Examination

Good evening. Thank you for the opportunity to come back. It's been a while, I think,

since I was at Brunsfield, but it's great to be back here. I'm in college with Graham,

so I see Graham quite a bit. That's okay on some days. I don't know what kind of mood

Graham's in, you know, depending on how much coffee he's had on the way in in the morning.

The story of Joseph is, I think, in terms of the Old Testament ones, probably the one

that had the biggest impact on me as a young Christian. I remember when I became a Christian

when I was 17, and I was probably quite a confused Christian. I remember my stepmom giving me

a copy of R.T. Kendall's book, God Meant It For Good, and she said to me, go away and read

that. And she says, I think that that might solve some of your difficulties. And it certainly

did, because I had lots of doubts about how God could deal with difficult situations and

turn them around. I think sometimes the story of Joseph is helpful, just as you actually

try to live as a human being on the planet. And to be honest with you, there's so much

within it. And it's a helpful story. And also, you see Jesus almost on every page. It really

points forward to Jesus as a Savior, a Messiah story coming out of the Joseph story, which is

tremendous. But I thought that this evening, really, by way of introduction, rather than

telling you about how much impact it had on me, I want to introduce you to a guy called

Jim. My years prior to working and coming to work as a pastor were spent working for Bethany

Christian Trust. I worked for 14 and a half years for Bethany Christian Trust, particularly

working with addicts, those recovering from drug, alcohol, gambling problems. And as you can

imagine, with that kind of lifestyle comes convictions. So probably about 85 to 90% of

the guys I worked with were convicts or were ex-convicts or were waiting on a conviction case.

Jim's case, though, was something slightly different. One night, he and I were chatting, and it was

late at night, and he confessed to me that he had committed a crime. And it was one that he'd

never been caught for. It was one that he felt extremely guilty about. It would cause him

sleepless nights. And often when the police would arrive at the hostel door, which happened quite a

bit when you're working with 17 guys who have charges waiting, he would wonder if this was his time up.

Is this when I'm going to be found out? In fact, it wasn't uncommon to see guys jumping out their

bedroom windows and diving out the back door, even if they hadn't done anything wrong.

The feeling of guilt, often, I don't think it's just the criminal fraternity, to be honest. I don't

know about you, but even when I'm driving down the road and I see a police car and I know I'm doing

the right speed, there's that instant look down and going, am I guilty? But for Jim, that feeling was

real, he had committed a crime and one that would have put him in prison, or should have put him in

prison. And often he and I would discuss, you know, what would it be like if he was to be found out?

Maybe it would be better for him to go and confess. Maybe that would at least remove the constant

feeling of having to look over his shoulder every time he stepped out the front door.

Would it be better if he felt like he could pay for this crime that he committed?

I'm not going to tell you the ending of the story. Jim's no longer with us.

But it had a big impact on me watching somebody in the middle of that kind of guilt,

wondering if the next knock on the door was going to be the one that would bring his whole world

tumbling around about him. The passage that Alistair read so well to us, thank you Alistair for reading

that, it was a long passage, you did well with that. I'm glad I didn't have to do it.

Joseph's brothers have lived in a similar position to my friend Jim. It's probably about 22 years,

at best estimates, it's probably about 22 years since they've sold Joseph, since he's gone to Egypt.

So that's 22 years since they've committed a crime that they've never been caught for.

A crime that only they know about.

A crime that I think they feel guilty about.

And as Alistair read that passage, you'll have seen this whole web of lies starts to fall down.

The title you gave me for the sermon was An Examination.

And boy, oh boy, are the brothers about to get a tough examination about their life.

They're about to be exposed, or the beginning of their exposure for their wrongdoing is starting

in Genesis chapter 42.

Genesis 42 · chapter mention

So I thought that we might look through this passage and look at the five family meetings that go on.

I don't know if you come from a family where you have family meetings.

Our family, they were always really short. Whatever my dad said went.

So that was the way it was.

But the first family meeting is one of crisis, isn't it?

And I think it's probably hard for us to, today in this country,

that some I'm sure maybe experience hunger,

but it's not a countrywide famine that we're living in.

In this situation, they are facing a huge famine.

A huge famine.

