The Story of God: The Road to Reconciliation
August 8, 2017
“You’re a different person.” “You’re not the same person I knew when I first met you.” These are words, sad words, that are often spoken by someone seeking to divorce their spouse. The man she married is just not the same warm, kind and compassionate man she fell in love with. Now he’s an aloof, fault-finding, indifferent grouch. She knows her relationship is damaged, and wonders if it’s beyond repair. She wonders if her man can ever change. Is there any hope? Will his heart ever be filled with the kindness and compassion he once had for her?
Ever been there? Have you ever wondered if someone you love could have a change of heart? Do you long to see a relationship restored? If you have, then as we come to the climax of Joseph’s story today, God’s Word should give you hope.
For there is nothing more beautiful to see then when God restores a relationship. But what we’ve learned from Joseph’s story, is that before restoration can take place, God has to do some work in that person to bring him to a place where he is ready to a change. Change doesn’t happen over night. In fact, you might say there’s quite a process involved. And we’ve seen some of that process at work in Joseph’s brothers.
We’ve seen them struggle with their sin against Joseph and how it kept them from doing the right thing for their families. We’ve seen them get a taste of their own medicine when Joseph locked them away. We saw them own up to their sin within ear-shot of Joseph. Then we saw them lose heart when they found silver in their bags that wasn’t supposed to be there. It was then that they came to the realization that all that had happened to them: the famine, three days in the hole, Simeon taken hostage and now finding this silver… wasn’t just bad luck; but God had allowed it all to happen to them because they had wronged their brother.
God has them on the road to reconciliation, but their hearts have not changed. But that’s all about to change as we come to God’s Word today. So, if you brought your Bible today, would you open them to Genesis 43, we’re going to look three turning points: three key conversations that will show us how God is bringing these brothers down the road to reconciliation. So if you’ve found Genesis 43, let look at the first of these conversations: Turning Point #1
Now the famine was still severe in the land. So when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.” Genesis 43:1-2 What’s going on here? After leaving Egypt and Simeon behind, Jacob’s family just carries on as if nothing’s happened. No urgency to rescue Simeon. No real change of heart evident here. That’ is until they run out of food and Jacob tells them to go back to Egypt and buy more grain. But Judah said to him, “The man warned us solemnly, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ If you will send our brother along with us, we will go down and buy food for you. But if you will not send him, we will not go down, because the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’” Genesis 43:3-5
Wow, Judah has clearly assumed the leadership of this family. He actually challenges his father’s authority here. But is he revealing his change of heart? That’s not yet clear. And so Israel asked, “Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had another brother?” They replied, “The man questioned us closely about ourselves and our family. ‘Is your father still living?’ he asked us. ‘Do you have another brother?’ We simply answered his questions. How were we to know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?” Genesis 43:6-7
Still no evidence of change from the brothers – just exasperation at their dilemma. Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die. I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him. Genesis 43:8-9a
If I do not bring him back to you and set him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life. As it is, if we had not delayed, we could have gone and returned twice.” Genesis 43:9-10 There it is: the first turning point. We hear it in Judah’s appeal. He is willing to take full responsibility for Benjamin. If their mission fails, he is willing to take the blame. Judah is willing to surrender his family’s fortune to Jacob. Judah is willing to put his own life on the line, not just for Benjamin; but now he is putting the responsibility to save Jacob’s entire family on his own shoulders…
This is a far different Judah then the one we saw back in Genesis 37, when it was Judah who made the call as to what to do with Joseph. Let me refresh your memory. At that time, when all the brothers hated Joseph, Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed. Genesis 37:26-27
Judah led his brothers then, and he steps up to lead his family now. He is willing to sacrifice everything to protect Joseph’s little brother. Judah has changed. He now puts the family’s needs ahead of his own. He is now willing to sacrifice everything to do so. That is a change of heart. And his father agrees to his plan, makes sure they bring double the amount of silver and plenty of gifts, and then adds this prayer: And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.” Genesis 43:14
What a change: Judah, once a jealous, no good schemer is now a selfless leader. It took a crisis to bring about this change. It took coming to grips with his sin to bring about this change. It took faith to bring about this change. For here, for the first time, Judah puts his life on the line for God’s Covenant Family. And if a jealous and selfish man like Judah can out his life on the line for his family… then there is hope for your family. For if God can change Judah’s heart He can change anyone’s heart. That’s the first turning point. Now, lets’ look at the next one: Turning Point #2
