Lesson 22 – Jacob Blesses His Sons (Genesis 49)
Lesson 22 – Joseph and His Brothers Meet in Egypt
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Scripture Passage: Genesis 42:1-45:28
This post and others in the series are adapted from the content of the lesson syllabus authored by group moderator Rob Perry. Content is for study and research only, not for other distribution without written permission. Contact the webmaster, Mike Foxworth.
OPEN IT
1. What is difficult about asking for forgiveness? Forgiving someone?
EXPLORE IT
2. Who went to Egypt, and why did they go? (42:1-5)
3. What did Joseph do when he recognized his brothers? (42:6-26)
4. What happened after Joseph's brothers left Egypt? (42:27-34)
5. What happened when Joseph's brothers got home? (42:35-38)
6. Who went with Joseph's brothers on their second trip to Egypt, why, and under what circumstances?
(43:1-14)
7. What happened when Joseph's brothers arrived in Egypt the second time? (43:15-34)
8. What happened when Joseph's brothers left Egypt the second time? (44:1-13)
9. What happened when Joseph's brothers returned to Egypt? (44:14-33)
10. When and why did Joseph finally make himself known to his brothers? (45:1-2)
11. What did Joseph tell his brothers when he revealed who he was? (45:3-13)
12. What did Joseph do after he told his brothers who he was? (45:14-15)
13. What did Pharaoh do when he heard about what had happened? (45:16-20)
14. What happened when Joseph's brothers returned to Canaan? (45:25-28)
GET IT
15. Why did Joseph test his brothers?
16. Why is it hard to forgive someone who has wronged you?
APPLY IT
17. Whom do you need to forgive, or from whom do you need to seek forgiveness, this week?
Explore It Answers
This section is designed to prompt thoughts about how and why to derive each scripture-based answer, so the actual answer is based upon individual study and may not be fully disclosed here. Here, also, are parallel verses for the key scripture texts.
Biblical Answer 2
Who went to Egypt, and why did they go? (42:1-5)
Key Scripture: Genesis 42:1-5 | Parallel Texts: Genesis 40:8; Daniel 2:27-28; John 16:13
Biblical Answer 3
What did Joseph do when he recognized his brothers? (42:6-26)
Key Scripture: Genesis 42:6-26 | Parallel Texts: James 1:19-20; Proverbs 15:1; Ephesians 4:31-32
Biblical Answer 4
What happened after Joseph's brothers left Egypt? (42:27-34)
Key Scripture: Genesis 42:27-34 | Parallel Texts: Romans 12:18; Proverbs 16:7; Matthew 5:9
Biblical Answer 5
What happened when Joseph's brothers got home? (42:35-38)
Key Scripture: Genesis 42:35-38 | Parallel Texts: James 1:19-20; Proverbs 15:1; Ephesians 4:31-32
Biblical Answer 7
What happened when Joseph's brothers arrived in Egypt the second time? (43:15-34)
Key Scripture: Genesis 43:15-34 | Parallel Texts: James 1:19-20; Proverbs 15:1; Ephesians 4:31-32
Biblical Answer 8
What happened when Joseph's brothers left Egypt the second time? (44:1-13)
Key Scripture: Genesis 44:1-13 | Parallel Texts: Romans 12:18; Proverbs 16:7; Matthew 5:9
Biblical Answer 9
What happened when Joseph's brothers returned to Egypt? (44:14-33)
Key Scripture: Genesis 44:14-33 | Parallel Texts: James 1:19-20; Proverbs 15:1; Ephesians 4:31-32
Biblical Answer 10
When and why did Joseph finally make himself known to his brothers? (45:1-2)
Key Scripture: Genesis 45:1-2 | Parallel Texts: Genesis 40:8; Daniel 2:27-28; John 16:13
Biblical Answer 11
What did Joseph tell his brothers when he revealed who he was? (45:3-13)
Key Scripture: Genesis 45:3-13 | Parallel Texts: Psalm 24:1; Acts 17:28; Romans 14:12
Biblical Answer 12
What did Joseph do after he told his brothers who he was? (45:14-15)
Key Scripture: Genesis 45:14-15 | Parallel Texts: Romans 12:18; Proverbs 16:7; Matthew 5:9
Biblical Answer 13
What did Pharaoh do when he heard about what had happened? (45:16-20)
Key Scripture: Genesis 45:16-20 | Parallel Texts: James 1:19-20; Proverbs 15:1; Ephesians 4:31-32
Biblical Answer 14
What happened when Joseph's brothers returned to Canaan? (45:25-28)
Key Scripture: Genesis 45:25-28 | Parallel Texts: Romans 12:18; Proverbs 16:7; Matthew 5:9
Commentary Summary
In Genesis 42:1-45:28, Joseph and His Brothers Meet in Egypt highlights doctrinal themes such as God’s character, human accountability, and the certainty of His redemptive purpose. The exalted lord of Egypt tested his brothers to convict them of their sins against him. The emphasis is theological, asking what the text teaches about creation, covenant, judgment, grace, salvation, and the trustworthiness of God. This summary is designed to identify the major truths being taught, not merely repeat the narrative details.
In Joseph and His Brothers Meet in Egypt, the flow of Genesis 42:1-45:28 emphasizes practical faith, obedience, and response to God. Notice the similarities to the first regal act of the Lord after His ascension: He poured out the Spirit and convicted Israel of their sins against Him. The focus here is pastoral and applicational, showing how the lesson challenges the reader to trust, repent, endure, worship, and walk in obedience. This summary is intentionally more devotional and exhortational so it does not simply duplicate the doctrinal wording used in the other commentary summaries.
Within the broader storyline of Genesis and the Bible as a whole, Genesis 42:1-45:28 helps move forward the pattern of promise, failure, mercy, and restoration that runs through Scripture. Pray for the Spirit of Christ to convict the lost, so that they may begin to long for salvation and be open to hear the gospel. This summary is shaped to sound more like a Bible Project overview by emphasizing literary flow, biblical themes, and how the lesson contributes to the unified story of Scripture. The goal is to locate the passage in the wider narrative rather than repeat the same doctrinal or devotional emphasis.
Last Week
More significant parallels connect the divine gift of insight and wisdom of both Joseph and Daniel. Both were endowed with a ‘spirit of [holy] god[s]' (Gen. Both recognized that God had used dreams to reveal the future to kings (Genesis.
This Week
THINK ABOUT THIS: The exalted lord of Egypt tested his brothers to convict them of their sins against him. Notice the similarities to the first regal act of the Lord after His ascension: He poured out the Spirit and convicted Israel of their sins against Him. Pray for the Spirit of Christ to convict the lost, so that they may begin to long for salvation and be open to hear the gospel.
Next Week
THINK ABOUT THIS: Christ's sufferings and obedience have obtained a vast treasure of blessings for perishing sinners. Unlike Joseph, He offers them for free to all who come to Him. But like Joseph, Christ makes all whom He saves into servants of God to do His will.
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