GENESIS: Snoopy's Short & Snappy Review

Welcome to Wondercafe2!

A community where we discuss, share, and have some fun together. Join today and become a part of it!

So are you saying we have no responsibility for our own thoughts?

You do have responsibility now for what thoughts you entertain ---as you have 2 choices ---bad thoughts or good thoughts ----One comes from Satan and one comes from God ---you choose what thoughts you want to keep meditating on ----

God says this​

Proverbs 4:23​

23 Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.
 
This reminds me of the indigenous story of the two wolves within. One is good and one is evil.

Which one survives?

The one you feed. :)
 
This reminds me of the indigenous story of the two wolves within. One is good and one is evil.

Which one survives?

The one you feed. :)
There's a song I like based on this. It's metal but I forget the artist. The title is just "The Wolf You Feed."

EDIT: It's by American guitarist Nita Strauss and Canadian vocalist Alissa White-Gluz from Nita's latest solo album.
 
Last edited:
Welcome to Genesis 42.

Snoopy's Snappy Review:
Jacob continues to favor one of his sons. Will he never learn? :(


Famine has arrived in Canaan. Jacob sends ten of his sons to Egypt where grain is available. Benjamin stays with his father so nothing will happen to him on the road.

In Egypt the brothers bow down before Joseph who is responsible for distributing the grain. They don't realize who he is but he recognizes them immediately. Joseph accuses them of being spies and puts them in prison for three days.

Joseph dictates one of them must remain and the others can take the grain home. But they must bring Benjamin to Joseph. Simeon is taken from them and tied up as surety.

The brothers wonder if they are being punished for selling Joseph to the Ishmaelites. Reuben reminds them he told them not to sin.

On the journey back to Canaan they discover their money has been returned to them and placed in their sacks. They are afraid.

They arrive in Canaan and tell their father everything that took place. Reuben offers to return to Egypt with Benjamin but Jacob refuses to let him go. Jacob feels the loss of both Joseph and Simeon.
 
What is motivating Joseph in this story? Why does he want Benjamin in Egypt? Why did he return the money that the brothers paid for the grain?

Reuben seems to be emerging as the most righteous of the brothers. However we know that he had sex with one of his father's concubines a while ago.
 
It is, in part, fulfilling Joseph's dream about his brothers' stooks bowing down to his stook
 
This is Joseph's dream and the fulfilling of it -----


Joseph has revealed a second prophetic dream (Genesis 37:5–7) where the sun, moon, and 11 stars bowed down to him (Genesis 37:9). As the story of Genesis will reveal, Joseph's dreams will be fulfilled (Genesis 42:6). His family will eventually bow down before him, in submission and need.
 
In that case @unsafe it could be that Benjamin needed to come to Egypt to be the eleventh star of the prophecy.

Why did Joseph return the money, do you think? Does this signify forgiveness?
 
Why did Joseph return the money, do you think? Does this signify forgiveness?
No ---I don't think it was forgiveness but Joseph does forgive his brothers later I think it is Chapter 50 ==

Mu view
Joseph had the power over the grain and could have made things very bad for his brothers who came to get some grain ---Joseph recognized them but they didn't recognize him -- he chose to Bless them instead of making things go bad for them by returning the money they had got from selling him into slavery into their bags without them knowing this ---

I think Joseph who went through very hard times saw that God works all bad for the good for those who Love Him and he was grateful to God for getting him to this position and instead of taking revenge on his brothers he Blessed them ---

We are to love our enemies and do good to them
 
Here is Genesis 43.

Snoopy's Snappy Review:
How curious to find a drunken family reunion in the holy book! :D


The famine continues in the land. Jacob is finally persuaded that his sons should take Benjamin and return to Egypt for more grain.

They take double the amount of money that was returned to them along with gifts of balm and honey; spices and myrrh; pistachios and almonds.

When they arrive in Egypt they bow before the man they still do not recognize as Joseph. He understands Benjamin is their youngest brother. He declares that an animal is to be slaughtered and prepared for a meal at noon.

They are brought into Joseph's house and Simeon is released to them. They are afraid of what might happen next. When Joseph arrives he asks after their father and is overcome with emotion when he sees Benjamin.

They are seated from oldest to youngest at the meal which astonishes the brothers. (How would he know their birth order?) Benjamin is served five times the portion of the others.

They drink together and become inebriated.
 
The twelve brothers eat and drink together but only Joseph knows it. It is a drunken affair. How curious!

