1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,680 we’re continuing our series on the life of Joseph and last week we were introduced to him as the loved and 2 00:00:08,020 –> 00:00:09,640 favored Son 3 00:00:09,640 –> 00:00:14,180 today we’re going to see how he was hated and despised by his brothers and 4 00:00:14,940 –> 00:00:22,000 the point of the story and the reason that it’s in the Bible is that of course the whole Bible is the story of 5 00:00:22,260 –> 00:00:24,100 a son 6 00:00:24,100 –> 00:00:29,959 Who is loved and favored by God the Father and was hated and despised in 7 00:00:30,219 –> 00:00:33,860 The world and so we’re going to see throughout the series 8 00:00:34,380 –> 00:00:36,720 floodlights on Jesus Christ 9 00:00:37,200 –> 00:00:42,860 And that is the very reason why this story and all those stories are there in the Old Testament Scriptures 10 00:00:43,419 –> 00:00:46,060 But we’re also taking hold of this wonderful truth 11 00:00:46,660 –> 00:00:49,540 that when we are in Christ a 12 00:00:49,700 –> 00:00:55,020 Christian a person who has faith in the Lord Jesus the New Testament says is a person who’s in Christ 13 00:00:55,459 –> 00:00:56,799 when we are in Christ 14 00:00:56,799 –> 00:00:58,799 What is true of him in real measure? 15 00:00:59,180 –> 00:01:04,080 true of us and what that means is that the love and the favor of the father is 16 00:01:04,279 –> 00:01:09,260 upon all those who are in Christ and it is also true that the 17 00:01:09,639 –> 00:01:15,000 experience of being hated and despised and rejected within the world in some measure will also be 18 00:01:15,339 –> 00:01:18,019 true of those who are in Christ that what he 19 00:01:18,360 –> 00:01:24,879 Experienced as the beloved son of the Father as he came into the world will also in some sense be true 20 00:01:24,919 –> 00:01:28,459 Of us when we are in him, and that’s why we’ve called the series 21 00:01:29,339 –> 00:01:31,339 snapshots of a godly life 22 00:01:31,940 –> 00:01:33,940 because this is giving to us a 23 00:01:34,040 –> 00:01:40,720 Glimpse of Jesus who calls us to this godly life and also of the life to which he calls us 24 00:01:41,099 –> 00:01:45,220 Now we saw last time that God spoke in a remarkable way through dreams 25 00:01:45,580 –> 00:01:52,300 To this man Joseph and they came to him with all the force of the Word of God 26 00:01:53,040 –> 00:01:58,080 Itself and so Joseph told his dreams to his brothers. What else could he do? 27 00:01:58,080 –> 00:01:59,139 It was the Word of God 28 00:01:59,139 –> 00:02:05,680 He spoke the Word of God to them and we saw already at last time that they did not receive this well 29 00:02:06,540 –> 00:02:10,199 speaking the Word of God proved costly for 30 00:02:10,600 –> 00:02:17,279 Joseph and speaking the Word of God in this world today will prove costly for God’s people around the world still 31 00:02:17,679 –> 00:02:21,059 How costly it was is what we’re going to see in the story today 32 00:02:21,059 –> 00:02:24,100 and I hope you’ll have your Bible open at Genesis and 33 00:02:24,860 –> 00:02:26,860 Chapter 37 34 00:02:27,300 –> 00:02:34,039 Genesis and chapter 37 that are really three themes that I want us to focus in on today 35 00:02:34,139 –> 00:02:37,240 We’re going to see the compassion that is in the heart of God 36 00:02:37,600 –> 00:02:38,619 the 37 00:02:38,619 –> 00:02:45,880 Compulsion that is in the human heart and then the comfort that can come to a believer’s heart 38 00:02:46,619 –> 00:02:49,020 So first then Genesis 37 39 00:02:49,020 –> 00:02:52,940 We’re beginning at verse twelve the compassion that is in the heart of God 40 00:02:53,220 –> 00:02:59,839 And we’re told here that these brothers who we got to know last week went to pasture their father’s flock 41 00:03:00,320 –> 00:03:01,960 near 42 00:03:01,960 –> 00:03:03,539 Shechem 43 00:03:03,539 –> 00:03:04,440 near 44 00:03:04,440 –> 00:03:05,860 Shechem now 45 00:03:05,860 –> 00:03:12,300 It’s very interesting that these brothers who were living in quiet rebellion against God are still involved in the father’s work 46 00:03:12,960 –> 00:03:18,820 they’re resisting and rejecting the Word of God that Joseph is going to be exalted and yet 47 00:03:18,820 –> 00:03:22,899 Here they are doing the Father’s work attending to the father’s flock 48 00:03:23,360 –> 00:03:28,399 And if you had met them they would have said to them, you know, and what are you doing? 49 00:03:28,399 –> 00:03:35,839 They would have said well, we’re doing the father’s work. We’re caring for the father’s flock. We are about our father’s business 50 00:03:37,220 –> 00:03:41,399 They’re doing the father’s work, but obviously they do not share the father’s heart 51 00:03:41,639 –> 00:03:45,360 They’re rather like the elder brother remember in the story of the prodigal son 52 00:03:46,039 –> 00:03:49,080 And he’s the one that’s always doing the good work for the father 53 00:03:49,479 –> 00:03:53,380 But the heart of the father is not in him. Actually. He’s really 54 00:03:53,960 –> 00:03:55,960 resistant to the father and 55 00:03:56,320 –> 00:04:01,979 resentful towards him and always remember this that we draw from at this point right at the beginning of this story 56 00:04:02,440 –> 00:04:07,059 That doing the father’s work is a poor substitute for sharing the father’s heart 57 00:04:07,880 –> 00:04:08,820 It’s very easy 58 00:04:08,820 –> 00:04:13,600 Simply once you get connected to a church to say well, I’m involved and I’m doing this and I’m doing that 59 00:04:14,399 –> 00:04:19,959 Simply doing the father’s work is a poor substitute for sharing the father’s heart 60 00:04:20,459 –> 00:04:26,040 These brothers who were very very far from being right with