2024.11.17.Sermon Notes. Genesis 44-45. Repentance and Reconciliation
William Akehurst, HSWC
BIG IDEA: We begin to see repentance, change of heart in the lives of Joseph’s brothers. And that Repentance leads to Reconciliation.
Scriptures: Genesis 44:1-34, Hebrews 12:2, Genesis 45:1-28, Zechariah 12:10
Joseph Tests His Brothers and sends them on their way.
Genesis 44:1-3 Joseph again puts money in his brothers’ bags of grain.
1 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack. 2 Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain money.” So he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.
3 As soon as the morning dawned, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys.
Having been treated well, their sacks of grain full, and Simeon out of prison, the brothers left Egypt.
Yet once again, unknown to them, their grain sacks contained the money they paid for the grain, but this time, Joseph ordered that his own cup, the silver cup, to be hidden in the sack of Benjamin.
Genesis 44:4-5 Joseph’s steward confronts the brothers on their journey back to Canaan.
4 When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Get up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good?
5 Is not this the one from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed practices divination? You have done evil in so doing.’ ”
Why have you repaid evil for good?
The trap had been set, and his brothers caught.
Joseph, the man who was guided by HOLY SPIRIT, once again tested the hearts of his brothers, bringing them to complete repentance.
He indeed practices divination
In this era, divination practices used devices such as sacred cups.
The point being that this was a special cup belonging to Joseph, and that taking the cup was a crime the brothers had committed.
Genesis 44:6-10 The brothers claim they are innocent of theft.
6 So he overtook them, and he spoke to them these same words.
7 And they said to him, “Why does my lord say these words? Far be it from us that your servants should do such a thing. 8 Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? 9 With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.”
10 And he said, “Now also let it be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and you shall be blameless.”
Far be it from us that your servants should do such a thing
The brothers were confident in each other that they didn’t possess the cup.
With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.
The brothers declared that the thief should be killed and the other brothers would become slaves.
Genesis 44:11-13 The cup is found in Benjamin’s sack.
11 Then each man speedily let down his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack. 12 So he searched. He began with the oldest and left off with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 Then they tore their clothes, and each man loaded his donkey and returned to the city.
The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack
The “planted” evidence was found.
According to their promise, Benjamin, Jacob’s now favored and protected son, would die.
They tore their clothes
They were horrified that Benjamin would be put to death.
This was the worst thing that could happen to them.
The cup was found in the grain sack of Benjamin, Jacob’s favored son, and now he would be held in Egypt, not to return to his father.
We see a profound change in the hearts of the brothers. Once having not cared for their father or favored brother, they now were concerned for their brother Benjamin, and the hurt they would cause on Jacob.
Each man loaded his donkey and returned
When Joseph was taken as a slave, the brothers allowed him to go and thought nothing of it. Now, they were willing to stand with Benjamin as he faced slavery or death. This demonstrated a significant change in the heart and attitude of Joseph’s brothers.
Genesis 44:14-15 The brothers humbly return to an angry Egyptian official (Joseph).
14 So Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there; and they fell before him on the ground. 15 And Joseph said to them, “What deed is this you have done? Did you not know that such a man as I can certainly practice divination?”
They fell before him on the ground
They fell in true humility before the Egyptian Leader. This is now a 3rd time of bowing, as Joseph had dreamed over 20 years before.
Did you not know that such a man as I can certainly practice divination
Joseph spoke roughly once again, still playing the part of an Egyptian.
But we know that divination is not allowed for a Hebrew who worshipped the ONE TRUE GOD, YAHWEH.
Genesis 44:16-17 Judah commits himself and all the brothers to stick with Benjamin, even as slaves in Egypt.
16 Then Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; here we are, my lord’s slaves, both we and he also with whom the cup was found.”
17 But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so; the man in whose hand the cup was found, he shall be my slave. And as for you, go up in peace to your father.”
God has found out the iniquity of your servants
Judah reveals God’s working in the hearts and lives of the brothers.
