Reap The Harvest

15 Years in the Making

This is the last message on Joseph. Here is a high level list of what we have found in our studies of Joseph:

1) Never Take Your Eyes off of God

a. Joseph did not have a bible. He learned what he did by listening to his father Jacob

2) Blessed to Bless

a. Joseph in not allowing the circumstances around him to define who he is. Was blessed! Because he was blessed whatever he did was blessed for God. And this blessed others such as in Potiphar’s house. When scandal came against him because of Potiphar’s wife. And finally, in prison.

3) God’s timing in perfect!

a. Joseph when in prison took care of the cup bearer, and the baker for Pharaoh.

b. He interpreted their dreams and God spoke through him and he was correct the interpretations came true.

c. It was two years after this that Pharaoh needed Joseph and the cup bearer finally remembers Joseph. Timing is everything… Trust God.

4) God Always Has a Plan

a. Joseph knew this and he trusted in God’s plan.

b. His determination to never give up took him all the way to the court of Pharaoh to face the most powerful man on earth face to face.

c. From the pit to the court of Pharaoh

d. He is elevated to the second most powerful an in all the known world at that time…

e. Yes! God has a plan for you too!

Now…. It is approximately 15 to 16 years since Joseph last saw his brothers. Last week we left off where Jacob (Joseph’s father) talks to his boys and tells them the good news! There is grain for food in Egypt. Remember? They are all perplexed and don’t look very happy to hear this news from their father. Why?

Because they know that Joseph may still be alive in Egypt. They know that if they travel to Egypt and find Joseph it will be a shame for them to run into him. What will they say? What will Joseph say? Is he even alive?

I find it interesting that as we read in the next few verses that we find that Joseph was not the only prisoner. His brothers have been living with this shame and guilt on their conscience for over 15 years now. That is a long time to live with guilt. It will eat you up and fester inside of you. You will never experience joy until you cut those shackles of shame from your arms and legs. God can do that. Joseph is about to show his brothers the experience to be free from this guilt by the power of forgiveness and love. Let’s read…

Open your bibles and let’s begin where Joseph now see’s his brothers for the first time in over 20 years. Genesis 42, and start at verse 6.

[Genesis 42:6-9 KJV] 6 And Joseph [was] the governor over the land, [and] he [it was] that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him [with] their faces to the earth. 7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. 8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. 9 And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye [are] spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.

Joseph sees his brothers and I can only imagine the pain in his heart. His heart must have leaped across the ocean when he saw them for the first time in so long. They did not recognize Joseph. He does not reveal himself to them either. This is where Joseph’s training in leadership for so many years comes into practice. He was holding all the cards. He remembers his dreams:

[Genesis 37:7-8 NKJV] 7 "There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf." 8 And his brothers said to him, "Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?" So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

And he has a second dream:

[Genesis 37:9-10 NKJV] 9 Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, "Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me." 10 So he told [it] to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, "What [is] this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?"

God’s Plan Revealed!

All this time and now Joseph realizes why he went through all the difficulties up until this very moment when his brothers are bowing down to him. He has the resources to keep them alive. He is now holding the power to sustain his whole family. All 11 brothers and Jacob his father and all their children and servants in Canaan. Wow! I cant even imagine what Joseph must have been feeling at this point.

It would almost see appropriate for him to tell them…. “See! I TOLD YOU SO! Ha! In your face…”

Lol… but Joseph was a greater man and understood the honor of the position that God have put him in. I feel his next step was to get his mind wrapped around what to do next. He sends them all to prison for 3 days.

[Genesis 42:14-17 KJV] 14 And Joseph said unto them, That [is it] that I spake unto you, saying, Ye [are] spies: 15 Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither. 16 Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether [there be any] truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye [are] spies. 17 And he put them all together into ward three days.

After 3 days he brings them back. He tells them to leave one of the brothers behind. Go home. Bring Benjamin back to get your brother left behind returned.

Notice the brothers share their consciences at this point. They share that this has been a point of pain for them having sold Joseph into slavery. Let’s read Genesis 42: 21-24:

[Genesis 42:21-24 KJV] 21 And they said one to another, We [are] verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. 22 And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required. 23 And they knew not that Joseph understood [them]; for he spake unto them by an interpreter. 24 And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.

David Guzik has an interesting description of a man’s conscience:

Some describe the conscience as the sundial of the soul. It tells time well enough when there is light, but in darkness it is of no use. At night, you can shine a flashlight on a sundial and make it read any time you want it to. When the sunlight of God’s word shines on our conscience, it is reliable and trustworthy; apart from that, it isn’t always reliable.

i. Otherwise, our conscience can be like a circus-trained poodle. Whistle once, it stands up. Whistle twice, it rolls over. Whistle a third time, and it plays dead.

Notice how they argue with each other in front of Joseph. As we see in Genesis the brothers not knowing it was Joseph and because he was using an interpreter did not realize that he understood their arguing. This gave Joseph a glimpse of the agony they have been going through too. He comes to tears and turns away from them so they do not see him cry.

But, notice his heart is revealed. Even though he is acting harsh with them. He wants to be with them. Right after he turns away from them, he did what?

