GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 43 (Gen 43:1) And the famine was sore in the land. The word famine is literally, “hunger,” and is due to the lack of water. Throughout Canaan there is a constant need for water. There are not many rivers and the ones that are there are not large. Therefore when the former and latter rains do not materialize, the people are left at harvest time with a parched land devoid of moisture. Even when there is rain, if there are east or south winds they dry up the land so that it remains in famine condition. That is why they always look for the north wind that will bring in the rain clouds from the north. Famines drove men to eat anything they could find which included much that would be unthinkable to anybody who has never suffered such hunger. Amos threatened another sort of famine: "I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord" (Amo_8:11). THE REALITY OF A DREAM TEXT: Gen_43:1-34; Gen_44:1-34 (Gen_43:28) "And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance."
INTRODUCTION:Joseph's dreams and the dreams of Pharaoh are about to be climaxed. The famine is in the land and Joseph's brethren are on their way to buy more corn. Here we seethe brethren of Joseph doing exactly what they had earlier rebelled against. 1.
THEFAMINEIN THELAND(Gen_43:1-14) 1. 2.
2.
The famine was extensive. The famine was expensive.
THEFEAROFJOSEPH'SBRETHREN(Gen_43:15-27) 1. 2. 3.
Becauseof past experiences. Becauseof present circumstances. Becauseof prospective punishment.
GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 43—PAGE 1