In fact, the final verse of chapter 41, what we read, it says that the famine is severe

in all the world.

In all the world.

So this family meeting is convened.

They are in crisis point.

And if you're in crisis point and there's a severe famine,

it's not a surprise, I suppose, that word reaches Jacob

that in Egypt there is an answer.

There is an answer to his problems.

There's an answer to the famine.

But, but, although he is unaware,

there is also an answer to Jacob's grief.

That will come in a few chapters' time.

But there's lots of answers in Egypt that are about to be unfolded

over the course of the next few chapters that you'll look at.

It says that Jacob had decided, in chapter 37 of Genesis,

to take his mourning to the grave.

And actually, if you look at the impact in Jacob's life of his relationship with God,

it is severely impacted.

If you look at Jacob as a young man, getting these visions, wrestling,

amazing things happening to him.

And then you look at Jacob now,

and we'll look at him a little bit towards the end of the chapter this evening.

Because he has made a decision to not leave his grieving behind,

to not get on with his life,

to live in the middle of the problem,

his relationship with God has been drastically, drastically affected.

And he isn't aware that over the next few chapters,

there is going to be an amazing reunion, of course,

that's going to happen.

The brothers, though, they're not so in the dark, are they?

They have this history.

They're aware that they've sold Joseph.

They've sold him to the Ishmaelite traders,

who are on the way to trade there,

when they decided to palm Joseph off.

That is going to cause some apprehension about going to Egypt.

If you know that what you have done

is betrayed your own flesh and blood.

And so I would think that if you picture the horror

on the brothers' faces,

as Jacob calls this family meeting together,

and he informs them that,

listen guys, we are in crisis point.

The famine is severe in all the world.

We're in big trouble here.

We aren't going to last out.

We don't have enough provision of ourselves

that we can kind of sit tight and make it through.

The answer to our problems

lies in Egypt, boys.

There's grain there.

And I think that Jacob's question

in the very first verse that we read

is really one that we can highlight this evening.

It's a really insightful thing.

Because I actually think that Jacob's suspicions are aroused.

I wonder if he's always had some suspicion

about the brothers.

And he says this,

why do you keep looking at each other?

Here we are in the middle of a famine.

We've not got enough food.

We've not got enough food.

We've not got enough seed to grow things with.

We're just not going to make it.

I've told you what we need to do.

And then in the middle of this family meeting,

there's just silence

as the brothers kind of cast,

shifting glances at one another.

You know, that knowing look

when you hold a secret in a group of friends

that somebody doesn't know about.

Were Jacob's suspicions aroused?

Why do you keep looking at each other?

I mean, after all, we know,

we know that in previous chapters,

we're told about the suspect character of these boys.

Chapter 38 goes through the suspect character

of one of them in particular.

These guys are no good guys.

I'm sure Jacob as a father

must have looked at them and thought,

I wonder, I just wonder

what really went on between them and Joseph.

He knew they didn't like him.

But we know the story from the beginning to the end.

Jacob's in the middle of it here.

We know what's really going on.

We know why they're looking at each other.

The past has now got a potential

to catch up with these boys.

They know that they've sold Joseph as a slave.

They know that it's most likely

that he is in Egypt,

that he's ended up there.

And therefore,

they now risk exposure.

As they travel into Egypt,

and as they stare into the face

of every Egyptian slave,

they'll be wondering and asking the question,

is that Joseph?

Is that Joseph's face staring back at us?

And that's why,

that's why,

they're looking at each other.

unspoken words between them.

Perhaps a terror,

as they realize now

the severity of their situation,

leaves them with little choice

but to head down to Egypt

and to face their fears.

And I actually think also

that they're hoping

as they look from one another

that one of them might just be able

to come up with a plan

that means they don't have to go there.

each knowing the weight of guilt

that the other one bears.

Only they understand

each other's plight.

They don't know though, do they,

that this is all God ordained.

This family meeting here,

this point we get to

in the story of Joseph

in the book of Genesis,

is God ordained.

God has ordained the famine

for a purpose.

He's going to use this famine

not just to save the lives of many

as Joseph will say

in a later chapter,

but he's also ordained this family

to reunite the broken relationships,

to give the offer of forgiveness

and true repentance

that these brothers really need.

