Genuine Repentance Series

WHEN LIFE IS THE PITS: GENUINE REPENTANCE

A. We are coming to the close of our study of the Life of Joseph titled: “WHEN LIFE IS THE PITS.”

1. Today we will see “GENUINE REPENTANCE” finally taking PLACE in the HEARTS of Joseph’s

brothers.

2. Several months have passed from the time when the brothers first went down to Egypt to buy GRAIN

to FEED their FAMILIES.

a. Apparently Joseph has yet to REVEAL his true IDENTITY to his BROTHERS because he isn’t CONVINCED that they have GENUINELY REPENTED of the SINS they have COMMITTED

against him, their father Jacob and, most of all, GOD.

b. Although in their first JOURNEY to Egypt their GUILTY CONSCIENCE was AWAKENED by the HARSH CONFRONTATION and TESTING of Joseph as the Governor of Egypt, which led to them to the conclusion that God may very well be PUNISHING them, they had not yet demonstrated the CHANGED HEART that Joseph wanted to see.

3. Remember, God is the ONE who put Joseph in this POSITION of authority OVER not only all of

Egypt, but, most importantly, over his BROTHERS.

a. God is GUIDING Joseph through this painful RECONCILIATION PROCESS that his brothers are going through in order to bring about GENUINE REPENTANCE.

b. And God is not DONE YET.

B. The apostle Paul writes that there are two kinds of SORROW, but only one leads to REPENTANCE.

1. 2 Corinthians 7:10- “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret,

but worldly sorrow brings death.”

a. “GODLY SORROW” is that which PRICKS the HEART prompting one to experience a DEEP SHAME and REMORSE for the OFFENSE committed against the HOLINESS of God.

b. “WORLDLY SORROW” is prompted by REGRET and is fundamentally SELF-CENTERED.

COMMENT:

WORLDLY SORROW revolves around the PAIN sin causes to oneself rather than the OFFENSE and DISHONOR it is to God. It’s not SORROW because of the HEINOUSNESS of SIN as REBELLION against God, but SORROW because of the PAINFUL and UNWELCOME CONSEQUENCES of SIN.

2. Thus far these brothers have only experienced WORLDLY SORROW.

COMMENT:

“It was only after being CONFINED in PRISON for three days that they even considered this DISTRESSFUL ORDEAL that they were enduring could POSSIBLY be the CONSEQUENCE of how they ATTACKED their teenage brother who was PLEADING for his LIFE, and still SOLD him into SLAVERY”- Genesis 42:21.

a. They REGRETTED what they did, especially since they were now SUFFERING themselves, but there was certainly no DEEP REMORSE and GODLY SORROW.

b. But what God has PLANNED for them through Joseph, will CHANGE all that.

MESSAGE:

I. THE REPENTANCE OF JOSEPH’S BROTHERS- Genesis 44:1-34

A. The FINAL TEST- Genesis 44:1-15

1. Last week we saw how Joseph had invited his BROTHERS for LUNCH.

a. The MEAL, although a little STRANGE, went WELL. (Benjamin, being served five-times

the food of his older brothers, probably went home with a “TO-GO BOX”.)

b. The BROTHERS were planning to LEAVE for HOME the next day with the GRAIN they came to PURCHASE to feed their FAMILIES.

2. As Joseph ordered his STEWARD to fill their sacks with GRAIN, he instigated a FINAL TEST

for his Brothers- vv. 1-2 (READ).

a. Now this has to be a strange REQUEST for the STEWARD.

COMMENT:

Returning their SILVER that was used to purchase the GRAIN, not once but twice, is STRANGE enough, but now he is also ordered by Joseph to put his special SILVER CUP in the younger brother’s SACK. And even more STRANGE, the very NEXT DAY he is ordered to go CHASE after the brothers on their way BACK to Canaan and “ACCUSE them of STEALING it.”

b. So, early the next morning the BROTHERS load up their DONKEYS and head for HOME.

COMMENT:

They didn’t get very FAR, when the STEWARD and other men with him, CHASED them down and ACCUSED them of STEALING the governor’s SILVER CUP and said to them, as Joseph ordered, “Why have you repaid good for evil?”

3. The brothers DEFENDED their INNOCENCE- vv. 6-10 (READ and COMMENT)

a. “So sure of their INNOCENCE, each of them QUICKLY opened their SACKS of GRAIN for

them to SEARCH”- v. 11.

b. “Starting from the OLDEST to the YOUNGEST the STEWARD searched each SACK until

he found it in Benjamin’s SACK” - v. 12.

COMMENT:

Now, when these brothers had the OPPORTUNITY to GET RID of their father’s FAVORITE SON Joseph, they took it. “JUDAH was the one who came up with the PLAN to sell him as a SLAVE to the Merchants who were traveling to Egypt”- Genesis 37:26.

Obviously now Benjamin is the FAVORITE SON. He, too, is the son of Rachel, the only WIFE that Jacob really loved. Like Joseph, I have no doubt that Benjamin was afforded many PRIVILEGES from his FATHER that the OLDER BROTHERS never had.