#. 20. Genesis 42-45 | It Was Not You Who Sent Me Here, But God

Speaker: 00:00:00

Welcome to The Dwelling Place

from Entrusted Ministries.

2

: 00:00:02

I'm Stephanie Hickox.

3

: 00:00:03

In the last episode, we talked about

how even when Joseph was in horrible

4

: 00:00:07

circumstances, the Lord was with him.

5

: 00:00:09

I like how my moody

commentary describes it.

6

: 00:00:11

It would appear that if the Lord

were indeed with Joseph, he would

7

: 00:00:14

not have been sold into slavery.

8

: 00:00:16

Yet the presence of God in one's

life and the extent of success is

9

: 00:00:19

not to be measured by the absence of

adversity, but a faithful attitude in

10

: 00:00:23

the midst of adversity on this score.

11

: 00:00:26

Joseph was a great success.

12

: 00:00:27

Too often adversity is considered

a sign of God's abandonment.

13

: 00:00:31

Yet in the life of Joseph, despite his

difficulties, the Lord was present in

14

: 00:00:35

his life granting favor and success.

15

: 00:00:37

Plainly, the story is establishing

the providence of God and achieving

16

: 00:00:41

God's good purposes despite

Joseph's adverse circumstances.

17

: 00:00:45

There are certain people in the

Old Testament that give us a hint

18

: 00:00:48

of the goodness of Jesus to come.

19

: 00:00:50

they provide these clues and they

have these commonalities with Jesus.

20

: 00:00:53

And when the New Testament corroborates

that we call these a type of Christ

21

: 00:00:57

and Joseph falls into that category,

22

: 00:00:59

listen to this list provided

in my MacArthur commentary.

23

: 00:01:02

that Joseph and Jesus have in common.

24

: 00:01:04

Both were a shepherd of

their father's sheep.

25

: 00:01:07

both had a father that loved them dearly.

26

: 00:01:09

They were both hated by their brothers.

27

: 00:01:11

They were both sent by their

father to their brothers.

28

: 00:01:14

Others plotted to harm both of them.

29

: 00:01:16

Their robes were taken from them.

30

: 00:01:18

They were both taken to Egypt and

both sold for the price Of a slave.

31

: 00:01:22

They were tempted, falsely

accused, bound in chains,

32

: 00:01:25

placed with two other prisoners.

33

: 00:01:27

One who was saved and the other lost.

34

: 00:01:29

Both were exalted after suffering.

35

: 00:01:31

Both were 30 years old at the

beginning of their public recognition.

36

: 00:01:34

Both wept openly, both forgave

those who wronged them.

37

: 00:01:38

They both saved their nation

and what men did to hurt them.

38

: 00:01:41

God turned to good in both of their lives.

39

: 00:01:44

And today we'll focus on how Joseph's

forgiveness to his brothers points

40

: 00:01:47

us to the forgiveness of Jesus.

41

: 00:01:49

We got a love in chapter 42, verse one.

42

: 00:01:52

When Jacob learned that there was

grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his

43

: 00:01:55

sons, why do you look at one another?

44

: 00:01:58

And he said, behold, I have heard

there is grain for sale in Egypt.

45

: 00:02:01

Go down and buy grain for us

that we may live and not die.

46

: 00:02:05

And he's probably thinking, do

I have 11 cents for nothing?

47

: 00:02:08

One of you figure this out.

48

: 00:02:09

He sends 10 of them and

keeps Benjamin at home.

49

: 00:02:12

Still not cured of that

favoritism problem obviously.

50

: 00:02:15

True confession It makes me think of

the moments where my house is a mess

51

: 00:02:18

or something needs to be done, and

I'm looking around thinking, am I

52

: 00:02:20

the only one who can figure this out?

53

: 00:02:22

Over the next few chapters

after Joseph sees his brothers.

54

: 00:02:25

Some of their interactions are a

little bit odd in the way that Joseph

55

: 00:02:28

has this play out, but I'm sure he

was in shock to see them and he's

56

: 00:02:31

just trying to figure out what to do

57

: 00:02:33

We also read his brothers have been

tormented by their sin all these years.

58

: 00:02:36

Joseph is 39 at this point, and it's been

22 years since they threw him in the pit

59

: 00:02:42

in 42, 21.

60

: 00:02:43

it's recorded.

61

: 00:02:44

Then they said to one another, in truth,

we are guilty concerning our brother,

62

: 00:02:48

and that we saw the distress of his soul

when he begged us and we did not listen.

63

: 00:02:53

That is why this distress

has come upon us.

64

: 00:02:55

And Reen answered them.

65

: 00:02:56

Did I not tell you not to sin against

the boy, but you did not listen?

66

: 00:03:00

So now there comes a

reckoning for his blood.

67

: 00:03:02

Joseph is listening and can hear all of

this, but they're not aware it's him or

68

: 00:03:06

that he would understand their language.

69

: 00:03:08

As the story unfolds, there's some

back and forth and they're terrified.

