Pay Back
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Genesis 42:6-17
Genesis 42:6-17
Pray
Joseph was put into a position of authority in Egypt.
Chapter 42 picks up when the famine has reached into the land of Israel.
Jacob was Jospeh’s father.
Jacob decides to send Joseph’s brothers to Egypt to buy grain.
All of the brothers travel to Egypt with the exception of Benjamin.
Benjamin was the youngest.
Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.” Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”
Joseph recognizes his brothers, but they do not recognize him.
The brothers think that Joseph was either in slavery or dead.
They do not at all expect to be interacting with him as a leader in Egypt.
Joseph leans into this role, as a way to discern the intention of his brothers.
V. 9- God reminds Joseph of the dream using them to correct the brothers and restore the relationship.
There are times when God uses circumstances we do not fully comprehend to bring about His will.
V. 10-13: interplay between the brothers and Joseph.
The brothers claiming to be honestly trying to buy grain.
Joseph continuing to accuse them of being spies.
Eventually in V. 14- 15- Joseph develops a plan to test the honesty of the brothers.
Joseph tells them they are to go back to Canaan and return with the youngest brother Benjamin.
V.16-
Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!”
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And he put them all in custody for three days. On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households. But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do.
is there a contradiction?
They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.” Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.” They did not realize that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter.
the brothers think this is God bringingnjudgement to them for selling joseoh into slavery
the presence of the interpreter causes the brthers to speak openly thinking that Joseph was not able to understand
He turned away from them and began to weep, but then came back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.
focus on joseph not taking revenge
summarize verses 18 - 28
joseph send brither back
the brothers think this is God bringingnjudgement to them for selling joseoh into slavery
joseph changes his mind it would havebeen dangerous to send one brother
This is reassuring to me because it indicates that we are reading the original.
Scribes painstaking effort to transcribe exactlysimeon is held hostage in Egypt.
Turn to Romans 12
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
In these verses Paul is instructing us on character.
These are attitudes we are to exhibit as Christians.
Love must be sincere.
Other translations might say let love be without hypocrisy.
Love because you are loved.
Don’t project love with stipulations or expectations.
Don’t love with the intention of earning something in return.
Love should be a sincere choice.
Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
We should despise the things that cause people to reject God.
We should not tolerate such things because it blinds them from recieving the blessing of knowing Jesus.
We are also to cling to what is good.
Be careful to not allow what is evil to consume your thoughts.
This can be a tendency for some to be enticed.
Cling or focus on what is good.
Honor one another above yourselves.
Be humble.
Humble strive to serve the Lord with purpose and integrity.
Be hospitable.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Bless those who persecute you.
This is a tough one.
Because we want revenge.
We want to be respected.
Two words we need to define to gleen the truth God is revealing to us.
Bless: Baruch
Add definition fro BLB here
Our primary purpose as Christians os tp bless God.
Meaning that we bend the knee to His authority.
We strive to exalt His Name with our very lives.
One aspect of blessing God is to humble ourselves under His authority.
Presenting our very lives as a living sacrifice declaring His mercy and grace.
The word persecute is
διώκω (diōkō): vb.; ≡ DBLHebr 8103; Str 1377; TDNT 2.229—1. LN 15.158 pursue, follow in haste (Mt 23:34; Lk 17:23; Rev 12:13+); 2. LN 15.223 press forward (Php 3:12, 14), for another interp, see following entries; 3. LN 39.45 persecute, to systematically oppress and harass (Mt 5:10; Php 3:6); 4. LN 68.66 strive to, do something with an intense effort to a goal (Ro 9:30, 31; 12:13, 14; 14:19; 1Co 14:1; 1Th 5:15; 1Ti 6:11; 2Ti 2:22; Heb 12:14; 1Pe 3:11+); 5. LN 89.56 κατὰ σκοπὸν διώκω (kata skopon diōkō), strive for a purpose (Php 3:14+), for another interp, see prior; note: there may be overlap in the verses and entries
James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
Those who persecute us because of our faith are those who purposefully attempt to suppress the truth.
Those who persecute will attempt to cause the people of God to react in ways that are not in keeping with moral character.
Then they can call christians hypocrits.
This is often the argument made by those who reject attending church.
So then why is Paul telling us to bless those who persecute you.
2 things:
One truth is revealed again when we consider what blessing means and who we are to bless as people of faith.
We are to bless God.
We are to humble ourselves to His authority.
This is the first thing.
We recognize the instruction given by God through Paul.
When we bless those who persecute us.
We are submitting to the authority of His Word.
Allowing the character God is establishing within us to shine forth.
Allowint the Light of JEsus to go before us.
For the purpose of making the Name of God great.
We are here to do His will.
Bless those who ersecute means to submit to the authority of God and allow His grace to flow through us in the hope that even those who persecute will see the glory of God and be transformed.
Persecution is a way God builds faith.
Don’t be concieted.
Live in harmony with one another.
Don’t look down on another who we percieve to be in a lower position.
This is the root of pride.
Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Don’t choose to live a life seeking vindication.
This does not need to be in an extreme sense.Like someone stealing from you.
It applies to our relationships.
If we feel wringed, do our best to make it right.
Don’t react in a manner to vindicate or get revenge on another.
If possible, so far as it depend on you, be at peace with all men.
Don’t throw wood on the fire
We often talk to our children about conflict.
Try to not bring anything to the conflict that will add fuel.
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
Trust that God is soverign
God is just.
Close- V.20 and 21:
Be an example.
Don’t allow evil to overcome you.
We are no longer slaves to sin.
But also, don’t allow the evil present in this world to consume you.
Meaning that it becomes a point of focus.
God is sovreign.
Overcome evil with Good.
Light repells darkness.
Benediction:
if i am wronged because of the sin of another, allow my conduct to declare the authoruty of God in my life s that me very conduct ids in eklkping with giving God glory
Not a push over
Especially in terms of our faith
We cannot allow the behaviors of someone who is bond to sin control or alter hw we are to conduct ourselves
we are not to stoop tp the level of evil in order to repay
next sermon: Gen 43jjj summarize a few cchapters?