1 00:00:00,480 –> 00:00:02,040 We’ve seen that the story of Joseph 2 00:00:02,040 –> 00:00:03,840 is really a story in two parts, 3 00:00:03,840 –> 00:00:07,540 The first part being primarily about Joseph himself 4 00:00:07,540 –> 00:00:09,980 who is really very like Jesus. 5 00:00:09,980 –> 00:00:11,900 He comes in search of his brothers. 6 00:00:11,900 –> 00:00:13,680 He’s hated, he’s despised. 7 00:00:13,680 –> 00:00:16,459 He’s given up, ends up at the lowest point as a slave. 8 00:00:16,459 –> 00:00:18,700 God lifts him up so that he ends up 9 00:00:18,700 –> 00:00:20,559 as a governor over the whole land. 10 00:00:20,559 –> 00:00:24,299 And we saw through the lens of Joseph’s experience 11 00:00:24,299 –> 00:00:28,180 a foreshadowing of all that is wonderfully true 12 00:00:28,240 –> 00:00:31,500 in Jesus Christ, the dearly loved son of God 13 00:00:31,500 –> 00:00:34,580 who came for us rejected and despised on the cross 14 00:00:34,580 –> 00:00:37,220 and exalted at the right hand of the father 15 00:00:37,220 –> 00:00:40,820 as a prince and as a Savior for us. 16 00:00:40,820 –> 00:00:43,259 Part two which is where we are in the story now 17 00:00:43,259 –> 00:00:46,939 is really primarily about the brothers. 18 00:00:46,939 –> 00:00:48,380 We saw these are not good men. 19 00:00:48,380 –> 00:00:50,459 We looked at several stories that showed 20 00:00:50,459 –> 00:00:53,060 the moral mess of their lives. 21 00:00:53,060 –> 00:00:55,500 Their sins were many, and really the question 22 00:00:55,540 –> 00:00:58,380 that’s before us in the second part of this story 23 00:00:58,380 –> 00:01:01,959 is how in the world can men like this 24 00:01:01,959 –> 00:01:04,820 enter into the blessing of God. 25 00:01:05,820 –> 00:01:08,519 We saw that a great change in these men, 26 00:01:08,519 –> 00:01:10,260 that’s the story of the second part, 27 00:01:10,260 –> 00:01:12,620 the change in the brothers, 28 00:01:12,620 –> 00:01:17,360 that a great change began when their conscience 29 00:01:17,360 –> 00:01:19,540 was awakened and what we’re seeing here 30 00:01:19,540 –> 00:01:21,459 in the second part of the story 31 00:01:21,699 –> 00:01:26,000 is a kind of pattern of how God works 32 00:01:26,000 –> 00:01:26,900 in peoples’ lives. 33 00:01:26,900 –> 00:01:28,660 All this week I’ve had people saying, 34 00:01:28,660 –> 00:01:31,239 you know what you said last Sunday in The Message, 35 00:01:31,239 –> 00:01:33,419 that’s what’s happened to me! 36 00:01:34,339 –> 00:01:35,199 Well, of course it is, 37 00:01:35,199 –> 00:01:38,300 because there’s a certain pattern in how God works. 38 00:01:38,300 –> 00:01:40,860 When a person truly becomes a Christian, 39 00:01:40,860 –> 00:01:43,580 when you come to saving faith in Jesus Christ, 40 00:01:43,580 –> 00:01:45,660 somewhere along the line there’s gonna be 41 00:01:45,660 –> 00:01:47,459 an awakening of your conscience, 42 00:01:47,879 –> 00:01:52,300 an awareness that you are a sinner who needs a savior, 43 00:01:52,300 –> 00:01:55,919 and this is how God works in the lives of his people. 44 00:01:55,919 –> 00:01:59,680 And we saw that he uses various means to bring this about. 45 00:01:59,680 –> 00:02:01,519 And we may be able to recognize 46 00:02:01,519 –> 00:02:05,820 how God has used these kinds of means in our own experience. 47 00:02:05,820 –> 00:02:07,320 In the story of the brothers, 48 00:02:07,320 –> 00:02:10,460 one means was that he disturbed their peace 49 00:02:10,460 –> 00:02:13,020 through an event that was beyond their control. 50 00:02:13,020 –> 00:02:15,679 They’d been perpetuating this pretense, 51 00:02:15,880 –> 00:02:17,240 it was a lie that they told Jacob 52 00:02:17,240 –> 00:02:19,039 that Joseph was dead, 53 00:02:19,039 –> 00:02:21,080 killed by wild animals and all of that, 54 00:02:21,080 –> 00:02:23,919 and they’d kept it up for more than 20 years. 55 00:02:23,919 –> 00:02:24,759 And no doubt, 56 00:02:24,759 –> 00:02:26,399 they would have kept it up for another 20 years 57 00:02:26,399 –> 00:02:27,639 if God hadn’t broken in. 58 00:02:27,639 –> 00:02:30,919 But God did break in and he did it through a famine. 59 00:02:30,919 –> 00:02:34,839 And here was this event that disturbed their lives 60 00:02:34,839 –> 00:02:36,380 and somehow wakened them up 61 00:02:36,380 –> 00:02:41,119 and began a process of change in their lives. 62 00:02:41,119 –> 00:02:43,679 We saw that God awakens conscience 63 00:02:43,679 –> 00:02:45,839 by arousing memory. 64 00:02:45,839 –> 00:02:48,839 They go to Egypt and the events that took place in Egypt 65 00:02:48,839 –> 00:02:50,860 were so much a reflection 66 00:02:50,860 –> 00:02:53,600 of what had happened when they had put Joseph in the pit 67 00:02:53,600 –> 00:02:55,740 and then sold him as a slave, 68 00:02:55,740 –> 00:02:57,740 that inevitably memories 69 00:02:57,740 –> 00:03:00,759 that had perhaps been repressed for a long time 70 00:03:00,759 –> 00:03:02,440 were awakened and aroused 71 00:03:02,440 –> 00:03:05,500 and came back to them with disturbing power 72 00:03:05,500 –> 00:03:08,779 so that they say, in verse 21 of chapter 42, 73 00:03:08,779 –> 00:03:12,839 in truth, we are guilty concerning our brother. 74 00:03:12,839 –> 00:03:15,259 Seems like that’s something they had never said before, 75 00:03:15,259 –> 00:03:17,000 but they were brought to it 76 00:03:17,000 –> 00:03:19,800 as God disturbed their peace, aroused their memory. 77 00:03:20,860 –> 00:03:23,600 Then we saw that God does a third thing, 78 00:03:23,600 –> 00:03:27,500 that there are times when he speaks to us harshly 79 00:03:27,500 –> 00:03:30,639 and Joseph did that in regards to his brothers 80 00:03:30,639 –> 00:03:33,080 at this point in the story. 81 00:03:33,080 –> 00:03:35,160 Every parent knows about this 82 00:03:35,160 –> 00:03:37,440 that there are times where if you see a child, 83 00:03:37,440 –> 00:03:40,460 someone you love, going on a destructive path, 84 00:03:40,699 –> 00:03:42,259 just stand by silent, 85 00:03:42,259 –> 00:03:44,119 let them go and destroy themselves, 86 00:03:44,119 –> 00:03:48,100 you seek to waken them up, to get their attention 87 00:03:48,100 –> 00:03:50,179 to arouse them to the danger they’re in 88 00:03:50,179 –> 00:03:52,699 and sometimes that means speaking with force 89 00:03:52,699 –> 00:03:54,059 and even speaking harshly. 