God at this point in the story 61 00:04:26,679 –> 00:04:30,279 Nonetheless, we’re doing the fathers work 62 00:04:30,799 –> 00:04:37,380 Now what I want you to see today is the love of the father for these rebel sons 63 00:04:38,339 –> 00:04:43,059 Remember we saw last time that the son’s had made Jacob’s name stink in 64 00:04:43,640 –> 00:04:47,820 The land that’s what Jacob says, you made my name stink 65 00:04:48,559 –> 00:04:50,799 But Jacob does not then cut them off 66 00:04:51,459 –> 00:04:52,619 He loves them 67 00:04:52,619 –> 00:05:00,140 he cares about them and he seeks their good even though they have acted in such ways as have brought 68 00:05:00,140 –> 00:05:02,140 shame upon him and 69 00:05:02,640 –> 00:05:09,239 The love of the father and also of the son are very very clearly seen in this part of the story 70 00:05:10,119 –> 00:05:14,540 See what’s their first there’s the love that sends verse 13 Israel 71 00:05:14,540 –> 00:05:21,260 That’s Jacob said to Joseph are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem come 72 00:05:21,260 –> 00:05:24,480 I will send you to them 73 00:05:25,459 –> 00:05:27,600 now the very fact that the 74 00:05:28,100 –> 00:05:30,640 Brothers were pasturing at Shechem 75 00:05:31,260 –> 00:05:35,380 Would have given Jacob reasoned to be concerned about them 76 00:05:35,760 –> 00:05:40,160 If you remember from last week, we saw in Genesis chapter 34 77 00:05:40,679 –> 00:05:46,399 That shechem was the place where the brothers committed that awful atrocity 78 00:05:47,040 –> 00:05:51,920 that caused the name of Jacob to stink in the land and 79 00:05:52,660 –> 00:05:56,579 Because they had engaged in what really it was an act of terrorism 80 00:05:57,000 –> 00:06:01,980 Really this violent act in which they had taken the lives of the men of Shechem 81 00:06:02,820 –> 00:06:08,839 Now here is is Jacob, and he’s concerned for his sons because although the men of Shechem have gone 82 00:06:08,839 –> 00:06:10,839 They’re near Shechem. There would have been other 83 00:06:11,459 –> 00:06:16,820 Clans families in the area some of whom may have been interested in revenge 84 00:06:17,880 –> 00:06:24,619 Others of whom may have said we’d better take action against these guys. Otherwise something similar might happen to us and 85 00:06:25,260 –> 00:06:27,260 So Jacob is concerned 86 00:06:28,000 –> 00:06:31,940 for the lives of his rebel sons 87 00:06:32,040 –> 00:06:33,279 and 88 00:06:33,279 –> 00:06:34,679 so he calls 89 00:06:34,679 –> 00:06:36,459 Joseph to him and verse 13 90 00:06:36,459 –> 00:06:38,920 he says come I will send you and 91 00:06:39,480 –> 00:06:45,079 Joseph says these wonderful words in the Bible that previously were said by Abraham and later said by Isaiah 92 00:06:45,619 –> 00:06:47,959 Here I am and 93 00:06:48,679 –> 00:06:52,119 So what you have here? Think about it is the father 94 00:06:53,519 –> 00:06:56,820 Sending his son on a dangerous journey 95 00:06:57,119 –> 00:06:59,440 because of his great love 96 00:07:00,119 –> 00:07:06,079 For rebel sons who have made his name stink in the land 97 00:07:06,660 –> 00:07:11,500 The father is seeking the good even of those who have rebelled against him 98 00:07:11,500 –> 00:07:18,540 And he says verse 14 go now and see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock and bring me 99 00:07:18,679 –> 00:07:23,359 Word you remember how Jesus said as the father has sent me 100 00:07:23,839 –> 00:07:30,519 So I am sending you I am sending you out as sheep among wolves 101 00:07:31,140 –> 00:07:33,140 So there’s the love that sense 102 00:07:33,720 –> 00:07:37,859 Second as we try and take in the love that the father has even for his rebel 103 00:07:38,380 –> 00:07:41,279 sons there’s this love that seeks verse 104 00:07:41,920 –> 00:07:47,000 16 the Sun comes and he says I am 105 00:07:47,720 –> 00:07:49,760 seeking my 106 00:07:49,760 –> 00:07:51,299 brothers 107 00:07:51,299 –> 00:07:57,480 Think of the Son think of how this speaks to us about the Lord Jesus the father calls him for a mission 108 00:07:57,660 –> 00:08:03,600 He says here. I am he knows it’s a dangerous mission, but he goes why does he go? 109 00:08:03,600 –> 00:08:06,980 Why does he come into the world? I am seeking my 110 00:08:07,859 –> 00:08:09,079 brothers 111 00:08:09,079 –> 00:08:11,079 He arrives at Shechem and 112 00:08:11,820 –> 00:08:17,519 The Scripture tells us that when he arrives at Shechem the brothers are not there 113 00:08:18,459 –> 00:08:24,059 Now it would be very reasonable since the Son was sent by the father to find them at Shechem 114 00:08:24,059 –> 00:08:25,100 And they’re not there 115 00:08:25,100 –> 00:08:30,160 It would have been quite reasonable for Joseph to go back at this point and say to Jacob his father 116 00:08:30,279 –> 00:08:32,280 Hey dad I went to Shechem 117 00:08:32,719 –> 00:08:34,539 They weren’t there 118 00:08:34,539 –> 00:08:37,280 They weren’t in the place that they were supposed to be 119 00:08:38,940 –> 00:08:40,419 But notice 120 00:08:40,419 –> 00:08:42,419 Joseph doesn’t do that 121 00:08:42,440 –> 00:08:49,919 We’re told that a man found him wandering up in the fields up and down Joseph is looking for his brothers 122 00:08:50,479 –> 00:08:51,419 relentlessly 123 00:08:51,419 –> 00:08:52,979 seeking after them 124 00:08:52,979 –> 00:08:53,919 and 125 00:08:53,919 –> 00:08:59,260 Then verse 17 tells us that Joseph found the brothers at this place called Dothan 126 00:09:01,039 –> 00:09:06,299 Now Dothan would have been a total of 64 miles from where Joseph 127 00:09:06,979 –> 00:09:08,559 Started his journey 128 00:09:08,559 –> 00:09:14,419 64 miles, maybe a lot of us have never walked 64 miles at one time and in all of our