To Be Reconciled

-Avert Women’s Retreat Registration (11 spots already filled, 15 ladies max)

-Easter Weekend! 3/29 (Good Friday Fish Fry) Volunteer Sign up, Egg/candy Collection, Easter Egg packing 3/27)

-Wednesday Night Bible Study (at the building and on zoom @7pm)

-Thursday Night Prayer @6:45

-Next Steps Class 4/7

-Offering/Giving, Online or in the black box.

-Family Talk, First Time guest connect with Pastor Manny and I.

We are officially closing out our Genesis series today! Its been a long journey. We are looking forward to our next journey after Easter where we will walk through Romans.

Read 1 Peter 3:9 “not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.”

Pray!!!

Going Back Section:

Read Genesis 37

-Anger, jealousy, hatred……Not things we as Christ follower should harbour in our hearts….These things lead to us doing terrible things.

-Everything that unfolds here is important for where we will be in a few minutes and spending most of our time in Gen 42.

Prison Time Section:

-Manny really walked us through Joseph remaining obedient to the Lord during extremely difficult times. He cared more about his realtionship with God then his worldy relationships. He did what was right and yet still ended up in prison.

-Im gonna give the quick highlights of chapter 41-42

Chapter 40:

Joseph Interprets Dreams in Prison: Joseph, who had been sold into slavery by his brothers, finds himself in an Egyptian prison. While there, he interprets the dreams of two fellow inmates, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, who had been imprisoned by Pharaoh.

Interpretation of Dreams: The chief cupbearer's dream involves a vine with three branches that blossom and produce grapes, which he squeezes into Pharaoh's cup. Joseph interprets this dream as meaning that the cupbearer will be restored to his position in three days. The chief baker's dream involves three baskets of baked goods on his head, with birds eating from the top basket. Joseph interprets this dream as meaning that the baker will be executed in three days.

Fulfillment of Dreams: Joseph's interpretations come true exactly as he said. The chief cupbearer is restored to his position, but the chief baker is executed, just as Joseph foretold.

Chapter 41:

Pharaoh's Dream: Two years later, Pharaoh has two troubling dreams that none of his wise men can interpret. In the first dream, seven fat cows are devoured by seven gaunt cows, and in the second dream, seven healthy ears of grain are swallowed by seven thin and scorched ears.

Joseph's Promotion: The chief cupbearer remembers Joseph's ability to interpret dreams and tells Pharaoh about him. Joseph is brought before Pharaoh, and he interprets the dreams as indicating seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine.

Joseph's Advice: Joseph advises Pharaoh to appoint a wise and discerning man to oversee the storing of grain during the years of plenty to prepare for the famine. Impressed by Joseph's wisdom, Pharaoh appoints him as the overseer, second only to himself in authority.

Fulfillment of Dreams: The dreams come to pass exactly as Joseph interpreted them. Egypt experiences seven years of plenty followed by seven years of severe famine.

Famine & Bros Section:

-Now lets jump into Genesis 42. (BREAKDOWN AS LED!!!)

Chapter 43:

Return to Egypt: Famine persists in Canaan, and Jacob instructs his sons to return to Egypt to buy more grain. However, he initially refuses to send Benjamin, Joseph's full brother, fearing harm may befall him as it did Joseph.

Judah's Pledge: Judah persuades Jacob to allow Benjamin to accompany them by offering to take personal responsibility for Benjamin's safety, stating that if he doesn't return Benjamin safely, he will bear the blame forever.

Reception in Egypt: The brothers return to Egypt with Benjamin, and Joseph arranges for a feast in their honor. When Joseph sees Benjamin, he is deeply moved and has to excuse himself to weep in private.

Joseph's Testing: Joseph tests his brothers by seating them in birth order and giving Benjamin five times as much food as the others. The brothers are astonished by this display of favoritism but do not understand its significance.

Chapter 44:

Joseph's Deception: Joseph devises a plan to test his brothers further. He orders his steward to place his silver cup in Benjamin's sack as they prepare to depart. After they leave, Joseph instructs the steward to pursue them and accuse them of theft.