They were ill at ease going into Joseph's house because of the money that was returned to them on their last visit.

Joseph's servant claims to have held their money. God was responsible for the money that appeared in their sacks, he says.

What do we make of all this?
 
First of all I find it strange that the brothers don't recognize Joseph...he must have changed a lot.
Then we see Benjamin getting 5 times more food than his brothers. Was Joseph trying to see if they resented their younger brother for receiving more, possibly seeing if they have changed and repented before revealing who he is?
 
First of all I find it strange that the brothers don't recognize Joseph...he must have changed a lot.
Then we see Benjamin getting 5 times more food than his brothers. Was Joseph trying to see if they resented their younger brother for receiving more, possibly seeing if they have changed and repented before revealing who he is?
Agreed that it is strange not one of the brothers recognized Joseph. Years have probably gone by but it still seems weird.

They may have convinced themselves he must be dead by this time. And they probably didn't expect someone sold into slavery to reach a position of such prominence

It is possible the fivefold portion was a test of some kind. I thought it more likely that Joseph was repeating the behaviour (favoritism) of his father.
 
my view
We see Jacob's faith is weak ---he still has not matured in his Faith walk ----the father is suppose to be the leader in the household and Jacob's leadership here is no one we should follow -----his fear in letting Benjamin go to get some grain in this time of need is in my view unfounded ----

If Jacob had not given in to Judah's plea they may have died from not enough food to sustain them through the famine ----Judah takes full responsibility for taking Benjamin and is willing to take punishment if anything happen to him in Egypt ----this shows how weak Jacob's faith really is and how fear has gripped him over the money in their bags ---

Jacob says ----
14 And may God Almighty[a] grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you.

Jacob now calling on God to have mercy on them -------God was with Jacob --but his lack of Faith and Satan now gripping him with fear that his Sons won't come back to him --and has him not trusting that God will look after him and his family during this famine ----

This is the way it is today with many Christians ----when things are good and working well in our lives we say God is good -----but when things get rocky and fear and doubt creep in --we say Where is God now that I need Him --He has abandoned me ----NO --we abandoned God and our doubt and fear has blocked God from us ----

We also see here that Jacob is trying to smooth things over by their works of bringing things and fear of retaliation -----

11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift—a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 Take double the amount of silver with you,

Not Godly thinking -----

Joseph here again has good intentions when he invites them to his house ----but the sons are fearful they will be held captive -----they are a product of their Father's fear of the money in their bags ---

The Sons were taken in and treated very well -----Joseph again showing compassion and Blessings towards his brothers ---not revenge ----the brothers are starting to have a heart change ---they have admitted to what they did to Joseph was wrong and repentance is the first step to a changed heart ---

Jacob needs a shake up to get his Faith in God back -----
 
my view
We see Jacob's faith is weak ---he still has not matured in his Faith walk ----the father is suppose to be the leader in the household and Jacob's leadership here is no one we should follow -----his fear in letting Benjamin go to get some grain in this time of need is in my view unfounded ----
It is a trauma response. PTSD has nothing to do with faith. And whether the fear is founded or unfounded doesn't really matter.

Jacob believes Joseph was killed by wild animals when he saw blood on the tunic he made for him. What parent would not be traumatized???

Eventually Jacob lets Benjamin go with his brothers to Egypt. Circumstances are dire and the grain is depleted. This suggests to me he knew his fears were irrational.

PTSD presents with unnecessary fear sometimes. The intellect might even know the fear is unfounded or exaggerated. But the heart holds the fear and terror.
 
It is a trauma response. PTSD has nothing to do with faith. And whether the fear is founded or unfounded doesn't really matter.
It may not matter to you but it does to God ----fear comes from Satan not God in Scripture ----and Jacob has had God speak to him in previous Chapters and has seen what God can do for him and he has done what God told him to do in previous chapters so Jacob's Faith is one that wavers like the sea ----

It is not PTSD which is a worldly term ---not a Bible Trem ------it is lack of Faith and trust in God that is Jacob's problem ---

Jacob here is still in self help mode and deceit and manipulation mode by trying to smooth things over about the money issue which is not an issue ---Jacob could have prayed to God about the situation and ask for His help in this matter but his faith is in his self help not in God to help him in this situation ---and Jacob could have prayed about what happened to Joseph and God would have told him that Joseph is well but again Jacob puts God on the back burner and allows fear in thinking Joseph is dead --

This is a Faith --Heart and Trust issue Jacob has with God --
 
Back
Top