Thursday Night Bible Study

-->

Genesis 42-Genesis 43 

"Driven To Joseph" • 7.29.10 • Thursday Night Bible Study

Intro.

- Joseph has been promoted, radically, from prisoner, to Prime Minister! The famine that God foretold of, that He correctly interpreted, has come upon that area of the world.

- It reached far beyond Egypt and into the world of Canaan, where we drop in on Jacob for the first time in two decades.

Text

• Genesis 42:1-5 : "When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, 'Why do you look at one another?' And he said, 'Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die.' So Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, 'Lest some calamity befall him.' And the sons of Israel went to buy grain among those who journeyed, for the famine was in the land of Canaan." : Jacob sees a caravan returning from Egypt, loaded down with supplies. They were coming from Egypt.

- This scene is funny: "Why do you look at one another?" In other words, "What are you standing around for?" What kept them from leaving and going down to Egypt?

- That journey would have brought some memories to the surface that they did not want to face, but they now had little choice. They had to go to Egypt, so 10 of the 11 sons went.

- Jacob would not send Benjamin fearing what might happen to him. Sadly, the brothers' act against Joseph had produced a fear in Jacob that never quite abated.

- The brothers joined the next caravan heading south.

• Genesis 42:6-17 : "Now Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth. Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he acted as a stranger to them and spoke roughly to them. Then he said to them, 'Where do you come from?' And they said, 'From the land of Canaan to buy food.' So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. Then Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them, and said to them, 'You are spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land!' And they said to him, 'No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food. We are all one man’s sons; we are honest men; your servants are not spies.' But he said to them, 'No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land.' And they said, 'Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and in fact, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no more.' But Joseph said to them, 'It is as I spoke to you, saying, ‘You are spies!’ In this manner you shall be tested: By the life of Pharaoh, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of you, and let him bring your brother; and you shall be kept in prison, that your words may be tested to see whether there is any truth in you; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies!' So he put them all together in prison three days." : Joseph was the governor over the land. It took years of time and the strangest of circumstances, but it had become a reality! God's promises, no matter how unlikely, have an uncanny way of coming true! - As the governor, Joseph was not likely the hands on, hand out man. But the Lord had it happen that the day his brothers showed up, he happened to be there!

- Such things are not coincidence, they are providence! God set this meeting up.

- Joseph recognized them, but they did not know him. Joseph was in his late 30's, shaven and looking more like an Egyptian than a Hebrew. No doubt, he looked different as a man than a teen.

- This provided him with a perfect opportunity to discover the character of these men.

- Have they changed or are they the same cruel men that they once were?

- They said that they were honest men, but they said that one of their brothers, Joseph, was no more! Joseph probably wanted to say, "Say hello to Mr. No More!"

- He put them all in prison for three days to think about who they'd send. Who would be the one to go back to get Benjamin? Three days in prison would begin to determine much for Joseph.

- Over the next three days, he would change the terms of their freedom in his mind.

• Genesis 42:18-24 : "Then Joseph said to them the third day, 'Do this and live, for I fear God: If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses. And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die.' And they did so. Then they said to one another, 'We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us.' And Reuben answered them, saying, 'Did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now required of us.' But they did not know that Joseph understood them, for he spoke to them through an interpreter. And he turned himself away from them and wept. Then he returned to them again, and talked with them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes." : The brothers, even after all of these years, view this whole event through the lens of their own sin.

- It had created fear in their Father's life, and lasting guilt in theirs. Here they are, two decades removed and that horrible sin still haunts them.

- That is the true nature of sin. Sin seems to be the answer in the moment to whatever burns in our soul. The negative effects live on long past the satisfaction of the moment.

- Notice also the one that they sinned against. Joseph was still broken hearted by what had been done to him. He loved them. When he heard their conversation, it caused him to weep.

- Here Joseph is the governor over Egypt. He is in an unbelieveable position. He's married, he has kids, he has a great chariot and a nice place to stay.

- All that is going good today, will not stop the tears of hurt that come from what happened yesterday! Some might say, "Joseph, look around! See what you have."