Accusation and Search: The steward catches up with the brothers and accuses them of stealing Joseph's silver cup. The brothers vehemently deny the accusation and allow their sacks to be searched. When Benjamin's sack is found to contain the cup, they are distraught.

Judah's Plea: Judah, speaking on behalf of his brothers, pleads with Joseph to spare Benjamin and take him instead as a slave in his place. He recounts the anguish it would cause their father, Jacob, to lose Benjamin, especially after losing Joseph.

Reconciliation Section:

-Read Gen 45:1-15.

-Joseph reassures his brothers, urging them not to be distressed or angry with themselves for what they had done to him, as God had orchestrated these events to save lives and fulfill His plan. Joseph emphasizes that their actions, though intended for harm, had ultimately been used by God for good, preserving the line of Jacob and ensuring the survival of their family during the famine.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Joseph embraces his brothers and weeps openly. His brothers, equally moved and remorseful, are reconciled with him. Joseph extends forgiveness to them, demonstrating his deep love and mercy, and invites them to come and dwell in Egypt, where he will provide for them during the remaining years of famine.

Forgiveness holds a central place in a Christians life.

Forgiveness to God:

Recognition of Sin: Forgiveness begins with acknowledging one's own sinfulness and the need for God's mercy. In Christianity, sin is understood as any thought, word, or action that violates God's will or harms others.

Repentance: True forgiveness involves genuine repentance, which means turning away from sin and towards God. It includes confessing one's sins to God, expressing sorrow for them, and seeking His forgiveness (1 John 1:9).

Acceptance of God's Grace: Forgiveness from God is not earned through good deeds or self-effort but is a gift of God's grace, made possible through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. By placing faith in Jesus and accepting His atoning sacrifice, individuals receive forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God (Ephesians 1:7).

Freedom from Guilt and Condemnation: Through forgiveness, believers are freed from the burden of guilt and condemnation. They can experience the peace, joy, and assurance of God's unconditional love and acceptance (Romans 8:1).

Forgiveness to People:

Modeling Christ's Example: Christians are called to emulate the example of Jesus Christ, who demonstrated forgiveness and compassion towards others, even in the face of betrayal and injustice (Luke 23:34).

Release of Resentment: Forgiveness towards others involves letting go of feelings of anger, resentment, and the desire for revenge. It means choosing to extend grace and mercy to those who have wronged us, regardless of whether they deserve it or not (Matthew 6:14-15).

Reconciliation and Restoration: Forgiveness is not just about overlooking offenses but also about seeking reconciliation and restoration of relationships. It involves addressing the harm done, offering reconciliation, and working towards healing and rebuilding trust (Matthew 18:15).

Forgiveness is a Commandment: In Christianity, forgiveness is not optional but is commanded by Jesus Himself. We are instructed to forgive others as they have been forgiven by God (Ephesians 4:32), recognizing that withholding forgiveness only leads to bitterness and spiritual bondage.

Reconciliation holds profound significance both in relation to God

Reconciliation to God:

Sin and Separation: humanity is inherently sinful, separated from God due to disobedience and rebellion against His will (Romans 3:23). Sin ruptures the relationship between humanity and God, creating a chasm that cannot be bridged by human effort alone.

Atonement through Jesus Christ: The central message of Christianity is the reconciliation of humanity to God through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus, as the Son of God, took upon Himself the sins of humanity and offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to atone for those sins (Romans 5:8). Through His death and resurrection, Jesus provided the means for reconciliation with God, restoring the broken relationship between humanity and its Creator.

Salvation by Grace: Reconciliation with God is not achieved through human works or merits but is a gift of God's grace, freely offered to all who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Ephesians 2:8-9). By placing faith in Jesus and accepting His sacrifice, individuals are reconciled to God, forgiven of their sins, and restored to a right relationship with Him.

Share Personal Story of Forgiveness and reconciliation with Dad.

Questions:

1.Have you experienced jealousy, hatred & anger in your life? How did you deal with it?

2.Why can receiving forgiveness from God and others be hard? Why can extending forgiveness be hard?

3. Have you seen God move through a time you forgave someone or you were forgiven?

4.Is God calling you to be reconciled to someone right now?