Joseph: Savior of His People
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We wrap up our series on the story of Joseph this morning. Throughout February, as we moved through the story of Joseph and we saw how his life, in a way only God could have ordained, served as a foreshadow of the coming of Jesus, a preview of how God would ultimately redeem humanity. As we have seen so far, Joseph was a favored son rejected by his brothers, a blameless servant, a prophetic messenger, and an exalted ruler. Today, we will discuss how God established him as savior for his people.
We left off last week with Joseph ruling over Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. In keeping with a set of dreams that Pharaoh had and Joseph had rightly interpreted, Egypt experienced seven years of plentiful harvest which were to be followed by seven years of drought and famine. Throughout the seven years of abundance, Joseph had constructed large storehouses in the cities and collected what was effectively a 20% tax. One-fifth of harvested grain would be placed in the store houses. Once the famine spread throughout the land, and people ran out of their own supply, Joseph opened the storehouses and began to sell the grain. Very shrewd move - the people had to buy back what they had grown and provided. It seems from the beginning, the government is always set up to bleed you dry. Pharaoh was making a killing. And it wasn’t just Egypt that was suffering, the famine had spread throughout the known world - so people from neighboring lands would travel to buy grain, people in places like Canaan - where Joseph’s father and brothers lived. The second half of the story of Joseph, from Genesis chapters 42-50, is about the reunification and reconciliation of Joseph with his family. Before we look at how it came about, I want to remind us of a point made in last week’s message.
Joseph has chosen to forget the wrongs that were made against him. He has chosen to let go, give it to God, and move forward with joy - and with a thankful heart, he was fulfilling the calling that God had put on his life - he was using his gifts to bear much fruit.
So what does he do when his family comes back into his life? What is going to be necessary for there to be true reconciliation?
Starting in chapter 42 of Genesis, we are presented with a series of engagements between Joseph and his brothers that, at first glance, seem as though Joseph is determined to make them pay for their past misdeeds - that his intent is to punish. But as we will soon find out, that is not true - he has another motive in mind.
And Jacob said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die.” So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might happen to him.
Of the 12 sons of Jacob, 2 were from his marriage to the true love of his life, Rachel. One son was Joseph, whom Jacob thought was dead, and the other was the youngest, Benjamin. We see hear that following the loss of Joseph, Jacob had become highly protective of Benjamin.
Ten sons go to Egypt to buy grain and Joseph sees them approach. He experiences a flashback - he remembers the dreams he once had, of his rise to a high position of power and influence, and his family bowing before him. He realizes that every turn in his life, every blessing and every hardship, the many years of suffering he had to endure, all of it led to this moment in time. God had placed him right where he was meant to be.
He recognizes his brothers, but they do not recognize him. They assumed Joseph was probably dead. This man before them has the composure of royalty, he is dressed in the finest Egyptian garb, while they looked like common shepherds.
To their shock and surprise, Joseph accuses them of being spies come to look for weaknesses in land.
They said to him, “No, Master. Your servants have just come to buy food. We are all sons of one man. We are honest men. Your servants aren’t spies.” He said to them, “No. You’ve come to look for the country’s weaknesses.” They said, “We, your servants, are twelve brothers, sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, but one is gone.”
Joseph locks them up in jail for 3 days, accusing of being spies. On the third day, he tells them, one of you will stay here, the rest will be given grain and sent back to your homes. You must return with your youngest brother to verify that your story is true - if it is, you will not die.
This causes much angst among the brothers. They begin talking to one another in Hebrew, not knowing that Joseph understood them.
The brothers said to each other, “We are clearly guilty for what we did to our brother when we saw his life in danger and when he begged us for mercy, but we didn’t listen. That’s why we’re in this danger now.” Reuben responded to them, “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t do anything wrong to the boy’? But you wouldn’t listen. So now this is payback for his death.”
The predicament that Joseph had put them in begins to produce the effect he intended. They are beginning to face their past sins - that which they had probably buried away. But that is the thing about sin, it can’t be buried. It is always before you until it is properly dealt with - until there is atonement.
Joseph sends them on their way, but he orders his men to put their money back into their sacks along with the grain. As they travel home, they come upon a place to stay for the night. One of the brothers goes to feed his donkey and opens up one of the sacks of grain and finds his money inside.
He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back; here it is in the mouth of my sack!” At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”
Not only did they have to leave a brother back at the jail - now it looks as if they had stole the bags of grain. In their minds, this has to be God punishing them.
When they finally arrive home and tell their father Jacob what transpired, the old man’s heart is grieved. He already lost one son, one is in jail, and his youngest, Benjamin is now at risk.
Some of you may have noticed this in your own family. How the sins of a family, when never appropriately dealt with, always lead to further harm, dysfunction and turmoil. There is no peace, no lasting joy, no family cohesiveness - when sin is hidden from the light of day.