- These do not understand the logic of pain. Sin is a deadly force to be reckoned with.

- In the end, at least Joseph got Simeon back. He was the most vehement advocate to kill Joseph back when he was a kid.

• Genesis 42:25-35 : "Then Joseph gave a command to fill their sacks with grain, to restore every man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. Thus he did for them. So they loaded their donkeys with the grain and departed from there. But as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey feed at the encampment, he saw his money; and there it was, in the mouth of his sack. So he said to his brothers, 'My money has been restored, and there it is, in my sack!' Then their hearts failed them and they were afraid, saying to one another, 'What is this that God has done to us?' Then they went to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan and told him all that had happened to them, saying: ^'The man who is lord of the land spoke roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country. But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies. We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is with our father this day in the land of Canaan.’ Then the man, the lord of the country, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, take food for the famine of your households, and be gone. And bring your youngest brother to me; so I shall know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. I will grant your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.’ Then it happened as they emptied their sacks, that surprisingly each man’s bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid." : Their hearts failed them and they were afraid. Even this stroke of good caused their consciences to "flare up." God is indeed working upon them.

- They resented Joseph because they thought him a spy. Now, they are thought of as spies. They cast Joseph into a pit. Now, one of them is living in prison.

- God is allowing this circumstance, whereby they are treated poorly and unfairly, to awaken them to the reality of the evil that they had done.

- In spite of this, the still go home and repeat their lying story. Yes God is working on them, but not enough time has elapsed, not enough pain has been had, for them to confess their wrong.

- After they emptied their sacks and found all of their money was accounted for, they were all afraid, including Jacob who was hearing all this for the first time.

• Genesis 42:36-38 : "And Jacob their father said to them, 'You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me.' Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, 'Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.' But he said, 'My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone. If any calamity should befall him along the way in which you go, then you would bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.'" : Whoa Reuben! There is such a thing as overcompensating! I wonder if Reuben's kids were in earshot. I wonder what they thought of this sentiment!

- Obviously, Reuben was not thinking. Jacob thinks that he has lost at least two sons. He does not want to give another one.

- But to make him feel better, Reuben says, "Kill your grandsons if I lose another of your sons!" How does that make sense?

- While Reuben is clearly not thinking, the important thing is that he is willing to do all that he can to protect Benjamin, proving that by his thoughtless claim.

- Jacob at this point refuses to give in. He has a fatalistic viewpoint and all that he can believe is that something bad will happen.

- He has let every horrible thing that has happened in his past, color his view on the future. Notice that there is not even a possibility that God might be involved in this.

- There is no hint of faith, no hint that Jacob believed that God could work through this.

- This is what giving into fear produces in our lives. Even when God is trying to bless us, fear dictates that we enslave ourselves to fatalism.

- It does not need to be that way. We can choose to believe that our current circumstance is God at work to bless us.

• Genesis 43:1-10 : "Now the famine was severe in the land. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, 'Go back, buy us a little food.' But Judah spoke to him, saying, 'The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. But if you will not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ And Israel said, 'Why did you deal so wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you had still another brother?' But they said, 'The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ And we told him according to these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?' 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. For if we had not lingered, surely by now we would have returned this second time.'" : Some time has gone by. The famine instead of letting up, had now become severe. At least they had some grain. "What do you mean that was the last bag!?"

- "Who had seconds!?" Circumstances and supplies had delayed their need for a decision.

- The prospect of going back and facing this was not what anyone wanted. Finally, Jacob feels the pinch and tells them to go back.

- When Judah tells him that they can't go back without Benjamin, Jacob screams out his frustration about the situation! Why had they been so stupid! God was setting them up.

- Judah steps forward here and offers himself as a surety. Reuben had offered his kids. Now, Judah ups the ante and offers himself. These men are showing that they've changed.

- They are considerate of their Father's position and willing to take personal responsibility for their brother Benjamin.

• Genesis 43:11-17 : "And their father Israel said to them, 'If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. Take double money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man. And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!' So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, 'Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon.' Then the man did as Joseph ordered, and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house." : This time down, Joseph brings them into his home. He has not seen his little brother in over 20 years. He wanted to be close to him, but more importantly, to see how his other brothers might treat Him. Joseph is still testing their characters.

