INTRODUCTION:  Joseph has been exalted to the second place in the entire land of Egypt.  Now all that needs to take place in order for the dreams of his youth to be fulfilled is for his brothers to come and bow down to him.  God is working this out through the famine that is in the land.  He is also preparing for the preservation of the children of Israel through the next 400 years.  God’s providence is seen as strongly here as it is in the book of Esther.  He is bringing all things together for His good.

1. JOSEPH’S BROTHERS COME TO EGYPT TO BUY CORN (Genesis 42:1-8 [1] Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? [2] And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die. [3] And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. [4] But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him. [5] And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan. [6] And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. [7] And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. [8] And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
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1. Jacob Receives News of Corn in Egypt (Genesis 42:1-2 [1] Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? [2] And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.
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1. The famine had affected Jacob and his family (Genesis 42:1Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?
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2. The sons of Jacob were sitting around doing nothing about their need (Genesis 42:1Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?
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3. Jacob heard that Egypt had corn and he sent his sons to buy some (Genesis 42:2And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.
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2. The Brethren Journey to Egypt to Buy Corn (Genesis 42:3-5 [3] And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. [4] But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him. [5] And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
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1. Only ten of the brothers made the journey (Genesis 42:3And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.
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2. Benjamin was left behind with Jacob in case of trouble (Genesis 42:4But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.
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3. The brothers of Joseph were among a crowd of others who had come to buy corn (Genesis 42:5And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
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3. Joseph Recognizes His Brothers (Genesis 42:6-8 [6] And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. [7] And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. [8] And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
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1. Joseph’s brothers come and bow before him (Genesis 42:6And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.
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1. Joseph was the governor of the land.
2. Joseph was the man who sold to all the people of the land.
3. Joseph’s brothers came to him and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the earth.
4. This fulfilled the dream of Joseph concerning the sheaves (Genesis 37:5-8 [5] And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. [6] And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: [7] For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. [8] And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.
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5. Note:  One day in the future every knee will bow before the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 14:11For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
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2. Joseph spoke roughly with his brothers (Genesis 42:7And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.
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3. Joseph knew his brothers, but they did not know him (Genesis 42:8And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
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2. JOSEPH TROUBLES HIS BROTHERS (Genesis 42:9-24 [9] And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. [10] And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come. [11] We are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies. [12] And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. [13] And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not. [14] And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies: [15] Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither. [16] Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies. [17] And he put them all together into ward three days. [18] And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God: [19] If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses: [20] But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so. [21] And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. [22] And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required. [23] And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter. [24] And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.
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1. The Brothers Are Accused of Being Spies (Genesis 42:9-14 [9] And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. [10] And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come. [11] We are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies. [12] And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. [13] And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not. [14] And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:
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1. Joseph remembered his dreams concerning his brothers (Genesis 42:9And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
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2. Joseph accused the brothers of being spies sent to see the nakedness of the land (Genesis 42:9And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
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3. The brothers give some information about their identity (Genesis 42:11We are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies.
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4. Joseph accuses his brothers of being spies a second time (Genesis 42:12And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
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5. The brothers give more information about their identity (Genesis 42:13And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.
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6. Joseph accuses his brothers of being spies a third time (Genesis 42:14And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:
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7. Note:  It appears that Joseph continues to make the accusation to get his brothers to give him information.  It is not that he needed the information, but he needed them to give it as to not give away his identity.
2. The Brothers Get a Chance to Prove Their Innocence (Genesis 42:15-20 [15] Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither. [16] Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies. [17] And he put them all together into ward three days. [18] And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God: [19] If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses: [20] But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.
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1. A plan to imprison all but one of the brothers (Genesis 42:15-16 [15] Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither. [16] Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.
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2. All of the brothers are imprisoned for three days (Genesis 42:17And he put them all together into ward three days.
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3. A new plan to release all but one of the brothers (Genesis 42:18-20 [18] And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God: [19] If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses: [20] But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.
