Genesis 42:1-42:16

A Conscience Awakened - Part 1

Speaking to Moses, God refers to Himself as "the God of your father - the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (Exodus 3:6). Jesus quotes this passage, explaining that by referring to Himself as the God of the patriarchs, God reveals that He "is not the God of the dead, but of the living" (Matthew 22:32). The patriarchs, whose stories we find in Genesis, were the recipients of an extraordinary covenant. They live on in God's presence to enjoy the fulfillment of His promises. Christians today can learn much from these living patriarchs. Looking at Abraham, we see a life lived by faith, and God's faithfulness even in times of weakness. In Isaac, we see the fulfillment of God's promises and generosity in the face of persecution. In Jacob, we discover God's power in the birth of a new nation and its twelve tribes. Join Pastor Lloyd for this in-depth look at the patriarchs in Genesis, and in particular the lives of Jacob and Joseph.

  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.
  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.