gen 44

Question	Answer	Note---10-02-2016
		Note that Joseph Conspired with his servants. The servants were privy the entire time to the plot of Joseph.
		The events that follow seem to be a test of the integrity of the brothers. Joseph also wanted to test and see if the same feeling of resentment, that he knew had been present for him was also present for Benjamin.
		It also seems that he wanted to take away his brother Benjamin from the rest of them by deceit.
		44:9 Note they are confident that no one has the cup, to the point that they offer their lives if it is found with them.
		This verse is not clear. It seems to imply that joseph spoke these words. However Joseph is not documented to have gone out with the his servants in pursuit of his brothers.
Who is he in this verse? Who is doing the searching? Are we to understand that the servant and Joseph are one, since the servant was privy to all the plans of Joseph?
What was this tearing of their garments?
Should it be understood to be just tradition?
Was there a garment or a special place on the garment that was torn to represent mourning?
		44:13 The men returned to the city willingly
Why would Joseph say that he is a man of divination, after knowing fully well that it was a set up on his part?		44:15
		44:16 Note the humility in Judah’s approach. There was no speech in defense of self. It seems these men were totally surrendered.
God has found out our iniquity, why would Judah say this?		It seems that the past 13 years were torture for the brothers as much as it was torture for Joseph. The heart of Joseph was changed by his experience in Egypt, so too was the heart of the brothers changed as a result of the sorrow of their father.
		44:17 Note that the intent seems to be to hold Benjamin captive and to release the other brothers, however it seems because of the love of their father the brothers would not let Benjamin perish.
		This is such a transformation. No doubt the favoritism had not stopped however, the other brothers now joined in the protective treatment of Benjamin.
		44:18 Judah recognizes the power of Joseph.
		Judah recounts story to Joseph, it seems in tears. No doubt this is a very moving and compelling testimony.

Gen 43

Question	Answer	Note---10-02-2016
		43:1 Note had the corn not run out, the brothers would not have returned to Egypt.
		43:6 Why did you tell the man you have another brother was Jacob’s objection.
If the famine was so great, where now were they getting the list of things that Jacob was telling his sons to carry?		43:11
		43:14 Maybe the fact that Jacob comes to this place in his mind, that he may lose Benjamin, but must yield to the request of this strange man, may be a fulfillment of the dream that Joseph had.
	New Living Translation They were told they would be eating there, so they prepared their gifts for Joseph's arrival at noon.	43:25 against=until
		43:26 fulfilment of the dream
When did this practice of eating separately begin? When was it established that Hebrews were an abomination unto Egyptians?	It seems that this was the custom of Joseph, and this was not something new that was put in place as a result of the brother’s presence. It seems that Joseph practiced his religion, while he was in Egypt and did not adopt the customs of the Egyptians.	45:32
		45:33 the test continues. Joseph gives to Benjamin the youngest the most, and no quarrel is heard. Joseph should be by now convinced that his brother’s have had a change of heart.

gen 42

Question	Answer	Note---10-02-2016
Why was famine so common?
Is it still common place to have a famine in Egypt?
		It was that only Egypt was knowledgeable of how long the famine would last, and therefore they alone had food.
Why did Israel send his sons and not a servant?		We can make the assumption that Jacob was again spoiling his last son by Rachel. He did not allow him to share in the responsibilities around the home.
Was Joseph seeking revenge, when he chastised his brothers?	It seems Joseph his home sick, and is flooded with emotion. He wants to keep his brothers around, but is not wanting to reveal who he is. As a result of the flood of emotion Joseph wept.	42:16 he put his brothers in prison three days. This seems like Joseph was seeking some sort of restitution from his brothers
		41:21 The brothers were sorely distressed. It is interesting that the brothers were thinking that the stress was as a result of selling Joseph into slavery 13 years prior.
		41:34 This was a test by Joseph, to see if their hearts had changed. If they had left their brother in prison in the land of Egypt he would have known that their hearts had not changed.
		Note they told Jacob the full truth. This is an indication of their change of heart. Lest Jacob say that every time the go out something befalls a brother.
		Jacob insists on not sending Benjamin with Reuben.

gen 41

How does a Christian continue to pray to God when it seems that your prayers are not being answered, and worse still is happening to you.	One of things that we need to remember is that this life is not just about physical gain but more so about our character gain. If God saw it fit to keep Joseph in jail to better his character, then who are we to question the almighty? Every Christian needs a valley experience with God. Maybe this was what it took to break joseph.	The two full years would have been the time from Pharaoh’s birthday.
		41:8 This was in the time that magicians were honest. Pharaoh could tell the men the dream and they would interpret it honestly.
		Looking back at this dream it does not contain anything out of the ordinary for a dream, however the fact that pharaoh was troubled about it, shows that the Holy Spirit must have been working upon his heart for such a simple dream to have a profound effect on a king.
How and why was the butler involved? He was not called nor was he involved, so how now does he answer pharaohs concern?	It seems that by now, all the castle had known pharaoh’s dream but no one could interpret it.	41:9
		41:14
		41:34
		The Egyptians were known to be more technologically advanced than their surrounding neighboring cities. Note that they were able to preserve food for years without refrigeration or canning of their foods etc.
		It is suspected that they dried their foods, and as a result the food could not go bad.
How could pharaoh have descrened that the spirit of God dwelled in him?	Note that Jospeh was the one who mentioned that it was God who would reveal the meaning of the dream. (vs16 & vs 32).	41:38 In this time, in spite of that the Egyptians served other gods, they seemed to be knowledgeable of the true God.
		It speaks volumes about the character of the people then. How sophisticated they were.
		Pharoah sees humility and wisdom in Joseph as he interprets the dream and then advises what the affairs should be.
		41:40 Each time that Joseph moves, he is put in charge of the house. This time it is a bigger house.
		41:40 Pharaoh sensed in Joseph an unparalleled wisdom. It seems that he is saying to him, that had it not been for the throne, you would have been greater than me.
What do you make of the ornaments that were placed on Joseph by Pharaoh?	It is obvious that the ornaments were symbolic of the transfer of power from Pharaoh to Joseph. It was also the custom that to magnify a person before the people the king would have him ride in a chariot of honor.	41:41-43
Was Joseph higher than Potiphar?	Yes, Joseph was no higher than Potiphar, and if Joseph had had a heart of revenge he could have sought out Potiphar for his revenge about putting him in prison falsely.	41:44 Note the level of power that has been given to Joseph. No man in all of Egypt could go in or out without Joseph’s command.
Why did they cease numbering, could they not have counted by groups?	It is not clear why they stopped numbering, beyond what the scriptures says that it was too much to count. It must be that they may have had a projected amount for the seven years, but they now had exceeded that amount by plenty.
What religion was practiced in the house of Joseph?	It would seem plausible that since there was none greater than Joseph except Pharaoh, that he/joseph was free to practice the religion he chose for his household.	It is interesting that Jospeh married the daughter of an heathen Egyptian priest.
	Manasseh: causing to forget. Ephraim: I shall be doubly fruitful
Did all the people store food during the years of plenty?	It seems that they all stored. “In all the lands of Egypt there was bread” Consequently, when their source had run out, they now ran to the king.	41:55 Pharaoh seems to relinquish he throne, and refers to Joseph for instructions.
Was selling to other cities a wise decision?	It seemed that Egypt had had abundantly above what they needed, based on calculations. Consequently selling the excess was a very profitable decision.