Genesis 50
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Introduction
Introduction
Tonight, we come to the end of Genesis. In chapter 49, we see Jacob’s instructions for his burial and his death. In , we will see the sons of Jacob bury their father, the fear of Joseph’s brothers, and the forgiveness of Joseph.
Read .
Genesis 50:15-
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.” So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”
Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father’s household. And Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were also brought up on Joseph’s knees.
And Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Genesis 50:15-21
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.” So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”
Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Fear can keep us from fellowship.
Fear can keep us from fellowship.
Preaching the Word: Genesis—Beginning and Blessing Chapter 70: Good Providence
When you fear that the worst will happen, your mind can do strange things—like the Chicagoan who was driving on a lonely country road one dark and rainy night and had a flat. He opened the trunk—no lug wrench. The light from a farmhouse could be seen dimly up the road. So he set out on foot through the driving rain. Surely the farmer would have a lug wrench he could borrow, he thought. Of course, it was late at night—the farmer would be asleep in his warm, dry bed. Maybe he would not answer the door. And even if he did, he would be angry at being awakened in the middle of the night.
The city boy, picking his way blindly in the dark, stumbled on. By now his shoes and clothing were soaked. Even if the farmer did answer his knock, he would probably shout something like, “What’s the big idea waking me up at this hour?”
This thought made the city boy angry. What right did that farmer have to refuse him the loan of a lug wrench? After all, here he was stranded in the middle of nowhere, soaked to the skin. The farmer was a selfish clod—no doubt about that!
The man finally reached the house and banged loudly on the door. A light went on inside, and a window opened above. A voice cried out, “Who is it?” His face white with anger, the man called out, “You know who it is. It’s me! And you can keep your lug wrench. I wouldn’t borrow it now if you had the last one on earth!”
Joseph’s brothers worked themselves up in fear and it kept them from having fellowship with Joseph.
They were afraid that their offense from years ago would be repaid. They needed closure on the evil they did to Joseph so many years ago. They needed to be reconciled with Joseph. They should not have waited so long to be reconciled. Look at what Jesus said in :
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.
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Jesus tells us to be reconciled with others before we offer our sacrifices. For us, that means that anything we do for the Lord: tithes, offerings, service, whatever act of worship, we must leave them behind and be reconciled with the one we offended first.
Why? - To maintain fellowship, to preserve the unity that God has blessed us with. Rather than letting fear keep us from being reconciled with our fellow Christians, we must go to them and ask for their forgiveness. Then, it will be up to them to be obedient to the Lord and follow Joseph’s example.
Forgiveness preserves fellowship.
Forgiveness preserves fellowship.
Joseph had a Christ-like attitude regarding his brothers’ sin against him.
Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Genesis 50:
Understand that whatever evil someone has done to you or against you, God will turn it around and use it for your good.
God does not cause evil, but He is big enough and powerful enough to take what someone meant for bad and use it for our good.
Rather than withhold forgiveness and try to get retribution, we must forgive and trust the Lord to take care of the situation.
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Decision
Decision
If you need to ask someone to forgive you, then why don’t you go to them during the invitation and ask for their forgiveness.
If they are not here, then come to the altar and ask the Lord to direct your conversation.
If there is someone that you need to forgive and you find it difficult, come to the altar and ask the Lord to help you forgive.