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3. The Brothers Remember What They Did to Joseph (Genesis 42:21-24 [21] And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. [22] And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required. [23] And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter. [24] And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.
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1. The brothers see this as punishment for what they did to Joseph (Genesis 42:21And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
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2. Reuben reminds them that he warned them not to do it (Genesis 42:22And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.
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3. Joseph understood their speech and wept (Genesis 42:23-24 [23] And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter. [24] And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.
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4. Joseph took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes (Genesis 42:24And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.
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3. JOSEPH’S BROTHERS RETURN TO CANAAN (Genesis 42:25-38 [25] Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them. [26] And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence. [27] And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth. [28] And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us? [29] And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them; saying, [30] The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country. [31] And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies: [32] We be twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan. [33] And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone: [34] And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffick in the land. [35] And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. [36] And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me. [37] And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again. [38] And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
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1. Joseph Sends Them on Their Way (Genesis 42:25-26 [25] Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them. [26] And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence.
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1. Joseph prepares his brothers for their journey (Genesis 42:25Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them.
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1. He commanded to fill their sacks with corn.
2. He commanded to restore every man’s money into his sack.
3. He commanded to give them provision for the way.
2. Joseph’s brothers depart (Genesis 42:26And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence.
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2. One of the Brothers Finds Money in His Sack (Genesis 42:27-28 [27] And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth. [28] And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?
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1. The money in the sack (Genesis 42:27And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth.
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1. One of the brothers opened his sack to feed his ass.
2. He found that his money was in his sack’s mouth.
2. The fear of the brothers (Genesis 42:28And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?
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1. The brother told the other brothers that he found his money in his sack.
2. The heart of the brothers failed them.
3. They were afraid wondering what God had done unto them.
3. The Brothers Rehearse the Events to Jacob (Genesis 42:29-34 [29] And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them; saying, [30] The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country. [31] And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies: [32] We be twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan. [33] And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone: [34] And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffick in the land.
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1. The brothers arrive home and tell Jacob of the events that befell them in Egypt (Genesis 42:29And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them; saying,
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2. The brothers tell of Joseph’s accusation (Genesis 42:30The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country.
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1. He spake roughly to them.
2. He took them for spies of the country.
3. The brothers tell of their defense (Genesis 42:31-32 [31] And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies: [32] We be twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.
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1. They said they were true men and no spies (Genesis 42:31And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies:
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2. They said they were twelve brethren (Genesis 42:32We be twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.
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4. The brothers tell of Joseph’s judgment (Genesis 42:33-34 [33] And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone: [34] And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffick in the land.
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1. Hereby Joseph would know they were not spies (Genesis 42:33And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone:
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2. Leave one of your brethren (Genesis 42:33And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone:
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3. Bring your youngest brother (Genesis 42:34And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffick in the land.
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4. The Troubles Continue for Jacob (Genesis 42:35-36 [35] And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. [36] And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.
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1. Trouble in the sacks (Genesis 42:35And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.
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1. As the brothers emptied their sacks, every man found his money.
2. As Jacob and the brothers saw the money, they were afraid.
2. The pain of Jacob (Genesis 42:36And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.
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1. Joseph is not.
2. Simeon is not.
3. Ye will take Benjamin away.
4. All these things are against me.
5. Reuben Seeks Approval to Take Benjamin (Genesis 42:37-38 [37] And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again. [38] And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
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1. Reuben’s plea for the taking of Benjamin (Genesis 42:37And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.
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1. Reuben offers the life of his two sons if he does not return Benjamin.
2. Reuben offers his promise of the safe keeping of Benjamin.
2. Jacob’s refusal to send Benjamin (Genesis 42:38And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
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1. Because of Benjamin
1. His brother is dead.
2. He is left alone.
2. Because of his own pain

CONCLUSION:  Joseph gives his brothers the same treatment they gave him.  He falsely accuses them and throws them in prison.  They even recognize that it was because of their unjust treatment of Joseph.  He then sends them home, all but Simeon, with each man’s money in his sack, and a request for Benjamin’s presence in Egypt.