Genesis 43 - 44

 

Genesis 43 – Another Trip

The food finally ran out and Jacob’s family needed to go back to Egypt for more.  Judah persuaded Jacob to let Benjamin go back to Egypt with him and that he would be responsible for his safety.  Jacob feared he wouldn’t see his Benjamin again, but agreed.  He recognized that only God would protect them.  He said, “If I am bereaved, I a bereaved.” – Gen. 43:14.  Sometimes we need to let go of control and trust God.  That’s what Jacob did. He surrendered to God’s will.  He sent his 11 sons back to Egypt.  Jacob sent gifts and doubled the money. 

When the brothers arrived, they told Joseph’s steward about the silver found in their bags and made it clear they wanted to return it.  The steward assured them they weren’t accused of stealing and that God had given it to them and they shouldn’t be afraid.  Then Simeon was brought out to them.  The brothers were taken into Joseph’s house and given water to wash their feet and fodder for their donkeys.

The brothers received blessings of love and kindness from Joseph without really knowing who he was.  God gives us love and blessings even when we don’t recognize from who our blessings come.

When Joseph returned to his residence, they presented him with gifts and bowed before him, once again fulfilling Joseph’s dreams as a youth.  He began to ask questions about his father and his emotions grew.  Then when Joseph saw Benjamin, he was deeply moved and left the room to weep in private.  When he returned, he ordered a celebration with a feast.  Joseph still didn’t tell them who he was.  He wanted to test them further.  In the past they had been jealous and cruel.  Joseph needed to know if their attitudes had changed.

There is joy and celebration in heaven when someone receives Christ as their Savior.  There is also a celebration when someone falls away from the Lord and then returns.  Maybe you have left him, but He has never left you.  All you have to do is come back to the Father and ask His forgiveness.

The brothers were seated at the table in order of their age.  The brothers were astonished as to how Joseph could have known their ages.  Joseph ate by himself, because Egyptians weren’t allowed to eat with Hebrews.  I am sure Joseph listened and observed his brothers as they ate.  Benjamin’s portion was five greater than the others.  This was probably another test to see if the brothers would be jealous of Benjamin.

Principle:  When things seem to be against you, trust in the God who is for you.

Joseph is a picture of Jesus.  Jesus wants to eat with us and He wants a close relationship with us.  “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” – Rev. 3:20.

Genesis 44 – Another Test

Before his brothers left for home Joseph gave them a final test.  He instructed the steward to put his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack.  With this test Joseph gave his brothers the opportunity to make Benjamin a slave.  Maybe they were now jealous of Benjamin.  This would tell Joseph if they had truly changed. 

The next day they left, but hadn’t gone far when Joseph’s steward was instruction to go after them and accuse them of theft of his cup.  Of course it was found in Benjamin’s sack.  Judah told Joseph that they are his slaves and that God had caught them.  He was referring to their sin committed against Joseph as a youth knowing they would have to pay.  Joseph pretended he didn’t know what they are talking about and let them go except for Benjamin.

Judah pleaded for Benjamin’s life and told Joseph the whole story of what they had done years ago.  Judah showed love and concern for the grief it would cause his father if he lost Benjamin.  He laid his heart before Joseph.  He volunteered to take Benjamin’s place and serve as a slave in Egypt.  What an amazing change!  He showed great humility and real repentance.

Principle:  God uses daily life challenges to test our character and turn our focus to Him. 

Do you have regrets?

Is there some sin you need to repent?

What do your daily challenges reveal about you?

Is there someone you need to forgive?

Are you tempted to be bitter and seek revenge?

You may think you have already forgiven them, but have you truly?

Will you be able the repay the evil with good?  That is the true forgiveness.

Can others see evidence of God’s work in your life?

When has God used a fearful time in your life to accomplish His purpose?

Is there a difficulty in your life that requires you to give God control?

