Genesis 43-45: Study Guide

Background

• Review of Genesis 39-42: After Joseph successfully interpreted a series of prophetic dreams, he was promoted out of prison into the second highest position over all of Egypt. Moreover, Egypt followed Joseph's recommendation and stored its surplus during seven years of abundant harvests, and once the seven years of prophesied famine arrived all other people were forced to go to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph's brothers also came to buy grain from Egypt. But they didn't recognize Joseph, and he acted slyly by questioning them, detaining their brother Simeon, and demanding that they bring their youngest brother Benjamin to Egypt in order to prove that they were who they claimed to be. However, Jacob is unwilling to risk letting his son Benjamin go to Egypt.
• Setting for Genesis 43: Joseph's brothers are in Canaan with their father Jacob.

Study Preparations

• Timer: Assign a timer who will focus the group on spending 15 minutes in each chapter.
• Prayer: Open in prayer and invite God to provide understanding into Genesis 43.

Genesis 43-44

Read: Choose a reader to read Genesis 43-44.

Discussion

1. First Impressions
1. During what point of the story did you feel the most tension?
2. Do you think Joseph took his schemes towards his brothers too far?
3. What is your impression of Judah?
2. Benjamin: Why do you think that Joseph targeted Benjamin with his divination cup?
3. Judah & Benjamin: Consider Judah's willingness to bear Benjamin's penalty.
1. What general life principles can be drawn from Judah's protective attitude towards Benjamin? What motives guide these principles?
2. Do you think Judah's sacrificial attitude towards Benjamin is meant to be viewed as a archetype for their tribes & lineages? (Compare: Judges 20:18; 21:3; 1 Kings 12:19-24; Ezekiel 48:21-22; Isaiah 53:4-6)
4. Anticipate: How do you think Joseph will respond to Judah's appeal?

Transition: The leader ties Genesis 43-44 into the full picture of Genesis, and transitions the group into Genesis 45. Suggested themes and foreshadows include:

• God as provider of treasure (Joseph alleged the silver to come from God - 43:23)
• Divined knowledge ("Don't you know I can find out things through divination?" 44:15)
• Substitutionary Justice (Judah asks to bear Benjamin's penalty)

Genesis 45

Read: Choose a reader to read Genesis 45.

Discussion

1. First Impressions: What was your reaction to the 'happy ending'?
2. Skepticism: Recall that Jacob did not believe the report about Joseph at first.
1. What do you think would cause Jacob to be skeptical?
2. Do you find Joseph's survival in Egypt believable?
3. Consider Joseph's 'God-explanation' of his survival in Egypt. Do you view God's involvement in Joseph's life as believable or mythological? Explain.
4. How would you go about investigating the historicity (or mythology) of Joseph's presence in Egypt?
3. Don't Quarrel: Recall Joseph's request that his brothers "do not quarrel on the way." In light of Joseph's many accusations against his brothers, do you find Joseph's request reasonable or surprising? Explain your reaction.

Transition: The leader ties Genesis 45 into the full picture of Genesis, and helps the group anticipate what may be coming in the next study. Suggested themes and foreshadows include:

• God's foreknowledge & preservation of Israel (Joseph views his captivity in Egypt as God's doing)
• Jacob's skepticism (Jacob did not initially believe that Joseph was alive)
• Joseph's forgiveness & forgetting (Joseph does not want his brothers to quarrel over what they had done to him)

Closing

Looking Forward: How do you think that Joseph's family and the Egyptians will get along? What do you think that the power-dynamics will look like between them?