Joseph Identifies Himself to His Brothers

"God did send me before you to preserve life." Genesis 45:5

All the brothers were scared when they found that Benjamin had the silver cup in his sack. They didn't know how it got there, but they knew if Benjamin had to stay behind their father's heart would break.

They returned to Egypt and Judah stood before him. He told him about their father and how he would die if Benjamin didn't return. Judah then offered himself in Benjamin's place.

Joseph was moved at Judah's offer of sacrifice for Benjamin. He sent everyone away and told the brothers who he was - that he was their brother Joseph who had been sold into slavery long ago. He hugged them all and cried for joy. He asked about his father, then told them not to be upset at what had happened before. God had worked it all out for good and allowed Joseph to be the way their lives were saved because he was over the grain stores in Egypt. 

"Go home, brothers," he said," and tell our father that I am alive and a I am a great and powerful man. Then bring him to me, along with your families, and come live with me here and I will take care of you." 

Joseph forgave his brothers and forgot all of the hurt they had done to him. He loved them with all his heart. When the brothers returned home their father couldn't believe the news. Finally, he did, and he said, "Joseph, my son, is still alive! I will see him before I die."

The family returned to Egypt and Joseph ran to meet them. He hugged his father and kissed him, and there was joy for Jacob because it was like Joseph had returned from the dead.

Jacob lived the rest of his life in Egypt and was happy with his son Joseph. God changed his name to Israel and his sons and their sons after them were then always called the Children of Israel. 

QUESTIONS

1. Who was Benjamin?

2. What was found in Benjamin's sack?

3. Who put it there?

4. What was going to be done to Benjamin?

5. Who spoke for him?

6. What did Judah ask?

7. Who did the lord of the land turn out to be ?

8. How did Joseph come to Egypt?

9. Why didn't his brothers recognize him sooner?

10. How did he treat them?

11. Whom did he send for?

12. What did Jacob say?

13. Where did Jacob go to live?

14. Why was it very kind in Joseph to help his brothers?

15. Did he give back to them the harm they had done to him?

16. How could we do like Joseph?

Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dream

"We are verily guilty concerning our brother." Genesis 42:21

Joseph was finally released from prison because he was able to interpret the king's dream. God gave Joseph the wisdom to tell the king of Egypt that his dreams meant there would be seven years of a fine harvest. After the first seven years, there would be seven years with no harvest. 

The king made Joseph a great lord and set him to work. Joseph was to buy and store all of the corn that was over and above what people wanted during the seven years of plenty. Then there would be corn during the years with no harvest. 

When the bad years began, Joseph sold the corn to all who wanted it. The famine wasn't just in Egypt. It reached all the countries around and soon Joseph saw ten of his own brothers, those who had sold him into slavery, coming to him to buy corn. He recognized them, but they didn't know him because he'd grown up and was dressed like an Egyptian. He wanted to know what had happened to his father and his younger brother, Benjamin. He started to ask his brothers questions. 

They told him who they were - they were all one man's sons, one brother had been lost, and the other was home with their father. Joseph wouldn't believe them and said one brother must stay in Egypt while the rest went back to fetch the youngest brother. They felt fear and thought about what they'd done to their brother Joseph. They said to each other, "We are verily guilty concerning our brother."

Joseph heard them and couldn't believe what he'd heard. But he kept his plan. He made Simeon stay in Egypt to make sure the others would return and sent them home for Benjamin. He didn't keep any of the money they'd paid for the corn and had servants put it back in their sacks. 

They found the money on the way home and were afraid. But when they reached home their father was more afraid. He thought Simeon was now dead and Benjamin was going to be next. He told them he couldn't send Benjamin with them because if something happened to his youngest son, "then shall ye bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave."     

QUESTIONS

1. Where was Joseph?

2. Why was he in prison?

3. What did God make him able to tell the king?

4. How many years was there to be much corn ?

5. What was to be done with the corn?

6. Who managed the buying of it?

7. When was the corn wanted?

8. Who came to buy corn?

9. Who did not come?

10. Why did not Joseph's brothers know him?

11. What did he make believe to think?

12. Whom did he tell them to fetch?

13. What did he give back to them?

14. What did their father say about Benjamin's going?

15. Why was he afraid to trust them with Benjamin?

16. What is the way to be believed?