• Genesis 43:18-23 : "Now the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, 'It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may make a case against us and seize us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys.' When they drew near to the steward of Joseph’s house, they talked with him at the door of the house, and said, 'O sir, we indeed came down the first time to buy food; but it happened, when we came to the encampment, that we opened our sacks, and there, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; so we have brought it back in our hand. And we have brought down other money in our hands to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.' But he said, 'Peace be with you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.' Then he brought Simeon out to them." : Your God and the God of your Father has given you treasure in your sacks. He is showing such grace, showing what kindness that Christ has shown to us.

- He did not take their money, but gave them grain and their money. In a sense, Joseph is trying to get them to acknowledge the Lord's activity in their lives.

• Genesis 43:24-31 : "So the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed. Then they made the present ready for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they would eat bread there. And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down before him to the earth. Then he asked them about their well-being, and said, 'Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?' And they answered, 'Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive.' And they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves. Then he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, 'Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me?' And he said, 'God be gracious to you, my son.' Now his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. And he went into his chamber and wept there. Then he washed his face and came out; and he restrained himself, and said, 'Serve the bread.'" : Joseph is overwhelmed by his brothers visit. He wants to reveal himself to to them, but he has to see their hearts.

• Genesis 43:32-34 : "So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. 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." : This lunch was a great celebration. Joseph maintained his distance, both from the Egyptians and from his brothers.

- Joseph made sure to show great favor to Benjamin. What would this provoke? Would the brothers be angry? Would they resent Benjamin as they had Joseph? There is not even a hint.

- They drank and were merry with him. This is what Joseph had wanted all along.

Conclusion

- To those who think like Jacob, who have let fear take root in their souls, who can see no good thing that the Lord is doing, take heart!

- Be reminded afresh that no matter what the previous chapters have held, God is writing a good story. Don't let fear rule your hearts.

- To those who think like the sons of Jacob: Repent from your sin, come clean before the Lord and know His forgiveness. Don't hide it. Don't justify it.

- Acknowledge your guilt and believe in His forgiveness. Believe it or not, like Joseph, Jesus has invited you to His table, not to burden you, but to bless you.

- He is calling you to come to His house, so that you would drink and be merry with Him.

Sunday Morning Service

Matthew 9:18-38 (Click title for audio access)

"Christ's Response To Man" • 7.22.10 • Sunday Morning Service

Intro.

- Matthew has been cataloging the miracles of Christ, which were performed in order to give us a preview of what the Kingdom would be like in fulfillment.

- Jesus has demonstrated power over disease, natural and supernatural elements. He has shown his sovereignty over physical and spiritual paralysis.

- These powers attracted followers and fueled skeptics. In the presence of both, Jesus keeps working, rewarding faith and challenging the skeptics.

- In our passage before us, we see people who come to Christ, who have no other choice. They are driven by desperation.

- At the end of this chapter, we will have seen man's reactions to Christ, but more importantly, His response and His challenge to us.

Text

• Matthew 9:18,19 : "While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, 'My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.' So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples." : Jesus had been speaking to his critics, specifically John's disciples and the Pharisees about the question of fasting when a man in crisis comes.

- The juxtaposition is pretty interesting: Here are some guys who want to talk about fasting when a man in dire straits, desperate for help comes. Our criticisms can be pretty petty.

- It's good to remember that while we would busy ourselves with the finer points of Christianity, just around the corner, there are desperate situations that require Christ!

- This man is no ordinary man. Matthew tells us that he is a ruler, in this case, a synagogue official. You needed just 10 adult men to have a synagogue in town.

- Among them, there was an elected elder that covered all of the administration of the synagogue. This was that man. This man was entrenched deeply in the religion of his day.

- But his religion did not prepare him for this. This man would likely have been opposed to Jesus prior to this day. On this day, he is driven to Christ out of necessity.

- This had just happened, the Greek indicating that it had happened at that very moment.

