Do Not Be Troubled

Do Not Be Troubled

Genesis 45: ²¹ Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. ²² He gave to all of them, to each man, changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments. ²³ And he sent to his father these things: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father for the journey. ²⁴ So he sent his brothers away, and they departed; and he said to them, “See that you do not become troubled along the way.”

 

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Joseph’s brothers got prepared to go home. Joseph gave them an overwhelming amount of food and other items to take back to Israel. He gave Benjamin multiple times more than his brothers. He sent them away and told them to “not become troubled along the way.”

 

My Observations:

• Joseph had to reassure his brothers that there would be no tricks like he did when he had his silver cup hidden in Benjamin’s sack.
• Joseph listened to Pharaoh and gave them the finest provisions of Egypt.
• Joseph’s brothers were probably overwhelmed with seeing him and receiving so many provisions.

 

So much had happened to the brothers, that they needed some assurance. Simeon had been thrown in prison and they were accused of being spies by Joseph. When they got the overwhelming favor, they may have hesitated. Same with us. We may hesitate praising GOD too soon or too loudly because we have been through so much.

 

GOD cleared the way for the sons of Israel to move to Egypt without worry. Joseph remembered his father by sending gifts. Female donkeys would be used to breed. The family received an overwhelming amount of gifts without deserving anything.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the gifts Joseph sent?
• Have you ever received a blessing but hesitated in your praise?
• Will you listen to GOD when HE says “Do not be troubled” so you won’t second guess HIS blessings?

Undeserved Favor

Undeserved Favor

¹⁴ Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. ¹⁵ Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him.

 

¹⁶ Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well. ¹⁷ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. ¹⁸ Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the ^[c]fat of the land. ¹⁹ Now you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. ²⁰ Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ”

 

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During Joseph’s big reveal of his identity to his brothers, his weeping was so loud that all the Egyptians around him could hear. News made it to Pharaoh’s house making him aware that Joseph had long-lost brothers. Pharaoh told his brothers that he would give them the best land.

 

My Observations:

• Pharoah saw the power of GOD through Joseph and probably wanted more power so he gave the brothers the best land.
• Pharaoh was inviting towards Joseph’s family possibly for his own selfish reasons, but little did he know it was part of GOD’s plan.
• Joseph’s family was about to experience a luxurious lifestyle despite their hateful, jealous, lying and blaming ways.

 

Jacob, who was renamed to Israel, was a deceiver. His son’s murdered a town of men and raided the town of everything. They also planned out the murder of their own brother. BUT GOD made a promise to Abraham that HE would keep. HE saw the sins of Israel, his son’s sins, your sins and mine and forgave us through belief in JESUS.

 

Sometimes we try to think that life can be “fair,” but if it were, we would already be eternally condemned. We don’t want fair, we want grace and mercy. Joseph’s pain was now turned into provision for his entire family. Even Pharaoh, who looked at himself as a god, recognized the power of the MOST HIH GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about Pharaoh’s decree?
• Have you ever experienced undeserved favor?
• Is your focus on blame or blessings from GOD?

Excited to be Reunited

Excited to be Reunited

Genesis 45: ⁹ “Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry. ¹⁰ You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. ¹¹ There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine.” ’

 

¹² “And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you. ¹³ So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.”

 

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After Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, he told them to “hurry up” and get his father.

 

My Observations:

• Joseph had not seen his father in decades and was filled with excitement!
• Joseph gave his brothers words that should fill Israel up with excitement.
• Joseph made sure to mention to Israel that GOD would make the famine last another five years, so that he would not refuse.

 

GOD was moving the twelve tribes of Israel to the promised land and no one knew what HE was doing. HE made the famine and HE raised Joseph to a position of power to enable the movement of his brothers to Egypt which was near the promised land. Israel and his sons would not have moved otherwise.

 

Joseph was so excited that he could hardly wait! He was put in a position where he had plenty to provide for his entire family and their families. This reunion was ordained by GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Joseph’s commends to his brothers?
• Have you ever wondered if you will see GOD’s deliverance?
• What famine are you in and how is GOD using it to deliver you and HIS people?

Life Preserver

Life Preserver

Genesis 45: Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. ² And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.

 

³ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. ⁴ And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. ⁵ But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. ⁶ For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. ⁷ And God sent me before you to preserve a ^[a]posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. ⁸ So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

 

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After Judah’s appeal to take the place of Benjamin, Joseph could no longer restrain himself. Joseph had his house steward place his cup in Benjamin’s sack along with the food that he purchased. When all of his brothers were told to return to Egypt, they were terrified. But Joseph had a big reveal for them.

 

My Observations:

• Joseph could no longer pretend to be an Egyptian to his brothers.
• Joseph was so overcome with emotions, that he wept aloud and sent the Egyptians away.
• Joseph explained to his brothers that what they meant for evil, GOD meant for good.

 

Hatred was the motive behind the brother’s actions. They hated Joseph so much, that they wanted to kill him but settled for selling him into slavery. When Joseph revealed he was alive and in charge of Egypt, the brothers got scared.

