Joseph Part 9

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Genesis 43:15-34.

This morning we are looking at Gen 43:15-34.
This is, of course, a continuation of the story
We are looking at Josephs brothers now as they make their journey back to Egypt to get more grain.
We have a lot of Scripture to cover, so let’s jump right in to vs 15

So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver, and Benjamin also. They hurried down to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare a meal; they are to eat with me at noon.”

17 The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph’s house. 18 Now the men were frightened when they were taken to his house. They thought, “We were brought here because of the silver that was put back into our sacks the first time. He wants to attack us and overpower us and seize us as slaves and take our donkeys.”

19 So they went up to Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20 “We beg your pardon, our lord,” they said, “we came down here the first time to buy food. 21 But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver—the exact weight—in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back with us. 22 We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food. We don’t know who put our silver in our sacks.”

23 “It’s all right,” he said. “Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.

A lot of emotions have gone through these brothers up to this point.
They were afraid and confused as time passed
They came back to a man who had confronted them and accused them of being spies
Now he is bringing them to have lunch at his house
it must be a trap right?
So they go to the steward
The steward was the overseer of the house
this was basically the position that Joseph held in Potiphar’s house before Potiphar’s wife got involved.
They try to explain to the steward what happened
He let’s them know that it is okay
That their God is taking care of them
then brings Simeon back to them.
Though relief must have come to their minds, confusion had to still be there
The steward’s response suggests that Joseph had been sharing God with the members of his staff
Not to say this steward was now a believer
but he is recognizing the existence, grace and power of the Hebrew God
vs. 24

The steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet and provided fodder for their donkeys. 25 They prepared their gifts for Joseph’s arrival at noon, because they had heard that they were to eat there.

26 When Joseph came home, they presented to him the gifts they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground. 27 He asked them how they were, and then he said, “How is your aged father you told me about? Is he still living?”

28 They replied, “Your servant our father is still alive and well.” And they bowed down, prostrating themselves before him.

29 As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there.

31 After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself, said, “Serve the food.”

Despite throwing him and leaving him in a cistern
despite selling him into slavery
Joseph still takes care of his brothers.
This is the second time he is overwhelmed by emotion at the site of family.
With this love, he shows forgiveness, and kindness
vs. 32

They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, for that is detestable to Egyptians. 33 The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment. 34 When portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as anyone else’s. So they feasted and drank freely with him.

How could someone know the ages and how to seat them in order.
They were astonished at this
of course we know how.
Notice, though Joseph had all this power in Egypt, they still ate according to the culture
Joseph did not eat with the egyptians though he ruled over them, simply because of his Hebrew background.
When we minister within a culture that is different than ours, we do not need to push our customs on them.
Rather we live a righteous life that glorifies God within their customs as long as those customs don’t go against His word.
Joseph’s kindness and forgiveness is telling here.
Have these brother’s done anything to deserve forgiveness?
Of course not.
Here’s the thing.
None of us deserve forgiveness
None of us deserve heaven
None of us deserve grace
but it is available to us
not just given to us, but available
It starts with having faith in Him
have you chosen Him today?
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