 Join me here next week for the next chapter in Genesis.  -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Genesis 41 - 42

 

Genesis 41 – From the Prison to the Palace

The sovereignty of God is a major theme in the whole story of Joseph and it’s very obvious God had His hand on all the events of Joseph’s life.  Joseph had honored the Lord, whether he was in Potiphar’s house or in prison and the Lord continued to honor Joseph.

Pharaoh had 2 strange dreams.  In the first, 7 thin cows ate 7 fat cows.  In the second, 7 thin stems of grain ate 7 good ones.  He was very troubled and didn’t know what they meant.  He could find no one to interpret them.  Then finally the cupbearer remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh that Joseph could interpret dreams.  Joseph was brought out of prison to Pharaoh and as he stood before him, Joseph refused to take any glory for himself.  He resisted temptation and gave the glory to God.  He said, “I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” – Gen 41:16. 

Pharaoh realized his dreams were from God as God showed Joseph that both dreams had the same meaning.  For 7 years there would be a good harvest, but afterwards there would be 7 years of famine.  God revealed to Joseph what Pharaoh should do.  Joseph advised Pharaoh to store food from the good harvests so it would be available during the famine.  “Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you.’” – Gen. 41:39. 

God allows tragedies, but He also can send them, “I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.” – Is. 45:7.  God is in control of everything, but we shouldn’t just sit back and wait and do nothing and say it’s God’s will.  We need to be like Joseph.  He had knowledge of the coming famine so he made preparations.  All the while he was a witness to a sovereign God who is in control.

Pharaoh was so impressed by Joseph that he was made governor over all of Egypt and in charge of the food.  He was put in charge of Pharaoh’s house, his business, the people, and authority over all the land of Egypt.  Joseph was a slave at 17 and at 30 he was second in the kingdom behind Pharaoh.

In Joseph’s God-given wisdom he saw the coming crisis and put a plan into place.  He understood the problem.  He put the right people in place and prepared for what was to come.  Pharaoh saw the Spirit of God upon Joseph.  Others can see the power of the Holy Spirit in Christians today.  They see Him in our character, in our humility, and in how we treat others.

Joseph was given new clothes.  He went from the coat his father gave him, to the cloak with which Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him, to garments given to him by Pharaoh.  He was given a new name.  He was given a wife and God blessed him with two sons.

The famine came as Joseph said it would and covered all the earth.  The entire world had to come to Egypt to buy grain.  Famine is not a good thing, but God used it in His plan for Joseph’s life.

Principles: 

Waiting is common in the life of a Christian.

Sometimes it seems good deeds are unrewarded.

When we think God isn’t doing anything, He is developing our character.

God can be trusted for His perfect timing.

How often do you ask God for His wisdom and discernment?

Do you give God the glory for your talents, abilities and success?

Are you prepared for upcoming hardships in your life?

God can speak to us in our dreams, but today God usually speaks to us through His Word, the Bible.  In those days they didn’t have the Bible so it was very common for God to speak to people through dreams.

Joseph was patient in waiting on God’s timing; he was courageous in living out his convictions; he was diligent to carry out the plan God had revealed to him; he lived a righteous life so Pharaoh could see the Spirit of God; and he remembered God’s faithfulness to him.  God had His hand on all the events of Joseph’s life: his dreams as a boy, his brother’s selling him into slavery, his being sold to Potiphar, his imprisonment, his release, and his authority over Egypt. 

When you are waiting on God to complete His purpose in your life, live with confidence that what He is doing or allowing is being used to accomplish His purpose.  While you are waiting, continue to live faithfully and courageously, trusting Him for your future.

Genesis 42 – The Examination

There were 7 years of abundance followed by 7 years of famine just as God had told Joseph.  All the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph because the famine was severe throughout the entire world. 

