Then we jump to 50:15-21
Joseph’s brothers are afraid that he would be mad at them because he lost all those years with his father.
Tonight we are going to talk about forgiveness this is the first place in the Bible we see the word forgive Gen 50:17
Forgive-to grant pardon, cancel indebtedness.
If you wronged someone ask for their forgiveness.
50:15-17 Joseph’s bad example of asking for forgiveness
1. They worried, what about us, we may now have to pay for ours sin. Self protection. Many times in life we just seek forgiveness because we are caught and we know there is a consequence, so to avoid it we apologize.
Actually Ten years ago today Bill Clinton gave his apology speech to our country and in that speech, he admitted to the fact that he misled the American people to protect himself and his family,
2. They lied about what Jacob said. There is not account that Jacob said this, to their credit it could have been true but I really think there would be some record of it if it was. In their desire for forgiveness instead of being truthful and showing humility they are trying to lie their way out of it. “We know he loves our dad, he will listen to him”
Did you ever lie to protect the wrong thing you did, to soften the blow so you could be forgiven/pardoned, so you did not have to pay?
3. They sent messengers, did you ever hear the phrase don’t kill the messenger, Joseph had the power and authority to take their lives and they knew that, but he would not kill a messenger. His brothers were like the guy that hears a sound in the night and makes his wife check what it is. They were cowards.
We have to face the person we have wronged and take care of business, be a person of integrity and face the music.
I had a situation not long ago
So this begs the question were they really sorry and what should Joseph do if they are not they are just thinking of themselves?
Vrs 18 they did finally do one good thing, they bowed down and humbled themselves before Joseph.
the desire to be forgiven was there many of us have the dsire to be forgiven.
There's a Spanish story of a father and son who had become estranged. The son ran away, and the father set off to find him. He searched for months to no avail. Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in a Madrid newspaper. The ad read: Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father. On Saturday 800 Pacos showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers.
Now lets take a look at how Joseph responded
Keys to Forgiveness from Joseph’s life
Before I even look at the rest these verses I want to remind us of what we already witnessed from his life.
1. Joseph did not spend his time being bitter at his brothers which allowed him to forgive them.
Actually named his sons names to remind himself what God has done.
Manasseh:[a] “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.
Ephraim:[b] “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.
We realize that bitterness just hurts us more then anyone else
2. He was content in the places God put him, Potpher’s slave, in jail and Pharaoh’s house.
Remember Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor."
Benjamin Franklin
Paul writes from jail in Philippians 2:11“for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content"
3. He extended grace towards his brothers (who were in many senses his enemies) We talked about that extensively last week.
But now we see what he is truly made of, Jacob his dad is dead and he really has no obligation to his brothers who treated him bitterly. And he has the power 2nd in charge.
1. Vrs 19 1st of all the power has not went to his head. Forgiveness belongs to God.
Listen carefully any sin that we commit whether it is against someone else we need forgiveness from God. Joseph is saying that is who you need to be talking to. Eph 1:7 IN Jesus there is forgiveness Luke 7:47 Jesus has the power to forgive
As we talked about last week in Romans 5 we are enemies of God because of our sin and we need forgiveness.
God is the one who needs to forgive you and in order receive that forgiveness you have to realize you are a sinner and need forgiveness and when you trust that Jesus paid the price for your sins on the cross and believer that He rose from the dead you have eternal life.
Jesus can forgive any sin the only sin that He will not forgive is the sin of rejection of Him. But he does it because of His love for us Proverbs 10:12 love covers all sins
As far as a believer in Christ we confess or ask forgiveness to restore our relationship with God
We as believers need to follow Jesus example of love and forgiveness to the others around us. He humbled himself to death on the cross.
Many times we don’t want to humble ourselves, we say they wronged me, I am right, I can’t get over this. Sorry is not good enough, they are not really sorry.
Jesus could have said, why should I go to the cross they are my enemies many of them will reject. But what did He say “Father Forgive them for they know not what they do”
2nd Vrs 20 Joseph reminds them that God is in control and his hand is at work and the reason why he can forgive them is because he realizes that.