- His faith requires that Jesus come with him to his home. The Centurion had a faith that said "If you say a word." Sadly, the heathen Centurion had more faith than this synagogue ruler!

- This man, an Israeli and closer in proximity, asks Jesus to come. Jesus arose and followed. - Up to this point, every time in these last two chapters, when a person has come to Christ for healing, He has responded positively, offering to come when asked.

- We need to understand that for two reasons. First, any expression of faith in Christ is sufficient to move Him. Second, Christ wants to meet needs. He is the physician that must help!

- When He moved upon the earth, He wanted to be in the place where desperation could be defeated by His presence. Nothing has changed now. Christ still wants to meet men in their crisis.

• Matthew 9:20,21 : "And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, 'If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.'" : Out of nowhere, this woman commandeers the story!

- Matthew's "suddenly" reminds us that things like this were happening all around Jesus.

- This woman had a hemorhage flow of blood for 12 years. This was devastating in that it secluded her from meaningful fellowship. According to the law, she was ceremonially unclean.

- Jesus came passing by and she got the idea that she just needed to touch Him. In the original language, the sense is that she kept saying this to herself over and over again.

- "If I could just touch His garment." If I could just get near to Him. If I could just make the slightest contact with Him, my life would change.

• Matthew 9:22 : "But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, 'Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.' And the woman was made well from that hour." : This woman meant to do this secretly. She wanted to touch Christ and then move along. But Jesus turned around.

- He was on His way to another miracle. He was busy. That's the way that we think, that's the way that we act. Jesus turned around.

- He looked at her. He wanted her to know that He knew who she was! He wanted her to know that she had not stolen a blessing, but was given a gift!

- I wonder what the synagogue ruler thought about this. Follow his thinking: "I asked Him to come and touch my daughter. She did not ask, but touched Him and she was healed."

- Jesus allowed this man to see this woman's miracle so that his faith in Him would grow!

- He could walk more confidently to his own home with Jesus, having seen His power at work.

- Her faith in Christ had made her well. Her faith reached out to Christ. From that hour, she was made well and it made her a daughter.

- Of all the people that Jesus healed, none were ever given such an endearing name. Her issue had alienated her in a deep way. Jesus heals her and tells her that she is loved!

- I am impressed over and over again with the length of years that people must suffer. Whether it's illness or some other malady, years often pass by before there is relief.

- Here, in the span of just an hour, Christ reversed years of illness.

- In just the span of a moment, with one decision, our lives can change as well.

• Matthew 9:23-26 : "When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, He said to them, 'Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.' And they ridiculed Him. But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went out into all that land." : Matthew brings us back to the story of the ruler. It's obvious that the young girl had been sick and near death for some time now.

- This accounts for the flute players and the wailing crowd. Believe it or not, man's traditions had even made it's way into how the people mourned!

- Mourning was a big business in the days of the New Testament. Even if you were poor, you had to hire at least two flute players and a wailing woman!

- Jesus raised this girl from the dead, but to Him it as if she was sleeping. There was no difference to Him. The people, not understanding, ridiculed Christ, that is until the girl arose!

- Jesus raised a girl from the dead, the first of several. Death is a vanquished enemy that Jesus is Lord over. This story became part of Christ's fame. It spread and should keep spreading.

- These stories, even at the time that they happened, became part of local legend.

• Matthew 9:27 : "When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, 'Son of David, have mercy on us!'" : Did you just read that without thinking about it? Two blind men followed Him!? I suggest that this is the miracle!

- Obviously, they followed the crowds that followed Christ. They were directed by the crowds or maybe even led by some in the crowds to where Jesus was, which led to Peter's house.

- They cried out, "Son of David, have mercy on us!" The term "Son of David" was a messianic distinction. King David was promised an heir that would rule forever. That heir is Jesus!

- The term "Son of David" was especially popular, as it expressed the hope that the Messiah would overthrow the Roman occupation.

- In all likelihood, they wanted to stir up that sentiment among the crowds because when the Messiah did come, curing blindness was one of His tell-tale signs.

