Genesis 43
The Test Continues

V.1-2 The test continues as well as the ______________________

V.2 Jacob is forced to release Benjamin

Davis Guzik, “Necessity is driving Jacob to do something he would normally never do. We might imagine Jacob praying so hard for the famine to break, and for God to send relief. We might imagine Jacob becoming angry and bitter towards God for not answering these prayers. But God knew what He was doing, and had something so much better for Jacob than he could ever imagine.”

Whose smarter, you or God?

V.3 “Judah”- A man beyond hope or is he?

· See Luke 7

V.4-6 Some habits are hard to break

How do we deal with those familiar sins?

2 Cor 10:4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

V.7-10 A changed man!

A test of manhood- ______________________________

V.11-14 The old Jacob reappears


V.15-18 An unexpected twist


V.19-23 Brothers plead their case to the steward


V.24-27 Brothers shown hospitality


V.28-29 Inquiries made


V.30-31 A classic guy move

V.32 Racists

Herodotus- “Egyptians so abhorred things foreign, that priests, at least, ate and drank nothing that was imported, nor would they use utensils for eating that had been used by Greeks.”

The irony of Joseph being in charge

1 Cor 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.

V.33 Joseph messes with their minds : )


V.34 Another test

It’s not un-Christian to ___________________ someone before you trust them

The Prophets/spirits

1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

The Bereans

Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

The Deacons

1 Tim 3:8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

Working through relationships takes ________________


Isa 1:18 "Come now, let us reason together,"says the LORD."Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.