Stand before God and Man with no Deception
A. Come clean then be consoled
B. God’s providence provided to Israel
C. Jacob’s Joy
Boy, the gimmicks we see today to get people to do things.
I don’t know, I almost thought when I came out to Dillingham and Bristol Bay that we wouldn’t see the gimmicks any longer.
How surprised I was to see them, but with something else added. Here we have an advertised special, if you go in and have a problem with the vendor—they often will tell you to go to the other places and get it if you don’t like their price or service. The problem I know and they know---are that there are no other vendors or service providers any closer than Anchorage.
I have never enjoyed being around monopolies. As a fisherman and trapper in Louisiana, I knew that the buyers of our fish and hides would always make the money. We would go out in the cold and weather to catch their products, but they were the ones who always made the money. I didn’t like it as a child, and I don’t like it as a grown man.
My bible tells me that I should be transparent—doing good always to bring glory and honor to God. I know several Christians have a problem with doing good to people who do bad to you. Our glorious example of Jesus Christ gives us a perfect example in his being taken, brought before the Religious leaders of the day and the Roman leader of Jerusalem on false charges, beaten, ridiculed, then put to death on a cross.
We will see Joseph give us an example of this love. We have walked with Joseph as he tested his brother’s hearts after all the years he has been away. Finally, feeling that he knows that they have changed and feel bad for their offenses against him, he confesses who he is and consoles his brothers.
A. Come clean then be consoled
Genesis 45:1-8 (KJV)
Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. [2] And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. [3] And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. [4] And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. [5] Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. [6] For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. [7] And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. [8] So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
We will remember that Joseph let Judah go on, and heard all he had to say. Joseph found his brother’s were humbled for their sins towards him, for Judah had mentioned him twice in his speech. They were respectful to their father, and very defensive and caring of their brother Benjamin.
Now they were ripe for the comfort which God designed, by making himself known.
“Joseph could not refrain himself” Joseph is so overwhelmed at his brother’s cares and concerns over Jacob, Benjamin, and there feeling towards the wrongs do to him that he has to tell them.
Can you restrain yourself from proclaiming God’s goodness to you and your family, church, and community?
We should come before Christ and God likewise. I am so awed by the magnificence of all that God is accomplishing about me, that I cannot refrain from coming to Him with all.
Joseph ordered all his attendants to withdraw. In like manner, Christ makes himself and his loving-kindness known to his people personally, out of the sight and hearing of the world.
Are you partaking of this glorious offering of personally communing with Christ continually?
Joseph shed tears of tenderness and the strong affection he felt towards his family, throwing off the superiority with which he had behaved toward his brothers.
This shows a representation of the Divine compassion of God toward returning repentant sinners.
“I am Joseph, your brother.” This would humble them even more for their sin in selling him, but would likewise encourage them to hope for kind treatment.
Similarly, Christ convinced Paul, when he said, I am Jesus; and when he would comfort his disciples after His resurrection when he said, It is I, be not afraid. When Christ manifests himself to his people, he encourages us to draw near to him with a true heart.
Joseph does likewise, and shows them, that whatever they thought to do against him, God had brought good out of it. Sinners must grieve, repent, and be angry with themselves for their sins, though God may bring good out of it, for that is no thanks to them.
Joseph is able to rejoice in all that he has suffered to be a part of God’s greater glory in preserving his family and the nation of Israel. Just as Christ rejoiced in the sure knowledge that was spoken from the cross “It is done.” Taking that great burden of death away from all who would believe on Him.
We should not think less of sin but remember that when we truly are repentant and seek to be more Christ-like in our nature, then God preserves us from greater evil. We are also prepared for the adversities that we will encounter, that even within these trials we should rejoice as Joseph in what God has brought about in our lives.
Let us rejoice that after true reconciliation with the Lord Jesus, sweet communion with him follows.
B. God’s providence provided to Israel
Genesis 45:9-14 (KJV)
Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not: [10] And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: [11] And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty. [12] And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you. [13] And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither. [14] And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. [15] Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.
[16] And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, Joseph’s brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. [17] And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan; [18] And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land. [19] Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. [20] Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours. [21] And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. [22] To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment. [23] And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way. [24] So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.
Joseph next sends word to his father about what God has done in his life “He hath made me a father to Pharaoh—signifying the prominent position to which God had taken him in Egypt.
Thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen—This was probably the district that had been allotted to Joseph by the king of Egypt. Goshen was the most easterly
province of Lower Egypt, not far from the Arabian Gulf, lying next to Canaan. The trip was one of approximately three hundred miles. Joseph makes Heliopolis, the city of Joseph’s father-in-law, the place of the Israelites’ residence.
