No Ordinary Joe: Remorse or Repentance?
Genesis 42
Pastor Jefferson M. Williams
Chenoa Baptist Church
12-26-2021
Stolen Bats Story
[Slide] In 2000, three teenagers stole $500 worth of bats from the Dakota Sporting Goods Store in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The police were never able to catch the culprits and the case went cold.
That is until last week when a man in his 30s walked in and asked to speak to the owner. He admitted that he was one of the teenagers who stole the bats. He said that he had carried the guilt of that crime for over two decades.
He offered to write a check for $500 but the owner told him that he could write the check for $250 and donate the other half to a charity of his choice.
Every year, the government gets checks from people with guilty consciences seeking to atone for their past. This money actually goes into what’s called the Federal Conscience Fund.
What is our conscience? Is it a cricket in a top hat that tells us to “let our conscience be our guide?” [Terrible advice by the way].
What happened when we have a guilty conscience? How do we get rid of a guilty conscience?
These are perfect questions to consider on the last Sunday of the year 2021.
Review
When we last left Joseph, he had experienced one of the biggest plot twists in the Bible. He had gone from the prison to the palace in a matter of hours.
Joseph was summoned to the palace to hear Pharaoh’s dreams and, after interpreting the dreams about a coming time of famine, he was promoted to second in command of Egypt.
He immediately got to work on a project to save not only the people of Egypt but those surrounding nations as well. Including his home nation of Israel.
Turn with me to Genesis 42.
Prayer
[Slide] The Command
[Slide] “When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.” (V. 1-2)
The famine predicted in Pharaoh’s dreams had now come to pass and Egypt and the nations around it were experienced severe drought and crop failure.
Jacob, an old man by now, looks at his sons and says, “Have you noticed that there is…NO FOOD?! Instead of staring at each other who don’t you actually do something and get on the road to Egypt to get some grain so that our entire clan doesn’t die of starvation. And, by the way, why do you guys always seem to freak out when I mention the word “Egypt?”
Jacob had plenty of money which does you no good if you have no food.
[Slide] The Journey
[Slide] “Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him. So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan also.” (v. 3-5)
They obeyed their dad’s request and the ten of them kissed their wives and children goodbye and promised to come back with food.
This would have been a 200 mile trip, one way. In good weather, it would have taken about three weeks.
Jacob had forbidden Benjamin to go with them because he was “afraid some harm might come to him.” This is interesting. Yes, with all the travelers on the roads in search of food and loaded with money, bandits would have been out in in full force. But there may be more here than meets the eye.
Could Jacob have started to suspect that the ten brothers had something to do with Joseph’s disappearance all those years ago?
[Slide] The Initial Meeting
[Slide] Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked.
“From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.”
[Slide] Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”
“No, my lord,” they answered. “Your servants have come to buy food. We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.”
“No!” he said to them. “You have to see where our land is unprotected.”
Obviously, Joseph did not personally hand out all the grain to everyone who came to buy it. He oversaw the entire operation.
But he probably looked out over the crowds and searched for anyone with a beard who looked like they may be Hebrew wondering if his family would show up.
The brothers bowed down. Well, well.
Joseph screamed at them, “I am Joseph, you fools! I told you so! I told you would bow down to me. The dreams are coming true, aren’t they? [Slide] NO GRAIN FOR YOU!!!”
He didn’t do that, although I might be tempted to have.
He immediately recognized them. They were older, grayer hair, more round around the waist, but they were definitely his ten brothers. He counted. One was missing - Benjamin. His hear sank. Did they kill Ben? Or sell him like they did me?
But they did not recognize Joseph. It had been twenty one years. He was 17 the last time they saw him. He is now approaching 40.
If you have ever been to a class reunion, you know this feeling.
Joseph was clean shaven, even his head. He would have had a fake goatee, made out of horse hair glued to his chin. He had on royal robes and spoke Egyptian.
Through his interpreter, he accuses them of being spies. Why would a dad send all ten of his sons to buy food? Why not send one or two? They were there to see where the land was unprotected and report back to whatever government they were working for.