90 00:03:54,059 –> 00:03:56,220 God does this to us through his law 91 00:03:56,220 –> 00:03:59,559 which wakens us up to the reality 92 00:03:59,559 –> 00:04:01,020 of the position that I’m in. 93 00:04:01,020 –> 00:04:03,220 I have had several people this week say, 94 00:04:03,220 –> 00:04:04,699 that’s what God did for me 95 00:04:04,699 –> 00:04:06,559 and then they’ve identified someone 96 00:04:06,559 –> 00:04:07,940 who at some point in their life 97 00:04:07,940 –> 00:04:10,300 came and spoke to them straight to the face 98 00:04:10,300 –> 00:04:11,500 and said, if you don’t change, 99 00:04:11,500 –> 00:04:13,539 you’re gonna really be in trouble 100 00:04:13,539 –> 00:04:15,259 and I was awakened, 101 00:04:15,259 –> 00:04:17,420 and it was the beginning of some wonderful change 102 00:04:17,420 –> 00:04:20,100 and I’m so thankful that someone was prepared 103 00:04:20,100 –> 00:04:23,119 to speak to me that straight, that strong 104 00:04:23,119 –> 00:04:26,059 and a time when I really needed it. 105 00:04:26,059 –> 00:04:28,540 And then we saw that God works in a fourth way 106 00:04:28,540 –> 00:04:31,779 to awaken conscience and this is where we continue 107 00:04:31,779 –> 00:04:33,700 and take up the story today, 108 00:04:33,700 –> 00:04:37,899 that he awakens conscience by showing kindness 109 00:04:37,899 –> 00:04:39,679 and at the end, last time, 110 00:04:39,700 –> 00:04:42,820 we saw that that happened particularly by Joseph 111 00:04:43,700 –> 00:04:47,239 taking the money that the brothers had paid 112 00:04:47,239 –> 00:04:49,420 for the grain they had bought 113 00:04:49,420 –> 00:04:52,640 and because he wanted to give it to them freely, 114 00:04:52,640 –> 00:04:54,220 he said to his servant, take the money 115 00:04:54,220 –> 00:04:55,760 and just put it back in their sacks, 116 00:04:55,760 –> 00:04:57,779 I’m gonna give that to them as a gift. 117 00:04:58,799 –> 00:05:02,660 And you remember that they found the money in their sacks 118 00:05:02,660 –> 00:05:04,679 and they didn’t know what to make of it. 119 00:05:04,679 –> 00:05:07,119 They assumed that they were being set up, 120 00:05:07,260 –> 00:05:10,179 that this was a trick that was being played against them. 121 00:05:10,179 –> 00:05:11,779 They didn’t conceive for a moment 122 00:05:11,779 –> 00:05:14,700 that they had been shown an act of kindness 123 00:05:14,700 –> 00:05:18,160 and they said, verse 28, which is where we edited last time, 124 00:05:18,160 –> 00:05:22,640 what is this that God has done to us? 125 00:05:23,619 –> 00:05:27,459 God must be against us, we’re guilty 126 00:05:27,459 –> 00:05:29,980 and now we’ve got this money in the sack, 127 00:05:29,980 –> 00:05:31,380 we’ve been set up here, 128 00:05:31,380 –> 00:05:32,660 we’re really gonna catch it 129 00:05:32,940 –> 00:05:37,059 but that was the first time that they had ever 130 00:05:37,059 –> 00:05:41,859 uttered the name of God, these 10 brothers. 131 00:05:41,859 –> 00:05:43,619 So now they think God’s against them 132 00:05:43,619 –> 00:05:48,579 but at least they’re awake to the reality 133 00:05:48,579 –> 00:05:52,839 that there is a living God of almighty power. 134 00:05:52,839 –> 00:05:55,540 Now that’s where we are in the story as we take it up. 135 00:05:55,540 –> 00:05:57,899 Today we’re going to see how God’s love 136 00:05:57,899 –> 00:06:02,640 and kindness awakens even the hardest of hearts. 137 00:06:02,640 –> 00:06:04,839 There are three themes I want to pick up today. 138 00:06:04,839 –> 00:06:08,200 The first is the reluctance of Jacob, the father. 139 00:06:08,200 –> 00:06:10,380 The second the experience of the brothers 140 00:06:10,380 –> 00:06:13,100 which is all an experience of love and kindness 141 00:06:13,100 –> 00:06:15,459 being showered on them and then thirdly 142 00:06:15,459 –> 00:06:17,480 the identity of Joseph who again 143 00:06:17,480 –> 00:06:21,619 points us very wonderfully to our Lord Jesus Christ. 144 00:06:21,619 –> 00:06:25,140 The first then the reluctance of Jacob. 145 00:06:26,079 –> 00:06:27,839 Now remember as we take up the story 146 00:06:28,660 –> 00:06:31,579 that Simeon had been detained in Egypt. 147 00:06:31,579 –> 00:06:36,299 He was in prison there and the price of his freedom 148 00:06:36,299 –> 00:06:39,140 was that the brothers would have to return 149 00:06:39,140 –> 00:06:40,940 bringing their youngest brother 150 00:06:40,940 –> 00:06:43,140 whose name was Benjamin with them. 151 00:06:44,299 –> 00:06:47,760 Now Benjamin was a very special importance 152 00:06:47,760 –> 00:06:50,540 to Joseph for this reason, 153 00:06:50,540 –> 00:06:52,739 that these two and only these two, 154 00:06:52,739 –> 00:06:57,140 Joseph and Benjamin, were the sons of Rachel 155 00:06:57,140 –> 00:07:01,119 who was the great love of Jacob’s life. 156 00:07:01,119 –> 00:07:02,779 And for that reason, of course, 157 00:07:02,779 –> 00:07:07,420 Joseph wanted to see his full brother, Benjamin. 158 00:07:07,420 –> 00:07:10,239 But there’s something more than that going on here, 159 00:07:10,239 –> 00:07:12,980 the significance of Benjamin. 160 00:07:12,980 –> 00:07:16,040 Joseph knew that like him, 161 00:07:16,040 –> 00:07:20,059 Benjamin was a loved and favored son. 162 00:07:20,920 –> 00:07:23,140 That Jacob loved Benjamin 163 00:07:23,200 –> 00:07:26,200 in the same way as Jacob loved Joseph. 164 00:07:27,200 –> 00:07:30,779 And remember, the brothers had hated Joseph 165 00:07:30,779 –> 00:07:35,779 precisely because Jacob loved him so much. 166 00:07:35,899 –> 00:07:39,160 Did they also, therefore, hate Benjamin? 167 00:07:40,440 –> 00:07:44,399 Would they also treat Benjamin in the same way 168 00:07:44,399 –> 00:07:46,019 as they had treated Joseph 169 00:07:46,019 –> 00:07:48,279 for the same reasons of jealousy? 170 00:07:49,739 –> 00:07:52,820 Or was there the beginning of a change in these brothers? 171 00:07:53,540 –> 00:07:55,899 Well, Joseph really wanted to know. 172 00:07:55,899 –> 00:07:59,220 He needed to know, was there a change in these brothers 173 00:07:59,220 –> 00:08:00,760 at this point in the story. 174 00:08:02,179 –> 00:08:06,179 Now, God has one son 175 00:08:06,179 –> 00:08:09,079 who is dearly loved and highly favored. 176 00:08:09,940 –> 00:08:12,459 God so loved the world 177 00:08:12,459 –> 00:08:16,579 that he gave his one and only son 178 00:08:16,579 –> 00:08:18,339 that whoever believes in him 179 00:08:18,339 –> 00:08:22,320 should not perish but have everlasting life. 180 00:08:23,459 –> 00:08:26,820 But in the Old Testament, there are many, many figures 181 00:08:26,820 –> 00:08:30,399 who in some way foreshadow or point to 182 00:08:30,399 –> 00:08:34,340 or illustrate the one and only Son of God 183 00:08:34,340 –> 00:08:36,200 who would come into the world 184 00:08:36,200 –> 00:08:40,479 when Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary. 185 00:08:40,479 –> 00:08:44,299 Isaac points to the Son of God, 186 00:08:44,299 –> 00:08:45,940 the one and only son. 187 00:08:45,940 –> 00:08:48,419 Joseph we’ve seen, and we’ll see again, 188 00:08:48,419 –> 00:08:52,059 points in so many ways to the one and only Son. 189 00:08:52,059 –> 00:08:56,059 But also, Benjamin, in this part of the story, 190 00:08:56,059 –> 00:08:59,359 very, very clearly is a kind of light 191 00:08:59,359 –> 00:09:03,140 shining onto the dearly loved Son 192 00:09:03,140 –> 00:09:05,299 who is sent by the Father. 193 00:09:05,299 –> 00:09:07,780 And you know how in the church here, 194 00:09:07,780 –> 00:09:09,580 we love to approach the Scriptures, 195 00:09:09,580 –> 00:09:12,780 our commission is that we proclaim Him, 196 00:09:12,780 –> 00:09:15,179 that is, we proclaim Jesus Christ. 