Life of Joseph- Week 12

From Famine to Feast

Genesis 42:25-43:34

INTRODUCTION

Emotions that are seen in an airport terminal.

Tears of good-bye

Rejoicing for the return of loved ones.

Joseph and brothers felt these same emotions.

God used the process of gradual re-acquaintance to break down the hard hearts of those ten brothers and to bring them back to Himself.

Genesis 42:25–38 ESV

25 And Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, and to replace every man’s money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. This was done for them. 26 Then they loaded their donkeys with their grain and departed. 27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his money in the mouth of his sack. 28 He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back; here it is in the mouth of my sack!” At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?” 29 When they came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them, saying, 30 “The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us and took us to be spies of the land. 31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we have never been spies. 32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. One is no more, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.’ 33 Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I shall know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your households, and go your way. 34 Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I shall know that you are not spies but honest men, and I will deliver your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.’ ” 35 As they emptied their sacks, behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack. And when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid. 36 And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has come against me.” 37 Then Reuben said to his father, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.” 38 But he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is the only one left. If harm should happen to him on the journey that you are to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.”

The boys return with the story of the strange Egyptian ruler.

Told that he wanted Benjamin to return with them the next trip.

Jacob refused.– He refused to let the last evidence of his relationship with his beloved Rachel disappear like his brother.

Reuben offered his son

Then something interesting happens. The leadership in the family was turned from Reuben to Judah. Judah makes a promise that eventually returns Joseph to the family.

I. The Shortage that Demands the Promise

A. Genesis 43:1-2 “1 Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.””

B. The once again are driven by what sent them the first time.

C. Jacob was willing to loose Simeon to keep Benjamin (Joseph probably realized this.)

D. But Jacob was not willing that they all starve to death. But for Benjamin to go it meant a promise of protection for Benjamin.

II. The Sense that Determines the Promise

A. Jacob was told of what the Egyptian ruler had said. The boys refused to return to Egypt without Benjamin.

B. Genesis 43:3-5 “3 But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’ ””

C. This angered Jacob who accused the boys of bargaining with Benjamin’s life.

Genesis 43:6-7 “6 Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” 7 They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?””

D. Judah’s Promise: Genesis 43:8-9 “8 And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.”

III. The Sincerity that Declares the Promise

A. Judah promises to be responsible for Benjamin, putting his own life on the line.

B. Genesis 43:10 “10 If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.””

C. Judah had grown up a lot in those twenty years.

1. Reuben was willing to give up his sons,

2. Judah was willing to give his own life.

D. Judah also began to be the spokesman for his brothers, so perhaps he had outgrown that rebellious streak he’d had as a young man.

E. Judah’s sincerity convinced Jacob to let them go. (Vs. 11-14)

Genesis 43:11-14 “11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 12 Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man. 14 May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.””

IV. The Success that Develops the Promise

A. Jacob was convinced by Judah’s argument.

1. They took gifts of fruit and nuts and spices and double the money required.

2. Jacob realized there was no other option.

a. God arranged all the circumstances to move the family in the direction He wanted.

3. There was no sense arguing over Benjamin’s protection if he would starve to death at home.

4. Genesis 43:15-25

Genesis 43:15–25 ESV

15 So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.” 17 The man did as Joseph told him and brought the men to Joseph’s house. 18 And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph’s house, and they said, “It is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may assault us and fall upon us to make us servants and seize our donkeys.” 19 So they went up to the steward of Joseph’s house and spoke with him at the door of the house, 20 and said, “Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food. 21 And when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it again with us, 22 and we have brought other money down with us to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.” 23 He replied, “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24 And when the man had brought the men into Joseph’s house and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder, 25 they prepared the present for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.

B. They return to face Joseph with Benjamin with them.

1. Genesis 43:26-28 “26 When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present that they had with them and bowed down to him to the ground. 27 And he inquired about their welfare and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” 28 They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves.”

C. Joseph must have hurt a lot during those months waiting on their return.

1. His father could have died.

2. He had to keep a secret inside.

3. He looked up and saw Benjamin and couldn’t hold it any longer.

4. Genesis 43:29-30 “29 And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!” 30 Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there.”

D. The brothers were motivated by fear but Joseph was motivated by love.

1. Joseph, like Christ, continued to love his brothers, though they had wronged him.

2. The Lord Jesus loves us though our sin nailed Him to that tree.

E. Joseph reveal to his brothers that he has a special knowledge about them.

Genesis 43:31-34 “31 Then he washed his face and came out. And controlling himself he said, “Serve the food.” 32 They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. 33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth. And the men looked at one another in amazement. 34 Portions were taken to them from Joseph’s table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him.”

1. Joseph seated them in the correct order.

2. He seated them by their birthdays and by giving Benjamin the greatest portions.

3. Joseph was gradually revealing himself to his brothers.

F. We see evidence the boys were different than when Joseph was a child.

1. Benjamin was served 5 times as much without anyone complaining.

2. In fact verse 34 notes they had a great time with Joseph.

3. They did not yet know Joseph but were appreciative for what he was giving them.

3 Lessons from the Story

A. The Place of Fear in the Program of God

1. We like to explain away the idea of fear in the Bible.

a. Fear of God– respect and awe.

b. There is scarcely anything more striking in this story than the fear Joseph’s brothers had.

(1) On their first journey, they were fearful of what they might find.

(2) On their way home, they were fearful when they found money in their sacks.

(3) Fear continued when they returned to meet Joseph.

(4) They will experience more fear when Benjamin is arrested.

2. God uses fear to call the heart to repent. - The cause of fear was regret. Maybe even conviction.

a. Fear is a way to keep our hearts tender and sensitive to God’s will.

3. There is righteous fear that ought to fill the heart of every believer.

a. Joseph’s brothers feared of the great power Joseph had over them.

b. We ought to tremble in knowing that the great God of the universe has all power over every circumstance in our lives.

B. The Priority of Repentance in the Program of God

1. The Lord wanted these boys to repent.

2. God wanted a genuine repentance evidenced by a changed life.

a. Some people will repent just enough to take the pressure off or so they’ll feel better about themselves.

3. Joseph was looking for the evidence of repentance in their lives.

a. True repentance means to change your direction, to change your mind.

C. The Possibility of Recovery in the Program of God.

1. Consider Judah.

a. When he was born, Judah’s mother was so excited she began to sing praises to God.

(1) Judah means “praises”

b. Yet he grew up the opposite. As a young man, Judah was once who suggested they sell Joseph rather than simply kill him.

c. He grew up and married a pagan, broke promises to people and committed incest with his daughter-in-law.

2. Yet, Judah shakes off his past to become a leader.

a. He moves from being a man living for himself to a man living for God.

b. On Jacob’s deathbed, Judah was praised as being a “lion” and the one his brothers looked up to.

c. It was through Judah that Jesus Christ’s lineage came.

3. It is never too late to change.

a. God wants to bring people back to Himself.

b. God is in the business of recovery.