When Joseph was sent to the brothers at Dothan, what did they accuse him of being? A spy for their father! So now, they would be accused of being spies.
Did Joseph have a hard time not laughing when they said that they were “honest men?’ Yeah, not really guys.
[Slide] The Test
[Slide] “But they replied, “Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”
[Slide] Joseph said to them, “It is just as I told you: You are spies! And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.
Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!” And he put them all in custody for three days.
[Slide] On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households. But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do.” (v. 13-20)
As they brothers approached Egypt, I wonder if they looked into the faces of every slave they saw to try to see if they would see Joseph.
But we learn that they truly believe that Joseph was dead. He is “no more.” They had no idea that they were talking to “Mr. No More!”
Once they tell him that Benjamin is alive, he puts a plan into place. He would put nine of them into jail and one would who back and get the little brother.
He was in prison for more than three years. Three days wouldn’t hurt these guys. Remember that they were hard men - rapists, mass murderers, liars. A little quiet time in prison might just give them time to think and for their consciences to be stirred.
After three days, he changed the plan. Why because told them that he “feared God” [Elohim] Can’t you imagine them looking at each other and asking, “He fears our God? What kind of man is this Zaphenath-Paneah?
He decides that only one brother will stay and the rest will bring grain back to their starving families.
But he made it very clear that the younger brother must come back or their will be no more grain for their family.
[Slide] Conscience Awakens
“They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.”
Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.”
They did not realize that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter.
[Slide] He turned away from them and began to weep, but then came back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.” (v. 21-24)
If you remember from the story:
"So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing— and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it. As they sat down to eat their meal…” (Gen 37:23-25)
“Hey guys…Simeon…Issachar…come on guys I’ve learned my lesson…really I have…I won’t be a jerky little brother…I won’t tell you my dreams…you’ll see…guys…I think my arm is broken…please help…Help?! Help!
While Joseph begged for his life, the brother sat down to eat.
“Hey look, the little brat brought food with him. Lamb chops…pass the salt…Joseph, be quiet, we’re trying to eat here.”
This is absolutely cold hearted.
Commentator Keith Krell writes,
“They are ruthless and cold. All they care about is their stomach. The callousness and cruelty of Joseph’s brothers is shocking! There is no sense of guilt, no remorse, not even a loss of appetite. The next time the brothers would eat a meal in Joseph’s presence he would sit at the head table (43:32-34).
For the next 21 years, Joseph’s cries for mercy would haunt them in their dreams and ring in their ears.
Reuben, the first born speaks up and reminds them that he had warned them against sinning against the boy.
Rueben had suggested that they put him in the pit but had planned to come and rescue him later. When he returned, Joseph was gone and Reuben was inconsolable.
We must give an account for his blood. As good Jewish boys, they knew ]Abel’s blood cried out from the ground to God after Cain murdered him.
They were talking openly and freely, thinking that the Egyptians could not understand them. Well, they couldn’t but Joseph could!
Joseph could understand everything they were saying and he couldn’t believe his ears. They were feeling guilty. They had carried that guilt for twenty years.
A burst of pity flooded his mind and he turned away and wept. There may be hope for these guys after all.
Simeon was the second born and he probably lead the other brothers to sell him. Simeon would be the one bound and held until they return.
[Slide] A Blessing is a Curse to a Guilty Conscience
[Slide] “Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man’s silver back in his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. After this was done for them, they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left.
[Slide] At the place where they stopped for the night one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack.
“My silver has been returned,” he said to his brothers. “Here it is in my sack.”
Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, “What is this that God has done to us?” (v. 25-28)
Joseph gives them a surprise blessing and returns their money to their sacks and provisions for the journey.
They stopped for the night and one of the brothers stares in disbelief at the mouth of his sack. His silver had been returned.
Instead of considering it a blessing, it provokes fear in all the brothers. Shakespeare wrote that “conscience doth make cowards of us all.”
