The Practical Redemption Of Man

The Life Of Joseph, Session #7- The Redemption Of A Man’s Family pt.2

Intro.

- One of the key lessons that I have learned over the years about teaching the bible is the importance of ignoring chapter/verse divisions.

- Chapter 42 through the end of chapter 46 encompasses one story arc.

- Having already looked at chapter 42 for it’s individual lessons, let’s condense the story of the next 2 chapters.

- Chapter 43 sees the story return to Canaan and Jacob’s resistance and final acquiescence to have the brothers return again with Benjamin to Egypt, only because of the promise of Judah.

• Genesis 43:8,9 : “Then Judah said to Israel his father, ‘Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. "I myself will be surety for him; from my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.”

- Coming before Joseph was not what they expected. Joseph was generous and hospitable toward them, inviting them into his house for dinner.

- Benjamin being there gave Joseph the opportunity that he was looking for to test the brother’s hearts.

• Genesis 43:33,34 : “And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another. Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.”

- The party was great and lasted most of the rest of the day. But the next morning a new level of the plan was unveiled.

• Genesis 44:1,2 : “And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, ‘Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack. Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain money.’ So he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.”

- After the brothers left the city, an Egyptian group of secret service agents came upon them and charged them with theft.

- The brothers were stupefied and completely unaware that they were being set up.

• Genesis 44:7-13 : “And they said to him, ‘Why does my lord say these words? Far be it from us that your servants should do such a thing. Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.’ And he said, ‘Now also let it be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and you shall be blameless.’ Then each man speedily let down his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack. So he searched. He began with the oldest and left off with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. Then they tore their clothes, and each man loaded his donkey and returned to the city.”

- It’s here that we see Judah stand before the Joseph and plead the case for his family.

- He tells the story that we have just reviewed to Joseph and ends with these statements:

• Genesis 44:30-34 : “Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life, it will happen, when he sees that the lad is not with us, that he will die. So your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave. For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father forever.’ Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. ‘For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would come upon my father?”

- As we review this material, I suggest that what we see here before us in the life of Judah is a transformed man.

- In Judah’s life we see these evidences of transformation.

I. Changed Speech

II. Others Centered Focus

III. Sacrificial Love Demonstrated

Text

I. Changed Speech

- Look back with me to Genesis 37.

• Genesis 37:26,27 : “So Judah said to his brothers, ‘What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh." And his brothers listened.”

- It was Judah’s idea to sell Joseph into slavery!

- He, along with his brothers, hated Joseph and was willing to get rid of him.

- 20 years have passed and we see a very different man.

- His speech here in Genesis 44 is reflective of wisdom and maturity.

- What a difference we see from the callous and careless speech of Genesis 37 to this compassionate conversation here.

- How we talk is indicative of what has happened in our hearts.

- Jesus is talking with his disciples about distinguishing between a good man and an evil man. He gives this bit of wisdom.

• Luke 6:45 : “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

- Paul, discussing the difference between the new man and the old man immediately draws attention to our speech in Ephesians chapter 4, note especially verse 29.

• Ephesians 4:29 : “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

- Judah was a man who had changed and it was seen first in his speech, the way he talked.

- What does our speech communicate to those around us? Do they hear words of encouragment and blessing? Is truth mingled with love? Consider yourself reminded.

II. Others Centered Focus

- Notice the focus of his speech is for the benefit of another. Note again these comments:

• Genesis 44:30,31 : “Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life, it will happen, when he sees that the lad is not with us, that he will die. So your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave.”

- Judah’s concern is for Jacob and the effect that Benjamin’s absence would have on him.

- He cannot bear to see it, especially since he had been an accomplice to what had caused his aged father the deepest regret.

• Genesis 37:36 : “And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, ‘For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning.’ Thus his father wept for him.”

- Judah noted the pain that had not abated caused by the loss of Joseph.

- Here in this speech, Judah puts the emotional well being of his father on a level higher than his own comfort.

- Judah could have said, “Well, that’s his loss and he’ll have to get over it!” He might have even said, “Why should I put myself in danger by arguing with this great man? There’s nothing that I can do.”

- That might have been the method of the younger Judah. The man we witness here is quite different, willing to step up and fight, not for his own interest, but for the interest of another.

- This again is a mark of God’s presence in a person.

- Paul, about to make an incredible statement about the humility of Christ, admonished the church in Philippi to follow that same example.

• Philippians 2:1-4 : “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

- Again, to the Romans, Paul exhorts

• Romans 12:9,10 : Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;”

- As we listen to these scriptures, perhaps the Lord, by His spirit, is pricking your heart afresh.

- Have we become self-centered Christians, more interested in what is happening with us than what it has happening to those around us?

III. Sacrificial Love Demonstrated

- Finally, the ultimate sign of transformation. It’s great to have changed speech and to be noble in our desire to be “others” centered. It’s quite another thing to actualize our words.

- In talking with Joseph, Judah offers himself as a substitute for Benjamin.

• Genesis 44:32,33 : “For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father forever.’ Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers.”

- Again, how might Judah have handled this situation 20 years before?

- Here, he becomes the guarantor of Benjamin’s safety and then offers himself to Joseph.

- He is willing to lay down his life on behalf of his brother, for the sake of his Father.

- He is giving up the rights of his life, giving Joseph the right to enslave him.

- Here is ultimately a picture of Christ’s humility, who literally took the form of a bondservant, and submitted to a death that took the sins of an entire race of humans for all time.

- It is likely the reason that Judah is chosen to be the line through which the Messiah would come, known as the Lion Of The Tribe Of Judah.

- However, in it, we also see the reality of a man touched by God and can see it in men today who give their lives and dreams up for their families.

- How about the man who passes on a promotion because it would adversely affect his family’s spiritual life?

- How about the man who refuses to work several more hours on a regular basis because he knows that his family needs him?

- How about a man who uses his free time for the sole benefit of another, whether it be in volunteerism or counseling?

- These are men who know sacrificial love.

Conclusion

- As we come to the end of this study, it’s important to note these marks of true transformation.

- We want to be reminded of what God has left for us because often we mark our Christianity by other things.

- These are three benchmarks of a truly converted man of God.

- Therefore, what is coming out of your mouth? Are your words bitter, angry, sarcastic? Is your speech reflecting a heart that is right with the Lord?

- Second, is your focus on serving others, benefiting them over yourself? Would “esteeming others” be a benchmark philosophy of your life?

- Finally, is sacrifice a foundation stone of your being? Have you looked for ways to give to another in your life, simply for their benefit?

- I pray that as you are reminded that you might be given grace to realize these concepts in your life today.