That is going to come later.

But for now,

they must endure the ordeal

of a 250 to 300 mile journey to Egypt

to have any possible chance

of experiencing salvation.

because God has left them

with no choice

but to go.

God has left them

with no choice

but to go.

And I do think

that that is

one of the first challenges

for us this evening.

those moments

where you wonder

why calamity has happened,

why tragedy has happened,

why you're going through tough time,

why you're suffering.

And we all ask these questions

and we accuse God

and we say,

how could you let this happen?

Why are you doing this to me?

Perhaps you might say something like,

I've served you

and I've done this

and I'm following you here

and yet you let this happen.

Of course,

we know the brothers can't say that

because they're of suspect character.

But who in this room tonight

doesn't have suspect character

about them?

Doesn't have little things

that you wouldn't want

other people to find out about?

What choice do you have

in those moments of suffering

that are,

whether we like it or not,

God-ordained?

I'm not saying I understand

why that is the case.

I'm not saying I understand

why the people of Nepal

are suffering the way they are.

I don't think we'll ever understand that.

But to say that God

has been caught by surprise

by those things that have happened

is to doubt His sovereignty.

To doubt His sovereignty

is to say that God isn't big enough.

To say that God isn't big enough

opens a whole lot more problems for you.

Is His salvation enough?

Is that complete enough?

God is sovereign.

God ordains that suffering will come.

Do we understand why?

No.

But when we read stories like this,

we begin to see

that we can trust God

to be in control

no matter how tough

the situation brings.

It's tough.

The Christian life is tough.

I was preaching

from Philippians 3 this morning

where Paul basically just says that.

I expect that the suffering

of a Christian life

is just a given.

It's going to happen.

In fact, Paul says,

I invite it

because that way

I get to experience

and empathize with Christ

in some way.

God has ordained this famine

for a purpose.

This famine isn't about

punishment

of the brothers

because it's worldwide, remember.

It's not just their sin

that he's been talking about.

It's not just their sin

that he's been talking about here.

This famine will bring about

an amazing reconciliation

between Joseph

and his family.

And so it can often be

in our lives

that those things

that we go through,

I think we should often

ask the question,

how can I be reconciled

to Jesus

through this circumstance,

the author,

the perfecter of my faith,

when I'm going through

a tough time?

What are the things

I think about Jesus?

What are the things

I say about him

in these moments?

I believe these times

are often sent

to reconcile us to God.

So that's the first bit.

The family meeting part one

is done.

The family meeting part one

is done

and we're going to come

to our next part in there.

Family meeting part two.

The reunion.

The reunion.

The brothers,

they embark on this

arduous journey

unsure of what's going

to meet them at the end.

Not only do they fear

who they might meet,

but they've also got

the fear of being

foreigners in a strange land

where they might not be wanted.

And it's not long

into this scene

as Alistair read

through this chapter

with us

that we look in

on the scene

of their sternest test

where the real examination

begins.

Of course for them

it's a family meeting

that they're actually

unaware of.

And the first thing

that happens

in this

is that Joseph's dream

is fulfilled.

The dream that had caused

all the problems

in the first place.

And as the brothers

arrive at Joseph

though they don't know

who it is,

they bow down

and they worship him.

Just as Joseph

predicted would happen.

But it is a tough meeting.

If the brothers

have aroused

suspicion of Jacob

back home,

they've now aroused

the suspicions

of the man

they needed the most

in this whole process.

And I think

there's two things

that we have to actually

consider

as we look through

this next section.

Firstly,

we have to look at

the motivation

of Joseph's words.

And then we have to think

about how the brothers

respond

as they experience

what Joseph

has experienced

for parts of his

22 years in Egypt.

So let's first

look at Joseph's

motives.

Joseph isn't willing

to reveal himself

yet to his brothers.

And so he speaks

harshly to them

it says

from verses 7

through to 21

we see this

fascinating encounter

within this

family meeting.

And the question

you first ask

is well

is Joseph

out for revenge

here?

Is he out

for revenge

on his brothers

with a false

accusation

and an imprisonment?

Is this

finally the moment

that he has waited

22 years for?