197 00:09:15,179 –> 00:09:18,580 I love to find the line to Jesus Christ 198 00:09:18,580 –> 00:09:20,359 wherever we are in the Bible, 199 00:09:20,359 –> 00:09:21,700 and there’s not one line here, 200 00:09:21,719 –> 00:09:24,159 there’s two lines, so I’m gonna go for both of them, 201 00:09:24,159 –> 00:09:25,299 there’s a line through Joseph, 202 00:09:25,299 –> 00:09:27,179 and there’s a line through Benjamin 203 00:09:27,179 –> 00:09:29,599 that I want you very wonderfully to see 204 00:09:29,599 –> 00:09:31,539 and to be blessed by today. 205 00:09:31,539 –> 00:09:33,219 So, follow the story with me. 206 00:09:33,219 –> 00:09:35,460 The brothers go back to Canaan, 207 00:09:35,460 –> 00:09:39,000 and they report all that has happened to Jacob. 208 00:09:39,000 –> 00:09:41,119 Simeon has been detained, 209 00:09:41,119 –> 00:09:43,739 and the price of his release 210 00:09:43,739 –> 00:09:46,979 is that we the brothers have to go back 211 00:09:46,979 –> 00:09:50,619 and we have to take Benjamin with us. 212 00:09:50,960 –> 00:09:55,960 And Jacob says there is no way in the world 213 00:09:56,500 –> 00:09:58,580 that that is ever gonna happen, why? 214 00:09:58,580 –> 00:10:00,799 Because he’s my dearly loved son. 215 00:10:02,599 –> 00:10:04,820 Jacob says, verse 36, 216 00:10:04,820 –> 00:10:06,840 you’ve bereaved me of my children. 217 00:10:06,840 –> 00:10:09,179 Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, 218 00:10:09,179 –> 00:10:11,799 and now you would take Benjamin? 219 00:10:11,799 –> 00:10:16,700 Verse 38, my son shall not go down with you 220 00:10:16,700 –> 00:10:20,539 for his brother his dead, and he is the only one left. 221 00:10:20,559 –> 00:10:23,260 I’ve only got one dearly loved son, he says. 222 00:10:24,380 –> 00:10:29,080 So, Simeon languishes in prison, 223 00:10:30,460 –> 00:10:34,219 and his only hope is that Benjamin, 224 00:10:34,219 –> 00:10:37,479 the dearly loved son will be sent. 225 00:10:38,940 –> 00:10:41,880 But Jacob, who is the father, 226 00:10:41,880 –> 00:10:45,380 cannot spare his dearly loved son. 227 00:10:46,299 –> 00:10:50,479 His son will not go, I will not send him. 228 00:10:50,719 –> 00:10:52,320 Says Jacob. 229 00:10:52,320 –> 00:10:53,780 And so at this point, 230 00:10:53,780 –> 00:10:57,580 there is absolutely no hope whatsoever for Simeon, 231 00:10:57,580 –> 00:11:00,840 who continues to languish in prison. 232 00:11:01,659 –> 00:11:03,559 Now months pass, 233 00:11:03,559 –> 00:11:08,380 and eventually the biting famine begins to take its toll 234 00:11:08,380 –> 00:11:10,700 and the reluctant Jacob at the beginning 235 00:11:10,700 –> 00:11:14,219 of chapter 43 appears to change his mind. 236 00:11:14,219 –> 00:11:16,739 The famine, verse one, was severe in the land 237 00:11:16,739 –> 00:11:18,859 and when they had eaten the grain 238 00:11:18,859 –> 00:11:20,219 that they’d brought from Egypt 239 00:11:20,539 –> 00:11:22,619 their father said to them, 240 00:11:22,619 –> 00:11:27,380 go again and buy us a little food. 241 00:11:27,380 –> 00:11:28,739 Remember Jacob’s getting on. 242 00:11:28,739 –> 00:11:29,979 Maybe he’d forgotten a bit 243 00:11:29,979 –> 00:11:32,619 or maybe it just wasn’t very focused at this point, 244 00:11:32,619 –> 00:11:36,179 but he seems to have forgotten what the problem is. 245 00:11:36,179 –> 00:11:38,179 And Judah says to him, 246 00:11:38,179 –> 00:11:41,000 look the man solemnly warned us, verse two, 247 00:11:41,000 –> 00:11:44,039 saying you will not see my face 248 00:11:44,039 –> 00:11:46,520 unless your brother is with you. 249 00:11:46,520 –> 00:11:49,260 Dad, dad, you’re not getting it. 250 00:11:49,320 –> 00:11:54,320 We can’t go to Egypt unless you send Benjamin. 251 00:11:56,359 –> 00:11:58,440 The brothers wants to go back to Egypt. 252 00:11:58,440 –> 00:12:00,119 They’re concerned for Simeon. 253 00:12:00,119 –> 00:12:02,640 He’s waiting in prison for their return. 254 00:12:02,640 –> 00:12:05,919 But he cannot return, they cannot return 255 00:12:05,919 –> 00:12:08,820 unless Benjamin goes with them 256 00:12:08,820 –> 00:12:11,659 and Jacob won’t let Benjamin go. 257 00:12:11,659 –> 00:12:15,140 That’s the impasse here in the story. 258 00:12:15,140 –> 00:12:17,000 Now you read this and you reflect on it 259 00:12:17,000 –> 00:12:17,859 and you think about it 260 00:12:17,859 –> 00:12:19,559 in the light of the whole Bible story 261 00:12:19,559 –> 00:12:22,659 and you say, aren’t you glad that God 262 00:12:22,659 –> 00:12:25,700 is a better, kinder father than Jacob? 263 00:12:26,760 –> 00:12:30,320 You can’t read this without thinking Romans 8, 32, 264 00:12:30,320 –> 00:12:34,239 He who did not spare His own son, 265 00:12:34,239 –> 00:12:38,119 but freely gave Him up for us all, 266 00:12:38,119 –> 00:12:40,239 how will He not also, along with Him 267 00:12:40,239 –> 00:12:42,039 the dearly loved Son Jesus Christ, 268 00:12:42,039 –> 00:12:43,940 therefore give us all things? 269 00:12:43,940 –> 00:12:45,979 We have a better father than Jacob. 270 00:12:45,979 –> 00:12:50,020 Thank God that our father is not the reluctant father. 271 00:12:51,200 –> 00:12:53,299 But is there anyone here who doesn’t 272 00:12:53,299 –> 00:12:55,400 understand Jacob’s reluctance? 273 00:12:55,400 –> 00:12:57,340 I mean, I can put myself in his shoes. 274 00:12:57,340 –> 00:13:00,119 I can imagine why he doesn’t wanna send Benjamin. 275 00:13:01,239 –> 00:13:04,960 So let that be a window for us 276 00:13:04,960 –> 00:13:09,960 into what it meant for God to send His dearly loved Son, 277 00:13:10,599 –> 00:13:15,599 knowing what we would do to Him when He came. 278 00:13:19,799 –> 00:13:23,500 Well eventually, the situation for the whole family 279 00:13:23,500 –> 00:13:28,500 becomes so desperate that there is a change. 280 00:13:28,760 –> 00:13:30,679 Verse eight, Judah says, 281 00:13:30,679 –> 00:13:35,679 Send the boy with me that we may live and not die, 282 00:13:35,760 –> 00:13:38,820 both we and you and our little ones. 283 00:13:38,820 –> 00:13:41,500 So you see the famines, now got to the point, 284 00:13:41,500 –> 00:13:44,900 many months later, where Judah steps up, 285 00:13:44,900 –> 00:13:45,960 takes leadership says 286 00:13:45,960 –> 00:13:49,619 dad, if you don’t send the dearly loved son, 287 00:13:50,580 –> 00:13:52,179 we’re all gone. 288 00:13:52,179 –> 00:13:53,159 Our little children, 289 00:13:53,159 –> 00:13:54,739 there’s no hope for our little children 290 00:13:54,739 –> 00:13:56,700 if you don’t send the dearly loved son. 291 00:13:56,700 –> 00:13:58,700 No hope for us, no hope even for you. 292 00:13:59,820 –> 00:14:01,780 Jacob, you got to do this. 293 00:14:02,700 –> 00:14:05,679 And now the pressure has become so great 294 00:14:06,559 –> 00:14:09,760 that finally Jacob relents, verse 11, 295 00:14:09,760 –> 00:14:12,679 if it must be so. 296 00:14:15,200 –> 00:14:17,460 So of the brothers go with Benjamin 297 00:14:17,460 –> 00:14:19,320 on their second journey to Egypt. 298 00:14:19,320 –> 00:14:22,479 Verse 15, they arose, they went down to Egypt 299 00:14:22,479 –> 00:14:26,599 and now they stood before Joseph. 