Jacob learned that there was food in Egypt so he sent 10 of his sons to Egypt to buy food leaving the youngest, Benjamin at home.  When they arrived they bowed down before the Joseph who was governor of Egypt.  This was the fulfillment of Joseph’s dreams as a youth.  Remember 20 years ago Joseph told them his dreams that they would bow down to him.  His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us?  Will you actually rule us?” – Gen. 37:8. 

Joseph recognized his brothers, but they didn’t recognize him because he used an interrupter.  He began testing their loyalty.  They gave Joseph all kinds of details about themselves and their families.  Joseph was in complete authority and could have done anything with them that he wanted.  He put them through a series of questions probably hoping they would think about how it felt for Joseph when they mistreated and sold Him.  God does this to us sometimes.  He lets us think about what we have done.  He wants us to realize that we have sinned so we will not do it again.  He gives us time to ask for forgiveness.

Joseph is another picture of Jesus.  Jesus sees who we really are long before we see who He is.  He recognizes you and all your flaws and still He loves you.

After 3 days Joseph tested them again wanting to know how they felt about their younger brother, Benjamin and if they would treat him as they had Joseph in his youth.  He wanted to know if they had changed.  He knew his father loved Benjamin and I am sure he was anxious to see his brother.  The brothers realized they were being punished for what they had done to Joseph many years ago.  “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 upon us.” – Gen. 42:21. 

Guilt makes us afraid and uncomfortable.  Unresolved sin comes back to haunt us.  They acknowledged their actions as sin and when Joseph saw this, he wept.  He was overcome with emotion as he saw God work in the conscience of his brothers.   The brothers didn’t deserve anything Joseph had to offer.  When we sin we don’t deserve anything, but God gives us grace. 

Joseph told them to go get Benjamin and bring him back to Egypt.  Joseph not only sent food with them, but secretly put their money back in their sacks so the food didn’t cost them anything.  He bound his brother Simeon in front of them and kept him in prison to insure they would return.  This probably showed them they too are bound by their sin against Joseph.  The only way to get Simeon back was for them to confess their sin to their father.  Sin binds us, too stealing our joy.  We need to confess it to our heavenly Father.  He already knows about it anyway. 

The money put in their sacks was another test - a test of their hearts.  Would they be deceptive and hide it; would they lie about it and make up a story; would they be proud and think they deserved it; would they simply think nothing of it?

We are tested by what God give us, too.  He does this to develop our character and grow our faith.  Joseph accepted no payment for the food.  Jesus accepts no payment from us.  Salvation is free.  He only wants us to appreciate and be grateful for what He has given us. 

Even 20 years later the sin against Joseph is still fresh on their minds.  His brothers returned home and told everything to their father, Jacob.  They didn’t lie to him as they had done in their youth.  They respected him.  Jacob found the money in their sacks and feared that Simeon will be killed. 

As time went by they needed to buy more food.  Jacob didn’t want Benjamin to go back with them as Joseph had instructed.  Reuben pleaded to take Benjamin back offering his 2 sons’ lives, if he didn’t return with both Simeon and Benjamin.  But Jacob said no.

Reuben was willing to lay down his own sons to reassure Jacob and rescue his brothers.  He didn’t have to, of course.  However, God did give the life of His own Son, Jesus to deliver us and rescue us.

Have you sinned against someone as much as 20 years ago?

Have you asked them for forgiveness?

You can brush your sin under the rug, but one day, God will stir your conscience as He did for these brothers.  Your sin will flash before your eyes.  God could have washed His hands of Joseph’s brothers and us for our sins, but He loves us too much to let us go without a fight.  He uses tough love by bring crisis into our lives that forces us to address our sin.   He is trying to awaken us.  He put Jacob and his family in the middle of a famine in order to draw them to Himself.

Are you going through a tough time?

Is God trying to awaken your conscience?

Could it be that God is trying to get your attention?

Principle:  God wants us to realize our sin while giving us time to repent.