Judah probably thought that they would spend the rest of their lives as slaves in Egypt.
While the brothers were innocent of stealing the cup, they were guilty of far greater sins.
In the same way, we might take pride because we are innocent of some sin or another, yet we are guilty of far greater. You can’t hide from your sin. Time does not erase the guilt of your sin; only the blood of Jesus can.
22 years before, when the brothers thought to kill Joseph but threw him into a pit, he cried out to them, pleading with anguish (Genesis 42:21).
Here we are, my lord’s slaves, both we and he also with whom the cup was found.
Judah insists that the brothers would stay with Benjamin as slaves.
Judah intercedes for Benjamin.
Genesis 44:18-23 Judah recounts the previous conversations with the Egyptian official.
Judah Intercedes for Benjamin
18 Then Judah came near to him and said: “O my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s hearing, and do not let your anger burn against your servant; for you are even like Pharaoh. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’ 20 And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, who is young; his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him.’ 21 Then you said to your servants, Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’ 22 And we said to my lord, ‘The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ 23 But you said to your servants, Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.’
Judah makes a desperate appeal to the Egyptian official even though everything looked bad with the planted evidence found against them and thereby sealing their fate.
Genesis 44:24-29 Judah recounts the previous conversation with his father Jacob.
24 “So it was, when we went up to your servant my father, that we told him the words of my lord. 25 And our father said, ‘Go back and buy us a little food.’ 26 But we said, ‘We cannot go down; if our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down; for we may not see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ 27 Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons; 28 and the one went out from me, and I said, “Surely he is torn to pieces”; and I have not seen him since. 29 But if you take this one also from me, and calamity befalls him, you shall bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.’
Judah tells the Egyptian official the events of Genesis 43:1-10
Genesis 44:30-32 Judah explains why it is so important that Benjamin return to Canaan.
30 “Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life, 31 it will happen, when he sees that the lad is not with us, that he will die. So your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave. 32 For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father forever.’
When he sees that the lad is not with us, that he will die
20 years before, Joseph’s brothers didn’t care about their father when they reported Joseph’s supposed death (Genesis 37:31-35).
Judah showed they were now greatly concerned for the feelings and welfare of their father. This was more evidence of a change of heart — to care when you didn’t care before.
This is especially significant when we think of how deeply Jacob, Judah’s father, must have hurt him and the other brothers through the years of his constant favoring of Joseph and Benjamin. This was a deep wound; yet Judah’s heart was changed to care even about the father who wounded him so deeply.
For your servant became surety for the lad to my father
Judah also made his request personal. Judah’s own life and standing before his father would be destroyed if Benjamin never returned.
Genesis 44:33-34 Judah offers his life for Benjamin and his father.
33 Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. 34 For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would come upon my father?”
Please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord
Judah offers his life in exchange of Benjamin.
This was a dramatic change from 22 years before when the brothers did not care about Joseph, Benjamin, or even their father Jacob.
Judah distinguished himself as the one willing to be a substitutionary sacrifice, out of love for his father and for his brethren. This is love — heroic self-sacrifice.
POINT: JESUS distinguished HIMSELF as the ONE to be our substitution in death, out of GOD’s LOVE for all mankind.
Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
How shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me
We see a change in Judah.
Judah suggested selling Joseph 20 years before (Genesis 37:26-27).
Now, he offers to lay down his life for the “favored” brother.
This shows transformation happening in the lives of the brothers.
We are beginning to see evidence of a positive change of heart beginning in Joseph’s brothers
• They previously resented Joseph and his favor with their father, but now they didn’t resent Benjamin’s favor with this Egyptian leader.
• They didn’t argue or accuse each other of the stolen cup. They stood together, trusting each other.
• They didn’t abandon Benjamin as they had Joseph, instead the humbled themselves and took a stand for Benjamin, even offering themselves as slaves to Egypt, together.
• They knew the problems they were facing was a result of their sin against Joseph.
