Genesis 42:29-38

Genesis 42:29-38

[29] And they came  unto Jacob  their father  unto the land  of Canaan,  and told  him all that befell  unto them; saying,  [30] who is the lord  of the land,  spake  roughly  to us, and took  us for spies  of the country.  [31] And we said  unto him, We are true  men; we are no spies:  [32] We be twelve  brethren,  sons  of our father;  one  is not, and the youngest  is this day  with our father  in the land  of Canaan.  [33] And the man,  the lord  of the country,  said  unto us, Hereby shall I know  that ye are true  men; leave  one  of your brethren  here with me, and take  food for the famine  of your households,  [34] And bring  your youngest  brother  unto me: then shall I know  that ye are no spies,  but that ye are true  men: so will I deliver  you your brother,  and ye shall traffick  in the land.  [35] And it came to pass as they emptied  their sacks,  that, behold, every man's  bundle  of money  was in his sack:  and when both they and their father  saw  the bundles  of money,  they were afraid.  [36] And Jacob  their father  said  unto them, Me have ye bereaved  of my children: Joseph  is not, and Simeon  is not, and ye will take  Benjamin  [37] And Reuben  spake  unto his father,  saying,  Slay  my two  sons,  if I bring  him not to thee: deliver  him into my hand,  and I will bring him to thee again.  [38] And he said,  My son  shall not go down  with you; for his brother  is dead,  and he is left  alone: if mischief  befall  him by the way  then shall ye bring down  my gray hairs  with sorrow  to the grave. 

What does Genesis 42:29-38 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Each time Jacob"s sons had left home they returned with more money but minus a brother (chs37 , 42). [1] Did Jacob think they had sold Simeon?
"Joseph"s brothers soften the news considerably, making it sound like Simeon was a guest of Joseph ... instead of being bound in prison. They do not mention the threat of death and do not at this time speak of the money in the one sack." [2]
The money in the sack widened the breach between Jacob and his sons but drew the brothers closer together. Jacob despaired because he distrusted his sons and the Egyptian ruler, and he had forgotten the promises of God ( Genesis 42:36). He therefore concluded that, "All these things are against me." In reality God was causing all those things to work together for good for Jacob (cf. Romans 8:28). He would soon realize God"s blessing.
"A great portion of our present trouble arises from our not knowing the whole truth." [3]
Reuben"s offer of his two sons was pathetically weak ( Genesis 42:37). He claimed willingness to suffer in Jacob"s place, but would he really put his own sons before his brother? And how would killing Jacob"s grandsons console Jacob? It is no wonder that Jacob declined Reuben"s offer ( Genesis 42:38).
Throughout this chapter we can observe the attitude of Joseph"s brothers changing. Faced with a personal crisis they acknowledged their guilt. They regarded their suffering as righteous divine punishment, and they began to place Jacob"s interests above their own. However their repentance was not yet complete. The process of contrition had to run further before reconciliation was possible. [4]
"The motives and actions of Joseph and his family members are not patterns to be copied or avoided. The author"s goal is to show that God"s designs for Israel"s fathers are working toward the end of redeeming the household of faith." [5]
When believers have unresolved guilt in their hearts, God often convicts their consciences to discover if they are spiritually sensitive enough to participate in His program.