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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (9-8-1998 Guisborough Evangelical Church)
The story of Joseph’s brothers’ two visits to Egypt, ending with Joseph revealing himself to them, occupies four chapters of Genesis. The lessons we shall take from the narrative concern the power of conscience, as seen in the brothers, the wonder of full forgiveness, as seen in the actions of Joseph, and the beauty of filial duty observed.
Twenty years earlier, in anger and jealousy, the brothers
had seized Joseph, put him into a pit, sold him as a slave, soaked his special
coat with blood, and let their father believe that a wild animal had killed
Joseph. As a result, their father was heart-broken. Then they tried to push the
whole thing out of their minds. Things were good now. They had much to look
forward to in the future. Why worry about what was in the past? Joseph was
probably dead by now anyway.
But things did not stay good.
Circumstances changed. The unexpected happened. Famine came to the land. Soon
all their stores of food were used up, and there was nothing to eat. The future
was not rosy now. They were desperate for something to eat. The train of events
led them down to Egypt and their meeting with Joseph. They were not long in this
situation before their conscience started to disturb them. Their peace and
security was shattered. The past came back to haunt them. "Surely we are
being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he
pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that's why this distress
has come upon us." (Genesis 42:21).
And how that sense of guilt
deepened with the rough treatment they got from Joseph, and their brief spell in
prison (Genesis 42:15, 17; 44:10). And when Joseph finally revealed himself to
them, they were not only convicted, but also terror-struck - 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 (Genesis 45:3).
The Bible gives very graphic
pictures of the power of the disturbed conscience. Ezra prayed, "O my
God, I am too ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face to you, my God, because
our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens (Ezra
9:6). Recall Peter’s reaction - Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken:
"Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he
went outside and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:75). And Judas’s betrayal - When
Judas saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the
thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. "I have
sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." Then he
went away and hanged himself (Matthew 27:3-5). When Paul troubled Felix - As
Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix
was afraid (A.V. says “trembled”) and said, "That's enough for
now!” (Acts 24:25).
The world’s greatest need is
God. We never realize that need until we face the truth about ourselves – how
guilty, weak and helpless we are. And we never face this truth until conscience
is aroused and sin weighs heavily and burdens us. Then we are forced to seek
God. It is amazing how long-forgotten sins come to life in the conscience. The
memory of something someone said, a scene we recollect, a place visited after
years, something that suddenly rushes into the conscience unbidden. “Thou art
the man!” Sometimes the most trivial incident brings back a long-forgotten sin
as vividly as if it were yesterday. It often happens when, in God’s mercy, He
makes life difficult for us – breaks up the nest, loosens the roots, breaks us
down, shatters our pride and independence, and prepares our hearts to face sin.
An examination failed, being let down by a friend, the threat of illness, some
one dear is struck down, a set back at work. We realize we are not as strong or
clever or important as we thought we were.
When that truth dawns, we need
to get to that Rock that is higher than us. We need to find that friend who
sticks closer than a brother. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I
obey your word (Psalm 119:67). When things go wrong in life – whether a
non Christian or a half-hearted one – we might be tempted to ask why God, a
God of love, is letting it happen to us. It is precisely because He is a God of
love that He is allowing things to go wrong. “God whispers to us in pleasures,
speaks in our conscience, but shouts at us in our pain. It is God’s megaphone
to raise a deaf world.” (C.S.Lewis in The Problem of Pain).
Such times remind us that we
need Him. They are acts of mercy, making us think of God and eternity while
there is time. We need to know Him and be at peace with Him before it is too
late. God permits trouble to warn people in advance of impending danger. Present
loss can be turned into future gain. He dynamites our self-sufficiency to make
us bow the knee. “Think of the blessing which suffering can bring, and the
result. The question is not why some people suffer, but why some do not (C.S.Lewis).
Many thank God for disturbance
and suffering and setbacks and bereavement, because it brought them near to
Christ, or brought the backslider back to Christ. “God puts us on our backs to
make us look up.”
Are things going wrong for you, or for a loved one? Don’t ask where is God’s love. It is right there in the midst of your circumstances. Ask Him what He is saying to you. Ask Him to show you why. What sins need to be forsaken, what obedience is He calling for from you, where have you failed to consecrate your life? Seek Him and His forgiveness. This is ours through the wounds of Jesus. Yield yourself to Him. Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered (Psalm 32:1). Blessed is the person to whom the Lord says, "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." (Jeremiah 31:34). As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12).
At the end of this section there
is a picture of reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers after so many
years apart. Everyone else was sent from the room. Alone with his brothers,
Joseph wept his heart out, and made himself known. “Come close to me."
When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold
into Egypt!” (Genesis 45:4). Then he eases their guilt by saying that
behind all their actions was God. 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. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for
the next five years there will not be ploughing 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 45:5-7). Then there was kissing and weeping and
much talking. What an amazing picture of compassion, forgiveness and kindness
after all they had done to him. They had put him in the pit, but now he was on
the throne. The tables had been turned. Now it was the brothers who were at his
mercy. But Joseph did not take advantage of them or treat them like they had
treated him. He realized that they were repentant and sorry, so he fully and
freely forgave them. There was no bitterness, no revenge and no reproach.
This reminds us of Jesus’ teaching, indeed it is a perfect example of what He meant when He said, And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins (Mark 11:25). Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (Matthew 6:12). If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him (Luke 17:4). Paul reminded the Ephesians that they must have this attitude: Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:32). If in any doubt or hesitation, remember God’s treatment of you – how His love stooped down to you, giving His Son for your forgiveness, whispering in your ear “Your sins which are many are forgiven you.”
Joseph showed care, love and
concern for his father time and time again in this story. In his conversation
with his brothers he repeatedly mentioned and raised the matter of his father. Is
your father still living? (Genesis 43:7,27). Then after he had revealed
himself to his brothers he was anxious that his father should hear that he was
alive, and that he should come down to Egypt to ensure safety and comfort in his
old age. His intention was to give him the best of the land of Egypt.
News of Joseph’s survival
brought enormous encouragement to an aging man. He had suffered emotionally over
the years because of the false report about Joseph’s death. For 22 years he
had lived an embittered and sorrowful life. Now just before death, the gloom is
dispersed, and he lives his last few years in the full blaze of sunshine.
Sometimes God loves to save the
best surprises for old age. Never think that the best days are past. Certainly
for Jacob, the best had yet to come. Especially noteworthy was the love and
concern for father which had not diminished with years or distance. Joseph might
have become Prime Minister of Egypt, but his regard for his father was
undiminished. His father might have been a feeble geriatric from a backward and
simple country home, but Joseph was not ashamed of him.
Strength of family ties and respect for parents is a real message for this generation where respect for age and authority is too often despised. God’s Word is so clear: Honour your father and mother (Exodus 20:12). The Lord Himself set us a good example: He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them (Luke 2:51). His last thoughts were for His mother: When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home (John 19:26,27). Obedience or disobedience to this commandment brings God’s blessing or His curse.
God, through this passage, says three things to us very plainly. Firstly, blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven. Secondly, be knit to one another, tenderhearted and forgiving. And thirdly, honour your father and mother.