I don't think

this theory

is plausible

though

when you consider

later chapters

in Genesis

like Genesis 45

and Genesis 50

where Joseph

when he is reunited

reassures his brothers

that he's witnessed

God's hand

in all that's happened

despite

the consequence

of their sin

despite the circumstances

that he had to live

through because of it.

And in actual fact

in the same way

that the brothers

are being examined

here in this chapter

so too

is Joseph.

Joseph

he is under

huge examination

here.

Who could blame him

if he used

the power

that he now has

to bring about

revenge?

I mean you've all

had it haven't you?

Where somebody

has noised you up

and you're thinking

how am I going

to get back

at that person?

Okay well

I'll admit

I have okay

maybe you haven't

but I have

I have

I have often

felt

revengeful thoughts

in my heart

over people

who I perceive

have wronged me.

And if given

an opportunity

where I may have

had power

in this situation

I cannot tell you

what I would have done

would have been godly.

Abraham Lincoln

says this

he says

nearly all men

can stand adversity

but if you want

to test a man's

character

give him power.

And I think

that's really true.

That is so true.

If you have

opportunities

to have power

over somebody

very often

the human will

that comes out

is one

to dominate somebody.

And you know

what I think about

when I was reading

this story here

as Joseph does

something different

is that of Jesus

when he has power

over Judah

on the night

of the last supper

he knows

who's going to

betray him

and it says

that Jesus

has power

over everything

it says that God

has given him

power over everything

and in humility

Jesus kneels down

and washes

his betrayer's feet.

If you want to

test a man's

character

give him power

and Jesus'

example in this

situation

is one that

we must look to

to be humble

in that moment

and say

Lord I need you

to help me here

I need your wisdom

in this situation

because humanly

speaking

I want to do

that person in

I want to do

them harm

these Old Testament

stories are great

but Jesus'

example is the

best there

that's real

humility

it's guaranteed

that there was

nothing of humanity

in Jesus'