70

: 00:03:11

Reuben ends up leading sacrificially

and do you remember when I said that

71

: 00:03:15

Judah will be presented differently

after his moral failing in chapter 38?

72

: 00:03:19

In Chapter 44, he presents himself

as a substitute for the party that

73

: 00:03:23

seems to be guilty, and he offers

to stay in the place of Benjamin.

74

: 00:03:27

And at this point, Joseph

Can hold it in no more.

75

: 00:03:30

He is done with a charade and he gives

a speech full of the grace of God.

76

: 00:03:34

Let's read chapter 45.

77

: 00:03:36

Then Joseph could not control himself

before all those who stood by him.

78

: 00:03:40

He cried, make everyone go out from me.

79

: 00:03:42

So no one stayed with him.

80

: 00:03:43

When Joseph made himself known to

his brothers and he wept aloud so

81

: 00:03:47

that the Egyptians heard it and the

household of Pharaoh heard it, and

82

: 00:03:50

Joseph said to his brothers, I am

Joseph, is my father still alive?

83

: 00:03:54

But his brothers could not answer him

for, they were dismayed at his presence.

84

: 00:03:58

So Joseph said to his brothers,

come near to me please.

85

: 00:04:01

And they came near and he said, I am your

brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.

86

: 00:04:06

And now do not be distressed or angry with

yourselves because you sold me here for,

87

: 00:04:10

God sent me before you to preserve life.

88

: 00:04:12

For the famine has spent in the

land these two years and there are

89

: 00:04:15

yet five years in which there will

be neither plowing nor harvest.

90

: 00:04:19

And God sent me before you to

preserve for you a remnant on

91

: 00:04:22

earth and to keep alive for you.

92

: 00:04:24

Many survivors.

93

: 00:04:25

So it was not you who sent me here,

but God, he has made me a father to

94

: 00:04:29

Pharaoh and Lord of all his house

and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

95

: 00:04:33

Hurry and go up to my father and say

to him, thus says, your son Joseph,

96

: 00:04:37

God has made me, Lord of all Egypt.

97

: 00:04:39

Come down to me.

98

: 00:04:40

Do not Terry.

99

: 00:04:41

You shall dwell in the land of Goshen

and you shall be near me, you and

100

: 00:04:44

your children, and your children's

children, and your flocks, your

101

: 00:04:47

herds, and all that you have there.

102

: 00:04:49

I will provide for you for there are

yet five years of famine to come so

103

: 00:04:53

that you and your household and all

that you have do not come to poverty.

104

: 00:04:57

And now your eyes see, and the eyes

of my brother Benjamin, see that

105

: 00:05:01

it is my mouth that speaks to you.

106

: 00:05:02

You must tell my father of all my honor

in Egypt and of all that you have seen,

107

: 00:05:06

hurry and bring my father down here.

108

: 00:05:08

Then he fell upon his brother

Benjamin's neck and wept and Benjamin

109

: 00:05:12

wept upon his neck and he kissed

all his brothers and wept upon them.

110

: 00:05:15

After that, his brothers talked with him.

111

: 00:05:17

When the report was heard in Pharaoh's

house, Joseph's brothers have come.

112

: 00:05:20

It pleased Pharaoh and his

servants and Pharaoh said to

113

: 00:05:23

Joseph, say to your brothers.

114

: 00:05:25

Do this, load your beast and go

back to the land of Canaan and take

115

: 00:05:28

your father and your households

and come to me and I will give you

116

: 00:05:31

the best of the land of Egypt and

you shall eat the fat of the land.

117

: 00:05:35

And you, Joseph, are

commanded to say, do this.

118

: 00:05:38

Take wagons from the land of Egypt

for your little ones and for your

119

: 00:05:41

wives, and bring your father and

come have no concern for your goods.

120

: 00:05:45

For the best of all, the

land of Egypt is yours.

121

: 00:05:48

The Sons of Israel did so, and Joseph

gave them wagons according to the command

122

: 00:05:51

of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions

for the journey to each and all of them.

123

: 00:05:55

He gave a change of clothes, but to

Benjamin, he gave 300 chuckles of silver

124

: 00:05:59

and five changes of clothes to his father.

125

: 00:06:01

He sent his fallows Ted donkeys, loaded

with the good things of Egypt and

126

: 00:06:05

10 female donkeys loaded with grain.

127

: 00:06:07

Bred and provisions for

his father on the journey.

128

: 00:06:09

Then he sent his brothers away

And as they departed, he said to

129

: 00:06:12

them, do not quarrel on the way.

130

: 00:06:14

So they went up out of Egypt and came to

the land of Canaan to their father Jacob.

131

: 00:06:19

And they told him Joseph is

still alive and he is ruler

132

: 00:06:22

over all the land of Egypt.

133

: 00:06:23

And his heart became numb

for, he did not believe them.