300 00:14:26,599 –> 00:14:29,419 So the first snapshot here is of the reluctant father 301 00:14:29,419 –> 00:14:32,820 that gives us a window into just how good, 302 00:14:33,119 –> 00:14:35,960 kind and loving our Heavenly Father is 303 00:14:35,960 –> 00:14:40,960 that he has freely and willingly sent his dearly loved son 304 00:14:43,179 –> 00:14:46,419 and that his dearly loved son, our Savior, 305 00:14:46,419 –> 00:14:51,419 so freely, so willingly, so selflessly chose to come. 306 00:14:52,799 –> 00:14:55,059 The second snapshot I want us to see today 307 00:14:55,059 –> 00:14:57,780 is the experience of the brothers 308 00:14:57,780 –> 00:15:00,020 and when they come to Egypt, 309 00:15:00,219 –> 00:15:02,940 what’s striking is that their experience 310 00:15:02,940 –> 00:15:07,599 is totally different from the first visit that they made. 311 00:15:07,599 –> 00:15:09,619 You remember when they came the first time, 312 00:15:09,619 –> 00:15:14,299 Joseph spoke to them harshly and now when they come 313 00:15:14,299 –> 00:15:16,419 with Benjamin with them, 314 00:15:16,419 –> 00:15:19,020 their experience is completely different. 315 00:15:19,020 –> 00:15:23,140 It’s one gift of kindness being showered over them 316 00:15:23,140 –> 00:15:25,580 after another and that’s very striking 317 00:15:25,580 –> 00:15:27,059 at this point in the story. 318 00:15:27,059 –> 00:15:30,179 Let me point out the kindnesses that they receive 319 00:15:30,179 –> 00:15:32,640 as they are welcomed and as they are fed. 320 00:15:32,640 –> 00:15:35,260 The first is the welcome itself, verse 16, 321 00:15:35,260 –> 00:15:38,000 when Joseph saw Benjamin, notice that, 322 00:15:38,000 –> 00:15:40,979 when he saw that Benjamin was with them, 323 00:15:40,979 –> 00:15:43,140 he said to the steward of his house, 324 00:15:43,140 –> 00:15:46,059 bring the men into the house, 325 00:15:47,059 –> 00:15:49,299 slaughter an animal and make it ready. 326 00:15:49,299 –> 00:15:52,380 Shades of the return of the prodigal son there, right? 327 00:15:52,380 –> 00:15:56,599 For the men are to dine with me at noon. 328 00:15:57,580 –> 00:15:59,979 Now remember, the brothers here, 329 00:15:59,979 –> 00:16:04,299 there are 11 of them now, minus Simeon, 330 00:16:04,299 –> 00:16:07,820 so 10 of them, and they’re arriving as foreigners, 331 00:16:08,679 –> 00:16:10,099 the nine plus Benjamin. 332 00:16:11,260 –> 00:16:16,260 And why in the world would some travelers 333 00:16:16,320 –> 00:16:19,280 from out of state be welcomed 334 00:16:19,280 –> 00:16:23,000 into the mansion of the Governor himself? 335 00:16:23,000 –> 00:16:25,640 Why in the world would he want them in his house? 336 00:16:27,200 –> 00:16:28,880 And the answer is verse 16, 337 00:16:28,880 –> 00:16:32,200 when Joseph saw Benjamin with them. 338 00:16:34,039 –> 00:16:36,760 So think about this, because it’s very important, 339 00:16:36,760 –> 00:16:38,960 when the brothers come on their own, 340 00:16:38,960 –> 00:16:41,599 the great ruler speaks to them harshly. 341 00:16:43,460 –> 00:16:45,760 But when the brothers come in the company 342 00:16:45,760 –> 00:16:47,359 of the dearly loved son, 343 00:16:47,359 –> 00:16:50,539 they are welcomed into the Governor’s mansion. 344 00:16:50,539 –> 00:16:52,700 They sit at his table, why? 345 00:16:52,700 –> 00:16:55,020 Because they are with, in the company 346 00:16:55,200 –> 00:16:58,039 of the dearly loved son. 347 00:16:59,039 –> 00:17:02,359 And so the great ruler opens his home to them 348 00:17:02,359 –> 00:17:05,140 and seats them at his table. 349 00:17:05,140 –> 00:17:07,219 Now, isn’t this a wonderful picture 350 00:17:07,219 –> 00:17:10,719 and a very clear one of our own position before God? 351 00:17:10,719 –> 00:17:13,800 If you come to him on your own, 352 00:17:13,800 –> 00:17:15,300 if you come to him and say, well, Lord, 353 00:17:15,300 –> 00:17:18,199 here I am and here’s my life and here’s what I’ve done 354 00:17:18,199 –> 00:17:20,359 and I hope you’re gonna be pleased with it, 355 00:17:21,219 –> 00:17:24,459 what you’re gonna find is he’s gonna speak to you harshly. 356 00:17:25,459 –> 00:17:27,339 He’s gonna say, get out of here. 357 00:17:27,339 –> 00:17:28,339 I never knew you. 358 00:17:29,500 –> 00:17:30,819 You’re a stranger, you’re a foreigner, 359 00:17:30,819 –> 00:17:32,300 you’re no place in my house. 360 00:17:34,140 –> 00:17:36,819 But if you come to him in the company 361 00:17:36,819 –> 00:17:38,780 of his dearly loved son, 362 00:17:38,780 –> 00:17:41,160 you will be welcomed into his home 363 00:17:41,160 –> 00:17:43,420 for the sake of the dearly loved son. 364 00:17:43,420 –> 00:17:45,560 When Joseph saw that Benjamin was with them, 365 00:17:45,560 –> 00:17:47,000 he brought the whole group in 366 00:17:48,099 –> 00:17:49,859 because they were with the dearly loved son. 367 00:17:49,859 –> 00:17:52,760 That’s the very heart of the Gospel 368 00:17:52,780 –> 00:17:55,119 and why faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 369 00:17:55,119 –> 00:17:56,859 is so central to every hope 370 00:17:56,859 –> 00:17:58,300 of acceptance with God 371 00:17:58,300 –> 00:18:00,479 and entrance one day into his house. 372 00:18:01,760 –> 00:18:03,280 Of course, this kindness, 373 00:18:03,280 –> 00:18:05,359 being welcomed into the governor’s mansion 374 00:18:05,359 –> 00:18:08,060 takes the brothers completely by surprise. 375 00:18:08,959 –> 00:18:10,400 The last time they were here, 376 00:18:10,400 –> 00:18:12,239 the governor spoke harshly to them 377 00:18:13,239 –> 00:18:15,099 and they’re expecting more of the same. 378 00:18:15,099 –> 00:18:16,540 And so they say in verse 18, 379 00:18:16,540 –> 00:18:17,819 the men were afraid 380 00:18:18,719 –> 00:18:20,640 even when they’re brought into Joseph’s house, 381 00:18:20,640 –> 00:18:21,479 they’re still afraid. 382 00:18:21,479 –> 00:18:23,479 They think, oh, we’re being set up. 383 00:18:23,479 –> 00:18:25,880 It is because of the money, they say, 384 00:18:25,880 –> 00:18:28,239 verse 18, which was replaced in our sacks 385 00:18:28,239 –> 00:18:31,260 the first time that we were brought in, 386 00:18:32,099 –> 00:18:33,300 we’ve been brought into the house 387 00:18:33,300 –> 00:18:35,560 so that he may assault us 388 00:18:36,560 –> 00:18:38,500 and fall upon us 389 00:18:39,359 –> 00:18:41,839 to make us servants 390 00:18:41,839 –> 00:18:43,319 and to seize our donkeys. 391 00:18:43,319 –> 00:18:44,199 I love that last bit. 392 00:18:44,199 –> 00:18:46,199 They’re very worried about the donkeys. 393 00:18:48,500 –> 00:18:51,140 So when they’re welcomed into the house, 394 00:18:51,160 –> 00:18:52,680 they say he’s bringing us into the house 395 00:18:52,680 –> 00:18:54,099 because he’s gonna attack us. 396 00:18:54,099 –> 00:18:56,140 That’s what’s gonna happen. 397 00:18:56,140 –> 00:18:57,619 They’re so sure that they’re not 398 00:18:57,619 –> 00:18:58,979 gonna be shown kindness. 399 00:19:00,900 –> 00:19:03,520 Now, what’s interesting to me about this is 400 00:19:05,099 –> 00:19:07,420 that that is exactly what happened 401 00:19:07,420 –> 00:19:09,959 in the story we looked at last week 402 00:19:09,959 –> 00:19:13,780 of the brothers and the way they treated the Shechemites. 