lives 129 00:09:14,419 –> 00:09:16,340 I know some of us have run 130 00:09:16,340 –> 00:09:18,700 26 miles. You’ve run the marathon 131 00:09:19,380 –> 00:09:21,859 Double that and add another half for good measure 132 00:09:22,640 –> 00:09:25,239 That is the length to which 133 00:09:26,299 –> 00:09:27,619 Joseph 134 00:09:27,619 –> 00:09:29,200 walked 135 00:09:29,200 –> 00:09:31,200 searching up and down 136 00:09:32,299 –> 00:09:34,859 Trying to find these brothers 137 00:09:35,739 –> 00:09:37,739 Aren’t you glad 138 00:09:37,940 –> 00:09:45,340 That God does not give up searching for us when we’re not in the place that we were supposed to be 139 00:09:45,859 –> 00:09:47,859 Is it good that? 140 00:09:48,280 –> 00:09:54,799 Joseph did not give up searching for the brothers when they were not at Shekhon, but he goes after them 141 00:09:54,799 –> 00:09:57,539 He goes after them. Why is all this detail in the story? 142 00:09:58,700 –> 00:10:03,299 Because it’s pointing us to Jesus Christ who comes into the world 143 00:10:03,299 –> 00:10:05,299 We’re not where we were supposed to be 144 00:10:05,460 –> 00:10:08,599 But it goes after us to seek us and to find us 145 00:10:08,599 –> 00:10:10,979 This is love. The love of the father that 146 00:10:11,140 –> 00:10:17,780 sends. The love of the son who seeks and then there’s a third thing the love of the son who 147 00:10:18,039 –> 00:10:20,520 suffers verse 23 in verse 24 148 00:10:20,880 –> 00:10:23,359 when Joseph came to his brothers 149 00:10:24,580 –> 00:10:27,400 They stripped him of his robe 150 00:10:28,359 –> 00:10:30,359 the robe of many colors 151 00:10:30,799 –> 00:10:31,659 that 152 00:10:31,719 –> 00:10:37,200 He wore, and they took him and they threw him in a pit 153 00:10:38,760 –> 00:10:45,900 You can’t read this story without thinking about the purple robe that was worn by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 154 00:10:46,640 –> 00:10:48,679 And how that was stripped from his back 155 00:10:50,219 –> 00:10:56,580 And how they gambled for it after he had been scourged and after he had been crucified 156 00:10:57,679 –> 00:10:59,479 and 157 00:10:59,599 –> 00:11:02,719 In the story just a little later on you get another 158 00:11:03,440 –> 00:11:09,960 Snapshot of the degree to which Joseph suffered that again points us forward to the Lord Jesus here 159 00:11:10,419 –> 00:11:11,719 It’s in Genesis 160 00:11:11,719 –> 00:11:19,419 42 in verse 21 the brothers are reflecting on what happened on that day where they were so cruel to Joseph and 161 00:11:19,780 –> 00:11:25,320 They say in that verse in truth. We are guilty concerning our brother in that 162 00:11:26,179 –> 00:11:29,000 We saw the distress of his 163 00:11:29,539 –> 00:11:31,539 soul 164 00:11:31,580 –> 00:11:36,140 When he begged us and we did not listen 165 00:11:37,500 –> 00:11:43,179 So here are the brothers after the event they’re looking back and they’re saying we saw the distress of his soul 166 00:11:44,539 –> 00:11:46,619 the distress of his soul 167 00:11:46,619 –> 00:11:52,020 Did not make you think about Jesus when he’s in the garden of Gethsemane, and he says my soul is 168 00:11:52,539 –> 00:11:54,539 overwhelmed with sorrow 169 00:11:55,000 –> 00:11:56,500 that’s 170 00:11:56,500 –> 00:11:58,500 what the love of God 171 00:11:58,840 –> 00:12:00,359 caused 172 00:12:00,359 –> 00:12:03,380 the love that sends the love that seeks the love that 173 00:12:04,340 –> 00:12:06,340 suffers and 174 00:12:08,099 –> 00:12:15,179 Joseph begging picture him in the pit and there’s no mercy. He calls out and no one answers 175 00:12:16,919 –> 00:12:18,919 My God my God 176 00:12:19,299 –> 00:12:21,299 Why have you forsaken me? 177 00:12:21,299 –> 00:12:24,799 Here’s Jesus. He’s come out of the protection of the father’s house 178 00:12:26,099 –> 00:12:28,179 and he suffers in agony and 179 00:12:29,239 –> 00:12:31,239 No one hears 180 00:12:32,020 –> 00:12:33,760 His cries 181 00:12:33,760 –> 00:12:35,760 the love of God 182 00:12:36,179 –> 00:12:38,179 father son 183 00:12:38,539 –> 00:12:40,380 Compassion and 184 00:12:40,380 –> 00:12:43,859 It’s while we were still sinners that Christ died for us 185 00:12:44,739 –> 00:12:49,659 he does this for us while we have absolutely no interest in him why because 186 00:12:49,659 –> 00:12:51,659 Because he is 187 00:12:52,880 –> 00:12:56,039 Love that’s the first great theme for us to see 188 00:12:57,239 –> 00:13:02,299 Whoever you are whatever if you have done, however far you are from God 189 00:13:04,119 –> 00:13:11,320 There is love in the heart of the Father and there is love in the heart of the Son for you today and 190 00:13:12,340 –> 00:13:15,799 God reaches out to you in 191 00:13:16,719 –> 00:13:18,719 love 192 00:13:18,719 –> 00:13:21,960 You come to see the love that is in the heart of God 193 00:13:21,960 –> 00:13:25,320 It becomes much more difficult to stay at a distance from him 194 00:13:25,799 –> 00:13:30,679 It’s a love that wins and it’s a love that’s poured out to never seen more clearly 195 00:13:31,520 –> 00:13:38,520 Than at the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. That’s the first great theme. Here’s the second and it’s about us 196 00:13:39,039 –> 00:13:41,039 It’s about the compulsion 197 00:13:41,479 –> 00:13:43,919 That lies in the human 198 00:13:44,280 –> 00:13:46,520 Heart the compulsion in 199 00:13:47,239 –> 00:13:48,820 the human 200 00:13:48,820 –> 00:13:50,419 heart and 201 00:13:50,419 –> 00:13:54,840 I’ve used that word compulsion not only because it begins with C like the other ones do today 202 00:13:54,960 –> 00:13:58,580 But also because I want us to see that sin is a power 203 00:13:59,840 –> 00:14:01,599 See many folks 