134

: 00:06:26

But when they told him all the

words of Joseph, which he had said

135

: 00:06:29

to them, and when he saw the wagons

that Joseph had sent to carry him,

136

: 00:06:32

the spirit of their father, Jacob

revived, and Israel said, it is enough.

137

: 00:06:36

Joseph, my son is still alive.

138

: 00:06:38

I will go and see him before I die.

139

: 00:06:41

The provision of these wagons and

everything that Pharaoh sent, it shows

140

: 00:06:45

that Joseph ruled so well that they had

complete trust in him, but it also was

141

: 00:06:48

convincing enough for his father to come.

142

: 00:06:50

To know that it was real.

143

: 00:06:51

Interesting.

144

: 00:06:52

Side note, in the last few months, I've

started researching fresh milled flour,

145

: 00:06:56

and for Christmas I got a flour mill.

146

: 00:06:58

It's helped me to understand

these passages of scripture

147

: 00:07:01

where the grain is stored.

148

: 00:07:02

For so long, I've always

thought, why doesn't it go bad?

149

: 00:07:05

Apparently if you don't grind wheat

berries right away, the Lord has designed

150

: 00:07:09

it so that the nutrients stay intact.

151

: 00:07:11

It's during the grinding

process that it breaks down and

152

: 00:07:13

it takes away the nutrients.

153

: 00:07:15

Now, I feel like there are so many

chapters of scripture and this story

154

: 00:07:17

in particular than make much more sense

to me how seven years later their grain

155

: 00:07:22

will still be good and healthy for them.

156

: 00:07:24

Yeah.

157

: 00:07:24

More importantly, I'm incredibly

convicted and inspired by the forgiveness

158

: 00:07:28

that Joseph offers his brothers.

159

: 00:07:30

It seems so obvious that it was their

sin that caused all this, but repeatedly

160

: 00:07:34

Joseph says it was God's goodness.

161

: 00:07:37

Joseph attributes it to the

sovereignty of the Lord.

162

: 00:07:39

In verse five, Joseph Saidfor, God

sent me before you to preserve life.

163

: 00:07:43

And then verse seven, and God

sent me before you to preserve

164

: 00:07:47

for you a remnant on earth and to

keep you alive for many survivors.

165

: 00:07:51

And again in eight.

166

: 00:07:52

So it was not you who sent me

here, but God, he completely

167

: 00:07:55

clears them of their guilt.

168

: 00:07:57

Right away he's concerned and

tells them to not be distressed

169

: 00:07:59

or angry with themselves.

170

: 00:08:01

And how can you not laugh in

24 when he tells them to not

171

: 00:08:04

quarrel on their way home?

172

: 00:08:06

Joseph cannot deny the goodness and

the sovereignty of God in his life.

173

: 00:08:10

And I wanna ask that of you as

I'm asking it of my own heart.

174

: 00:08:13

Do we walk in forgiveness

and reconciliation?

175

: 00:08:16

Are there people that have hurt you

deeply, that you're struggling to forgive?

176

: 00:08:20

Like Joseph, it might be a sibling.

177

: 00:08:22

Or it could be a parent that hurt

you and you've thought, if only

178

: 00:08:26

they wouldn't have done this, then

I would be in a better situation.

179

: 00:08:29

But maybe you're exactly the mother

you are because of the experiences

180

: 00:08:33

you've had or of the lack in your life.

181

: 00:08:35

Did God use it to bring you to him

182

: 00:08:37

maybe there's someone else that was

supposed to love you and hurt you, just as

183

: 00:08:41

Jesus said on the cross, father, forgive

them for they know not what they do,

184

: 00:08:45

It's Jesus who gives us the power

to forgive, as he said on the cross.

185

: 00:08:50

Father, forgive them for

they know not what they do.

186

: 00:08:52

Let's pray.

187

: 00:08:53

Heavenly Father, we come before you

knowing that we don't have it in

188

: 00:08:57

ourselves to lay down our deepest hurts

and to not be taken over by bitterness.

189

: 00:09:02

When we see the impact of the sin

of others in our lives, it can be

190

: 00:09:05

difficult to not meditate upon it.

191

: 00:09:08

But I pray that you would help us to

understand how you've worked it for good.

192

: 00:09:11

Help us to trust in your goodness and

reveal to us how you've transformed

193

: 00:09:15

us through difficult circumstances.

194

: 00:09:18

Free us from bitterness and

help us to teach our children

195

: 00:09:21

to walk in forgiveness as well.

196

: 00:09:23

And although we will make mistakes,

if there are patterns where we're

197

: 00:09:27

exasperating our children or

pushing their hearts away from you.

198

: 00:09:30

Help us to see, to repent and to

restore those relationships so that

199

: 00:09:34

unity would reign in our homes.

200

: 00:09:36

We also pray for the sibling relationships

in our home, and that you would

201

: 00:09:40

help our kids to be forever friends.

202

: 00:09:42

Jesus, thank you for the way

that you modeled forgiveness

203

: 00:09:45

it's in your name we pray.

204

: 00:09:46

Amen.