Genesis 43:1-15 Time is wasting. Jacob's intransigence about Benjamin has meant the family has already forgone two opportunities to secure more food from Egypt. Now Jacob wants his sons to go back, but still without dealing with the root problem. This time Judah steps up to deal with his father. How does Judah's leadership compare with Reuben's? What can we learn from this? What is it that finally breaks through Jacob's incapacity to act? What do we see in Judah's offer to his father? Is Jacob's surrender a response of more fatalistic despair, or is it actually a step towards faith? How do we know? What lesson does this hold for us about the life of faith? (58 min.)

Keywords Jacob, Reuben, Judah

Genesis 42:29-38 Joseph's brothers return home with the dreaded task of reporting to their father, Jacob, the ugly turn of events in Egypt. How will they attempt to soften the blow to the aged and frail man? Jacob's response to the news, and to the discovery that someone in Egypt is out to get them, triggers a despairing reaction from Jacob. Why does he blame his sons? What is our reaction when tragic events and bad news would overwhelm us? What is the answer to despair? Why does Reuben react as he does with his proposal? How do we respond when we get desperate? What is the answer to desperation? (53 min)

Keywords Jacob, Joseph, Benjamin, Reuben

Genesis 42:21-28 This passage is one of the most poignant passages in all of Scripture. It relates to us how Joseph's brothers come to the realization that they are now encountering the consequences of their long ago sin. Meanwhile, Joseph overhears their discussion. What, particularly, do his brothers’ consciences seem to trouble them with? This is an important point to the narrator, and has important implications to our own lives. Joseph responds to what he hears by weeping. Why does Joseph weep? Why, after hearing his brother's confession, does Joseph continue with his disguise and his plan? Why are his brothers so filled with fear upon discovering the money in one of their sacks? How has their sin distorted the brothers' perception of God's processes in their lives? (53 min.)

Keywords Joseph, Brothers, Regret, Repentance, Listening

Genesis 42:10-20 Having been accused of spying by Joseph in the passage we looked at last Sunday, his brothers rise to their own defense. Their defense consists of three assertions. Why do they expect these claims will sway the great Zaphenaph Peneah (Joseph)? Are the brothers truly honest men as they claim? How does their claim to integrity reflect our human natures? How does Joseph appear to his brothers? What plan does Joseph make to test his brothers? How and why does he alter his plan? What scenario is Joseph creating for his brothers, and what can we learn about our own testings from this? (62 min.)

Keywords Joseph, Benjamin, Dreams, Testing