They ask, “What is this that God has done to us?” This is the first time the brothers mention God in the whole story. They are now beginning to understand that God is doing things behind the scenes and there is something bigger afoot in the whole situation.
A man and woman went through the drive through at Kentucky Fried Chicken. When they received their meals, they were shocked to find one of the bags they received was full of cash!
They returned to the store and showed the manager the bag. The manager explained that he had put the money in the bag to run to the bank and a worker had accidentally giving it to them.
The manager was so excited and grateful that he offered to call the local new channel and have them come out and do a story on how honest he was.
The man took the manger aside and asked him not to do that. The manager asked why not and he said, “Because she’s not my wife!”
A guilty conscience can turn even a blessing into a curse.
[Slide] The Explanation
[Slide] “When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them. They said, “The man who is lord over the land spoke harshly to us and treated us as though we were spying on the land.
But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies. We were twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in Canaan.’
[Slide] “Then the man who is lord over the land said to us, ‘This is how I will know whether you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for your starving households and go.
But bring your youngest brother to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the land.’” (v. 28-34)
It took three weeks, three long weeks, to get back home. Did they travel in silence? Did they argue with each other?
Poor babies. The man spoke harshly to them. These are murders and rapists. Interesting that they had suddenly become so thin skinned.
The last time they returned from a far off country that told their dad a huge whopper of a lie. This time they tell the truth.
Everything is against me!
[Slide] “As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his pouch of silver! When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened.
Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!”
[Slide] Then Reuben said to his father, “You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back.”
But Jacob said, “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.” (v. 35-38)
All of their money had be returned. Now they were going to be accused of being thieves as well as spies.
Jacob, the patriarch, the descendant of Abraham and Isaac, reminds the boys that God is in charge and everything will be okay.
That is not what happened! Everything is against me! Nobody likes me, everyone hates me, I’m going to eat some worms.
Just an aside, I’ve noticed that as we grow older we have a choice to make. To become grumpy old people that are always complaining. Or to be more gracious as we age and encourage these around us to trust God.
Rueben steps forward and makes an absolutely stupid oath - you can kill both of my sons if I don’t bring everyone back alive from Egypt. But it does show leadership and emotional growth that weren’t there before.
Jacob hasn’t changed that his favoritism is ingrained in the family dynamic and continues to cause pain and destruction. Benjamin is the “only one left” from his favorite wife Rachel. What are the rest of his sons, chopped liver?
The sons make clear that if Ben doesn’t return with them, they can not buy grain and they will all starve.
Jacob stands and slams his cane down and yells, “So be it!”
This is a standoff. Will Jacob prevail eventually leading his entire family to starve to death? Or will they somehow convince their dad to let Ben go? We will find out next time on As Egypt Turns.
Jiminy Cricket was Wrong!
In Pinocchio, his conscience is represented by a cricket named Jiminy which acts as his conscience throughout the story. And what does Jiminy tell Pinocchio, “Always let your conscience be your guide.” Is that a good idea?
What is the conscience?
George Washington called it “that little spark of celestial fire.”
Lord Byron, who wasn’t bothered by his conscience much, called it the “oracle of God.”
Aquinas called it the “internal voice that either accuses us or excuses us.”
W. H. Griffith Thomas: Conscience is the “knowing” part of us, that which “knows” together “with” God, and agrees with the revelation of right which comes from him (con-science).
David Platt defines the conscience as your sense of right and wrong. In fact, much of what follows I was helped by a message from David.
[Slide] Our conscience is personal. Each of our consciences are different and what causes you to be guilty may be no big deal to me.
2. [Slide] Our consciences are imperfect. There is only One whose conscience was perfectly aligned to the Father’s will.
3. [Slide] Our consciences can change. They can become stronger or weaker.
“The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (I Tim 1:5)
4. [Slide] Our consciences need calibration. They need to be aligned to God’s Word, in tune with God’s Spirit, and humble enough to learn from others that are farther along in the faith.