403 00:19:15,280 –> 00:19:17,900 You remember how they had launched, 404 00:19:17,900 –> 00:19:18,939 it was an atrocity, 405 00:19:18,939 –> 00:19:21,060 they had launched a sudden attack 406 00:19:21,060 –> 00:19:23,300 on the Shechemites when these men 407 00:19:23,300 –> 00:19:25,640 were in no position to defend themselves 408 00:19:25,640 –> 00:19:28,140 and had wiped them out completely. 409 00:19:28,140 –> 00:19:31,540 You can check that out in Genesis in chapter 34. 410 00:19:32,959 –> 00:19:35,219 And isn’t it interesting that the way 411 00:19:35,219 –> 00:19:38,099 that they expect to be treated 412 00:19:39,180 –> 00:19:41,699 is a direct reflection of how they, 413 00:19:41,699 –> 00:19:44,540 themselves, have treated others. 414 00:19:45,560 –> 00:19:48,920 They expect Joseph to do to them 415 00:19:49,479 –> 00:19:53,000 as they once did to the Shechemites. 416 00:19:53,000 –> 00:19:54,880 That’s very, very revealing. 417 00:19:54,880 –> 00:19:57,819 And, often, it is the case that a person 418 00:19:57,819 –> 00:20:02,339 deeply expects God to treat them 419 00:20:03,140 –> 00:20:07,920 in precisely the way that they have treated God. 420 00:20:07,920 –> 00:20:11,500 And when you think about it, that’s not surprising. 421 00:20:11,500 –> 00:20:14,280 What is surprising here in this story 422 00:20:14,280 –> 00:20:16,800 is that their expectation of being attacked 423 00:20:16,819 –> 00:20:19,260 and expectation of being wronged and all of this 424 00:20:19,260 –> 00:20:22,079 is completely upturned because all that they are shown 425 00:20:22,079 –> 00:20:23,939 when they’re brought into this Governor’s House 426 00:20:23,939 –> 00:20:25,880 in the presence of their dearly loved son 427 00:20:25,880 –> 00:20:27,400 is the most remarkable love 428 00:20:27,400 –> 00:20:29,920 and the remarkable kindness. 429 00:20:29,920 –> 00:20:32,819 So let me move to the second snapshot of this kindness, 430 00:20:32,819 –> 00:20:37,280 which is about the steward in verse 19-23. 431 00:20:37,280 –> 00:20:38,099 They are afraid. 432 00:20:38,099 –> 00:20:39,680 They think that they’re going to be attacked 433 00:20:39,680 –> 00:20:42,160 even though they’ve been welcomed. 434 00:20:42,160 –> 00:20:44,040 They think it’s about the money and the sack, 435 00:20:44,040 –> 00:20:45,920 and so they go to the steward, verse 19, 436 00:20:46,119 –> 00:20:49,160 and they speak with him at the door of the house, 437 00:20:49,160 –> 00:20:51,560 and then these next verses, they explain to the steward. 438 00:20:51,560 –> 00:20:52,739 Now, look, here’s what happened. 439 00:20:52,739 –> 00:20:55,839 In our last visit, we came and we bought grain. 440 00:20:55,839 –> 00:20:57,000 We bought it from you. 441 00:20:57,880 –> 00:21:01,300 And when we were on our journey home, 442 00:21:01,300 –> 00:21:05,640 we found that the money was back in our sacks 443 00:21:05,640 –> 00:21:07,400 and we don’t really know how it got there, 444 00:21:07,400 –> 00:21:08,439 but we brought the money 445 00:21:08,439 –> 00:21:11,199 and we wanna give it back now to you. 446 00:21:12,199 –> 00:21:15,939 And the steward replies, verse 23, 447 00:21:15,939 –> 00:21:20,280 peace to you, do not be afraid. 448 00:21:21,859 –> 00:21:25,719 Your God and the God of your Father 449 00:21:25,719 –> 00:21:29,599 has put treasure in your sacks for you. 450 00:21:30,640 –> 00:21:32,140 I received your money. 451 00:21:33,300 –> 00:21:35,079 And this is amazing. 452 00:21:35,079 –> 00:21:37,420 This Egyptian steward is telling these people 453 00:21:37,420 –> 00:21:38,560 about their God. 454 00:21:39,280 –> 00:21:41,839 And remember that the brothers thought, 455 00:21:41,839 –> 00:21:43,400 well God must be against us. 456 00:21:43,400 –> 00:21:44,819 When they found the money in the sack, 457 00:21:44,819 –> 00:21:47,959 they said what has God done to us? 458 00:21:47,959 –> 00:21:49,699 Now here’s an Egyptian steward who says 459 00:21:49,699 –> 00:21:51,239 what you guys don’t seem to realize 460 00:21:51,239 –> 00:21:54,319 is evidently your God has done something for you. 461 00:21:54,319 –> 00:21:56,400 Cause I got your money. 462 00:21:56,400 –> 00:21:58,199 So I got no problem. 463 00:21:58,199 –> 00:22:00,140 So if money was put in your sacks 464 00:22:00,140 –> 00:22:02,479 and if money was found in your sacks, 465 00:22:02,479 –> 00:22:04,680 the only thing I can think of is that your God 466 00:22:04,680 –> 00:22:06,000 must be very, very kind 467 00:22:06,000 –> 00:22:07,619 and He must have done something for you. 468 00:22:07,819 –> 00:22:09,520 And they’re thinking God’s against us 469 00:22:09,520 –> 00:22:11,819 and here’s this Egyptian steward and he says 470 00:22:11,819 –> 00:22:13,180 you guys don’t seem to realize 471 00:22:13,180 –> 00:22:14,739 how much your God is for you. 472 00:22:16,099 –> 00:22:16,920 Wonderful. 473 00:22:18,140 –> 00:22:19,979 Third snapshot of kindness. 474 00:22:19,979 –> 00:22:21,359 So first is their welcome. 475 00:22:21,359 –> 00:22:23,560 The second, the steward proclaims 476 00:22:23,560 –> 00:22:25,339 the abundant goodness of their God 477 00:22:25,339 –> 00:22:27,459 and says don’t be afraid, be at peace. 478 00:22:27,459 –> 00:22:29,140 Third picture of kindness, 479 00:22:29,140 –> 00:22:33,020 here is the release of Simeon verse 23. 480 00:22:33,020 –> 00:22:37,560 And he brought, the steward brought Simeon out to them. 481 00:22:38,180 –> 00:22:39,699 So here are the promises fulfilled, 482 00:22:39,699 –> 00:22:42,339 if Benjamin is brought back Simeon will be released. 483 00:22:43,900 –> 00:22:46,079 I suspect that with all that we’re told 484 00:22:46,079 –> 00:22:47,500 that was in the brother’s minds 485 00:22:47,500 –> 00:22:50,380 they must have thought that what might well happen 486 00:22:50,380 –> 00:22:52,500 is that they would be thrown into the prison 487 00:22:52,500 –> 00:22:56,239 alongside Simeon, we’re being brought into the house 488 00:22:56,239 –> 00:22:57,420 so that we’re gonna be attacked, 489 00:22:57,420 –> 00:22:59,400 we’ll be overwhelmed, our donkey’s taken away 490 00:22:59,400 –> 00:23:01,319 and all the rest of it. 491 00:23:01,319 –> 00:23:03,579 But here’s a governor who is as good as his word, 492 00:23:03,579 –> 00:23:05,900 who keeps his promises. 493 00:23:05,920 –> 00:23:08,699 And when Benjamin comes, Simeon is released. 494 00:23:08,699 –> 00:23:10,900 And can you imagine the joy of this scene? 495 00:23:11,800 –> 00:23:13,719 It’s not described to us in detail 496 00:23:13,719 –> 00:23:15,920 but what a great moment it must have been. 497 00:23:16,880 –> 00:23:20,760 Simeon is restored to the other brothers. 498 00:23:20,760 –> 00:23:22,300 I wonder what he said to them? 499 00:23:23,359 –> 00:23:26,439 What took you guys so long? 500 00:23:26,439 –> 00:23:29,800 And their saying, you know what dad’s like 501 00:23:29,800 –> 00:23:32,359 about his dearly loved son, he wouldn’t let him go. 502 00:23:33,099 –> 00:23:36,319 And I wonder if this had been in Simeon’s mind? 503 00:23:36,319 –> 00:23:40,079 Remember, Simeon was part of the giving up of Joseph. 504 00:23:41,699 –> 00:23:44,079 Would it not have been in his mind, don’t you think? 