• Matthew 9:28-31 : "And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, 'Do you believe that I am able to do this?' They said to Him, 'Yes, Lord.' Then He touched their eyes, saying, 'According to your faith let it be to you.' And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, 'See that no one knows it.' But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country." : These guys were a little too boisterous in their zealous fanaticism. Jesus brings them into the house.

- "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" This is a good question.

- Jesus is asking this to some men with physical blindness who wanted to see. Jesus asks us if we believe that He is able to do the impossible with our children.

- Do you believe He is able to affect change in your marriage? Do you believe that He is able to provide that job?

- The men answered that they believed that Jesus could. They answered perfectly, correctly when they answered "Yes, Lord."

- It's interesting that if He is Lord, then the answer will be "yes." If He is not Lord, your answer will always be based on how you are feeling that particular day.

- When Jesus touched their eyes, He said "According to your faith let it be to you."

- From that point on, their eyes were opened, literally for the first time in their lives! They could see and even when Jesus sternly warned them not to tell, they told anyway!

- Why is it when Jesus tells us not to say anything that we say something and when He says to tell the world, we don't!?

- Jesus told them not to tell because He is not attempting to promote Himself as a healer. He was not wanting to stir up "Messiah Fever."

- His healing was meant to point to His Messianic mission, but that started with a redemptive goal in mind.

- Jesus was on His way to the Cross, a reality that these men were unable to immediately identify with.

• Matthew 9:32-34 : "As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, 'It was never seen like this in Israel!' But the Pharisees said, 'He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.'" : You can almost forgive these guys for spilling the beans, because they went out and got a fellow beggar.

- This latest man to be brought to Jesus was mute and demon possessed. This is an interesting note that Matthew gives to us.

- It was believed by those who practiced exorcism, that a demon could come out once it told you it's name. Consequently, the Rabbis attempted to "trick" the demon into divulging it's name.

- Because this man was mute, that essential first step could not be exercised and he could not therefore be exorcised! That is until Jesus came.

- When the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. It's classic that Matthew says it so matter of factly. This was nothing to Jesus. Nobody else could have helped, but Jesus did.

- Jesus set the table and did things that revealed His absolute dominance over all maladies.

- For all the proof that was before them, the Pharisees, at a loss to explain Jesus, offered an alternate explanation: He can do this because He is working for Satan!

- It will always be the case: When you refuse to believe the simple truth of a matter, you must come up with something outrageous to believe. This is the case with the Pharisees.

- Instead of acknowledging the proof that was right within their line of sight, they sought an alternate "truth". They sought to explain Jesus away.

• Matthew 9:35 : "Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people." : As we come to the end of this section, Matthew gives to us Christ's method, motive and mandate. First, His method.

- Remember that the Galilee was home to over 200 cities and villages. Everywhere He went, His ministry included three major portions: He taught, He proclaimed and He healed.

- He taught in the Synagogues. This was where church happened for the Jewish people.

- Saturday was when they met and sat to receive instruction from the Word of God, usually through reading and explanation.

- This is a vital part of God's program on the earth. How important is His Word in your life and in mine? How important is it for us to rightly understand what it is that He desires from us?

- Jesus spent time on earth teaching the scriptures, bringing them to light.

- Second, Jesus proclaimed the gospel of the Kingdom. This is the ministry of evangelism. This happened out in the highways and byways.

- This was the call to those who were outside of the church walls, who were bid to enter the Kingdom through repentance from sin and acceptance of Christ.

- Evangelism is what we all go out of the church to do! It might look like open air preaching or it might be consistent, Christ centered conversation direction.

- Evangelism, sharing our faith, proclaiming Christ is all of our jobs as Christians!

- Finally, Matthew tells us that He healed every sickness and disease. Matthew puts it last because it was subject to the other two facets of Christ's ministry.

- His healings were authenticating measures of His teaching and preaching. His healings were spectacular, but in the end, they were the least in terms of importance.

- Each who were healed, eventually died. Those who were taught and brought into the Kingdom through Christ's Word, were given eternal life!