God’s providence is showered on Joseph, as this is the most fertile region in Egypt at this time. As when we are in fellowship with Christ and the people of Christ, God’s providence does shine upon us also. Let us strive to be in proper fellowship as we are called to in God’s holy word.
He fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck—Joseph shows the emotion that he has been holding back since first seeing his brother Benjamin. This is the same feeling as shown by God in the parable of the Prodigal Son. God running out and falling on His lost ones neck, kissing and consoling the repentant sinner who chooses to return to His love and guidance.
Regard not your stuff—Don’t pack, you don’t need to—God has prepared your way. When we initially come to Christ, a lot of us want to bring our stuff. Unfortunately, our stuff is of no use in building God’s kingdom and often leads to years of semi commitment until God is able to work our stuff out of us, and we fully give ourselves to God and His work in and through our lives. God is able to provide all our needs wherever He sends us.
Joseph gave them wagons…Changes of raiment—As Joseph gives his brothers good gifts, Christ told His disciples that if we as earthly parents know how to give our children good gifts, than our heavenly father who knows all our needs is able to give us only the best of gifts. I think of clothes that will not wax old when I come into God’s presence. How much more suitable to think of than the desires that consume so many of us today—Amen.
Meat for his father by the way—Joseph shows honor to his father Jacob Israel, as you and I are called to do also. We honor our parents in providing for them in necessities, listening to them, caring for them, and ensuring our actions in life are honorable to them. Joseph shows his honor by sending some delicacies, similar to the savory food which Isaac loved, to his aged father, and to testify to the respect of his son.
Joseph next cautions his brothers, See that ye fall not out by the way—This prudent caution was given by Joseph, to prevent his brothers from accusing one another for having sold him; and to prevent them from envying Benjamin, for the superior favor shown him by his brother. It is strange, but so it is, that children of the same parents are apt to envy each other, fall out, and contend; and therefore the exhortation in this verse should be taken as wise stewardship by Joseph, which resembled the wise stewardship shown by Jacob and ultimately the wise stewardship which God calls you and I to in all our undertakings.
C. Jacob’s Joy
Genesis 45:25-28 (KJV)
[25] And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, [26] And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not. [27] And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived: [28] And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.
To hear that Joseph is alive is too good to be true; Jacob faints, for he believes it not.
Think about your child who you love, now think about not seeing him for fifteen to twenty years, all the while thinking him dead. Then one day you learn that your child is indeed alive and well. You well might faint.
We faint in our walk with Christ, because we do not believe.
At length, Jacob is convinced of the truth. Jacob was old, and did not expect to live long. He says, Let my eyes be refreshed with this sight before they are closed, and then I need no more to make me happy in this world.
This should be a similar feeling for a Christian to whom Jesus has manifested Himself as a Brother and a Friend too. The same people who once were his despisers, his enemies. He assures them of his love and the riches of his grace. Jesus commands them to lay aside envy, anger, malice, and strife, and to live in peace with each other. He teaches them to give up the world for him and the fullness He is able to bring into their lives. Jesus supplies all that is needful in bringing them home to Himself, that where He is they may be also. And though, when he at last sends for his people, they may for a time feel some doubts and fears, yet the thought of seeing his glory and of being with him, will enable them to say, It is enough, I am willing to die; and I go to see, and to be with the Beloved of my soul.
Are you able to say today that you are prepared to stand before God with no deception today?
We can only come to this conclusion by starting at the beginning. We all must come to a point in our lives where we accept that we are sinners.
The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory or God.” Other the Jesus Christ in His triune nature “God with us” has ever walked this sod sinless. No exceptions. This is the first thing we must come to terms with. No matter how many Girl Scout cookies you have bought, raffles for good causes you have participated in, nor meals you have served to the needy for a good cause is able to make you sinless. God did take care of this for you and I though “in that while we were yet sinners, Jesus Christ came…” God has prepared a way—where there seemed to be no way. If we confess our sins to Christ, believe on Him—that He is the son of God, and ask Him into our hearts, He will come to lead and guide you to God for righteousness sake.
I pray that you have already taken the above steps to asking God into your heart and life. If anyone here has not, I ask that you come forward now, I would love to pray with you.
If you haven’t been living a life free of deception and wish to give it to God to start to walk in the manner that God has called you too, please come up and I would love to pray with you. If you have anything God has placed on your heart to come forward to pray and ask forgiveness for, please come.
We would love to lift up prayers for you, your family, and friends. Please let us know of your prayer requests and praises when your prayers are answered by God.
Closing Prayer.
