(Genesis) Genesis 42:1-6 — J. Vernon McGee

Jacob Hears of Egypt’s Provision

Now, will you notice, verse 1 again, Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? You see, they were looking each other doleful, not knowing where to turn or what to do.

Faith Believes God’s Word and Acts

And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt. By the way, this illustrates this matter of faith, that a great many people say faith is so mysterious to me and I don't know how to believe.

The Willingness to Believe

I had a man in, and the fact of the matter is he didn't want to believe. How can I believe? Now will you notice here how Jacob believed? And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt. Get you down thither and buy for us from fence that we may live and not die.

He had heard something, he believed it that would bring life to them, and he acted on it. That's what saving faith is. Somebody says, How can I believe in Jesus? Can you imagine Jacob standing there before these ten sons and saying, Well, I've heard that there is corn down in Egypt, but how in the world am I going to believe it?

Well, the way to believe it is to act upon it. The Lord Jesus said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. You hear something, you believe it. And that's what this man did. That's the way he got corn that brought life to them.

That's the way we get eternal life, is through faith in Christ. Now notice, And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren, for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.

Jacob Protects Benjamin

Well, suppose mischief befalls the other ten boys. Well, they are older to begin with, and if you want to know the truth, it wouldn't hurt him as much to have lost one of them. Now will you notice, he keeps Benjamin with him, but he doesn't keep the others.

He sends all ten of the others. Notice verse 5,. And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came for the famine was in the land of Canaan. Now we come to this dramatic moment. Will you notice it?

Joseph’s Brothers Bow Before Him

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. Now Joseph has been watching for them.

He knew they have to come. And there have been delegations there from all over the inhabited earth of that day. The famine was worldwide, and so he watches. Then lo and behold, here come ten boys, ten young men, and they all bowed down before him, got right down on their faces before Joseph.

Joseph looks at those boys, he knows them. You wonder what he thought of. By the way, what do you think of? Remember the dream he had when he said that your sheep will bow to my sheep? Well here it's taken place.

They're all down on their faces.