01(Gen 42-47) Stunned by Grace
Joseph rose to power, became Governor over Egypt. He was thirty years old (41:46).
First seven years he store 1/5 of the produce of grain in Egypt – lost count of it all.
Then the seven years of famine began as the dream prophesied. All the surrounding countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph (54-57).
The land of Canaan was in famine. The family of Jacob in danger, he hears of grain in Egypt and sends his ten oldest sons to buy it, keeping back Benjamin for an heir.
Amazing how God fulfills His promise – the descendents of Abraham would fill the land. It doesn’t look to promising in Canaan: but Jacob is unaware of God at work on his behalf.
42:6 – Joseph’s brothers do indeed bow to him, albeit unknowingly.
42:9 – this fulfillment of God’s plan does not go unnoticed by Joseph.
He doesn’t trust his brothers enough to reveal himself to them. Indications are by later text that he even used a Hebrew translator & spoke to them in Egyptian. (Mother - Mummy)
How do you handle such a situation?
Long ago, someone hurt you. Your shoulders hunch up when you think about it. You set your jaw and get a bad taste in your mouth. You speak about it in a crabby voice on matter how you choose your words. Sound familiar?
Sometimes the wound heals, but the hurt turns into a churning anger of bitterness.
Long ago, I was at the receiving end of such a hurt. The seed of that hurt sprouted into a state of bitterness that lasted for years.
NKJ Hebrews 12:15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
I was living proof. My words were causing people to withdraw from me. Blaming, lack of forgiveness, anger, endless rehearsals of the wrongs, and self-pity were the blades of this plant of bitterness that my hurt kept open.
While those who sinned against me were responsible for their sins, they weren’t responsible for my attitudes. They might confess and repent, but as long as I continued to blame, bitterness controlled me and forgiveness was impossible.
Blaming gives up control of your emotional and spiritual health to those who have wronged you.
I. Handling the Hurt (42:18-28)
How did Joseph handle the wrongs done to him?
A. He tried to salvage the best of a bad situation.
§ Joseph had the power to get even – but he did not have the right.
§ Integrity trumps spite.
§ He sought reconciliation, not revenge.
B. Joseph’s intention was to rescue Benjamin, his closest brother.
§ It has been twenty years, yet his love for Benjamin is as strong as ever.
§ Despite the name he gave to his first-born (41:51 – Manasseh) he still carried the feelings.
II. O Guilt That Will Not Let Me Go. (42:21-23)
A. Guilt is still there more than 20 years later. (v. 21)
§ They have lived, silently, with the plotting they did against Joseph and Dad.
§ They ignored the pleading of their little brother.
B. Sin is a terrible debt to owe. (v. 22).
§ Reuben calls this “sin” to their attention.
C. God has a way of dealing with the sin/guilt in our lives. (v. 23)
§ Joseph is using an interpreter. God is not yet ready to reveal His purposes.
§ God does not wave a wand and remove guilt. But He will bring about oppty.
D. Our response to God’s working is often, to be afraid.
§ God is doing a work in their lives.
§ Response: Fear. Run away.
§ “What is this that God is doing TO us?” (not FOR us.)
E. When they return, they explain the events to their father whose heart is double-broken.
§ He refuses to allow Benjamin to go to Egypt (his heir).
F. Once the provisions are gone, he wants them to go back. But they’re dead if they return without Benjamin.
§ They are afraid once again (43:18), afraid of what God (42:28) will do to them because of their sin.
§ Unconfessed sin does this to a person.
G. How do we handle the guilt that comes from mistreating others?
§ Might drink it away.
§ Become a workaholic.
§ Get religious and think they are better than everyone.
§ Find excuses and blame everybody else for your actions.
§ Just ignore the pain, bury it deep and hope that time will carry it away.
H. The passage of time will not erase the guilt.
§ It did not for these brothers. (42:21).
§ It did not for King David. (Psalm 32:3-4).
III. Stunned by Grace (44:18-34)
A. Judah shows a change of heart
§ He pleads for his brother, and his father.
B. His appeal stuns Joseph (45:1-2)
§ Grace is found in interceding.
§ Joseph’s feelings melt in the appeal of his brother.
C. Joseph’s brothers were wracked with guilt. Joseph gave them grace.
§ He could have ordered them killed, had them tortured, imprisoned for life.
§ Instead, he looked for repentance. Finding it, he gave grace.
§ He forgave them and offered full release from their guilt.
§ They were stunned.