response in that way

Joseph there might

have been

he's human

he's got feelings

but in Jesus

we have our

perfect example

of a situation

where you may

have power

over somebody

Joseph has

power

but Joseph

has

experienced

God's

blessing

in his

adversity

he's come

from the

arrogant

young

dreamer

to a man

with integrity

a man of

wisdom

of God

and so

he passes

his examination

because he

recognizes that

what God is

doing through

him

is for his

brothers

it's for this

reunion that's

going to come

because Joseph

could have

revealed himself

to his brothers

straight away

couldn't he

Matthew Henry

suggests in his

commentary

that given

Joseph's status

now in Egypt

he must have

had plenty of

money

he must have

had access

to horses

and chariots

we know that

the brothers

have made a

250 to 300

mile journey

themselves

that would have

been nothing

for a man

in Joseph's

position

he could have

trotted off

to Canaan

at any point

and revealed

himself to his

brothers

it's speculation

I know to say

that we know

that he saw

God's hand

in it

but God

ordains this

meeting to

happen

and not for

Joseph to

run off

and make

himself known

and again it's

interesting when you

look through the

life of Joseph

you remember

when he interprets

one of the

dreams

he says

remember me

today when you

come into

Pharaoh's

household

it's that thing

that Joseph

constantly wanted

to run on

ahead

and yet here

you see

something

different

Joseph is

older

and wiser

and has

recognised

that it's

God's

timing

and not

his own

that's

important

Joseph

hasn't revealed

himself

because he

has to

see them

come to

true repentance

and in some

ways they

have to

experience

perhaps a

little bit

of what

Joseph

experienced

this is

what Keith

Krell

the associate

pastor of

biblical

exposition

and Moody

Institute

says about

what they

experienced

over verses

7 to 21

and Joseph's

treatment of

them

this is what

he says

I would also

suggest that

Joseph repeats

with his

brothers the

exact scene

that has

happened to

him 22

years earlier

in chapter

37 verse

2 Joseph

brought his

father a bad

report about

his brothers

in 37

14 to 17

Jacob sent

Joseph on a

mission to

find out where

his brothers

were and what

they were doing

when Joseph

finds his

brothers

they're upset

because no

doubt they

think he's

spying on

them for a

second time

reading between

the lines it's

likely that

Joseph's brothers

accused him of

being both a

spy and an

ark

now in an

unusual turn of

events Joseph

accuses his

brothers of

being spies

no doubt

Joseph would

have protested

that he wasn't

spying just as

they now

protest

they would

have answered

him roughly

and without

any basis

for their

accusation

just as

Joseph now

answers them

they threw

him into a

pit just as

Joseph now

throws them

into a

dungeon

the parallels

between their

treatment of

Joseph and

the treatment

they're now

receiving is a

powerful stimulant

to their

sleeping

consciences

Joseph is

doing all of

this in the

hope that his

brothers will

wake up to

the nature of

the actions

he is hoping

this treatment

will make them

come clean

so the

brothers at

the end of

this first

family meeting

with Joseph

they're banged

up for want

of a better

word

and their

examination

will continue

further in

the confinements

of a prison

cell left to

reflect that

perhaps their

actions of the

past have

finally caught

up with them

of course

Joseph has

also revealed

an ulterior

motive here

in his request

that the only

way they can

prove their

innocence is to

bring back the

younger brother

by the treatment

of both Benjamin

and ultimately

of Jacob

Joseph will be

able to discern

here if there

has been a

spiritual change

in the brothers

since they

last met

and so

they're in

prison for

three days

and at the

end of

these three

days we've

got the

next part

of our

family meeting

family meeting

part three

the solution

Joseph opens

this meeting

with an

extraordinary

declaration

he has

explained what

they must do

now he

wants to give

them something

more specific

but before

he does

that he

informs them

that he

fears God

he fears

God

it's the

first explicit

mention of

God in this

chapter

and I think

that we can

surmise that

Joseph given

his wisdom

is probably

aware that

God is now

working out

his bigger

plan

and Joseph

wants his

brothers to be

aware I

think firstly

that his

actions aren't

just of his

own thinking

it's not

just some

random

Egyptian

ruler here

that's decided

this is what's

going to happen

to these

boys

listen guys

he says

I fear

God

I fear

your God

and it's

that that

brings about

a realization

in the

brothers

their actions

have caused

or have led

to the

situation

they now

find themselves

in

they are

now facing

the crisis

in life

because of

what they've

done to

Joseph

and the

full open

and honest

confession

begins

you remember

this guy

some of you

as well

some of you

as look

old enough

to remember

Columbo

I didn't have

a TV

growing up

and we

would get

crammed in

the family

car on a

Friday night

to go to my

uncle and

aunties and

watch a bit

of Columbo

so Columbo

was a

favourite

in our

house

Columbo

had this

incredible

way about

him

of just

asking one

more question

to the

point of

real frustration

with the

criminal

before all

of a sudden

