-13)
a. Who do the sons of Israel unknowingly find themselves before to buy grain?
b. Joseph recognized his brothers, but why did the brothers not recognize Joseph?
c. What action caused Joseph to remember his own dreams?
d. Of what offense does Joseph accuse his brothers?
e. The brothers try to prove their innocence by describing their family…how do they describe Joseph in their explanation?
III. Bring Your Youngest Brother (vs. 14-24)
a. Why would Joseph care so much about the youngest of Jacob’s sons?
b. How does Joseph propose to ‘test’ the honesty of his brothers?
c. Why would Joseph put them all together in prison for three days?
d. What compromise does Joseph propose to get them to bring Benjamin to Egypt?
e. Why do the brothers speculate this crisis has come upon them?
f. How does this acknowledgment affect Joseph?
g. What final action does Joseph take before their eyes before sending the other nine brothers away?
APPLICATION: When we sin, can we just choose not to think about it and be okay or will the guilt stay with us? (see Numbers 32:23)
