I confess. I’ve never liked Genesis 42. It’s always puzzled and frustrated me as to why Joseph in his Egyptian leadership position didn’t make himself known to his brothers right away when they came to buy food. Why did he talk so harshly to them? Why did he put on a charade of anger and doubt in front of them about their motives? And if that wasn’t enough, when he sent the brothers back to their father Jacob to retrieve Benjamin, why did he secretly put the money that they used to pay for the food back into their bags? We read how all of this freaked out his brothers.
But I also confess, previously I’ve always looked at this story merely historically, imagining if I was in that situation—and getting distressed. This time through, I’m looking at it doctrinally, or prophetically. My lens focuses on the fact that He tells the end (Revelation) from the beginning (Genesis) and that “history repeats itself.” So, what end-times events do I see? Follow with me.
Joseph, we have already determined, is a type of Jesus as Savior. His brothers, the tribes of Israel, don’t recognize him, just like they didn’t when Jesus came literally to earth to be the Savior. Rather, they delivered him up to be crucified. You know, in this account in Genesis 42, Joseph is dead in their estimation. But he’s really alive and right there. Just like in the tribulation, Jesus is dead in their estimation. But He’s really alive.
Genesis 42 shows Israel in the tribulation. Distress seems to be the pall over this chapter. You feel it when you read it. There’s famine in the land, like in the tribulation (42:5). There is so much uncertainty (seen in Joseph putting them all in prison for three days, releasing them, but making one remain while they are made to go back and get Benjamin—42:16-19.) They confess that they are distressed (42:21). In it all, they start to feel guilt for what they did to Joseph, type of Christ (42:21). This is what needed to happen here, because that’s what WILL happen in the tribulation.
So, there’s that. Now, why did Joseph secretly place each brother’s money back in their sacks when they went back to their father after buying food? The food they had purchased ended up costing them nothing.
It seems off. Off for a reason. This is the first instance (in type) of Jesus taking care of the Israelites in their wandering. He provided for them, just like God provided manna for the Israelites when they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years—later in Exodus. These two true Bible accounts point to how God will miraculously provide food for the Israelites in the second half of the tribulation.
If this is the first time you’ve heard that He will do that, consider a few things:
- During the tribulation, folks will have to take the mark of the beast in order to buy and sell. The Jews who flee from the antichrist at mid-tribulation will not be able to buy food. How are they going to get food unless God supplies?
- Those who help provide for the wanderers in the tribulation will receive a reward. Remember the promise to those who offer a cup of cold water? (See Mark 9:41)
- But here’s the main passage on providing for Israel during the tribulation: Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old. According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things. Micah 7:14-15
- The famed 23rd Psalm is a Tribulation Psalm. It should make sense now in a prophetic way when David says in verse 5, Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.
I think the key to why Joseph toyed with his brothers the way he did in Genesis 42 has everything to do with the following verses: And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them… Gen. 42:8-9a. The two dreams were that the brothers would bow down to him someday, and he, as a type of Christ, was massaging their hearts to eventually get real worship out of them. For more on that, see the blog post just below this one, or click here.
God is awesome, and nothing that happens in the Bible is mere historical drama. You will always find His secrets if you have eyes to see.
R&J Shee