Tapestry, God uses the bad situations that happen in our lives to display that He is in control and will work these things out.
Jesus gives us the power to forgive others Luke 7:44-48 Is a beautiful account of what Christ’s forgiveness can do for us.
3rd Vrs 21 Look at how Joseph displayed his forgiveness he acted and spoke
He acted on his forgiveness
Many times we “forgive” people but still give them the cold shoulder and talk about them. Or refuse to do nice things for them. Joseph was still willing to provide for his brothers
Then Joseph spoke kindly and comforted them. This is an act of restoring a broken relationship. This is the hardest part
Think about the kind words Jesus comforts us with “I will never leave you or forsake you”
Joseph is what we call a type of Christ in the OT that teaches us what forgiveness is all about.
We need to be an example of Christ’s forgiveness in the lives of the people around us by putting these things into practice.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Hey Joe Series: "Grace"
As we continue in our study of Joseph I want to pause and remind us that this historical account of Joseph’s life has a major Biblical theme it is called Grace
The thing the distinguishes Christianity from all other religions is GRACE, Other religions say that you need to be a good person so God will love you, Christianity says that you are not a good person but God loves you and by His grace wants to help you to be good person.
Defining Grace-God’s love demonstrated to ill-deserving sinners. If we were strangers to God we would be undeserving but we are known by God and because of sin we make ourselves out to be enemies of God Romans 5:8-11.
Like you who received the $20 you were undeserving, but what if an enemy of mine walked in and I gave him $20. I would not want to do that because now not only was he my enemy but now I am helping him with resources to possibly do more harm to me.
In God’s eyes we are all ill deserving not just undeserving because we are His enemies. That’s what makes grace so amazing, that God would extend a helping hand to His enemies and unfortunately some use this against Him.
Two types
Common Grace- which everyone enjoys James 1:16-17, Matthew 5:44-46. This is God’s way of telling everyone, “hey I am here”
Saving Grace- which God’s desire is for us to trust in Him
All of Joseph’s story illustrates facets of saving grace and I going to point out the grace illustrations from the next 4 chapters
Chapter 42 overview. Jacob told his sons to go to Egypt to buy some food and he sent 10 but not the youngest Benjamin “incase calamity befell them. When Joseph saw them he recognized them but they did not recognize him and they bowed down to him. He called them spies and they spilled the beans. We are all sons of one man, the youngest is with our father and “one is no more” “we are honest men” So Joseph insisted they were spies and said I will sell you food but you must leave one here with me (Simeon) and return with the youngest brother. At this the brothers vrs 21-23 (read). They felt they were paying for their past sin. He sells them food and has the money put back in their bag and when they find it v28 so they go home tell Jacob their father what happened and he says he will not seen Benjamin back with them.
Joseph’s brothers were in many senses his enemies but he still had grace on them by giving there money back.
Have you ever extended grace to someone who can be said to be your enemy? What would that do to your relationship if you did? It would change the relationship and in most cases make it better
-Sometimes are initial response to Grace is not what you would think. We feel bad, Joseph’s brothers “hearts failed them”. When someone does something gracious for you and you have had hatred or enmity towards them you feel horrible. Proverbs 25:21-22
When I first found out the Jesus went to the cross for my sins it was bitter sweet, sweet because he would do that for me but bitter that I would do that to him.
Genesis 43 So the famine got worse and His sons primarily Judah convince Jacob to let them bring Benjamin back with them so they can get more food and Jacob agreed. They also brought the money that was in their sacks. When they got their Joseph had a feast prepared for them and they told the steward about the money in the sacks and his reply was v 23. So they had a feast with Joseph and Simeon was back with them.
Romans 10:13-15 Preached Grace The steward gave them the Good News.
We extend Grace on others by sharing with them what we know and have experienced about the grace of God. Seaside ill
Genesis 44 So Joseph ordered his servants to fill the men’s bags with grain and their money and send them on their way. But he told them to put His cup in Benjamin’s bag and follow after them and say it was stolen. Then he wanted to keep him as his slave. Then Judah went and begged Joseph to take him as a slave instead.