• Matthew 9:36 : "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd." : This moves us into Christ's motive. When He looked upon the multitudes, He saw a vision. He saw sheep who had no shepherd.

- This was a vivid picture in that land, as sheep were defenseless animals in a land of multiple predators. Dogs and wolves were constant outward threats.

- In addition to being defenseless, they were also helpless. Sheep must constantly be brought to good feeding ground and good water, otherwise they will die.

- Without Jesus, they might have written the 23rd Psalm this way:

- "There is no shepherd, I always want. I never rest; I never feed; I am never calm. My soul is ever broken. In this world, I am aimless and without comfort. When I walk in fearful places, I dread every sound, for nobody is there to comfort me. I have no anticipation of good. I have no hope."

- Jesus saw these crowds was "moved with compassion." This is the strongest Greek word for compassion. Literally, He was sick to His stomach with concern for these people.

- They were weary, literally, they had become "faint hearted." They could not take another moment of religious exercise. At the same time, they despaired for lack of health.

- They were scattered, cast aside, left for dead!

- How do you look at the multitudes? What is your opinion of those without Christ? How do they affect you? Jesus was moved with compassion. His compassion moved Him to action.

• Matthew 9:37,38 : "Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.'" : Then He said to His disciples. This is profound. Upon seeing the multitudes, He shared His response with them. He shares it with us.

- His compassion was unlimited, but His body, as a human being, was limited. Aside from this, if they are to be His disciples, they must see the multitudes in the same way that He does.

- He tells them that there is a harvest before them. This is how Jesus wanted them to see the multitudes. They are ripe for the picking! There is opportunity aplenty.

- Everywhere you look, there is someone to bless, someone to heal, someone to touch in the name of Christ, but the laborers are few.

- Let me suggest that this was true then and it remains true now. Christians who take on the responsibility to work in Christ's harvest field are always going to be in the minority.

- So what does Jesus say? Get out there and get to work! Get off your lazy tookuses and start winning people to me! No, He tells us to pray that God will send laborers out.

- Pray. It's God's harvest and it requires God's workers. We cannot pray without thinking, "God, am I the answer to my own prayer?"

˚ "When a man prays for a corn crop, the Lord expects him to say 'amen' with a hoe." Unknown Georgia Bishop

- He is the Lord of the harvest. It's His harvest. It's His work. Pray that He sends laborers out. At the same time, pray that He sends you out! Be willing to be that worker!

Conclusion

- The Lord was ever ready to meet the needs that were presented to Him. He was compassionate, kind, and gentle.

- I would say that these are traits that we could ask to manifest.

Thursday Night Bible Study

-->

Genesis 41 

"The Pieces Are Moving" • 7.22.10 • Thursday Night Bible Study

Intro.

- Joseph probably had his bag packed. He had said his final goodbyes, put in his notice with the warden and trained the seven guys necessary to replace him.

- After a day became three and three days became a week, which gave way to a month, Joseph settled back into reality.

- Pharoah's butler, the man that he had interpreted a dream for, had insufficient pull to affect his status. He did not know that the butler had just completely forgotten about him.

- The reality was that he was still a prisoner and still consigned to this dungeon. What now?

Text

• Genesis 41:1-8 : "Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river. Suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. Then behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly and gaunt, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the river. And the ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven fine looking and fat cows. So Pharaoh awoke. He slept and dreamed a second time; and suddenly seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, plump and good. Then behold, seven thin heads, blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them. And the seven thin heads devoured the seven plump and full heads. So Pharaoh awoke, and indeed, it was a dream. Now it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh." : Talk about having a cow!

- Notice a few things here. In verse 1, there is a painful time stamp telling us that this occured at the end of two full years! 24 months, 31 days, 23 hours and 58 minutes!

- Joseph's trial, unbeknownst to him, would continue long after his successful foray into dream interpretation.

- He was locked down in the dungeon, going about his work, wondering why it was that God ever let him do what he had done. It didn't make sense to him.

- Joseph is in a prison, but a crisis brews in the Palace. Joseph is sleeping peacefully and the Pharaoh is the one who is awake and troubled, literally disturbed.