505 00:23:44,079 –> 00:23:49,079 That if these brothers are the same towards me 506 00:23:49,939 –> 00:23:51,780 as all of us were towards Joseph, 507 00:23:51,780 –> 00:23:54,859 I’m gonna be here in the slammer for the rest of my life. 508 00:23:54,859 –> 00:23:56,880 I’m never gonna get out. 509 00:23:56,880 –> 00:23:58,219 They’re just gonna move on. 510 00:23:59,459 –> 00:24:02,339 We gave up Joseph and they gave up me. 511 00:24:03,140 –> 00:24:04,099 I’m done for. 512 00:24:06,040 –> 00:24:07,660 So here the brothers are back 513 00:24:07,660 –> 00:24:09,800 and there’s evidently even in that 514 00:24:09,800 –> 00:24:11,859 some change that is going on. 515 00:24:11,859 –> 00:24:16,640 Oh, I’m so glad that there’s some change that has happened. 516 00:24:16,640 –> 00:24:18,199 And you know what? 517 00:24:18,199 –> 00:24:20,680 His getting out is all due to the fact 518 00:24:20,680 –> 00:24:22,760 that the father sent the dearly loved son 519 00:24:22,760 –> 00:24:24,140 and that Benjamin was there 520 00:24:24,140 –> 00:24:26,599 and now they’re in an entirely different relationship 521 00:24:26,599 –> 00:24:28,880 with all the authority and power of the land. 522 00:24:30,439 –> 00:24:32,239 Fourth snapshot of God’s kindness. 523 00:24:33,280 –> 00:24:36,619 The Banquet, and this is verses 26 to 34. 524 00:24:36,619 –> 00:24:39,420 So all of the interaction has been with the steward 525 00:24:39,420 –> 00:24:41,420 in this first part, the welcome, 526 00:24:41,420 –> 00:24:43,300 the release of Simeon, 527 00:24:43,300 –> 00:24:47,180 the wonderful promise that the steward made to them 528 00:24:47,180 –> 00:24:49,640 giving them these words of peace. 529 00:24:49,640 –> 00:24:53,640 But now Joseph himself, the great man appears. 530 00:24:53,640 –> 00:24:56,199 And remember, he knows the brothers 531 00:24:56,199 –> 00:24:59,359 but the brothers don’t know or recognize him. 532 00:24:59,359 –> 00:25:01,339 He’s speaking a different language. 533 00:25:01,400 –> 00:25:04,180 He’s got the Egyptian aristocracy’s face paint 534 00:25:04,180 –> 00:25:06,359 and cosmetics and all of that on. 535 00:25:06,359 –> 00:25:09,640 And they don’t for one minute have a clue 536 00:25:09,640 –> 00:25:13,040 that the one who owns this great mansion 537 00:25:13,040 –> 00:25:15,760 is in fact their brother. 538 00:25:15,760 –> 00:25:17,439 But he arrives. 539 00:25:17,439 –> 00:25:19,560 And notice how different this is 540 00:25:19,560 –> 00:25:22,180 from the first interaction. 541 00:25:22,180 –> 00:25:24,160 No speaking harshly now, 542 00:25:25,099 –> 00:25:28,680 verse 27 he asks about their father, 543 00:25:28,719 –> 00:25:33,640 verse 29, Joseph pronounces words of blessing over Benjamin 544 00:25:34,640 –> 00:25:38,959 and then he brings them into a lavish banquet. 545 00:25:40,239 –> 00:25:42,300 Now, notice, and this is significant 546 00:25:42,300 –> 00:25:44,599 that there are three tables. 547 00:25:45,680 –> 00:25:48,719 Joseph is sitting on his own at one table. 548 00:25:49,640 –> 00:25:54,020 The brothers are stting together at another table 549 00:25:54,020 –> 00:25:56,520 and then the other Egyptian members of the household 550 00:25:56,560 –> 00:25:59,699 are sitting grouped on a third table, 551 00:25:59,699 –> 00:26:00,780 so what is that telling us? 552 00:26:00,780 –> 00:26:05,739 It’s telling us that reconciliation has not yet happened. 553 00:26:05,739 –> 00:26:07,300 That’s still further down the line. 554 00:26:07,300 –> 00:26:10,439 You need to read ahead to chapter 45 555 00:26:10,439 –> 00:26:13,160 before Joseph finally reveals himself 556 00:26:13,160 –> 00:26:16,000 and the full reconciliation is complete, 557 00:26:16,000 –> 00:26:18,380 but what we’re seeing at this stage in the story 558 00:26:18,380 –> 00:26:21,579 is that a remarkable change has already begun, 559 00:26:22,560 –> 00:26:24,579 that conscience has been awakened, 560 00:26:25,380 –> 00:26:29,079 that love is now being poured into 561 00:26:29,079 –> 00:26:30,959 this very broken situation. 562 00:26:30,959 –> 00:26:34,040 Reconciliation is on the way. 563 00:26:35,160 –> 00:26:37,319 And there’s something very important here 564 00:26:37,319 –> 00:26:40,000 with regards to our own relationships, 565 00:26:40,000 –> 00:26:44,500 forgiveness, seeking to cross bridges of alienation, 566 00:26:44,500 –> 00:26:45,699 and it’s this. 567 00:26:45,699 –> 00:26:48,839 Kindness comes first. 568 00:26:48,839 –> 00:26:51,880 Repentance comes later. 569 00:26:51,880 –> 00:26:54,040 That’s Romans 2, that we looked at last time. 570 00:26:54,339 –> 00:26:55,699 That’s what’s, kindness is intended 571 00:26:55,699 –> 00:26:57,479 to lead you to repentance. 572 00:26:57,479 –> 00:26:59,579 Kindness comes first. 573 00:26:59,579 –> 00:27:02,199 Repentance comes later. 574 00:27:02,199 –> 00:27:04,479 What’s happening here is that barriers 575 00:27:04,479 –> 00:27:06,719 are being lowered. 576 00:27:06,719 –> 00:27:10,579 Perceptions are being changed. 577 00:27:10,579 –> 00:27:13,560 Experience is different. 578 00:27:13,560 –> 00:27:17,500 The harsh words giving way to expression of love 579 00:27:17,500 –> 00:27:20,719 and of kindness, the ways being prepared 580 00:27:20,719 –> 00:27:23,939 for a reconciliation that is going to take place 581 00:27:24,000 –> 00:27:27,640 very soon now, and God is working 582 00:27:27,640 –> 00:27:31,000 and moving in that marvelous 583 00:27:31,000 –> 00:27:34,060 and wonderfully healing direction. 584 00:27:34,060 –> 00:27:35,939 And isn’t this at the heart of the gospel? 585 00:27:35,939 –> 00:27:38,859 It was while we were still sinners 586 00:27:38,859 –> 00:27:41,140 that God commended his love towards us 587 00:27:41,140 –> 00:27:43,839 and that Jesus Christ died for us. 588 00:27:43,839 –> 00:27:48,579 Kindness first, repentance later. 589 00:27:49,500 –> 00:27:52,020 Now, let’s just think about that personally for a moment. 590 00:27:52,060 –> 00:27:55,060 How many ways have you experienced the kindness of God? 591 00:27:56,099 –> 00:27:58,579 Just thinking in terms of the breadth of your life. 592 00:27:58,579 –> 00:28:01,479 All the days you’ve had health. 593 00:28:01,479 –> 00:28:02,319 Why was that? 594 00:28:02,319 –> 00:28:03,880 That’s the kindness of God. 595 00:28:04,900 –> 00:28:05,900 Your work. 596 00:28:06,880 –> 00:28:08,439 Your gifts and your talents. 597 00:28:08,439 –> 00:28:10,099 Where do you think they came from? 598 00:28:10,099 –> 00:28:11,660 They were given to you. 599 00:28:11,660 –> 00:28:14,160 What do you have that you did not receive? 600 00:28:14,160 –> 00:28:15,540 The home that you live in. 601 00:28:16,439 –> 00:28:19,439 The income that you have been able to sustain 602 00:28:19,540 –> 00:28:21,699 to generate the lifestyle 603 00:28:21,699 –> 00:28:23,239 that you have been given. 604 00:28:23,239 –> 00:28:24,800 The fact that you’re in this country 605 00:28:24,800 –> 00:28:28,920 where we have so many gifts and blessings and advantages. 606 00:28:28,920 –> 00:28:30,739 Where did all these gifts come from? 607 00:28:30,739 –> 00:28:32,579 Why are they yours? 