Jesus Will Provide

Context

Last week I introduced Joseph as symbol for Christ. Jesus Christ is the “Greater Joseph”.

The book ends of Joseph’s life signify two key gospel truths about Jesus.

Jesus suffered for us AND he reigns for us.

Last week we heard the first bookend of Joseph’s life. The story of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers.

Between last Sunday and today a lot has happened in Joseph’s life.

In Egypt, Joseph was purchased by the captain of the royal guard.

Then, through treachery Joseph was throw into prison where he was held for several years.

Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams, however, became known to the Pharaoh, who summoned him out of prison because he had a recurring dream that he could not understand.

Joseph used his God-given gift to interpret the dream, which had to do with an impending famine that would lay waste to Egypt and the entire region.

Greatly impressed, the Pharaoh appointed Joseph to be the vizier of Egypt.

Joseph led Egypt to store up grain against the famine so that when the famine did come, Egypt alone had food and all the world came to buy grain from Joseph. Including Jospeh’s brothers, who had sold him into slavery almost 20 years earlier.

When the brothers came to Egypt and appeared before him, Joseph recognized his brothers, though they did not recognize him.

The brothers became afraid of the vizier of Egypt who seemed strangely interested in them and their family.

In our lesson today….Joseph has his brothers in his palace. They are terrified that their sin of selling their brother into slavery so many years ago is finally going to be visited upon them. It seems that Joseph is about to exact revenge upon them, but instead we are told the following story.

Text

Genesis 45:1–15 “Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me.” And they came closer. 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. For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. I will provide for you there—since there are five more years of famine to come—so that you and your household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty.’ And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you. You must tell my father how greatly I am honored in Egypt, and all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.”

Prayer

Merciful Savior, your suffering has saved our lives, Gen. 45:5–8 secured our future, and restored us to relationship with God. Gen. 45:4–15 Remove the shame and fear that cause us to cower in your presence. Gen. 45:3 By the power of your Spirit, open our eyes and hearts to your Word of love, mercy, Ps. 133:3; healing, and blessing; Matt. 15:27–28 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Introduction

Our theme today is that Jesus Will Provide for Us. Jesus was rejected, but now he reigns, and as the supreme ruler

he provides for our life and

all that we need for godliness and

all that we need for eternal salvation.

Joseph is a picture of this truth, embedded all the way back in the book of Genesis, so that we may believe surely.

Exegesis - Joseph provides for his brother

PRELUDE: In our lesson, Joseph is in his palace. His brother’s stand before him in fear.

At last Joseph can no longer contain himself.

Joseph displays great pent up emotion as he reveals himself to his brothers. “He cried” — clear the room, I am Joseph!” and he wept aloud.

The sadness over the past, the hurt over their betrayal, his confusion whether or how to reveal himself is overcome by his love for his brothers.

An emotional flood gate. He says, I am Joseph! your brother!

They were “so dismayed at his presence” that they could not even answer him.

STEP 1: Joseph must convince that it is indeed himself.

Come near to me. Draws them near so they can see him. See past the clothing, the jewelry. See past the make-up. See his eyes, the contours of his face, his skin. Look at him and see him.

He speaks Hebrew. They thought he only spoke Egyptian, but he speaks to them in their own family language.

He speaks gently to them.

Recites the events that happened. Events that he should not know, that only they knew, their deepest secret. You sold me into slavery.

So they move from stunned amazement to recognition. Irresistible truth: it IS Joseph!

STEP 2: Joseph comforts them.

Do not be distressed, do not be angry with yourselves. Do not be afraid.

He interprets all that has transpired as God’s will.

You sold me here…but God sent me here. He describes for them that he was sent before them by God for a purpose: to deal with the famine. He was raised up in Pharaoh’s sight. As the ruler of Egypt, he distributes the grain of life. To offer life to Egypt, to the surrounding region — and to them, especially to them, so that their family would not perish. “to preserve you a remnant” “to keep alive for you many.”

You handed me over to death, but God has raised me up so that you and so many others could live!

Do not be afraid!

STEP 3: He shares with them the plan.

Pharoah has made me ruler of all. He reigns. He has complete authority to provide them.

He has it already planned out. You will dwell in the pleasant land of Goshen. you will be near me. You will be preserved through the famine with my special care.

Go get your father, Jacob/Israel, bring the whole family down. Father, little ones, flocks, all of them. Bring them all. I reign. You will live, your family will live. We will be together, and all will be well.