He returned to them, and communed with them. He missed his brothers, and I am sure at this point he wants to do a big group hug. But, he is still holding out. He tests their hearts first. Now we sends them back to Canaan to their father Jacob. But, before they leave he takes Simeon and vows to keep him until they bring Benjamin back with them. Once they do this then Simeon will be released. He has his servants pack their sacks with grain and putting their money back in the sacks of grain. He did not accept any of their money for the food.

This makes for an interesting conversation with their dad when they return. But, Jacob is having none of it. He explains to his sons that he has lost Joseph, and notice what he says about Simeon… He aligns him with Joseph. At this point Jacob is done. He will not take any chances to lose another son for any reason.

I imagine in this time he is praying to God that none of the rest of his sons will ever have to go back to Egypt. I can imagine that he was praying to God to remove the famine in the land. Lord bring us rain. Bring us crops to provide for my family. Don’t bring anymore losses to me and my sons. He has at this point written off Simeon. He knew he was in Egypt and that he was told he could come back. But at the expense of risking his only son left from Rachel who he loved very much. He was not going to allow the risk. Simeon would stay in Egypt as a prisoner.

Time passes and their food is running out again. Jacob’s prayers for relief are not answered the way he wishes. This is all because as we know… God has a blessing in store for the whole family. But, Jacob does not see this yet. All he sees is that he will possibly lose another son. Chapter 43 Jacobs sons go back and forth with him saying we can’t go back to Egypt for food unless we bring Benjamin.

Finally, in Chapter 43 verse 11 says to take Benjamin. But, He is putting making the petition they put before Joseph much sweeter. He charges his sons to take double the money they did last time and fruits, nuts, and many other treasures in hopes of making sure to not allow another son to be lost.

Testing Hearts

Joseph sees his brothers before his court. This time they have Benjamin his younger brother with him. He sees him for the first time in Chapter 43 and verse 16. Turn with me there.

[Genesis 43:16-17 KJV] 16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring [these] men home, and slay, and make ready; for [these] men shall dine with me at noon. 17 And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.

Now, they are at Joseph’s home. The looks on their faces must be priceless! What now!? We are treated badly at first. Sent home with all our money and less one brother with a warning not to return without Benjamin. Now, we are here with Benjamin and we are taken to Joseph’s personal home which must have been a palace because let’s not forget he is the Governor of all of Egypt.

He eats lunch with them and then has his servant pack their sacks once again to the brim with food, and their money. But this time he puts a trap into the sack of Benjamin. As Benjamin was the only younger brother in the family to Joseph when his brothers selfishly tried to appease their feelings and sold him into slavery. Now he wants to see if their hearts have changed truly? Or, are they still selfish in ambition and lacking love to protect their brother and their father Jacob.

He orders his silver goblet to be packed into Benjamin’s sack. Lets read Genesis 44 starting at verse 4:

[Genesis 44:4-10 KJV] 4 [And] when they were gone out of the city, [and] not [yet] far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? 5 [Is] not this [it] in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing. 6 And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. 7 And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing: 8 Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold? 9 With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen. 10 And he said, Now also [let] it [be] according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.

So, the test begins! Joseph set them up good and now Benjamin will be in risk of his life. They even said themselves. “With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen”

Not only will this person caught with the cup die. We will be your slaves! Oh how little they know how they just walked into the “Game…Set….Match!”

Since Joseph had it planted so well they find the goblet in the sack of Benjamin. Now the heat is turned up. And Judah steps up and puts everything he has in to avoid losing his brother Benjamin.

As we read in the remainder of Chapter 44 Judah explains to Joseph how if they do not bring back Benjamin that their father Jacob will die. Judah pleads to Joseph to not take his brother Benjamin but to take him instead and to please let his brothers go home to their father. He will give his life for his brother Benjamin.

Read with me starting at the end of Genesis 44 for the

Revelation

[Genesis 44:34 KJV] 34 For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad [be] not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.

[Genesis 45:1-8 KJV] 1 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. 2 And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. 3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I [am] Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. 4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I [am] Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. 5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years [hath] the famine [been] in the land: and yet [there are] five years, in the which [there shall] neither [be] earing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now [it was] not you [that] sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Joseph comes clean and tells them who he is. They are blown away at this. I love the message we see here where Joseph even in the midst of all that went on for the past forgives them and embraces them as if nothing ever happened. He even comforts them more in telling them this all had to come to pass in order for the plans of God to be realized.

[Genesis 45:7-9 NKJV] 7 "And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 "So now [it was] not you [who] sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. 9 "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 tarry.

Go! Get my father and the rest of the family bring them here to me. His dreams have come full circle and the revelation of God’s plan is made to be truth. They are bowing down to Joseph. But, he treats them as royalty and brings them to the best in all the land and according to Pharaoh’s rule for his family.

What an amazing story of great triumph in life over the enemy and all that is done to stop us from doing God’s work. Joseph has shown us that honoring God, not letting the circumstances define us, and to love always no matter how hard it may be will overcome any obstacle that can be put in front of us. What a great lesson for us to follow. My prayer is that we will use this and continue to read on your own time and study the historical records of Joseph and his life. I pray that we all get to a place where we will obey God under all circumstances. Try this in your life, and I can guarantee you that God will bless you. You will bless those around you and the love of God will be so contagious that lives will change because you listen to God.

Let’s pray.