Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Genesis

Genesis 45 03/16/03

Intro: Why do things happen the way they do in life?

Why, for instance, when you are really in a hurry to get somewhere and you hit every light? And why is it that whenever you see others speeding there are never any cops around…but when you accidentally go over the speed limit, the red and blue flashing lights are right behind you?

 Ask people on the street why things happen the way they do and you will probably hear… ‘It’s just fate, luck, coincidence, there is no rational explanation to anything…stuff happens.’

But, for the Christian who is seeking to walk in God’s presence and power, they always know the ultimate answer to that question. ‘God is in control, and it will further His will’. But Scripture also gives us another reason…it is for our good. Even though we may not always see it, we have the assurance from God that it will work out to further His will and work toward our good.

Joseph understood this ever so clearly. But, it was time for the rest of his family to have their eyes opened. You see, when we know and accept that God is in control, we are on the road of peace.

Read: Genesis 45:1-2
 It seems no one told Joseph that real men don’t cry. Joseph didn’t hold back his feeling, cover them up or deny them. He let them out..he wept openly and loudly. God created us to be emotional people and we shouldn’t try to deny that, whether it is in the home, or in God’s house.

Notice that once again Joseph excuses all but his brothers from the room. You see, something this intimate, this important must be done with just those who are involved..Joseph and his brothers.

They were alone. His brothers had repented. It’s time for Joseph to reveal himself.

Read: Genesis 45:3
 ‘aaa-nee-yo-saphe’ In their native tongue he told his brothers ‘I am Joseph’. Silence filled the room. His brothers were stunned, they were unable to for their sin against him.

Read: Genesis 45:4-8
 The revelation of who he really was caused his brothers to shrink back, to move away from Joseph in fear. But notice what Joseph does, he calls them to come closer to him. To deliver the decisive blow of judgment for their sin? No, to show them compassion.

 Then he tells them ‘Don’t be distressed or angry with yourselves for selling me here because it was to save lives that God sent be ahead of you’. Why would he say that..they were guilty as…sin?

First, before he had revealed himself to them, even before they repented, he had already forgiven them.

Second, what they did, God used for good. Their act of sin was used by God and turned in to an act of salvation….Have we heard that before ..perhaps in the NT?

Read: Acts 2:23

SIDEBAR: What we are talking about is the providence of God: God acting, intervening in the lives of people to effect His will.This is part of the whole Sovereignty of God/Free will of man debate that has gone on for the last few hundred years.
It’s the Calvinist/Arminian controversy which these two books go to great lengths to defend. (‘The Potter’s Freedom’ and ‘What Love Is This’) Scholars and those in academia will no doubt argue over the sovereignty of God and the free will of man forever. But I think it is really very simple, at least in practical terms.

First and foremost, God is God and we aren’t and because He is God, He can do whatever He wants..to, in and through us. He can use our faithful choices as well as our sinful choices to bring about His will. That is of first and above everything else.

Second, Humans have been created with intellect,  emotion and WILL.We have been created with the ability to make choices in life. To deny our free choice is to deny God’s creative act.

ILL: Perhaps William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army said it best…‘Work as if everything depended on you. Pray as if everything depended on God.’

 For me this controversy ends here in Genesis 45. You intended it for evil (free will) but God intended it for good (sovereignty of God). Make sense?

Read: Genesis 45:9-13
 Go get our father and your families. Bring them here to Egypt and I will provide for all of you. Here is the first mention of the benefits of reconcilliation.

Read: Genesis 45:14-15
 After Joseph forgave them, after he revealed himself to them, after he promised to provide for them. His compassion, his deep, deep love for his brothers was expressed in an effort to reassure them that all he had said was true.
What did he do? He hugged and kissed them. Not a group hug. I believe he hugged and kissed each one individually. I believe that he called their name and they each came, individually before him and he hugged and kissed them. I believe he did this to assure each one of his brothers that they were forgiven and loved.

Sidebar: God didn’t right click on all those who will eventually get saved and batch file them into salvation.
        He calls us by name, one at a time.
        He reveals Himself to us, one at a time.
        He stretches out His arms and loves us, one at a time.

Like Joseph and his brothers, God wants to have a personal intimate relationship with each one of His children. This is beautifully pictured here by Joseph’s actions.

Notice it said that after all this his brothers spoke to him. After experiencing and accepting the forgiveness and love of Joseph, they responded with conversation. They spoke to him. Remember in Ch 37 it said they hated him so much they couldn’t speak to him…now, enveloped by his love and forgiveness, they were free to speak openly and honestly to him.