- Cows were worshipped in Egypt. They were a symbol of one of the gods of Egypt. The fruit of the harvest was the result of the gods.

- Both dreams are troubling because of the unnatural results that took place. Skinny cows are eating, but they never stop being skinny. The thin heads eat, but never grow.

- It seems that Pharaoh's dreams were so real, that when he woke a second time, he was relieved that it was only a dream!

- As we mentioned last week, dreams had a powerful effect in the minds of the Egyptians.

- Pharaoh got the entire house to work on the interpret these dreams. Nobody could do it!

- Where did these dreams come from? We know that they came from the Lord, but Pharaoh won't know that for a little while.

- God is giving the Pharoah a dream of things to come, one that only He and Joseph will know the answer to.

• Genesis 41:9-13 : "Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: 'I remember my faults this day. When Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker, we each had a dream in one night, he and I. Each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. Now there was a young Hebrew man with us there, a servant of the captain of the guard. And we told him, and he interpreted our dreams for us; to each man he interpreted according to his own dream. And it came to pass, just as he interpreted for us, so it happened. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him.'" : The chief butler finally speaks up. His Pharaoh is troubled and his experience provides the door of opportunity.

- This episode which had happened two full years ago, brought Joseph into the forefront of a discussion in the most powerful house on the Earth!

- Joseph had faithfully performed his duties in the jail. He had stepped up and given glory to God and exercised a gift of interpretation.

- That one act of faithfulness, though temporarily forgotten, will now be the key to his release.

- Let me go a step further than that: Joseph, by diligent attention to his gifting of administration, was put in a position to be given greater responsibility!

- I mention this because you and I will never know the importance of faithfully executing our duties and faithfully representing the Lord, in the smallest ways, in the darkest dungeons.

- Turn over to Matthew 25. Jesus is telling the story of the men who were given talents to be stewards over. Two were faithful and Jesus said this to them:

• Matthew 25:21 : "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'"

- Who knows what doors will open to us when we are faithful? The truth is that when we are faithful in the little things, God will put us over greater things!

• Genesis 41:14-16 : "Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.' So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, 'It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.'" : The Pharoah was this desperate: He would send for a Hebrew slave in order to get at this interpretation! Wow!

- That would be like the President pulling a landscaper in for some advice on the economy!

- He did not wait to bring Joseph out. He did so quickly! Literally, he brought him out hastily, with runners!

- I am impressed about tribulations that this is often the case. The time seems to travel so slowly during the storm, but then, it's just over and everything has changed!

- Joseph experiences that here. In one breath, he is out of prison and in the next, standing cleanly shaven, freshly clothed, in the Palace!

- The Pharoah tells Joseph that he's heard about him. I wonder if Joseph threw a dirty look at the Butler at this point! Here Joseph has the opportunity to brag.

- "Yes, I am rather proficient in dreamology. You could say that dreams have always gotten me to where I am!"

- Joseph knows better. This was not something he could do, but it was well within the realm of God's ability! God would bring an answer of peace.

- Joseph is introducing Pharoah to his God and He is a God who gives peace.

- Don't miss this: Pharaoh needs more than anything in his life at this moment, both peace with God and the peace of God. Only the Lord can give this to people and Joseph understands that.

- The Pharoah, who may have believed himself to be endowed with deity, was hearing about the God of the Hebrews, the God of this slave, possibly for the first time.

- In the providence of God, He has allowed a crisis to come into the life of Pharaoah, to free Joseph, to position Him for the survival of His people and to introduce Himself to this pagan!

- In our lives as Christians, crisis moments are meant to strengthen faith. In the lives of unbelievers, those same moments are meant to produce faith!

- The peace that Pharaoh wanted could not come to him any other way, save the God of peace, who Joseph knew.

- This is so vitally important for us to digest. The Pharaohs in our lives are waiting for the Josephs to say "God will give an answer of peace!"