204 00:14:01,599 –> 00:14:05,359 Understand that sin is things that we do wrong. That’s true. That’s right 205 00:14:06,299 –> 00:14:10,340 But sin is much more than a bunch of things that you may do that are wrong 206 00:14:11,260 –> 00:14:15,679 Sin is actually a power that resides in the human heart 207 00:14:16,400 –> 00:14:19,619 apart from the grace of God will never prevail over it and 208 00:14:20,080 –> 00:14:24,440 Even when we come to be in Christ and the Holy Spirit lives within us 209 00:14:24,719 –> 00:14:32,340 We have to understand the default mode of the human heart because we will always be fighting against it 210 00:14:32,539 –> 00:14:35,400 we will always be doing battle against the 211 00:14:36,099 –> 00:14:42,280 Impulses off the human heart of the default human heart. That is why the Christian life is a battle 212 00:14:42,280 –> 00:14:46,559 We’ve got to be watching for the the weeds that grow up as it were rooting them out 213 00:14:47,580 –> 00:14:51,140 John Owen the great Puritan writer puts it this way 214 00:14:51,140 –> 00:14:56,340 He says you’ve got to always be killing sin or sin will be killing you 215 00:14:56,400 –> 00:14:58,719 That’s a great little snapshot of the Christian life 216 00:14:58,719 –> 00:15:04,840 You’ve always got to be killing sin, otherwise sin will be killing you 217 00:15:05,739 –> 00:15:12,760 Now, what’s the sort of stuff that comes up from the default mode of the human heart that we really need to watch out for? 218 00:15:13,299 –> 00:15:16,359 Here are three things that are very obvious in the story 219 00:15:16,599 –> 00:15:21,760 The first is this whole matter of envying and you see that in verse 11 220 00:15:21,760 –> 00:15:26,780 And it runs right through the story that Joseph’s brothers were jealous of 221 00:15:27,940 –> 00:15:29,500 him 222 00:15:29,500 –> 00:15:31,239 envy 223 00:15:31,239 –> 00:15:33,739 Now let’s pause for a moment on this 224 00:15:34,659 –> 00:15:36,659 Sin 225 00:15:37,099 –> 00:15:39,200 Suppose someone comes into money a 226 00:15:40,059 –> 00:15:42,059 friend of yours and 227 00:15:42,960 –> 00:15:46,619 You’ve been friends with this person or with this couple 228 00:15:47,099 –> 00:15:53,119 for some time and many years your life has been very similar to their life and 229 00:15:54,039 –> 00:15:56,039 Then they come into money 230 00:15:56,340 –> 00:16:01,900 Maybe the person has married into money. Maybe their business has 231 00:16:02,359 –> 00:16:08,760 Thrived and very very quickly life takes on different dimensions for that person 232 00:16:09,280 –> 00:16:16,659 Whereas before your life was very very similar now. Your life is very obviously different from theirs 233 00:16:19,340 –> 00:16:22,299 Now what is the godly response to that 234 00:16:23,140 –> 00:16:25,380 while the godly response to that is 235 00:16:26,020 –> 00:16:27,840 to rejoice 236 00:16:27,840 –> 00:16:29,840 with those who rejoice 237 00:16:29,979 –> 00:16:36,359 Change the picture. Here’s someone who has been given a marvelous opportunity. That wasn’t given to you 238 00:16:37,200 –> 00:16:42,760 You say well, thank god that it was given to them. That’s the that’s the godly godly 239 00:16:43,400 –> 00:16:45,400 response 240 00:16:45,440 –> 00:16:51,559 To find us much pleasure in the good that has come to them as you would have found pleasure 241 00:16:51,559 –> 00:16:54,520 If the same good had come to you 242 00:16:55,099 –> 00:17:00,840 But everyone knows just seeing that that is not easy and that does not come to us naturally 243 00:17:01,599 –> 00:17:06,719 What does come to us naturally is two particular temptations that we’re going to have to fight 244 00:17:07,680 –> 00:17:13,859 one is to covet and the other is to envy and it’s perhaps 245 00:17:14,520 –> 00:17:17,920 Useful to know the difference between the two 246 00:17:18,319 –> 00:17:23,880 Coveting is when you want what another person has 247 00:17:25,599 –> 00:17:32,579 Envying is when you don’t want another person to have what they have been given 248 00:17:33,719 –> 00:17:37,180 coveting wants to gain something for yourself, but 249 00:17:38,079 –> 00:17:46,020 envying wants to deny something to somebody else and so there’s a sort of desire to hurt that 250 00:17:46,060 –> 00:17:47,959 lies within envy 251 00:17:47,959 –> 00:17:50,719 Coveting says I want to have the same as you 252 00:17:51,099 –> 00:17:58,239 Envying says I don’t want you to have more than me. And so there’s a meanness of spirit about it and 253 00:17:59,579 –> 00:18:02,500 That is why the Bible says in the book of Proverbs and 254 00:18:03,180 –> 00:18:07,839 Chapter 14 in verse 30 that envy rots the bones 255 00:18:08,060 –> 00:18:14,839 Isn’t that a phrase envy allow rot your bones. It’ll eat you out from the inside because of the 256 00:18:15,400 –> 00:18:17,160 meanness of spirit 257 00:18:17,160 –> 00:18:22,979 That is at the very heart of this particular disease of the soul 258 00:18:24,119 –> 00:18:28,599 Now Joseph’s brothers would have been very happy if he had remained there equal 259 00:18:29,239 –> 00:18:35,560 But God has said that Joseph will be lifted up and they don’t want him to have that 260 00:18:36,500 –> 00:18:39,920 It’s not that they’re saying we must be lifted up. That would be covetousness 261 00:18:39,959 –> 00:18:44,660 It’s simply that we’re saying we don’t want you lifted up and that’s the nature 262 00:18:45,739 –> 00:18:47,339 envy 263 00:18:47,339 –> 00:18:49,579 So by the way if God blesses you 264 00:18:50,880 –> 00:18:52,880 If God prospers you 265 00:18:53,180 –> 00:19:01,160 If God causes your ministry to advance if God’s blessing is particularly upon your family 266 00:19:02,880 –> 00:19:05,920 Don’t be surprised if