In this episode we continue studying the Book of Genesis. In this episode Jacob sends his sons to Egypt to buy corn.

Joseph is now a prince in Egypt, responsible for distributing corn. He recognized them but they did not recognize him, he was dressed like Egyptian royalty and spoke through an interpreter.

He spoke harshly to them and accused them of being spies coming to see the nakedness of the land.

Nakedness means to be exposed or undefended. He accused them of being spies sent from a foreign nation, to discover unguarded OR weakly guarded areas, so they could come back with military forces to take grain by force. This was a serious charge and could be punished by death.

They told him they weren't spies but they were "true men." They were the sons of one man, who had twelve sons, one was no more and the other was at home with their father.

He demanded they verify their story by bringing Benjamin, their youngest brother to him or on Pharaoh's life they would never leave Egypt. He sent them all back to their father but he kept Simeon in prison, he would remain there until he saw Benjamin.

But when they returned home and told Jacob what happened. He said, he was not sending Benjamin to Egypt with them, because his brother was dead and if mischief befell Benjamin, he would go down to his grave in sorrow.

Because of Joseph’s death, Somehow he believed God had failed him. He lost faith and hope in God all based on a lie, all based upon deception. Joseph wasn’t dead he was alive.

His sons deceived him, just like Satan deceives us, he tells us that our loved ones are dead, we will never see them again, and like Jacob we refuse to be comforted and vow to go down to our graves in mourning, but like Jacob when we are reunited with them, we will see that they were not dead, they were alive, they were just living in another country.

And because of their new state or new status in life, they can't come back to us but we have to go to them.

Thank God the truth will come out soon and they will ALL be free from the fear of death.

Jacob was afraid Benjamin would die like Joseph so he was in bondage to fear.

Benjamin was afraid to leave his father because he believed, he would die if something happened to him.

The brothers, thought Joseph was dead after all those years, because slaves didn't have long life spans due to the hard labor that had to perform.

Yet, they will soon discover, Joseph wasn't dead, he was alive, he was just living in another country.

Jesus wants to deliver us from the fear of death because our friends and family members aren't dead they are just living in another country, a heavenly country.

And because of Christ the bread of life we too will go to the heavenly country and be reunited with them in the city God has prepared for those who love him.

Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.