 Join me here next week for the next chapter in Genesis.  -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Genesis 39 - 40

 To be a great leader you need to be trained.  Joseph’s father, Jacob tried to spare Joseph from responsibilities of work and treated him special.  God knew Joseph could never be the kind of leader God wanted until he learned to be a servant.  God used sufferings and disciplines in Joseph’s life to prepare him to become the second ruler over all of Egypt while having a servant’s heart. 

Genesis 39 – The Faithfulness of Joseph

After Joseph’s brothers sold him to a caravan of Midianites.  He was bought by Potiphar who was one of the Pharaoh’s officials and brought to Egypt as a slave, but God hadn’t abandoned Joseph.  God’s divine plan positioned Joseph in Potiphar’s house.  There Potiphar realized that the Lord was with Joseph.  He saw that Joseph had many skills, was responsible and capable.  Everything he did was successful so he was given authority over everything in Potiphar’s house.  God’s promise to Abraham was happening.  ”I will bless those who bless you….” – Gen. 12:3. 

If you want to be great in God’s kingdom, learn to be the servant of all (Matt. 20:26).  Jesus has many titles, but one of the most meaningful is Servant of the Lord (Matt. 12:18).  By choosing to be a servant for God you will see many blessings.  Joseph was a servant and a slave, but free.  His brothers were free, but slaves to their secrets, lies, shame, and guilt.

Potiphar trusted Joseph.  Joseph also impressed Potiphar’s wife.  He was well-build and handsome and she wanted to sleep with him.  Remember Joseph was a slave and slaves had little choice in the something their masters wanted, but Joseph knew God does not permit such behavior.  She tempted him day after day, but refused her.  She became very angry.  On day she lied and said he tried to rape her.  Instead of Potiphar putting Joseph to death, he put him in prison probably because he really didn’t believe his wife.  He knew what kind or person she was and what kind of man Joseph was.

Joseph, like Jesus, didn’t defend himself.  Instead he suffered for someone else’s sin.  Jesus resisted all temptation and was punished for the sins others.  He is our example and hope when we fall into temptation.

This story of Joseph and the Potiphar’s wife sounds like a soap opera.  Obviously, this story is intended to teach us the importance of fleeing sexual immorality.  Joseph is proof that we can be morally pure in a polluted world. 

How can we resist the temptation to sin?  Be like Joseph.  Be aware of your situation and where you are vulnerable.  Be aware of how temptation works.  Make a commitment to purity and integrity in all of life.  Be focused on your responsibilities and not on your own needs.  Then when tempted, run!

The enemy loves to temp God’s people.  He lives to temp those who say they love God.  That was Joseph.  Temptation is to be refused.  We are to flee or run from it.  We all have temptations day after day just like Joseph.  Our temptations may not be sexual in nature, but they are temptations.  “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.“ – 1 Cor. 10:13.  God provided Joseph a way to escape as He does for all of us, but it’s up to us to take it.

Again Joseph got what he didn’t deserve.  He was sent to prison.  God had blessed him in the pit and as a slave and God continued to bless him in prison.  Nothing could change God’s plan for Joseph’s life.  God was with him and caused the prison guard to like Joseph.  The prison guard put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners. 

Can others trust you?

Do others recognize that God is with you?

Do you work as if you are working for the Lord?

What do you do when you are tempted?

Lessons from Genesis 39:

God is always with His faithful. – Gen. 39:2, 3, 21, 23

Proper service to your master brings grace and promotion. – Gen. 39:4

Faithful servants can be trusted. – Gen. 39:6

Even the faithful face temptation. – Gen. 39:7

God’s faithful can resist temptation – Gen. 39:8

When we sin, we sin against God. – Gen. 39:8-9

Temptation can be persistent. – Gen. 39:10

God always provides a way to escape sin. – Gen. 39:12

When evil people don’t get what they want, they often lie. – Gen. 39:16-20

The righteous can overcome bad circumstances by righteous living. – Gen 39:21-22

Through the discipline of service Joseph proved to be faithful in the small things so that God could promote him to greater things.