those who

you thought

had got

away with

it would

open up

with a

full on

confession

of how

they did

it

where

they did

it

what

they did

it

with

and yes

just bang

me up

and take

me away

to jail

now in

my dealings

my 14

years of

dealing

with the

criminal

fraternity

I never

once

really had

anybody

in the

prison

cell

confessing

in that

way

but

Columbo

could do

it

and there's

the answer

maybe they

needed to

watch more

more cop shows

with Columbo

in it

the brothers

though

are met

with this

full on

force of

God

Joseph

I fear

God

and that's

why

I've made

these decisions

and that's

why

I'm asking

you to use

this as your

solution to the

problem to

confirm that

you are not

spies

sent to see

where our

land is

vulnerable

but

within that

fear of

God

brings hope

it's a

chance of

hope for

the brothers

Joseph's

confession that

he fears

God will

allow them

to see

that perhaps

there will

be an

opportunity

of compassion

here

there will

be an

opportunity

for grace

if God's

character

is one

that they

believe

Joseph

is the

Egyptian

if one

that the

Egyptian

Joseph

is aware

of

yes

their

past

has caught

up with

them

finally

but the

mention

of God

is what

they need

to hear

that though

they've

tried to

hide their

actions

from human

perception

God

God has

been aware

of it

all along

and they

have lived

for 22

years

trying to

hide it

which sin

do you fear

being found

out for

because we

are not

unlike the

brothers here

simply

living as

I've

already

said

brings

about

guilt

it

will

friendships

betrayed

perhaps that

gossiping word

you uttered

that you

pray the

person

will never

hear about

maybe

that fiddling

of the

expenses

account

that you

hope

will remain

unnoticed

but what

the story

of Joseph

shows us

is

and the

story

of his

brothers

in a

sense

because

this is

really

the story

of Joseph's

brothers

here

it's

their

examination

here

it shows

us that

God sees

and knows

everything

and that

from human

perspectives

we may

think that

we've got

away with

it

and we

might well

get away

with the

sin for

many years

maybe until

the day

we face

God on

judgment

that is

the reality

that might

happen

but as

the brothers

remind us

here

we will

have to

make an

account

on judgment

day

for the

way that

we've

lived

in front

of a

God

who has

seen

it all

who has

known

it all

are there

dark

places

in your

life

that you're

holding

unconfessed

sin in

and what

is that

doing to

you on a

daily basis

as you

try to

live

for Jesus

Christ

confession

of sin

doesn't just

happen at

conversion

or shouldn't

just happen

at conversion

and yet

for a lot

of Christians

that is the

way it

works

are you

wondering why

you're not

connecting

with Christ

are you

wondering why

there's this

constant weight

on your

shoulders

what is that

sin that you

really worry

about the

person sitting

next to you

tonight

finding out

about

the one

that you

know

is damaging

the relationship

you have

with your

work

with your

church

family

with your

work

colleagues

with your

wife

with your

husband

with your

kids

I can

imagine

if you're

anything

like me

sometimes

there's dark

thoughts that

go through

our mind

and you

wonder how

on earth

can that

be

sin doesn't

make sense

in the life

of believers

it doesn't

apostle Paul

says you're

dead to sin

so why do

you end up

doing the

things

that we

don't want

to do

I would

say it's

better to

keep short

accounts

finding that

someone you

can trust

in your

church family

that you

know you

can go to

and talk

about this

sin with

and you

know the

reality of the

situation is

unconfessed

sin if it

remains that

way if you're

not a believer

tonight and

you have

unconfessed

sin when

you stand

before God

in judgment

that

unconfessed

sin

well it

will take

you to

hell

as a

Christian

you'll

stand before

God with

unconfessed

sin and

you'll have

nothing to

make an

account of

yourself for

in that

way

there is

hope

there is

hope

that if we

confess our

sins he's

faithful and

just to

forgive us

our sins

and cleanse

us from

all unrighteousness

what a great

verse that is

it's a promise

that we have

an offer

and perhaps

it's something

that we'd

be better

taking up

now sooner

rather than

later

family meeting

part four

I've not got

long to go

Joseph sends

them on the

way but he

initiates the

next part of

God's plan

he sends

them for

what they

came for

but he

sends them

back with a

full refund

of the

cost

and I

think it's

in this

discovery that

we finally have

the brothers

acknowledgement

that God

is at work

that he is

explicitly at

work

verse 28

it says

that their

hearts sank

what is this

that God

has done

to us

yes there's

been a

jailhouse

confession

there's

recognition

that they've

finally been

found out

the realisation

fully that

they are now

answerable to

God for

this

maybe

Joseph's

motivation was

to see if his

brothers could

still be bought

off with money

as they had

been with him

but I suggest

more appropriate

it was an act

of love

he knew

that they were

going to have

to return

that they were

going to have

to buy

more

and I

think he

knew that

given their

dealings he

would also

have known

that they

would have

felt and

been fearful

of accusation

of theft

whatever his

motivation in