Eventually, the grain runs out again and Jacob reluctantly agrees to send his sons, including Benjamin, back to Egypt. He gives them double the money and gifts to give to Joseph, hoping that the money returned in the sacks would be seen as an oversight.
When they arrive in Egypt, Joseph instructs his servants to prepare a meal and invite the brothers to his home. As the steward of Joseph’s house leads them to the home, the brothers are freaked out. They thought to themselves - they know about the money and are preparing to seize us! The try to explain to the steward what had happened, to which the steward replies:
He replied, “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon (their brother) out to them.
Not what they expected. They are received into the home as honored guests. When Joseph enters, his brothers present him with the gifts and they bow before him on the ground. Joseph asks about the wellbeing of their father? He sees his youngest brother - and hurriedly exits the room because his emotions are hard to contain. This is not the actions of an angry, vengeful brother - the Bible says his “compassion grew for his brother.” After weeping, he washes his face, returns to the table, and they all feast together. It is a time of great joy and merriment. Things are looking up for the Jacob’s sons.
Once again, bags of grain are loaded on their donkeys, and once again, each man’s money is put in the sacks. But this time, Joseph has his silver cup placed in the bag of his youngest brother Benjamin.
Joseph is going to test them again. Will they look out for themselves - or look out for their youngest brother?
Joseph sends out his steward and a few other men to chase the brothers down. Upon catching up with them, the steward says, “my master’s cup has been stolen, why have you repaid evil for good? How despicable can you be?”
The brothers are understandably confused. This is a mistake - we’ve not stolen anything! Search for yourselves - any man found with it shall die, and the rest of us will be your slave!
The steward responds by stating that whoever is found with it will be made a slave, the others will be innocent and can go on home.
The search is commenced and sure enough, Benjamin is found to with the cup.
The brothers tear their garments and they all return to the city and head directly to Joseph’s house.
One of the brothers, Judah, approaches Joseph…
Judah replied, “What can we say to my master? What words can we use? How can we prove we are innocent? God has found your servants guilty. We are now your slaves, all of us, including the one found with the cup.”
God has found your servants guilty.
This is deep conviction. The weight of sin is heavy on the hearts of each brother. There is no place to run. They may not have stole the silver cup, but they are not innocent men.
Joseph repeats the demands of his steward. Only Benjamin is guilty, the rest are free to go.
Judah then asks to speak to Joseph one on one. He tells him that Benjamin is the last of his father’s sons with Rachel. That his other son is dead. To return without Benjamin would send their father to the grave in great despair. Therefore, Judah asks Joseph, “please allow me to stay in the place of my brother - may his guilt fall on me.”
Conviction of sin now leads to a repentant heart. There is the acknowledgment of the damage caused by one’s sin and a willingness to make it right.
Upon hearing this, Joseph burst into tears and we read…
So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
Pharaoh hears of what has transpired and with his blessings, Joseph’s whole family is moved to Egypt and given the best of the land. When Jacob is told that Joseph is alive and is ruler over all of Egypt, we are told…
And Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
For Jacob, his dead son is now alive again. Where in the Bible do we hear this again?
A little while later, after blessing all of his sons, Jacob dies and is laid to rest. Joseph’s brothers are concerned that now that his father is gone, Joseph would finally pay them back for the evil they had done. It is here, near the end of Joseph’s story, that we hear this well known passage:
But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
How remarkable a story found in the very first book of the Bible - of jealous brothers rejected their Father’s son, betraying him and leaving him for dead, this suffering servant who was blameless in all that he did, one in whom others recognized that the Spirit of God was upon him. The one who could speak about what is hidden - who shared what God was saying. The one who paid the price so that all could be saved. The one exalted to rule over all - and from receiving the bread offered by his hands, a desperate people moved from death to life.
What did it require for true reconciliation to happen among the family of Jacob?
Conviction of sin followed by repentance.
It is only then that true forgiveness could occur.
This is what God offers us in Jesus Christ.
This is what Peter preached on the day of Pentecost.
“Fellow Israelites, listen to these words! Jesus the Nazarene was a man whose credentials God proved to you through miracles, wonders, and signs, which God performed through him among you. You yourselves know this. In accordance with God’s established plan and foreknowledge, he was betrayed. You, with the help of wicked men, had Jesus killed by nailing him to a cross. God raised him up! God freed him from death’s dreadful grip, since it was impossible for death to hang on to him.
“Therefore, let all Israel know beyond question that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” When the crowd heard this, they were deeply troubled. They said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Change your hearts and lives. Each of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you, your children, and for all who are far away—as many as the Lord our God invites.”
The Lord invites us all to change our hearts and lives! Confess, repent and receive! Amen!
Let us respond with a prayer of confession.