Principle:  God uses suffering and discipline to prepare us for great things.

Genesis 40 – The Cupbearer and the Baker

The king’s cupbearer and baker had offended the king so they were put in prison where they met Joseph.  (A cupbearer is the wine taster for the king.)  Joseph saw that they were sad and depressed.  It was not being in prison that made them sad, but their dreams.  God can always find a way to trouble the sinner’s spirit.  Joseph was not consumed with anger, bitterness or self-pity because he was in prison.  Prison didn’t stop him from serving people.  He was kind and compassionate and saw that they were clearly disturbed by their dreams and he desired to interpret them.  This shows the heart of Joseph. 

They asked if there was anyone who could interpret their dreams.  Joseph reminded them that the interpretations of dreams belong to God and they should tell their dreams to Joseph.  His eagerness to hear and interpret the dreams reveals Joseph’s trust in God and confidence of His love and care for him.  The cupbearer’s eagerness shows that he sensed God’s closeness to Joseph.  When you live a holy life, others notice.

Joseph interpreted the cupbearer’s dream telling him he would be found innocent and would be restored to his office in three days.  He asked the cupbearer to remember him and show him kindness so he could get out of prison.  Joseph interpreted the baker’s dream telling him he would be found guilty and in three days and Pharaoh would cut off his head. 

The dreams came to pass just a Joseph had said.  On the third day the baker’s head was cut off and the cupbearer was restored to his previous position in Pharaoh’s house.  However, the cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.  He may have forgotten Joseph, but God never did.

Joseph was wronged again.  Joseph was left in prison two more years.  This must have been the darkest days of Joseph’s life, but this was part of God’s plan.  The time had not come for Joseph to go back to Pharaoh’s house.  We think that God works slowly and we become impatient, but God knows the best time for things to happen in our lives.  He is in control and it will happen when He says it will.

The cupbearer may have been a terrible person, self-absorbed, or totally ungrateful by forgetting Joseph’s kindness.  We blame the chief cupbearer’s ingratitude to Joseph, yet we ourselves act much more ungratefully to the Lord Jesus.  We should never forget the sufferings, promises and love of our Redeemer.

How has God been kind to you when others have not?

Are you available to those around you who are down?

Will you ask why they are so sad?

Are you willing to share the truth even if it is hard to hear?

Do others see you living a holy life?

Do you sometimes feel that God has forgotten you?  The Lord will never leave you.  Maybe you have left the Lord.  If you have left the Lord, He is calling you back.  He wants to forgive you, but you must first ask Him.

God used all those years preparing Joseph to be content regardless of what was going on around him.  God’s presence in our suffering purifies us.  If your hope is in God, you will not be focused on self-pity, but on serving Him by serving others like Joseph did.  Our disappointments take away hope in ourselves and in others.  The only thing left is hope in God.   He uses our disappointments so our only hope is in Him.

You may be experiencing a sour marriage, a rebellious child, a job loss, or a betrayal of friend.  Let’s be real.  People disappoint us in many ways and even mistreat us.  They can be selfish and uncaring.  You can grow bitter and angry and blame them for your problems of you can trust the sovereign God and rejoice in His grace toward you.  They will stand before God for how they’ve treated you and you will give an account for your attitude and response to them.  So be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, and kind. 

Principles: 

God is always sovereign, even when it seems He has forgotten you.

God uses disappointments so our only hope is in Him.

We see a foreshadowing of the mission of Jesus.  Through his own death and resurrection on the third day, the same day the cupbearer was restored to his position, Jesus came to set the captives free from their prison.  He set people free from the prison of the curse of sin and death.  Joseph shows us Jesus with a message from God.  He brings life or death.  Joseph’s words rescued one prisoner and not the other.  Jesus’ words brings a message that rescues all.

Join me here next week for the next chapter in Genesis.  -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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