others may envy you 267 00:19:06,880 –> 00:19:10,140 rejoicing with those who rejoice is 268 00:19:10,839 –> 00:19:13,000 a very rare grace 269 00:19:14,260 –> 00:19:15,760 in a selfish world 270 00:19:15,760 –> 00:19:20,400 And that’s one more reason why we are all the more to seek to cultivate it in our lives 271 00:19:20,640 –> 00:19:26,060 Because very very few people have the grace of doing this well to genuinely rejoice 272 00:19:26,680 –> 00:19:28,040 with those 273 00:19:28,040 –> 00:19:30,040 who rejoice 274 00:19:30,619 –> 00:19:32,619 Now the sin of envy is 275 00:19:33,079 –> 00:19:39,319 Actually and you’ll see this when you you see what envy is it actually lies at the root of so much 276 00:19:39,560 –> 00:19:42,060 resentment to God that lurks in the human heart 277 00:19:43,079 –> 00:19:46,959 So you think God has said of his beloved son that he will be exalted 278 00:19:47,979 –> 00:19:51,099 that every knee will bow before him and 279 00:19:51,920 –> 00:19:57,859 The envy that is the default mode of the human heart isn’t so much saying. Oh that ought to be me 280 00:19:57,880 –> 00:19:59,880 It’s saying it shouldn’t be him 281 00:20:00,219 –> 00:20:02,219 We don’t want to give that 282 00:20:02,380 –> 00:20:09,380 Position to Jesus. We don’t want him to have that. We will not have this man to reign over us 283 00:20:10,619 –> 00:20:13,520 it’s the default mode of the human heart and 284 00:20:14,579 –> 00:20:18,680 So this impulse of envying that runs 285 00:20:18,680 –> 00:20:24,979 So deep in the human heart leads to a second thing that we see here that I’ve simply described as resisting verse 18 286 00:20:25,819 –> 00:20:28,199 the brothers saw Joseph from afar 287 00:20:28,319 –> 00:20:29,979 but 288 00:20:29,979 –> 00:20:31,979 Before he came near 289 00:20:33,380 –> 00:20:37,900 They conspired against him to kill him 290 00:20:39,479 –> 00:20:44,719 Now I don’t know what was in Joseph’s heart and mind as he went out on this journey 291 00:20:45,800 –> 00:20:47,800 it’s reasonable I think to 292 00:20:49,280 –> 00:20:50,479 Speculate 293 00:20:50,479 –> 00:20:56,420 That he may have thought this would be an opportunity to sit down with the brothers and have a reasoned conversation 294 00:20:57,319 –> 00:21:00,160 Perhaps they could actually talk about the Word of God 295 00:21:00,160 –> 00:21:03,939 You know being away from home being away from dad and all this kind of thing 296 00:21:04,040 –> 00:21:08,040 Perhaps it would be an easier situation for some greater understanding 297 00:21:08,579 –> 00:21:15,640 God had promised that a great change would come in the brothers that the brothers would indeed bow to the truth that God had revealed 298 00:21:15,640 –> 00:21:20,119 And perhaps this would be the moment. Perhaps. This was the evangelistic opportunity 299 00:21:20,760 –> 00:21:25,599 Perhaps this would be the time when God would do a great work in their heart 300 00:21:27,420 –> 00:21:33,979 But the story makes clear to us that Joseph didn’t even get to his brothers before their decision was made 301 00:21:34,920 –> 00:21:42,140 Before he gets near they make their decision about him verse 18 when they saw him from afar 302 00:21:43,560 –> 00:21:45,560 before he came near 303 00:21:46,020 –> 00:21:48,020 They conspired against him 304 00:21:48,359 –> 00:21:52,599 To kill him. Here’s something that we can draw from that is very important 305 00:21:53,520 –> 00:21:58,839 It is a great mistake to make decisions about God while you are far from him 306 00:21:59,780 –> 00:22:01,780 It is a great mistake 307 00:22:02,520 –> 00:22:05,239 For you to make decisions about God 308 00:22:05,920 –> 00:22:08,160 When you are far from him 309 00:22:09,160 –> 00:22:12,520 Now as I prayed about this point in the sermon it has occurred to me 310 00:22:12,599 –> 00:22:18,439 That there will be someone in this service and perhaps more than one and that is exactly your position 311 00:22:19,180 –> 00:22:25,219 You’re wondering whether it’s worth you continuing this profession of faith or whether you should simply walk away 312 00:22:25,880 –> 00:22:28,660 You’re trying to figure out all kinds of things about 313 00:22:29,119 –> 00:22:34,180 God and and your potential relationship with Him and you came here today 314 00:22:34,199 –> 00:22:39,199 And and yet, you know that in your heart, you’re kind of on the very brink of walking away 315 00:22:40,319 –> 00:22:44,199 And I’m saying to you it is a great mistake 316 00:22:45,060 –> 00:22:48,359 for you to make a decision about God 317 00:22:48,439 –> 00:22:51,459 at the point where you are far from him 318 00:22:52,099 –> 00:22:55,939 How different this might have been if the brothers had allowed 319 00:22:56,339 –> 00:22:59,800 Joseph to come and if they had sat and if they had thought 320 00:23:00,300 –> 00:23:04,140 God says come let us reason together 321 00:23:04,339 –> 00:23:08,760 Let us sit down and talk how different the path of your life might be if 322 00:23:09,060 –> 00:23:15,079 You would let him speak to you if instead of making your decision while you’re still far from him 323 00:23:15,079 –> 00:23:22,060 You would sit down and open your Bible with a humble heart. You would choose a better path 324 00:23:23,020 –> 00:23:29,300 But if you insist on making your decision about God while you are still far from him 325 00:23:29,300 –> 00:23:31,300 There can only be one outcome 326 00:23:32,800 –> 00:23:33,680 So 327 00:23:33,680 –> 00:23:39,739 Hear the word of God coming right into your situation right into your pattern of mind and say to yourself today 328 00:23:39,739 –> 00:23:43,099 God is obviously speaking to me. I must not walk away from him 329 00:23:43,099 –> 00:23:47,359 I must not make this