Postscript: There is reconciliation in the relationship.

Joseph embraces them. He kisses them. Weeps upon them.

They talk with him.

They are brothers again.

This is perhaps the greatest story of redemption and reconciliation in the Old Testament. The rejected brother becomes the redeemer, who save his brothers and loves them and provides for them.

It points to Jesus our Lord, the “Greater Joseph” of the New Testament.

Interpretation - Christ

In the gospel, Jesus was rejected by his own, his “brothers” as it were. The religious leaders used the Romans to have Jesus crucified, and His disciples abandoned him.

Jesus was put to death, but on the third day, God raised him from the dead.

PRELUDE: None of them were present at his resurrection. But I imagine that when Jesus was raised from the dead: he was filled with love and joy and was eager to make himself known to his disciples.

He could not contain himself, but appeared to them!

Just as Joseph’s brothers did not recognize Joseph, so Jesus’ disciples did not recognize him.

Mary did not recognize him the garden, she thought he was a gardner.

The disciples on the road to did not recognize him, but thought he was a stranger.

The disciples in the hidden room did not recognize him, but were afraid that he was a ghost.

The living Jesus was too amazing to recognize!

STEP 1: Jesus convinced his disciples.

He drew them near to himself. See me. See my hands, my side. Look into my eyes.

He spoke gently to them. So they can hear his familiar voice. It is I Jesus. He ate food in their presence to show that he was not a ghost.

Overcame their stunned disbelief.

STEP 2: He comforted them.

Do not be afraid. He recounts to them all the events that happened. It was God’s plan.

You betrayed me. You denied me. The authorities condemned me. I was put to death. But all this was the plan of God. That the Son of Man should suffer but on the third day be raised from the dead, so that forgiveness of sins could be preached in his name.

You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. So that I could offer life to you and to the whole world.

Joseph fed with grain. Jesus described himself as the Bread of Heaven, which gives life to the world.

So, do not let your hearts be troubled, do not let them be afraid.

STEP 3: Jesus shared with them the plan.

He told them, God has made me ruler of all.

He has it already planned out.

Your new home with be with me. In the spiritual Goshen: the church. You will be preserved through the famine with my special care. The gates of hell will not prevail against the church.

Bring everyone in.

Matthew 28:18–20 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

We will all be together, and all is well.

Postlude: Just as Joseph and his brothers then wept and talked together after he revealed himself, so the disciples gathered around Jesus and learned from him all about his reign, in the 50 days after resurrection until Pentecost.

This is the greatest story of redemption and reconciliation in the Bible, in history, in the universe. For humanity rejected Christ, but raised him up to provide life for his people.

Application

Jesus is Lord, to provide for our lives today, and God, who raised him from the dead, wants us to believe in him.

John 6:40 “This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.””

Prelude: Let us be eager to know Jesus as Lord.

Jesus wants us to know him. Eager to share his love and power with us…let us reciprocate by desiring to know him.

I pray that they eyes of your heart may be opened: Ephesians 1:18 I always pray “so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you…

Example: Everyone sees the sunrise, but not everyone sees the glory of God. Let us ask God, give us eyes to see Jesus as Lord, the Son of God for us everyday!

#1: Let us be convinced of him.

He will reveal himself to us in the ways that we need. Jesus has as many ways of revealing himself as there are people in this room.

#2: Let us be comforted by him.

From our point of view: Life can be a mess. We struggle with sin, we make mistakes, other people sin and make mistakes. Situations become overwhelming.

Famine is in the land.

That is when we take comfort in Christ.

The same God who raised Jesus from the dead, is at work in our lives.

Romans 8:28 “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

Chronic pain — Jesus is there. Divorce — Jesus is there. Break up of family — Jesus is there. Financial crisis — Jesus is there.

he will never let the famines of life overwhelm us.

#3: Let us be called together in him.

He is the head of the church. His people.

He will provide for us.

Romans 8:32 “He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?”

When there is need: go to Jesus. Not scarcity but Faith!!!

Postlude: enjoy trusting, reconciled relationship.

Joseph and his brothers wept and talked together. Jesus and his disciples did the same thing.

We build our relationship too.

Conclusion

In the book of Genesis, there was only one man who could and that was Joseph for he was the ruler of Egypt.

In the gospel, we are shown that there is only one Lord and Savior for the and for the world and for each and every one of us and that is Jesus Christ.