Sermon Tone Analysis

Joseph Reveals God’s Plan

vs. 1-2

Joseph un ashamedly weeps.

He doesn’t tell anyone why.

vs. 3

Joseph reveals himself as Joseph!

the brother’s are speechless (they’re speechless until vs. 15!)

They were dismayed at his presence

contrast to Joseph’s response

Joseph was overwhelmed with joy and weeping at being reunited

The Brothers were scared speechless

vs. 4

Joseph’s response to his brothers unease - draw them in closer

repeats the news - I am Joseph, who you sold into Egypt

vs. 5

Joseph comforts his brothers

Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves

Joseph points his brothers to the goodness of God

God sent me before you

vs. 6-8

Joseph tells his brothers what God is saving them from (Famine)

7 years of famine

God will preserve our family

This is all God’s hand

vs. 9 - 13

Go and tell our father (the rest of the family

tell him who I am (2nd in command of all of Egypt)

Tell him to come to Egypt

I have prepared a place

vs. 14-15

He continues to love and comfort his brothers

They are finally able to speak

vs. 16-24

Pharaoh learns of Joseph’s brothers & Joseph’s plan.

his reaction: Yes & AMEN! + do this all at my expense.

vs. 24 - Interesting thing for Joseph to say to his brothers, “Do not quarrel on the way”

25-28

Jacob hears the good news that Joseph is alive

27.

Jacob comes alive when He believes (Belief brings life)

“Let’s go to Egypt!”

We’re continuing our series through the life of Joseph in Genesis.

We’ve been in the life of Joseph since the Sunday after Memorial Day (8 weeks).

It’ll be at least 2 more.

One of our values as a church is the word of God.

One of the ways we live that value out is through the practice of expository preaching.

That’s why we’re still in Genesis, and we’ll be here for a little longer...

Last we left Joseph, he was falsely accusing his brothers of robbery and threatening to keep Benjamin, his only full-brother, as a slave, and sending the other 10 brothers away.

Judah, of all people, makes an impassioned plea for the return of Benjamin, even offering himself as a slave so that his father would not be grieved at the loss of both of Rachel’s sons.

That’s where we left off last week in , this week we pick up in

Genesis 45:1-28

Pray

Illustration: Getting “News” but not understanding it

- Downtown Disney is not DisneyWorld

In verse 3 Joseph’s brothers are given earth shattering, reality altering news.

This news is a game changer.

It’s not news to us b/c we’ve been given the perspective of Joseph for this entire journey.

It’s news to Joseph’s brothers

The 11 brothers were just given “news” but their own minds are barely able to comprehend what this means, much less what this means for them.

We’re given two sentences on Joseph’s brothers reaction to this news in verse 3:

“The could not answer him”

they’re stunned, they’re speechless.

They’re processing the fact that for over 20 years they assumed Joseph to be, at best, laboring away as a slaved, and at worst dead (because of them).

But here he is, one of the two most powerful men in the most powerful country in the known world.

“They were dismayed at his presence.”

Their processing during their speechlessness led them to the only logical conclusion: We’re dead men.

Illustration: Put yourself in Joseph’s shoes

This has the makings of an incredibly juicy revenge tale.

Our culture is full stories of revenge: Pretty woman, Shows: revenge scandal.

We love a gotcha moment where the protaganist of the story finally get’s to put the people that have wronged them into their proper place.

That’s why these brothers are dismayed.

They are hearing for the first time what should be great news!

But because they don’t fully understand the implications of this news, they are dismayed.

Application:

This is how we are when we first hear the story of the gospel or rather when we first begin to understand the gospel.

(Aside - I think for many of us who grew up in the church, we’re done a disservice b/c of our familiarity with the narrative, that we’ don’t get to experience the unveiling of the gospel story in the way these brothers are getting to hear the good news of their salvation).

When we first hear the truths of the universe it should lead us to dismay:

Walk through the 3 circles (Circles 1 &2)

God created all things and called Everything Good.

It was a utopia!

Man sinned/rebelled against God bring brokenness to all creation.

This world we live in is broken… This should lead us to be dismayed.

Back to the story of Joseph and his brothers....

Genesis 45:4-

Joseph’s response to his brother’s being “dismayed”

in vs. 3.

This word “dismayed” is translated in other parts of scripture as trembled, or alarmed, it implies an anxious sense of unease.

Joseph sees this and I want to pay special attention to Joseph’s response in verse 4.

Joseph tells his brothers “come near to me, please”

In their distress Joseph draws near to his brothers.

If you’re in fear for your life, drawing near might be the exact opposite of what you want to do,

But it can also be the most comforting, not needed thing to do.

He draws near to them and patiently teaches his brothers the parts of the plans the have yet to understand.

Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves

vs. 5 - “God sent me before you to preserve life”

vs. 6 - Famine (year 2 of 7) - This may not privileged info!

vs. 7 - “God sent me before you..

vs. 8 - It was not you who sent me here, but God.

Application:

In our unease, in our disbelief, in our doubt, in our times of uncertainty, God draws near to us to comfort us, to point us to his plan and his Glory

Let’s go back to those circles:

We’ve drawn two, but I want to tell you of a 3rd.