608 00:28:34,380 –> 00:28:36,479 Well, they came from the hand of God, 609 00:28:37,719 –> 00:28:42,640 and how are you going to respond to this kindness 610 00:28:42,640 –> 00:28:45,420 that has been lavished into your life, 611 00:28:45,420 –> 00:28:48,199 one good gift after another, 612 00:28:49,020 –> 00:28:54,020 from the hand of God, the Father who is in heaven. 613 00:28:54,380 –> 00:28:57,839 None of these things are yours by right. 614 00:28:58,880 –> 00:29:01,459 None of these things belong to any of us 615 00:29:01,459 –> 00:29:04,540 because in some way we deserve them. 616 00:29:04,540 –> 00:29:07,599 No, it is God’s kindness, 617 00:29:07,599 –> 00:29:11,739 and God’s kindness to us is not intended 618 00:29:11,739 –> 00:29:14,920 that we should live lives therefore of self-indulgence. 619 00:29:14,920 –> 00:29:19,920 God’s kindness to us is in order to lead us to repentance. 620 00:29:22,339 –> 00:29:25,280 That’s what’s happening here in the story of the brothers. 621 00:29:25,280 –> 00:29:28,939 So we saw a reluctant father, who’s a kind of anti-type, 622 00:29:28,939 –> 00:29:31,239 a contrast to the father, 623 00:29:31,239 –> 00:29:34,359 who freely gives to us his dearly loved son. 624 00:29:35,439 –> 00:29:37,520 We’ve seen these rebellious brothers 625 00:29:37,520 –> 00:29:41,520 who’re now aware of their own sin and their own guilt, 626 00:29:41,520 –> 00:29:44,160 and they do see that they need to change, 627 00:29:44,239 –> 00:29:45,719 and they’re beginning to change, 628 00:29:45,719 –> 00:29:47,599 and what’s moving this forward 629 00:29:47,599 –> 00:29:51,219 is that love and kindness is being poured out upon them. 630 00:29:52,839 –> 00:29:57,339 Then here’s the last thing, the identity of Joseph. 631 00:29:58,319 –> 00:30:00,599 Remember they don’t yet know who Joseph is, 632 00:30:00,599 –> 00:30:02,880 they’re eating at his table, 633 00:30:02,880 –> 00:30:07,420 and they don’t yet know whose table they are at. 634 00:30:08,619 –> 00:30:10,800 So let me just give to you these descriptions 635 00:30:10,819 –> 00:30:12,199 of the identity of Joseph 636 00:30:12,199 –> 00:30:15,560 that obviously point us to Jesus Christ. 637 00:30:15,560 –> 00:30:16,859 Who is Joseph? 638 00:30:18,959 –> 00:30:22,880 He is the ruler who knows them, 639 00:30:24,319 –> 00:30:27,420 even though they don’t yet know him, that’s who he is. 640 00:30:29,359 –> 00:30:31,239 Joseph knows all about the brothers, 641 00:30:31,239 –> 00:30:34,119 they don’t know anything about him, 642 00:30:35,540 –> 00:30:37,359 they’ve not realized who he is, 643 00:30:38,280 –> 00:30:42,520 and yet he knows everything about them. 644 00:30:43,839 –> 00:30:45,000 And I don’t know if you saw this 645 00:30:45,000 –> 00:30:46,339 or noticed it in the reading 646 00:30:46,339 –> 00:30:48,500 but there’s just a marvelous little snapshot 647 00:30:48,500 –> 00:30:50,640 of that in verse 33. 648 00:30:50,640 –> 00:30:53,680 When they’re brought into the banquet 649 00:30:53,680 –> 00:30:56,319 and they’re all seated at this table together 650 00:30:56,319 –> 00:31:00,500 they were seated in exactly the order 651 00:31:00,500 –> 00:31:05,439 of their birth, from the oldest to the youngest. 652 00:31:05,439 –> 00:31:07,300 Now, can you imagine this happening? 653 00:31:07,319 –> 00:31:08,819 So here’s the steward brings them in 654 00:31:08,819 –> 00:31:10,300 and he said here, this is for you 655 00:31:10,300 –> 00:31:12,280 and he said yeah and he brings out the seat 656 00:31:12,280 –> 00:31:15,020 and they’re all seated and then they look at each other 657 00:31:15,020 –> 00:31:16,660 and suddenly it dawns on them. 658 00:31:17,839 –> 00:31:21,380 We’ve been seated in exactly our birth order. 659 00:31:21,380 –> 00:31:26,239 How in the world does this guy know 660 00:31:26,239 –> 00:31:28,579 the order of our birth? 661 00:31:30,160 –> 00:31:31,699 We don’t know anything about him 662 00:31:31,699 –> 00:31:34,199 but he seems to know an awful lot about us. 663 00:31:35,819 –> 00:31:36,660 It’s remarkable. 664 00:31:37,560 –> 00:31:40,619 The ruler who knows them 665 00:31:41,900 –> 00:31:43,660 even though they don’t yet know him. 666 00:31:45,339 –> 00:31:49,800 And then he is the brother who loves them 667 00:31:49,800 –> 00:31:53,339 even though they don’t yet love him. 668 00:31:53,339 –> 00:31:56,660 So interesting that when the brothers speak about Joseph 669 00:31:56,660 –> 00:31:58,500 they’re back home talking to Jacob 670 00:31:58,500 –> 00:32:00,819 and they’re referring to this man 671 00:32:00,819 –> 00:32:04,579 who is in Egypt who’s the governor of Egypt. 672 00:32:04,579 –> 00:32:06,140 They don’t know his name 673 00:32:06,140 –> 00:32:09,780 so they simply refer to him as the man. 674 00:32:09,780 –> 00:32:12,540 And if you look through Chapter 42, 43 675 00:32:12,540 –> 00:32:16,300 I find five times that the brothers refer to Joseph 676 00:32:16,300 –> 00:32:18,900 as the man, you know, the man in Egypt 677 00:32:18,900 –> 00:32:20,579 and then Jacob picks up the same thing 678 00:32:20,579 –> 00:32:22,380 and twice he defers to his own son 679 00:32:22,380 –> 00:32:24,619 as the man in the same way as well. 680 00:32:24,619 –> 00:32:26,540 Isn’t that exactly how a person 681 00:32:26,540 –> 00:32:28,439 who doesn’t know God tends to speak? 682 00:32:29,520 –> 00:32:31,760 The man upstairs you know. 683 00:32:31,760 –> 00:32:33,540 God whoever he, she or it. 684 00:32:33,540 –> 00:32:37,020 No knowledge of God, no love for God. 685 00:32:37,020 –> 00:32:38,140 Not in that. 686 00:32:39,459 –> 00:32:42,560 But actually the one who’s referred to as the man 687 00:32:43,660 –> 00:32:47,060 is the brother who loves them 688 00:32:48,400 –> 00:32:50,839 even though they haven’t yet recognized who he is 689 00:32:50,839 –> 00:32:53,839 and therefore they do not yet come to love him. 690 00:32:53,839 –> 00:32:54,979 And what else is he? 691 00:32:54,979 –> 00:32:56,979 He’s the victim thirdly 692 00:32:56,979 –> 00:32:58,540 who is ready to forgive them. 693 00:32:58,540 –> 00:33:01,040 He’s the one that they have sinned against. 694 00:33:01,040 –> 00:33:03,239 They know that they’ve sinned. 695 00:33:03,339 –> 00:33:05,239 They’ve got to the place of saying we’re guilty. 696 00:33:05,239 –> 00:33:08,459 What they don’t know is that the one they’ve sinned against 697 00:33:08,459 –> 00:33:10,619 is the one at whose table they are sitting. 698 00:33:11,880 –> 00:33:16,400 And they’ve not yet seen that their sin is against him. 699 00:33:16,400 –> 00:33:19,020 He was the victim that was put in the pit, 700 00:33:19,920 –> 00:33:22,359 but he was the one who was taken out of the pit 701 00:33:22,359 –> 00:33:24,760 and now has been raised to the position of governor 702 00:33:24,760 –> 00:33:26,859 and he’s ready to forgive them 703 00:33:26,859 –> 00:33:29,160 when they come to the place of recognizing 704 00:33:29,160 –> 00:33:32,540 that actually their sins were not just moral guilt, 705 00:33:32,540 –> 00:33:35,260 they were sins against him. 706 00:33:36,500 –> 00:33:38,339 Now you look at these three descriptions 707 00:33:38,339 –> 00:33:40,819 and it’s very obvious to what they are pointing 708 00:33:40,819 –> 00:33:42,660 or rather, to whom they are pointing. 709 00:33:42,660 –> 00:33:44,660 Who is Jesus? 