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