 

Joseph assured the brothers by explaining that GOD put him in the situations he had gone through. Being thrown in a pit by his brothers, and being accused of attempted rape by Potiphar’s wife and being thrown in prison were all part of GOD’s mysterious plan. Joseph was placed in the highest position because GOD wanted him there. GOD sent Joseph to Egypt to be a life preserver.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses about Joseph’s big reveal to his brothers?
• What difficulties are you facing?
• Could GOD be using the difficulties in your life as a way to help many other people in the future?

True Intercession

True Intercession

Genesis 44: ³⁰ “Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life, ³¹ it will happen, when he sees that the lad is not with us, that he will die. So your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave. ³² For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father forever.’ ³³ Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. ³⁴ For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would come upon my father?”

 

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Judah concludes his appeal to Joseph by saying his father would die if Benjamin did not return. He also explained that he told Israel that he would be responsible. Judah interceded for Benjamin by saying he would become Joseph’s slave.

 

My Observations:

• Judah had nothing to gain and everything to lose.
• Judah wanted to keep his promise even though the consequences would cause him to lose his freedom.
• Judah expressed that he wanted his father to live and that he wanted Benjamin safely returned.

 

Intercession is sometimes a little harder than we think. It could mean giving up everything for someone else to go free. That is what CHRIST did for us. HE gave up everything for you and me to become freed from the consequences of sin.

 

Judah had no idea what was in store for him. All he knew was Simeon spent months in prison and that his brother Joseph was a slave or possibly dead. His intercession would cause him to lose his flocks, friends and family. It was more than a few seconds of prayer. Judah had true intercession.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Judah’s decision to become a slave?
• Have you ever had ti vouch for someone’s reputation, not knowing if your reputation would be tarnished by doing so?
• Is GOD growing you up from safe intercession to something greater?

Honest Summary

Honest Summary

Genesis 44: ²⁴ “So it was, when we went up to your servant my father, that we told him the words of my lord. ²⁵ And our father said, ‘Go back and buy us a little food.’ ²⁶ But we said, ‘We cannot go down; if our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down; for we may not see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ ²⁷ Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons; ²⁸ and the one went out from me, and I said, “Surely he is torn to pieces”; and I have not seen him since. ²⁹ But if you take this one also from me, and calamity befalls him, you shall bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.’

 

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Being forced to turn around from their journey home, Judah carefully explains what happened in an attempt to apply logic to an illogical situation. Joseph had the servant of his house place his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. To top it off, Joseph said Benjamin would need to stay as a slave and the rest could go free.

 

My Observations:

• Judah summarized the conversation with his father by using the truth.
• Judah explained how his father would feel if Benjamin did not return.
• Judah explained that his father experienced a great deal of loss when Joseph was presumed dead.

 

Facing a dire situation, the best thing was to tell the truth. He said how Israel felt possibly to appeal to the human side of Joseph. He did not know he was speaking to Joseph so he did not have anything to gain by lying.

 

Judah said the truth in front of his brothers who were conspirators in the attempted murder of their brother. Judah never said who was the primary contributor to the murder attempt, rather he kept his conversation focused on the truth of Israel's sadness.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Judah’s summary of his conversation to Israel?
• Have you ever been in a situation that you caused and knew it was time to start telling the truth to keep you from getting in deeper trouble?
• Is your summary of what happened filled with the truth so GOD will be pleased?

Careful Approach

Careful Approach

Genesis 44: ¹⁸ Then Judah came near to him and said: “O my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s hearing, and do not let your anger burn against your servant; for you are even like Pharaoh. ¹⁹ My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’ ²⁰ And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, who is young; his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him.’ ²¹ Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’ ²² And we said to my lord, ‘The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ ²³ But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.’

 

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Reluctantly, Israel allowed Benjamin to go to Egypt with his brothers to fulfil the terms of Joseph. Judah said he would be responsible for Benjamin and would return with him. But Joseph had his silver cup hidden in Benjamin’s sack. Judah had to respond to the difficult situation.

 

My Observations:

• Judah recognized Joseph’s position and acknowledged his role.
• Judah chose his words carefully when recapping Joseph’s request of them to bring Benjamin to Egypt.
• Judah mentioned that he and his brothers are servants so Joseph would not get placed on guard.

 

Tense situations need a careful approach that may include humbling yourself. Judah saw a situation that could not be won by blaming Joseph or by not admitting to what happened. Even though the situation was manufactured, Judah recapped the situation in a way that would possibly help Joseph hear his plea.

 

Judah was humble, thoughtful and very cautious with his words. This was a dire situation that required him to grow tremendously. He had to speak up for his brother and show respect to Joseph. GOD saw this exchange of words and was changing everyone.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses about Judah’s careful approach?
• What things are you trying to get that you are possibly blaming others versus adjusting your approach?
• Are there some ways to your approach that could use some humble adjustments that need courage from GOD?