decision while I am at a distance from him. I 330 00:23:47,959 –> 00:23:51,739 Must humble myself. I must let him come near I must open his word 331 00:23:52,739 –> 00:23:54,739 And I must let him speak to me 332 00:23:55,439 –> 00:23:59,079 because that will lead to an altogether different choice and 333 00:23:59,839 –> 00:24:01,839 a different path 334 00:24:03,060 –> 00:24:05,060 But these brothers made their decision 335 00:24:05,819 –> 00:24:10,640 And so when Joseph arrived their minds already made up. They took him verse 336 00:24:11,219 –> 00:24:13,839 24 they throw him in the pit and 337 00:24:14,780 –> 00:24:16,780 then verse 25 338 00:24:18,040 –> 00:24:20,040 They sat down to eat 339 00:24:21,319 –> 00:24:23,319 Now how is this possible 340 00:24:24,540 –> 00:24:28,979 Joseph your own brother you’ve seen his distress 341 00:24:30,880 –> 00:24:37,839 And he’s crying out chapter 42 and verse 21 and he’s begging oh mercy on me let me out let me out 342 00:24:38,420 –> 00:24:41,800 Now you are with your Big Mac and chips 343 00:24:43,339 –> 00:24:45,339 And your nine brothers 344 00:24:46,060 –> 00:24:48,060 Hey 345 00:24:48,140 –> 00:24:50,420 Good dinner shut up 346 00:24:52,540 –> 00:24:54,540 How is that actually possible 347 00:24:56,079 –> 00:24:58,079 Let me tell you from the Bible 348 00:25:00,300 –> 00:25:07,260 The Bible tells us very clearly about the effects of sin on the human heart 349 00:25:08,819 –> 00:25:10,819 But the more you sin 350 00:25:11,500 –> 00:25:13,300 the less 351 00:25:13,300 –> 00:25:17,579 sensitive your own heart becomes and 352 00:25:18,300 –> 00:25:23,760 This is never stated more clearly than in Ephesians chapter 4 in verse 19 353 00:25:23,760 –> 00:25:30,260 It is a very important verse and I’ve given you on the screen the three translations that are all saying the same thing 354 00:25:30,260 –> 00:25:34,119 But I put them there because they kind of give us the sense of what’s being said here 355 00:25:34,599 –> 00:25:42,099 The NIV speaks about how in the pattern of pursuing sinfulness we lose 356 00:25:43,660 –> 00:25:45,660 Sensitivity or 357 00:25:45,680 –> 00:25:52,199 The ESV puts it this way become callous hard or the King James Version 358 00:25:52,780 –> 00:25:59,880 Speaks of it this way that having sinned repeatedly people put themselves in a position of being past 359 00:26:00,839 –> 00:26:02,839 feeling 360 00:26:03,060 –> 00:26:07,959 So you see we hear of atrocities our news comes on we hear of another 361 00:26:08,400 –> 00:26:15,260 Shooting another act of terrorism and you say how is it possible for a human being to do what that man or these people? 362 00:26:15,260 –> 00:26:17,079 have done and 363 00:26:17,079 –> 00:26:21,160 The answer is that a pattern of sin in the human life 364 00:26:22,260 –> 00:26:23,719 reduces the 365 00:26:23,719 –> 00:26:25,719 capacity of the heart to feel 366 00:26:26,400 –> 00:26:33,640 So that the brothers can sit and eat their dinner and hear their own brother screaming for mercy and 367 00:26:34,280 –> 00:26:36,280 not feel a thing 368 00:26:36,359 –> 00:26:38,359 Not even choke on their burger 369 00:26:39,060 –> 00:26:43,760 Why because they have lost all sensitivity they are past feeling 370 00:26:44,680 –> 00:26:47,060 they have sinned their hearts into 371 00:26:48,459 –> 00:26:50,239 insensitivity 372 00:26:50,300 –> 00:26:56,680 Now this is something very important to understand about the power of sin in a human heart 373 00:26:57,280 –> 00:27:05,400 Sin has an erosive effect on the feelings of the heart and of the activity of the conscience 374 00:27:05,579 –> 00:27:07,579 which is why 375 00:27:07,619 –> 00:27:10,739 Singing gets easier over time 376 00:27:12,719 –> 00:27:15,619 Sensitivity towards the pain of others diminishes 377 00:27:16,140 –> 00:27:23,119 At one time when you acted in a certain way the hurt that was caused to another person carried weight with you 378 00:27:23,119 –> 00:27:27,979 But then you kept on doing it and now you hardly are aware of the effect on another person 379 00:27:28,859 –> 00:27:31,780 At one time when you sinned in a particular way 380 00:27:31,780 –> 00:27:36,020 And you came back to God and the sense of guilt was very very real to you 381 00:27:36,020 –> 00:27:42,140 And you came and you asked forgiveness and mercy of God, but now you’ve done this so often that hardly even happens anymore 382 00:27:42,140 –> 00:27:43,619 you’ve lost 383 00:27:43,619 –> 00:27:48,579 Sensitivity and it has been the repetition of sin that has made you less and less sensitive 384 00:27:49,619 –> 00:27:56,920 Your conscience isn’t working, the more you sin the easier it gets to sin more 385 00:27:58,260 –> 00:28:00,260 Now you have to understand that 386 00:28:01,699 –> 00:28:09,060 You can see that that’s why people get further and further and further away from God because it’s not so hard after a while 387 00:28:09,060 –> 00:28:17,780 And here are these men and they can sit and they can enjoy their dinner, while their brother is crying out for mercy 388 00:28:18,339 –> 00:28:22,660 And all his cries and all his suffering does not even touch 389 00:28:22,660 –> 00:28:27,859 them, they can resist his most intensive plea, why? 390 00:28:27,859 –> 00:28:31,859 Because their hearts are hardened 391 00:28:31,859 –> 00:28:38,099 So we’re looking at what sin does in the human heart envying 392 00:28:39,219 –> 00:28:44,979 And then there is desensitizing that makes us so resistant 393 00:28:44,979 –> 00:28:52,180 So that the word of God is no longer felt within our lives or received within our heart 394 00:28:52,180 –> 00:28:56,979 And then there’s a third manifestation of the default mode of the human heart and it’s in this word lying 395 00:28:57,300 –> 00:29:04,660 Verse 20 of chapter 37 they say come now let us kill him 396 00:29:04,660 –> 00:29:07,140 and throw him into one of the pits 397 00:29:07,140 –> 00:29:11,780 and we will say, so here’s the line, here’s the story 398 00:29:11,780 –> 00:29:16,819 we’ll come up with a story and this is what we’ll say, this is what we’ll present to the world 399 00:29:16,819 –> 00:29:22,099 we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him 400 00:29:22,900 –> 00:29:26,500 now you know from the reading that through the intervention of uh 401 00:29:26,500 –> 00:29:32,579 reuben and judah they did not kill him but in the end sold him and in that way 402 00:29:32,579 –> 00:29:37,939 his life was preserved and you do see in this the beginning of 403 00:29:37,939 –> 00:29:41,619 hope in the life of judah and reuben that at least there’s 404 00:29:41,619 –> 00:29:44,339 some beginning of the work of grace and we’re 405 00:29:44,339 –> 00:29:48,339 going to see that wonderfully working itself out later in the story 406 00:29:49,140 –> 00:29:52,819 but they did perpetuate the lie they dip 407 00:29:52,819 –> 00:29:57,459 joseph’s coat in the blood of an animal and then they engage in this great 408 00:29:57,459 –> 00:30:00,579 deception they come back to their father Jacob 409 00:30:00,579 –> 00:30:04,979 we found this coat they say please tell us if it is the one that 410 00:30:04,979 –> 00:30:11,459 belongs to Joseph and jacob says yes yes it is 411 00:30:12,260 –> 00:30:17,780 some people live in open defiance 412 00:30:17,780 –> 00:30:25,380 of god but most people are more subtle than that 413 00:30:25,619 –> 00:30:30,979 most people present themselves as the father’s loyal sons 414 00:30:30,979 –> 00:30:34,979 that’s true across the world’s religions 415 00:30:35,060 –> 00:30:40,660 they place the mask of religion over a life that resists the claims of Jesus 416 00:30:40,660 –> 00:30:43,219 Christ 417 00:30:43,660 –> 00:30:48,140 so that it is possible to come to worship 418 00:30:48,140 –> 00:30:53,180 and to lie to god and this part of the story is obviously 419 00:30:53,180 –> 00:30:58,619 given as a warning to us it is telling us that sin is a power 420 00:30:58,619 –> 00:31:02,619 that it lurks in the human heart it is a compulsion and apart 421 00:31:02,619 –> 00:31:07,859 from the grace of god it will manifest itself 422 00:31:07,859 –> 00:31:12,979 in envying and in resisting and in lying and where the grace of 423 00:31:12,979 –> 00:31:16,260 god comes to our lives these are battles in which we will have 424 00:31:16,260 –> 00:31:20,819 to be especially active the default mode of the human 425 00:31:20,819 –> 00:31:25,219 heart is to envy god that is to say 426 00:31:25,219 –> 00:31:29,780 that we do not want Jesus Christ to have the crown rights that are his 427 00:31:29,780 –> 00:31:33,699 we don’t want him to have that that’s the default mode of the human heart 428 00:31:33,699 –> 00:31:36,739 it is therefore to resist god to make a decision 429 00:31:36,739 –> 00:31:40,579 against him even while you’re far from him and then harden your heart whenever 430 00:31:40,579 –> 00:31:44,260 he comes close to you the default mode of the human heart is 431 00:31:44,260 –> 00:31:48,979 then to lie to God to continue to come into his presence as if you were a loyal 432 00:31:48,979 –> 00:31:52,260 and a faithful servant when the truth is that you are actively 433 00:31:52,260 –> 00:31:56,660 resisting him and that you would deny him his claim to the 434 00:31:56,660 –> 00:32:01,300 sovereign right over your life that’s the human heart 435 00:32:01,300 –> 00:32:05,540 and when you understand the reality of it you see why we need 436 00:32:05,540 –> 00:32:13,459 the power of a deliverer to change us from the inside out 437 00:32:13,459 –> 00:32:18,099 compassion in the heart of God the great love of God for his rebel sons 438 00:32:18,099 –> 00:32:21,859 the compulsion that is in the human heart envying resisting and lying 439 00:32:21,859 –> 00:32:26,180 here’s the last thing today the comfort that there is for a believer’s heart 440 00:32:26,180 –> 00:32:30,260 and I want to hear just a touch on the last scene in this part of the story 441 00:32:30,260 –> 00:32:36,180 which is the grief of Jacob verse 34 Jacob tore his garments 442 00:32:36,819 –> 00:32:44,020 and he put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days 443 00:32:44,979 –> 00:32:48,579 all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him 444 00:32:49,380 –> 00:32:56,579 but he refused to be comfortedand said no i shall go down to shale 445 00:32:57,540 –> 00:33:04,660 to my son mourning and thirst thus his father wept for him 446 00:33:04,660 –> 00:33:11,300 now you can see here jacob is beside himself with sorrow over his loss 447 00:33:12,819 –> 00:33:19,300 he tears his garments he puts on sackcloth day after day it is the same 448 00:33:19,880 –> 00:33:27,300 the sons try and come and comfort him now isn’t that a thing the cause of his 449 00:33:27,300 –> 00:33:31,219 grief is the lie that they have perpetuated and now they try and comfort 450 00:33:31,219 –> 00:33:36,540 him in his grief extraordinary 451 00:33:36,540 –> 00:33:43,280 jacob is living with the misery of his loss the brothers are living with the 452 00:33:43,280 –> 00:33:48,800 misery of their lies what a home that was what a roof to be under with that 453 00:33:49,000 –> 00:33:54,800 There is quite an amount of sorrow and they can’t communicate the lie separates them and Jacob 454 00:33:54,800 –> 00:34:00,859 won’t receive what they try and say and he was right not to do so he refused to 455 00:34:00,859 –> 00:34:06,099 be comforted all the words that the brothers spoke seemed hollow to him and 456 00:34:06,099 –> 00:34:09,580 he says I’ll go down to Cheyol I’ll go down to the grave Cheyol was the place 457 00:34:09,580 –> 00:34:11,800 of the departed in Old Testament times 458 00:34:11,860 –> 00:34:20,719 I’m going down to the grave mourning for my son. You say, what’d he say? This life 459 00:34:20,719 –> 00:34:24,719 doesn’t hold anything for me now my hope was in Joseph and now he’s gone 460 00:34:24,719 –> 00:34:29,320 there’s nothing left for me I will live in the sorrow of this loss for the rest 461 00:34:29,320 –> 00:34:36,360 of my days and of course some of you know what that’s like you say I’ve been 462 00:34:36,360 –> 00:34:47,320 there I know that kind of intensity of grief two comments the first is one from 463 00:34:47,320 –> 00:34:54,520 Matthew Henry that I think is helpful he says we must never say we will go to our 464 00:34:54,520 –> 00:35:00,919 graved mourning because we do not know what joyful days God may yet reserve for 465 00:35:01,260 –> 00:35:08,239 us that’s very helpful God is your loving heavenly father and in the 466 00:35:08,239 –> 00:35:13,219 moments of your greatest sense of loss your greatest sense of sadness whatever 467 00:35:13,219 –> 00:35:20,840 that may be God in his great kindness may yet have wonderfully joyful days 468 00:35:20,840 –> 00:35:27,219 that are stored up and reserved for you in periods where you know great sorrow 469 00:35:27,439 –> 00:35:33,780 over loss that’s something very very wonderful to hold on to you do not yet 470 00:35:33,780 –> 00:35:40,260 know what joyful days God may have in reserve for you he is a wonderful father 471 00:35:40,260 –> 00:35:47,840 and he is so abundantly good. But the second comment and of course by far the 472 00:35:47,840 –> 00:35:55,300 most important is this that the answer to Jacob’s grief is that his son 473 00:35:55,620 –> 00:36:01,939 Joseph is alive, and that is the whole point of the last verse that meanwhile 474 00:36:01,939 –> 00:36:06,739 while all the sorrows going on here’s Joseph and he’s now arriving in 475 00:36:06,739 –> 00:36:11,320 Egypt at the house of Potiphar an official of Pharaoh the Captain of the 476 00:36:11,320 –> 00:36:20,419 Guards, story to be continued. Jacob your son is alive oh he’s gone 477 00:36:21,020 –> 00:36:29,340 he’s in a far country where you do not see him he is has a very special part 478 00:36:29,340 –> 00:36:35,860 right now in the great purpose of God and you may well and legitimately grieve 479 00:36:35,860 –> 00:36:41,260 because you do not see him now, but Jacob understand this he is alive and the day 480 00:36:41,260 –> 00:36:45,479 is coming when you are going to see him face to face and your joy will overflow 481 00:36:46,340 –> 00:36:52,000 and here of course is for every Christian in every sorrow that we 482 00:36:52,000 –> 00:36:58,879 experience this great comfort for us that the son, the Son of God who is our 483 00:36:58,879 –> 00:37:05,000 hope is alive Jesus Christ the Son of God who came to seek and to save the 484 00:37:05,000 –> 00:37:10,620 lost the one against whom people conspired and then they sold him for 485 00:37:10,620 –> 00:37:15,159 silver and then he’s beaten in crucified and buried but he’s not dead he’s 486 00:37:15,159 –> 00:37:18,800 alive God raised him up and has exalted him to 487 00:37:18,800 –> 00:37:24,639 the highest place and the one who was despised is the one on whom all of our 488 00:37:24,639 –> 00:37:30,760 hopes depend and he is the one who we will one day see face-to-face 489 00:37:30,760 –> 00:37:35,560 and that is why the New Testament says we know as believers what it is to 490 00:37:35,560 –> 00:37:44,260 grieve but in our grief we always have this marvelous hope and this is the 491 00:37:44,379 –> 00:37:53,159 great comfort for the believing heart weeping endures for at night but joy 492 00:37:53,159 –> 00:37:59,879 comes in the morning now I want then just to leave you 493 00:37:59,879 –> 00:38:03,899 very simply with these three prayers that you can use this week directly 494 00:38:03,899 –> 00:38:07,320 coming out of the scripture let’s pray these things that we’ve learned into our 495 00:38:07,320 –> 00:38:11,959 lives in this way ask God to fill you with the compassion that sends and 496 00:38:12,139 –> 00:38:19,739 seeks and suffers what do you know of this love love for a lost world ask God 497 00:38:19,739 –> 00:38:25,520 to fill you with this love and with this compassion that’s a great prayer to pray 498 00:38:25,520 –> 00:38:33,020 this week second ask God to deliver you from the compulsion that envies and 499 00:38:33,020 –> 00:38:41,179 resists and lies oh god I see that this is in the human heart and as a Christian 500 00:38:41,239 –> 00:38:44,979 believer I’m not beyond being in the place of doing battle with these things 501 00:38:44,979 –> 00:38:50,500 when they arise up help me to see envy and rooted out help me not to be 502 00:38:50,500 –> 00:38:55,560 resistant to you or to your word but to allow you to draw near and for me to 503 00:38:55,560 –> 00:39:01,100 draw near to you this week help me to walk in integrity and not to be covering 504 00:39:01,100 –> 00:39:09,179 up the deviousness of my own life by a pattern of lies and then ask God to 505 00:39:09,179 –> 00:39:16,719 strengthen you through the comfort of his Son who lives father help me in the 506 00:39:16,719 –> 00:39:25,899 grief and sorrow of loss to know that your son lives and that because your son 507 00:39:26,179 –> 00:39:38,419 sorrow can never have the final word father please soak into our souls that 508 00:39:38,419 –> 00:39:45,540 which your word teaches us today that it may do us good for these things we ask 509 00:39:45,540 –> 00:39:50,780 in Jesus’ name and everyone said together Amen