Let’s lets see what happens next: So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver, and Benjamin also. They hurried down to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare a meal; they are to eat with me at noon.” Genesis 43:15-16
Now, remember, they still did not recognize Joseph. He’s still this powerful and intimidating ruler. When he speaks, they have no idea what he was saying. So we read:
The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph’s house. Now the men were frightened when they were taken to his house. They thought, “We were brought here because of the silver that was put back into our sacks the first time. He wants to attack us and overpower us and seize us as slaves and take our donkeys.” Ge 43:17-18
At this moment the brothers show no faith, only fear. And its this fear that guides their next steps: So they went up to Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. “We beg your pardon, our lord,” they said, “we came down here the first time to buy food. But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver—the exact weight—in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back with us. We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food. We don’t know who put our silver in our sacks.” Genesis 43:19-22
The first thing they do is to try and clear their names. They want to prove that they are honest men. This is part of the test Joseph gave them previously. He wanted them to prove they were honest men by bringing Benjamin back with them. And he tested their honesty further by putting the silver in their sacks. Now it appears they may have passed this test. And it’s here we see the next turning point: “It’s all right,” he said. “Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. Genesis 43:23
“It’s all right,” the steward literally says, “Shalom” “Peace to you.” A Hebrew greeting of well-being and prosperity. He’s using their term to put them at ease. They need not fear. But it’s more than that. At this moment, Joseph’s steward speaks of their God. He recognizes the hand of their God in the silver by saying it was their God who provided them this silver. And by saying, “I have received your silver” he is saying “they have no debt to pay, they can keep it.” This must of blown their minds. All they had known of God up to this point was his discipline, but now they are receiving what they don’t deserve: God’s Grace. The steward acknowledges God’s hand in all this, and then he reunites them with Simeon. Jacob’s prayer has been answered. God has been merciful to them. God has been kind to them, and they can hardly believe it.
Now, let me tell you why this is the second turning point on their road to reconciliation. Godly sorrow is not the only thing that works repentance in our hearts. The other tool God uses to bring about a change of heart is His kindness, His mercy. Paul spells it out this way in the New Testament: Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? Romans 2:4
God uses difficult circumstances to bring us to repentance, but He also loves us into repentance. Look at these words: kindness, forbearance and patience. These brothers knew they did not deserve the kindness they were receiving at the hand of Pharaoh. But once they received it, you can only imagine the wonder it aroused in them: That in spite of their sin against Joseph, God was still for them.
We too need to grasp this reality. God’s mercy is greater than our sin. God’s goodness is meant to overcome our sin, change our hearts and bring us back to God. Some of you have people in your lives that are estranged to you. You’ve prayed for them, over and over again. You’ve asked God to show them the error of their ways, to change their hearts. But one way you can work with God is to show them kindness, forbearance and patience. Let the love of God in you cover over a multitude of sins, and then wait on God to work. Remember when this second turning point is taking place: it’s now 22 years since they sold Joseph into slavery. So let mercy lead you, and then wait on God. That’s the second turning point.
But, as we shall soon see, God has more work to do. He wants them to come to complete repentance. So there is one more turning point. But first, they must dine with Joseph. When Joseph came home, they presented to him the gifts they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground. Gen. 43:26
Now Joseph’s original dream is fulfilled. All eleven brothers bow before him. He asked them how they were, and then he said, “How is your aged father you told me about? Is he still living?” They replied, “Your servant our father is still alive and well.” And they bowed down, prostrating themselves before him. Genesis 43:27-28
As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son, he asked,
“Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.” Genesis 43:29
Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there. After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself, said, “Serve the food.” Genesis 43:30-31
They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, for that is detestable to Egyptians. The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonish-ment. When portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as anyone else’s. So they feasted and drank freely with him.