this instance

God uses

elements of

grace and

fear to

bring about

a realisation

of their

guilt

and what I

was just

saying a few

moments ago

that is a

sign of the

Lord's

discipline in

our lives

that he

often uses

this combination

of grace

and fear

remember reading

a book by

Jackie Chan

not Jackie

Chan

I hope it

wasn't Jackie

Chan

maybe does he

write commentaries

I don't know

Francis Chan

where he talks

about you

shouldn't be

frightened about

preaching about

hell

because it

appears in

scripture the

reality is there

that if you

never come to

know Christ

hell is there

elements of

grace and

fear

well I think

that's okay

but there is

grace in this

situation and

that's how God

brings them to

this situation

it's a real

picture here

Isaiah 55

come and buy

without money

without cost

and Joseph

sent them on

the way saying

listen you've

got what you

needed without

money without

cost because I

know that you're

going to come

back to something

even greater

fear and grace

should bring us

to a place of

repentance in

our lives a

place of

dependence and

accountability on

God on the

work of Jesus

because that is

the only way

folks it's the

only way that

life can work

the last family

meeting back to

the beginning

the return to

Jacob

probably brought

back men

very different

from the ones

who had left

perhaps more

conscious of God

than they'd ever

been before

Jacob on the

other hand

not so

the story of

the journey

the discovery

of the silver

the confession

that Simeon

was left behind

that Benjamin's

release from

Jacob's apron

strings is the

only possibility

of Simeon's

freedom

brought about a

response from

Jacob that was

not godly

and yet in my

dealings with

Christians and

my conversations

and perhaps my

own experiences

it's a response

toward God that

is not uncommon

Jacob's first

thing is to be

faithless

he blames

you have deprived

me

his next response

is one to be

pessimistic

everything is

against me

his next response

is to be

fearful

fearful that his

son will be

harmed

and that question

again is do you

recognize any of

these things

that when you're

met with a

solution and

response to

what's going

on in your

life

and God

says do it

my way

and you say

you've done

all this to

me how on

earth can I

trust you

now

how can I

have faith

in you now

God when I'm

going through

this difficulty

maybe you're

tempted this

evening to

respond in the

way that Jacob

did under the

sternest of

tests

when your

examination

begins

and as I

said near the

start perhaps

God is

ordained in

fact not

perhaps

God ordains

everything

and this

difficult time

that you're

going through

do you need

to come back

to a place of

repentance

you'll see that

in the upcoming

weeks that

unlike Jacob

Joseph has

come to know

and trust

that in

adversity God

will work out

his purposes

he's learned

the beauty

of being

carried by

God

to allow

God's plans

to be

outworked

Jacob must

and will

come to

learn this

but at

present he's

so far from

doing so

and finally

this evening

I think we

should consider

more about

Jesus in

this situation

Peter Granger

in his book

Foundations for

Faith has a

really helpful

suggestion for

finishing the

thoughts on

this chapter

he says we

could look at

the actions of

Joseph in

this chapter

and ask the

question is

he judge or

is he saviour

is he judging

the brothers or

is he saving

them and I

think perhaps

it's an element

of both

he must lead

them to a

place of

considering their

sin before he

can grant them

freedom from it

and so it is

with Jesus

Jesus like

Joseph suffered

an injustice

a crime against

him

but Jesus

unlike Joseph

the crime

against him

was the

perfect crime

a friend of

mine at

college recently

described the

murder of

Jesus as the

perfect murder

and I remember

sort of taking a

step back going

what do you

mean by that

but it was

the perfect

murder

father forgive

them they don't

know what

they're doing

they don't

know that in

putting Christ

on the cross

salvation for

the world is

possible

that's why it

was the

perfect murder

and so judge

or save you

when we think

about Jesus

and Joseph

Joseph does

judge his

brothers

to bring about

true repentance

to bring about

God's plan

for the eventual

salvation

of many

it says

Romans 2

16 tells us

that God will

judge us all

one day

through Jesus

Jesus is the

judge

but then

Hebrews 9

says just as

people are

destined to die

once and after

that to face

judgment

so Christ

was sacrificed

once to take

away the sins

of many

and he will

appear a second

time

not to bear

sin

but to bring

salvation for

those who are

waiting for him

you see

forgiveness is

possible

salvation is

made possible

for the people

of Israel

and the world

as they come

to Egypt

through God's

ordained life

and Joseph's

circumstances

however God

ordains the

death of Christ

to lead to the

salvation of the

world

and then as we

examine ourselves

in light of this

and ask ourselves

that question

do I need

forgiveness of

my sin

like Joseph's

brothers did

the only

conclusion we

can come to

is that we do

because there is

not one of you

is perfect out

here tonight

not one of you

is

and you know

that you would

admit to that

in private

conversations

and because

you're not

perfect you do

not meet God's

standard

because God's

standard is

perfection