Repentance And Reconcilliation - Genesis 44-45

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?”