In all this Joseph was again testing the brothers to see if their hearts had changed. After all he deliberately shows favoritism to Benjamin. But then comes One Final Test: The Silver Cup
Here it is: Now Joseph gave these instructions to the steward of his house: “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each man’s silver in the mouth of his sack. Then put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain.” And he did as Joseph said. Genesis 44:1-2
As morning dawned, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys. They had not gone far from the city when Joseph said to his steward, “Go after those men at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil? Isn’t this the cup my master drinks from and also uses for divination? This is a wicked thing you have done.’” Genesis 44:3-5
When he caught up with them, he repeated these words to them. But they said to him, “Why does my lord say such things? Far be it from your servants to do anything like that! We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found inside the mouths of our sacks. So why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house? If any of your servants is found to have it, he will die; and the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves.” Genesis 44:6-9
“Very well, then,” he said, “let it be as you say. Whoever is found to have it will become my slave; the rest of you will be free from blame.” Each of them quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. Then the steward proceeded to search, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. At this, they tore their clothes. Then they all loaded their donkeys and returned to the city. Genesis 44:10-13
Now just a couple observations here before we look at the final turning point: First, there’s a new found solidarity between the brothers. If one is the thief, all will become Joseph’s slaves. This crisis has brought the brothers together as one. This is a change. Second, when the cup is found in Benjamin’s sack, all tear their clothes! At this, they all show profound affection not only for Benjamin, but also for their father. This too is a change. And third, they all return to the city just as they said. And so we read: Joseph was still in the house when Judah and his brothers came in, and they threw themselves to the ground before him. Joseph said to them, “What is this you have done? Don’t you know that a man like me can find things out by divination?” Genesis 44:14-15
“What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants’ guilt. We are now my lord’s slaves—we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup.” Genesis 44:16
But Joseph said, “Far be it from me to do such a thing! Only the man who was found to have the cup will become my slave. The rest of you, go back to your father in peace.” Genesis 44:17
This is all too much for Judah to bear. He must speak directly to Joseph. And as he does, he reveals the final turning point: Turning Point #3 Judah approaches Joseph and pours out his heart as to the effect of all these events on his father. How all this has grieved Jacob greatly, first with the loss of his son Joseph and now the potential of loosing Benjamin. And with that he pours out his heart for Benjamin by making one final plea in verse 30: “So now, if the boy is not with us when I go back to your servant my father, and if my father, whose life is closely bound up with the boy’s life, sees that the boy isn’t there, he will die. Your servants will bring the gray head of our father down to the grave in sorrow. Genesis 44:30-31
Your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father. I said, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!’ Genesis 44:32
“Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come on my father.” Genesis 44:33-34
What a change! Once Judah was callous to the cries of Joseph and the heart of his father. But no more. Now, not only is Judah willing to give his life in place of his brother, but his heart is tender toward the grieving of his father. Judah’s pleas for Benjamin shows how sincerely he and the brothers have renounced their former sin. And now he will do anything in his power to help his father. There is no clearer example of repentance to be found in the Old Testament. He is a changed man…
The road to reconciliation is complete! And so we read: Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. Genesis 45:1-2
Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. 45:3
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. Genesis 45:4-5
For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. Genesis 45:4-7
“So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. Genesis 45:8-9
You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’ Genesis 45:10-11
“You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.” Genesis 45:12-13
Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him. Genesis 45:14-15
Can there be a more beautiful picture of reconciliation than this? There is no animosity in Joseph, only grace. No more separation, but embrace. No more hiding, but total acceptance. No more guilt, just tears of joy. After 22 years of brokenness due to jealousy and hatred, God’s family was whole again. And their future is secure.
This is not simply a good story with a happy ending – this is the goal of God’s Story! Reconciliation is the Goal of God’s Story! From cover to cover, this is what you will you see: God working in history to bring about reconciliation – the healing of hearts and families by God’s mercy and grace. God never gave up on this family. God never left Joseph. And God refused to leave the brothers in their guilt and shame.
And this is what God wants to do in your life and through your life with Jesus. Everyone of us knows what its like when sin wreaks havoc on relationships. We all know what it’s like to be alienated from people we are called to love. But take heart, God never gives up on anyone. His mercy still overcomes our sin.
So no matter where you find yourself today, wait on Him. We can’t change anyone’s heart. But God can. And perhaps the place He wants to work most today is in yours. Would you let the kindness and goodness of His mercy and grace do His work in you today. Let’s pray
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