We see Judah is an example of Sacrificial Grace 1 Cor 5:7 Jesus sacrificed His own life for ours. Gospel
When was the last time you were willing to take the backseat to put the needs of others before you?
How would that change the relationships you have?
If you do that you are an example of God’s grace. Just yesterday Zane and towel.
Grace is a motivation to do good
Hebrews 12:28 Tells us because we are receiving heaven we should “have grace’ and serve God, we know that we serve God by serving others.
Genesis 45 Seeing Judah and the love He had for Jacob and the grace he was willing to extend Joseph was upset and that he told his brothers who he was. Vrs4-8 “God sent me before you to preserve life” Just imagine how the brothers must have felt. Joseph comforted them and told them it was the work of God.
Now does this make God the originator of evil? No but it illustrates how in a sinful world God can use evil men’s purposes to promote His master plan, which is graciously save His people.
Then Pharoah found out that it was Joseph’s brothers and he said send for his father and He will give them the best of land Egypt and take care of them during the famine because it was 5 more years
Hebrews 13:12 talks about Sanctifying grace God set apart Joseph to preserve the lives of his people. As believers in Jesus our lives should be in the constant process of being set apart different from the sinful world and it is only by His grace that this can happen
Joseph’s family was weak and on the verge of death because of famine and Pharaoh said he would take care of them. That is God’s hand working to illustrate a truth that Jesus taught in the NT 2 Cor. 12:9 “my power is made perfect in your weakness because my grace is sufficient for you”
Life has its struggles and those are the times when the need for God’s grace becomes more of a reality to us. We always need it but until trouble hits we rarely realize it.
Some of us are weak right now just looking at all the things I need to do before the end of August. That is barring any problem comes along.
Maybe there is trouble in your family, with friends at work. Maybe it is sickness or death or a financial problem. Maybe you are having trouble parenting or your parents are having trouble parenting you. By God’s grace you can get through it.
-Joseph was enslaved in Egypt to preserve the lives of his people.
God’s Grace is what can preserve our lives. Through the death of Jesus
Ezekiel 36:26 talks about something we call Regenerating grace
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
NT echoes that in 2 Cor. 5:17 “If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation”
Joseph was confident in knowing the God placed him there. Grace gives us confidence
I believe having this “grace net” as I like to call it parallels Ephesians 2:8-10 God saved us by grace and because of that grace we can do Good in His name
1 Cor15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
What kind of effect does God’s grace have on you?
If the answer to that is no effect
then you are following in the words of what Bob Dylan sung in his song “Property of Jesus”You got something better You've got a heart of stone
The thing the distinguishes Christianity from all other religions is GRACE, Other religions say that you need to be a good person so God will love you, Christianity says that you are not a good person but God loves you and by His grace wants to help you to be good person.
Defining Grace-God’s love demonstrated to ill-deserving sinners. If we were strangers to God we would be undeserving but we are known by God and because of sin we make ourselves out to be enemies of God Romans 5:8-11.
Like you who received the $20 you were undeserving, but what if an enemy of mine walked in and I gave him $20. I would not want to do that because now not only was he my enemy but now I am helping him with resources to possibly do more harm to me.
In God’s eyes we are all ill deserving not just undeserving because we are His enemies. That’s what makes grace so amazing, that God would extend a helping hand to His enemies and unfortunately some use this against Him.
Two types
Common Grace- which everyone enjoys James 1:16-17, Matthew 5:44-46. This is God’s way of telling everyone, “hey I am here”
Saving Grace- which God’s desire is for us to trust in Him
All of Joseph’s story illustrates facets of saving grace and I going to point out the grace illustrations from the next 4 chapters
Chapter 42 overview. Jacob told his sons to go to Egypt to buy some food and he sent 10 but not the youngest Benjamin “incase calamity befell them. When Joseph saw them he recognized them but they did not recognize him and they bowed down to him. He called them spies and they spilled the beans. We are all sons of one man, the youngest is with our father and “one is no more” “we are honest men” So Joseph insisted they were spies and said I will sell you food but you must leave one here with me (Simeon) and return with the youngest brother. At this the brothers vrs 21-23 (read). They felt they were paying for their past sin. He sells them food and has the money put back in their bag and when they find it v28 so they go home tell Jacob their father what happened and he says he will not seen Benjamin back with them.