[Slide] Why do our consciences matter?
Platt makes the case that a good, clean conscience is critical to:
Intimacy with God.
When our consciences are guilty, we tend to move away from our relationship with God. We feel dirty and not worthy of his love.
“…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:22)
Success in Life.
This isn’t the health and wealth gospel. This is having peace and joy in the midst of life’s turmoil.
“Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” (Acts 23:1)
Living and Dying for What Matters Most
[
Slide] Martin Luther was ordered to appear before the Diet of Worms and was asked to recant his writings that taught that we are saved by faith alone, by grace alone, through Christ alone.
He asked for 24 hours to pray and prepare and when he returned he said these famous words:
"Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason - I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.”
But what if you have a guilty conscience? What if you can’t get over that thing you said or did yesterday or thirty years ago?
Joseph’s brothers had lived with the guilt and shame of what they did to Joe for more than twenty years. But their consciences had been seared. They had ignored their consciences so many times that they couldn’t even hear it anymore.
That’s why Joseph had to be tough on them. He was trying to knock something loose in their conscience and cause it it reignite again.
We see that happen after their time alone in the prison. How does God use this time?
First, to cause them to feel guilty. Their admission of guilt and acceptance of responsibility caused them to be more open to the forgiveness of God.
Second, they experienced Godly fear and recognized that God’s hand was upon them. This would lead to the only hope for forgiveness.
Third, they experienced Godly sorrow. This grief over their sins could led them to truly repent of their sins.
[Slide] “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2 Cor 7:10)
There is a difference between remorse and repentance.
A man wrote a letter to the IRS and said that he had cheated on his income taxes. He felt guilty and was scared they would come after him. He included $75 dollars and said, “If I can’t sleep tonight, I’ll send the rest.”
Remorse is being sorry you got caught. Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of heart that leads to a change of your direction.
When I was younger, I treated girls terribly but I really didn’t feel guilty about. I wasn’t a Christian and I just didn’t care how much pain I caused them. I couldn’t help it. I was broken and damaged. It was their fault for dating me.
Then I became a Christian and I started to feel bad about the way I had treated girls in my past.
But then I became a youth pastor. And I sat with these little girls in my office weeping hysterically about how some stupid boy had lied and broke their heart.
I was destroyed, in a good way. My conscience hit me with a shovel over and over again until I admitted that I caused pain just like that.
It was about that time that all us old people found FaceBook and I took a deep breath and wrote a private message to my college girlfriend, who had been absolutely terrible to.
I admitted that I was wrong, apologized for specific instances, and sincerely asked for her forgiveness.
I hadn’t talk to her her 20 years and had no idea how she would respond. A couple of days later, she sent a message back that said, “I forgave you a long time ago. My husband and I moved to Arizona and were invited to church. We both are now born again believers. Thank you for your message. We were kids but your repentance means a lot. “
These situations don’t always result in happy endings, as Ken Marley reminded me at Bible study. But I had to reach out to her. It’s really hard to live with a guilty conscience.
As we end this year, let me tell you that the only hope for a clean conscience is Jesus.
all of your sin can be gone
You can be reconciled to God
We can be forgiven and our consciences can be cleansed
How do you do this?
First, confess it to God:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)
Second, if you can, try to make it right.
I had a client who stole a bunch of pornography VHS when he was younger. He didn’t know how to return them, and really didn’t want to return them, so he made a donation to a pornography blocking website ministry.
I had an old boss that called me and invited me to breakfast. He started the breakfast like this, “Jeff, I believed I sinned against you when you worked for me. I want to listen to you today and make amends for anything I did to hurt you.” I would be telling him a story and he would stop me and say, “That was wrong of me. Will you forgive me for that?”
Third, if you can’t make it right, then give it to God. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, the other person doesn’t want to hear of our repentance.
Romans 12:18 states, “As far as it depends upon you, live at peace with all men.”
Fourth, memorize Isaiah 1:18:
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18.
Ending Video: Not Guilty Anymore by Aaron Keyes
