Summarize chapter 42- 43:10:

• Famine has hit and Jacob and his family are running out of food. They have heard there is food in Egypt and send the sons to go ask for food from the Governor of Egypt (Joseph)
• Jacob keeps Benjamin back for fear something may happen to him (his favorite son since the loss of Joseph)
• Joseph is now the governor of Egypt. Second in command and in charge of food storage and distribution.
• Joseph’s brothers come to him to ask for food and they bow down before him to their faces to the ground. 
• Remember the dreams Joseph had when he was a boy? - here they happen. God’s communication to Joseph through dreams is fulfilled in this moment.
• Joseph recognizes them but they don’t recognize him. How? 
• Several years have passed by, Joseph is no longer 17 but in his 30s. And dressed in Egyptian garb and speaking egyptian. 
• He probes a bit and finds out about the condition of his other brother Benjamin and his father Jacob. 
• Joseph accuses them of being spies - not sincerely, but to punish them a bit for selling him into slavery and all of his years of suffering. In doing so he awakens their conscience. They start to feel bad. 
• He then throws them into jail for 3 days. 
• Vs. 21 - “we are guilty”
• As he lets them return home he tells them to bring their brother Benjamin back.
• When they get home they empty their grain sacks and find out that their money has been put back into the sack. 
• They panic - now they may be accused of stealing from Egypt if it is found out. 
• They have to convince Jacob to allow them to go back and to bring Benjamin with them. 
• He initially refuses, there is some back and forth. 

43:11-14

Jacob recognizes they need the food. He resigns his control over the situation and realizes that He must trust God. His hand is forced and so he does what he can and then lets go. He is greatly emotional about it but realizes that he has no other option. Yet he does not abandon all hope. He does what he can first.

• “Carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. Take double the money, take your brother and go.”
• “May God almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. 
• As for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.

Here are three application points based on Genesis 43:11-14:

 1. **Trusting God in Difficult Situations**

   - **Verse Reference**: Genesis 43:14

   - **Application**: Jacob faced uncertainty and fear as he sent his sons back to Egypt with Benjamin. Despite his anxieties, he trusted in God, saying, "May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man." This teaches us to trust God's sovereignty even when we face challenging and uncertain situations. We should learn to lean on God's wisdom and provision rather than succumbing to fear.

 2. **Taking Responsibility for Past Mistakes**

   - **Verse Reference**: Genesis 43:12

   - **Application**: Jacob instructs his sons to take double the money to return what was found in their sacks, showing integrity and a desire to make amends. This calls us to take responsibility for our actions and seek to correct our wrongs, especially in our dealings with others. We should be proactive in restoring relationships and situations where we may have fallen short.

 3. **Generosity as a Reflection of Character**

   - **Verse Reference**: Genesis 43:11

   - **Application**: Jacob prepared a gift of the best products of the land to send to the Egyptian governor. His generosity in a time of famine reflects his character. We are reminded to be generous, even when resources are scarce. Our giving should reflect our trust in God's provision and our desire to bless others, rather than holding back in times of need.