Joseph’s brothers were in many senses his enemies but he still had grace on them by giving there money back.
Have you ever extended grace to someone who can be said to be your enemy? What would that do to your relationship if you did? It would change the relationship and in most cases make it better
-Sometimes are initial response to Grace is not what you would think. We feel bad, Joseph’s brothers “hearts failed them”. When someone does something gracious for you and you have had hatred or enmity towards them you feel horrible. Proverbs 25:21-22
When I first found out the Jesus went to the cross for my sins it was bitter sweet, sweet because he would do that for me but bitter that I would do that to him.
Genesis 43 So the famine got worse and His sons primarily Judah convince Jacob to let them bring Benjamin back with them so they can get more food and Jacob agreed. They also brought the money that was in their sacks. When they got their Joseph had a feast prepared for them and they told the steward about the money in the sacks and his reply was v 23. So they had a feast with Joseph and Simeon was back with them.
Romans 10:13-15 Preached Grace The steward gave them the Good News.
We extend Grace on others by sharing with them what we know and have experienced about the grace of God. Seaside ill
Genesis 44 So Joseph ordered his servants to fill the men’s bags with grain and their money and send them on their way. But he told them to put His cup in Benjamin’s bag and follow after them and say it was stolen. Then he wanted to keep him as his slave. Then Judah went and begged Joseph to take him as a slave instead.
We see Judah is an example of Sacrificial Grace 1 Cor 5:7 Jesus sacrificed His own life for ours. Gospel
When was the last time you were willing to take the backseat to put the needs of others before you?
How would that change the relationships you have?
If you do that you are an example of God’s grace. Just yesterday Zane and towel.
Grace is a motivation to do good
Hebrews 12:28 Tells us because we are receiving heaven we should “have grace’ and serve God, we know that we serve God by serving others.
Genesis 45 Seeing Judah and the love He had for Jacob and the grace he was willing to extend Joseph was upset and that he told his brothers who he was. Vrs4-8 “God sent me before you to preserve life” Just imagine how the brothers must have felt. Joseph comforted them and told them it was the work of God.
Now does this make God the originator of evil? No but it illustrates how in a sinful world God can use evil men’s purposes to promote His master plan, which is graciously save His people.
Then Pharoah found out that it was Joseph’s brothers and he said send for his father and He will give them the best of land Egypt and take care of them during the famine because it was 5 more years
Hebrews 13:12 talks about Sanctifying grace God set apart Joseph to preserve the lives of his people. As believers in Jesus our lives should be in the constant process of being set apart different from the sinful world and it is only by His grace that this can happen
Joseph’s family was weak and on the verge of death because of famine and Pharaoh said he would take care of them. That is God’s hand working to illustrate a truth that Jesus taught in the NT 2 Cor. 12:9 “my power is made perfect in your weakness because my grace is sufficient for you”
Life has its struggles and those are the times when the need for God’s grace becomes more of a reality to us. We always need it but until trouble hits we rarely realize it.
Some of us are weak right now just looking at all the things I need to do before the end of August. That is barring any problem comes along.
Maybe there is trouble in your family, with friends at work. Maybe it is sickness or death or a financial problem. Maybe you are having trouble parenting or your parents are having trouble parenting you. By God’s grace you can get through it.
-Joseph was enslaved in Egypt to preserve the lives of his people.
God’s Grace is what can preserve our lives. Through the death of Jesus
Ezekiel 36:26 talks about something we call Regenerating grace
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
NT echoes that in 2 Cor. 5:17 “If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation”
Joseph was confident in knowing the God placed him there. Grace gives us confidence
I believe having this “grace net” as I like to call it parallels Ephesians 2:8-10 God saved us by grace and because of that grace we can do Good in His name
1 Cor15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
What kind of effect does God’s grace have on you?
If the answer to that is no effect
then you are following in the words of what Bob Dylan sung in his song “Property of Jesus”You got something better You've got a heart of stone
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