• They now showed concern for their father Jacob’s wellbeing, not wanting to hurt him with the problems they were facing.
• And Judah, out of his love for his father and brothers, offered himself as the substitute for his brother Benjamin.
Joseph is Reunited with His Brothers
Joseph reveals himself to his brothers.
Genesis 45:1-3 The emotional revelation.
1 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.
3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence.
The Brothers were frightened, dismayed as they stood before Joseph in unbelief of who he is. They didn’t know how to take it. They saw their brother Joseph, for who he had become before them. Perhaps their guilt hit them right then and there. They were speechless.
COMPARE: One day as prophecy states, the Jewish people will see JESUS for who HE is, and will “mourn” in dismay for their unbelief.
Zechariah 12:10
10 “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.
Genesis 45:4-8 Joseph’s testimony.
4 And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
Do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here: Joseph was past his grief and anger and wanted his brothers to also be past it.
God sent me before you to preserve life:
Joseph saw that God’s purpose in it all was greater than the evil of the brothers.
POINT: When we are sinned against, we are tempted to fail in one or both of these areas. We are tempted to pretend that the offending party never did it, or we are tempted to ignore the over-arching hand of God in every circumstance.
God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance
Obviously, Joseph was in Egypt because of the sin of his brothers AND because of GOD’s plan of saving HIS people. GOD can use bad and make good from it.
All the pain, sorrow and suffering that Joseph faced was with purpose.
God used them to preserve his family and provide the conditions for it to become a nation. Joseph was a victim of men, but God turned it around for His glory. None of it was for a loss.
So now it was not you who sent me here, but God:
Joseph realized that GOD ruled over his live. GOD was in control and all things worked together for good.
Joseph sends his brothers home.
Genesis 45:9-15 Joseph tells his brothers to go home and to bring their father and find protection from the famine.
9 “Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry. 10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine.” ’
12 “And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you. 13 So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.”
14 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. 15 Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him.
Thus says your son Joseph:
Joseph sends a message to his father through his brothers.
When Jacob eventually heard this, it was the best news in his lifetime, his favored son, who he had given up for dead, was now alive.
He kissed all his brothers and wept over them:
After it all, Joseph loved his brothers.
Genesis 45:16-24 Pharaoh and Joseph send the brothers home with many gifts.
16 Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well. 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. 18 Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land. 19 Now you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. 20 Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ”
21 Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. 22 He gave to all of them, to each man, changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments. 23 And he sent to his father these things: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father for the journey. 24 So he sent his brothers away, and they departed; and he said to them, “See that you do not become troubled along the way.”
Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey:
Pharaoh blesses Joseph’s family with provision to bring them all to Egypt.
Pharaoh’s Moving and Storage company…if you will. It had to be a grand event.
Genesis 45:25-28 Jacob hears the good news — that Joseph lives.
25 Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father. 26 And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” And Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.
28 Then Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
Jacob was told Joseph was dead and believed it. Now he is told Joseph was alive, and he could not believe it until his sons told him the words of Joseph and showed him the blessings that came to them through Joseph. Then he believed Joseph was alive, though he had not yet seen him.
POINT: The only way people will know JESUS is alive is if we tell them HIS WORDS and show them HIS blessings in our lives.
It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive:
When he finally understood the words his sons were saying that Joseph was alive. It changed Jacobs entire outlook on life. It is enough.
POINT: It takes repentance, a change of heart, mind and spirit in ourselves, to bring us to the point that leads us to reconciliation with GOD.
POINT: It is enough…!
JESUS died on the Cross for our sins, but it didn’t stop there.
HE was dead and buried, but it didn’t stop there.
JESUS Rose from the Grave and Ascended into Heaven, but it didn’t stop there.
By a change of heart, (REPENTANCE),
that leads to faith, “(BELIEVING) in JESUS CHRIST”,
we are given HIS SPIRIT IN us (SALVATION)
and restored (RECONCILIATION) with GOD the FATHER”,
and THAT, is enough!
