Intro. We began this series looking at the changes in the life of Jacob from which Joseph would benefit. Jacob, now Israel, became a godly man that trusted the Lord. Joseph would need that example.
Then, Life took and Unexpected Turn when Joseph’s brothers sold him.
In a few years, though a little comfort had come, Joseph found himself in a battle in the midst of the storm. He was cast into prison.
After a while, he thought he had a way out, but the Butler, who he helped, conveniently and intentionally forgot him. But just at the right time, the butler had to confess. And Joseph was brought to Pharaoh to interpret a dream.
When we last saw Joseph, he had been promoted from prisoner to prince! The dream of Pharaoh has been interpreted, 7 years of of good, 7 of famine.
Joseph was sold at the age of 17 into slavery. He was about 30 when he left the prison and was made the second in command. About 9 years pass, and here appears Joseph’s brothers. His brothers came in the first two years of the famine. It has been over 20 years since he has seen them. He is close to 40 and they do not recognize him as a man, in his Egyptian garments, customs, and language. This Time, the storm did not belong to Joseph. His brothers were literally about to face their own storm. They had to face Yesterday. Necessity drove his brothers to him, they needed supply, and they bowed to him!
In our text - He spoke roughly to them - probably to hide his affection, and not igniting guilt. Imagine in vs. 13 - they told Joseph that He was not!
I. The Reaction - Joseph could have done whatever he wanted.
-He had been a submissive slave to Potiphar
-A sensitive servant in Prison
-A sincere spokesperson before Pharaoh (told what God said the dream was)
-A satisfied soul in the Palace
NEVER do you find Joseph bitter toward those that hurt him. Joseph never lived in the past, it was only the path God used, to use him!
He could have sought out and punished his brothers, the Canaanites that sold him, Potiphar, his wife, the butler, any others - but he had not up to this point! Joseph chose to use their circumstances to try them, before he revealed himself. He has been watching his brothers. He had seen them talk among themselves. He begins to test them.
A. He Detained Them - some believe this was to allow them time to think, and also his own way of not revealing himself but he had to hide his emotions.
Vs. 17 - he puts them in hold, not the inner prison, but held them
Possibly to allow them time to think, repent of their wrong doing.
And it worked! Their guilt was always there - 42:21-22
B. He Directed Them - vs. 18-20
1. His Confession - I Believe!
Vs. 18 - Joseph tells them they can go, and that he fears the true God
This could have raised suspicion, but the Egyptians could be pantheistic with worship to idols, yet claiming to believe in the true God of the Hebrews.
2. His Command - He then tells them they must bring Benjamin - you see, humanly, he wanted to see his younger brother. But God was also saying, “See that you bring your whole hearts with you, leave nothing behind.” Simeon was kept.
He did not want the family to flee out of fear before he saw his brother and father.
C. He Delivered Them - they received their supplies, and their money.
His deliverance was GRACE! Though the brothers could not understand it.
When they returned, they even tried to pay again!
Joseph took care of those that hurt him. Simeon was being held, the brothers went home and told Jacob. Jacob refused to let Benjamin return, until the famine became even more unbearable. Reuben and Judah convinced Jacob, and they returned. Joseph once again let them go, but this time set his own silver cup in Benjamin’s bag, bringing cause against them. AND THEN IT HAPPENED!
II. The Revelation - Genesis 45:1
A. These Brothers were already under Conviction Genesis 42:21 "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."
B. They were brought to Compassion (Judah) - Genesis 44:32 "For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever. 33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren." Though Joseph is a wonderful picture of Jesus, here we see the earthly ancestor of Jesus, volunteering to take the place of another.
C. They were now brought to Confession (no way out!) - Joseph was right in front of them - NOT WHAT THEY EXPECTED, even though they were guilty. They were forced to the end of themselves.
III. The Reunion
A. There was Great Emotion - 45:2-3
1. A Telling Moment - Joseph made himself known! I AM JOSEPH!
- Imagine as he removed the royal garments, washed his face, and his brothers realized who this was before them!
2. A TENSE MOMENT (to say the least)
- The Fear - as they stood before the brother they wronged and sold as a slave all those years ago? They knew who he was and what he could do to them!
- The Dread - When Joseph revealed himself, it was not celebration time!
Sometimes when the Lord reveals Himself to us, it is not celebration!
O wretched man that I am! - Yesterdays haunt us, while Jesus wants us TODAY. What happens next is a great picture of grace. WOW
B. There was a Great Embrace - vs. 4-5
1. Favor - vs. 4 The Relationship had not been severed (still a brother!)
2. Forgiveness - vs. 5
C. There was a Great Explanation - 45:6-7
1. The Famine is Severe BUT
2. The Father is Sovereign - vs. 7-8 GOD SENT ME HERE, YOU DID NOT!
Now, go tell my daddy!
IV. The Return - The brothers of Joseph must have had mixed emotions. Their only hope of survival was Joseph. His dreams, their nightmares, had come true. They would bow to him. But in order to get what they needed for their families and themselves, they had to go face the father, Jacob.
A. They had to Confess their Sin - No way out! - vs. 9 The CHICKENS HAD COME HOME TO ROOST - They now had to face yesterday.
1. The Last Time they Spoke with Jacob - Gen. 37:31 "And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; 32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son’s coat or no. 33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. 34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. 35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him."
- They Hated Joseph for Who he was - The Beloved Son
- They hated him for the Revelation he had
- he had a dream that they would bow (all will bow)
- They hated him so much, they threw Him away - We’ll never see him again - RIGHT!
2. This Time they Spoke with Jacob - Father Joseph is really Alive
You see Father, its like this - WE SINNED
We Lied, cheated, and tried to murder - But we are transgressors
WE ARE IMPOSTERS!!!!
B. They had to Comply to the Instructions - vs. 10-11 (Tell my Father and then)
1. Dwell Close! - Goshen - “drawing near”
Psalms 73:28 "But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works."
2. Dwell with me! - Was not a temporary invitation - MOVE HERE
John 14:2 "In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
3. Dwell Comfy! - vs. 11 - 5 years (grace) - “I will nourish thee”
The guilty was nourished by the righteous! What more do you want.
John 15:4 "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."
C. They would Celebrate their Savior - vs. 13 They’d perish without Joseph. Their eyes had been opened - and they had to tell what they had seen.
1. They Had Seen the Glory of His Person
- His Wisdom - His Grace - Father, He did not destroy us!
2. They Had Seen the Glory of His Position
- Enthroned in the Majesty of Royalty
3. They had Seen the Glory of His Power
He is providing for the unworthy what we cannot get for ourselves
4. They had seen the Glory of His Pardon
He never excused our sin, but covered us with Grace - I can join with the Psalmist and say: Psalms 85:2 "Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin."
Concl. For them to have victory, they had to face yesterday, once and for all. They had to face the broken pieces of their yesterday!
Sometimes if you are going to have victory, you just have to stand up and face the past and get it over with!!!!! Sometimes we may have to take our broken things and let God use them. Sometimes the sorrows of the past were exactly what God would use to bring victory in our future.
Disclaimer: A man once told me that if it is true, it is not new. If it is new, it is not true. We all know there is nothing new under the sun. With that said, I glean ideas for my sermons from God’s Word, my own thoughts and work, and many other sources. Any similarity to my sermons and others, where credit is not given, is either coincidental, or an unintentional mistake on my part. As none of us have a corner on the wisdom and teaching of God’s Word, it is my desire that any of my outlines be an encouragement, a help, and hopefully a motivation for others to preach God’s Word clearly. Please feel free to use any portion of my sermons if they can be of help to you and your ministry. It is all for His Glory.