710 00:33:44,660 –> 00:33:46,660 Who is the Lord Jesus Christ? 711 00:33:46,660 –> 00:33:48,140 Here’s who Jesus is. 712 00:33:48,140 –> 00:33:52,260 Jesus is the ruler who knows you, 713 00:33:52,260 –> 00:33:55,219 he is the brother who loves you 714 00:33:55,219 –> 00:33:58,359 and he is the victim who is ready to forgive you. 715 00:33:58,359 –> 00:34:00,500 That’s who Jesus Christ is. 716 00:34:00,500 –> 00:34:02,500 And my great prayer for this series 717 00:34:02,599 –> 00:34:05,380 is that like the brothers who eventually came to know Joseph, 718 00:34:05,380 –> 00:34:07,500 you will come to know Jesus Christ 719 00:34:07,500 –> 00:34:09,639 and that you’ll come to see that he is the ruler 720 00:34:09,639 –> 00:34:11,540 who knows everything about you. 721 00:34:12,699 –> 00:34:15,820 Before a thought is in your mind, he knows it. 722 00:34:15,820 –> 00:34:17,620 Before a word is on your tongue, 723 00:34:17,620 –> 00:34:20,500 he knows it completely. 724 00:34:20,500 –> 00:34:22,760 Now, whether you think that’s good news or bad news 725 00:34:22,760 –> 00:34:25,439 depends on whether he’s for you or whether he’s against you 726 00:34:25,439 –> 00:34:28,659 and whether you’re for him or whether you are against him. 727 00:34:29,699 –> 00:34:31,219 But for those who come to trust him 728 00:34:31,219 –> 00:34:32,419 and those who come to love him 729 00:34:33,060 –> 00:34:33,979 and those who come to discover 730 00:34:33,979 –> 00:34:36,780 that he’s also our brother who loves us, 731 00:34:36,780 –> 00:34:38,780 then you’ll be able to say like David, 732 00:34:38,780 –> 00:34:41,739 you know everything about me, you know me completely 733 00:34:43,199 –> 00:34:47,260 and that knowledge is too wonderful for me. 734 00:34:48,820 –> 00:34:52,360 Remember the story of the woman at the well 735 00:34:53,879 –> 00:34:55,899 and Jesus knew everything about her 736 00:34:55,899 –> 00:34:58,260 even though she did not yet understand 737 00:34:58,260 –> 00:34:59,419 who he really was. 738 00:34:59,419 –> 00:35:01,219 She didn’t know that he was the Son of God 739 00:35:01,219 –> 00:35:03,719 and she met him and he asked her for a drink 740 00:35:05,459 –> 00:35:08,919 and Jesus told her things that only God could know, 741 00:35:08,919 –> 00:35:10,239 secrets of her life 742 00:35:12,219 –> 00:35:14,540 and then she goes running in to the town of Psalm 743 00:35:14,540 –> 00:35:15,379 and what did she say? 744 00:35:15,379 –> 00:35:20,260 Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did 745 00:35:21,659 –> 00:35:24,939 and she’s joyful about it despite the fact 746 00:35:24,939 –> 00:35:26,679 that many of the things that she did 747 00:35:26,679 –> 00:35:28,899 that he told her about and that he knew about 748 00:35:28,899 –> 00:35:30,840 were things she should never have done. 749 00:35:31,679 –> 00:35:33,260 Why was she so joyful about it? 750 00:35:33,260 –> 00:35:35,939 Because she knew that he was not only the ruler 751 00:35:36,800 –> 00:35:41,780 who knew her but that he also loved her 752 00:35:42,360 –> 00:35:43,439 and here’s the great thing. 753 00:35:43,439 –> 00:35:44,620 Who is Jesus Christ? 754 00:35:44,620 –> 00:35:46,560 He’s the sovereign God, he’s the Creator. 755 00:35:46,560 –> 00:35:48,120 That’s why he knows all things. 756 00:35:48,120 –> 00:35:52,239 He’s God but he’s also become our brother. 757 00:35:52,239 –> 00:35:53,219 How did that happen? 758 00:35:53,219 –> 00:35:56,139 God became man in Jesus Christ. 759 00:35:56,139 –> 00:35:57,580 He took his place with us. 760 00:35:57,580 –> 00:36:00,719 He joined the human family. 761 00:36:00,719 –> 00:36:02,399 That’s what the incarnation, 762 00:36:02,399 –> 00:36:05,399 that’s what Christmas is all about. 763 00:36:05,399 –> 00:36:07,679 That the ruler who knows you 764 00:36:07,679 –> 00:36:12,320 has become the brother who loves you 765 00:36:12,320 –> 00:36:15,360 and when you get a taste of his love for you, 766 00:36:15,360 –> 00:36:18,360 that is the love of Jesus Christ for you, 767 00:36:18,360 –> 00:36:21,959 it will not be long before you find within your own heart 768 00:36:21,959 –> 00:36:25,439 some growing reflection of love back towards him. 769 00:36:25,439 –> 00:36:26,800 We love him. 770 00:36:26,800 –> 00:36:27,639 Why? 771 00:36:27,639 –> 00:36:30,239 Because he first loved us 772 00:36:31,320 –> 00:36:33,040 He’s the ruler who knows you 773 00:36:33,919 –> 00:36:35,679 and he’s the brother who loves you 774 00:36:36,639 –> 00:36:40,639 and he sure is the victim who is ready to forgive you 775 00:36:40,639 –> 00:36:43,320 because what happened when he came in to the world for us? 776 00:36:43,320 –> 00:36:46,679 What happened when he made himself one with us? 777 00:36:47,879 –> 00:36:50,239 We nailed him to a cross, 778 00:36:50,239 –> 00:36:53,959 he became the victim, he became the sacrifice. 779 00:36:53,959 –> 00:36:57,600 He took our sins upon himself 780 00:36:58,379 –> 00:37:01,459 and God raised him up and highly exalted him, 781 00:37:01,459 –> 00:37:03,120 making them the prince 782 00:37:03,120 –> 00:37:06,239 and the savior, ruling in heaven. 783 00:37:06,239 –> 00:37:07,719 The one to whom we can come 784 00:37:07,719 –> 00:37:09,600 and when we come to know who he is, 785 00:37:09,600 –> 00:37:12,840 the ruler who knows us and the brother who loves us, 786 00:37:12,840 –> 00:37:16,919 we come to see too that he is the savior. 787 00:37:16,919 –> 00:37:19,199 The one who sacrificed himself, 788 00:37:19,199 –> 00:37:22,500 who’s ready to forgive us 789 00:37:23,879 –> 00:37:27,000 and ready to reconcile all who will come to him 790 00:37:27,899 –> 00:37:29,399 in great love. 791 00:37:29,399 –> 00:37:31,679 No, here’s what we learn from this story, 792 00:37:31,679 –> 00:37:36,000 that you are known, you are known, 793 00:37:36,000 –> 00:37:37,040 completely known, 794 00:37:38,060 –> 00:37:39,479 and you are loved 795 00:37:40,639 –> 00:37:44,120 and you can be forgiven through Jesus Christ 796 00:37:44,120 –> 00:37:47,560 who is the loved and favored son of God. 797 00:37:47,560 –> 00:37:49,639 And when you see who he is, 798 00:37:50,959 –> 00:37:54,500 why would you not submit to him as your ruler 799 00:37:55,500 –> 00:37:57,939 and love him as your brother 800 00:37:59,040 –> 00:38:02,979 and trust him as your savior. 801 00:38:02,979 –> 00:38:04,419 Let’s pray together, shall we? 802 00:38:05,840 –> 00:38:10,360 Your blood has washed away my sin, Jesus, thank you. 803 00:38:12,379 –> 00:38:17,379 The Father’s wrath completely satisfied Jesus, thank you. 804 00:38:17,959 –> 00:38:22,959 Once your enemy, now seated at your table, 805 00:38:27,179 –> 00:38:32,179 Jesus, thank you for your amazing grace 806 00:38:36,419 –> 00:38:41,419 and your freely given love and your abundant kindness 807 00:38:42,020 –> 00:38:47,419 and your priceless sacrifice 808 00:38:49,100 –> 00:38:53,620 we lift our hearts to you in thanksgiving and worship 809 00:38:54,739 –> 00:38:58,219 and adoration and praise through 810 00:38:58,219 –> 00:39:01,780 Jesus Christ our Lord and everyone together said. 811 00:39:01,780 –> 00:39:02,620 Amen.