Regret, Remorse, Repentance brings Reconciliation. And Reconciliation brings Peace.

Read: Genesis 45:16-24
 Provision..I will take care of you. Do you think Joseph made that decision on his own? Probably not. Most likely he had already discussed the possibility of his family coming to stay in Egypt with Pharaoh. And it is Pharaoh himself, who provides such lavish gifts on Josephs family.

 Pharaoh promised the best that Egypt had to offer. Wonderful land, abundant prosperity and fullness of life.  Notice Pharaoh told them not to worry about their ‘stuff’. They wouldn’t need their stuff in the land of plenty. Pharaoh will bless them with all they need.

Read: Genesis 45:25-28
 Say what? Joseph is alive? Then I believe Jacob suffers a minor heart attack (a literal Hebrew translation is that his heart fainted) Because he didn’t believe what they were saying to him. But God revived Jacob’s heart by increasing his faith. Jacob believed and agreed to go to Egypt to see Joseph.

Conclusion
 God’s hand in all this is truly amazing and I believe clearly evident to all with eyes to see and ears to hear. God worked through the lives of Joseph, his brothers, Jacob, The Midianite traders, Pharaoh, Potiphar and his wife, the baker and cupbearer to bring about a reconciliation in this biblical family.

That was one family who lived more than a few thousand years ago. What possible relevance can that all have for us living today? Well, I am glad you asked.

First: Forgiveness.

When did Joseph forgive his brothers? Was it when they openly repented after being found with the silver cup? No.He had forgiven them a long time before that. Before they had even been aware, they were forgiven by him.

I believe there is a lesson to be learned here. Let me give you a brief description of forgiveness, as I see it.

1. Forgiveness is required of all Christians to those who offend or sin against us. (forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us)
2. Forgiveness is not based on whether the other party apologizes. We offer forgiveness because it is the right things to do.
3. Forgiveness is often first expressed by our actions before it is felt in our heart. We act in a forgiving way and our heart will be motivated to follow.
4. Forgiveness comes from God. Ask Him to help.
5. Forgiveness does not mean we subject ourselves to the same hurts over and over again. Remember although Joseph forgave his brothers, he didn’t reveal himself and the relationship wasn’t reconciled until they repented of their sin.
And remember repentance demands a change in action and attitude.
6. Forgiveness is not overlooking sin. It recognizes sin as sin but offers to release the offending party from blame.

Second: Revelation
 Joseph, the one who was once thought dead but who is now alive, reveals himself to his brothers. Isn’t this the way God is with us? Like Josephs brothers we live with the guilt of our sin, and we look for assurance of pardon.. everyplace but God who we believe is an angry judge.

Like Joseph’s brothers it terrifies us to even think about having to stand in the presence of a holy and righteous God…we are speechless before Him. But, something wonderful, something truly amazing happens. Our holy and righteous God, like Joseph instead of condemning us as he should, reassures us that not only are we forgiven, we are deeply loved. We see that when we come face to face with the One who was once dead but who now is alive…Jesus Christ!

 Our response to God’s revelation of Jesus Christ to us? Just like Joseph’s brothers response…they went to tell their father and everyone else living on their homestead. And we have the same responsibility.. reveal Jesus Christ to all we meet, in our actions, attitudes and behaviors, in what we say, how we live and in the decisions we make.

Finally: Provision
 I believe Pharaoh in this text is a picture of God. Joseph brought reconciliation with his brothers and Pharaoh blessed them with the promise of provision.

1. The brothers had taken Josephs robe when they sold him into slavery, but now they were given fine robes to wear. A change of clothes in the Bible often represents a new life a new beginning. When we come to Christ, God takes our filthy rags of sin and dresses us in Christ’s robe of righteousness.
2. Joseph’s brothers were each given silver to meet their needs of their journey. God gives us whatever we require to journey through life.
3. Josephs family was given the best place in all Egypt to live. A fertile land rich in resources. And the Believer is promised a glorious home in the presence of the Lord one day.

What we see here at the end of Gen 45 is a picture of God’s provision of heaven as a reward for being reconciled with Him. That is why I sang the song I did for the offertory. I often wonder what heaven will be like, Genesis 45 gives me a little clearer picture of what I can expect.

One thing I do know, heaven will be a place of eternal worship of our great and glorious God who
        forgave me,
        revealed Himself to me,
        provided for all my needs while on earth
        and who promised the glory of heaven for all eternity.