• Genesis 41:17-32 : "Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: 'Behold, in my dream I stood on the bank of the river. Suddenly seven cows came up out of the river, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. Then behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such ugliness as I have never seen in all the land of Egypt. And the gaunt and ugly cows ate up the first seven, the fat cows. When they had eaten them up, no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were just as ugly as at the beginning. So I awoke. Also I saw in my dream, and suddenly seven heads came up on one stalk, full and good. Then behold, seven heads, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them. And the thin heads devoured the seven good heads. So I told this to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.' Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, 'The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years; the dreams are one. And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt; but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land. So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe. And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass." : Pharaoh tells Joseph about his dreams, which are not two dreams but one, which in turn, is a prophetic picture of what is about to happen.

- Joseph says, "God has shown Pharoah what He is about to do." This is His doing!

- What you are about to experience is something outside of anything that you think that you know. This land, which has a mighty river running through it, is going to be struck by famine.

- God is the author of it! He is allowing it! He wants you to know Him, so He is bringing this to pass in your life!

- God is greater than your famine. He has allowed it in your life for the sake of that contrast!

- We have seen famine afflict Abraham's time, that when all else fails, Egypt seems to have it all together. This time, the famine will hit Egypt as well.

- Joseph tells Pharoah that after seven years the plenty will be forgotten, the famine will deplete the land.

- God is so gracious to have warned the Pharaoh of this impending doom. Never think for a moment that God lacks a witness in any man's life.

- God got to Pharaoh in a way that no other man could. He is doing that in the lives of your friends as well.

- As Christians, many times we are helpless. There are no words that can be said. But when we avail ourselves to those lives, when the crisis comes, we'll be right there!

- In God's providence, he picked a man that would stand and speak about God's hand in the middle of this.

• Genesis 41:33-45 : "Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine. So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, 'Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?' Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.' And Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.' Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, 'Bow the knee!' So he set him over all the land of Egypt. Pharaoh also said to Joseph, 'I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.' And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-Paaneah. And he gave him as a wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. So Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt." : Joseph's solution is taxation and storage of the actual agricultural production of Egypt.

- In the good years, there would a 1/5th gathering from all of the people. That would have been a tremendous intake, well over the needs of just Egypt.

- It was Joseph's idea and the Pharaoh, having only met this Hebrew a short time before, understands that He is the right man for the job.

- Just like that, Joseph is promoted again to an administrative position, in the greatest most influential land of that time!

- This has been Joseph's story since he was 17 years old. God has prepared him one step at a time. Each time he is honing skills and being readied for greater responsibility.

- In addition to the position, Joseph is given prominence and an Egyptian bride.

- Everything that Joseph had lost, or lost the opportunity for, God repayed through Pharaoh in the span of just a paragraph of time!

• Genesis 41:46-49 : "Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth abundantly. So he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities; he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them. Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable." : Don't miss this statement: Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before the Pharaoh. This means that his trial lasted intermittedly, for 13 years of his life.

- Thirteen years of confusion. Thirteen years worth of questions. Thirteen years of loneliness.

- Here, he does what God has always gifted him to do, the only difference now is that he is doing it on a larger stage.

- Joseph's work was difficult, but fruitful. So much came in, that Joseph stopped accounting for it. The seven years of famine for Egypt would be covered.

- It's interesting that Joseph likely only had the interests of Egypt in mind. God had a much bigger vision in mind!

• Genesis 41:50-52 : "And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him. Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: 'For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.' And the name of the second he called Ephraim: 'For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.'" : Joseph and Asenath have two children, both are named with Hebrew names.

- Joseph it seems, unlike Judah, was able to rightly lead his family spiritually. Both names are not only Hebrew, they are rich with meaning regarding God.

- First, in Manasseh, the name means "one who forgets." There was such joy in Manasseh, such love and fulfillment, that Joseph forgot his pain.

- I love this about God. He does not erase our memories or reduce our pain. He does not minimize what has occurred. He always adds blessing to our lives.

- But please notice this: Joseph chose to put the past behind him. He chose not to carry it. He chose to leave it behind. This is key to what we learn next about his second son.

- Then came Ephraim, which means "double land." Here, Joseph has known nothing but affliction of soul and body.

- Ephraim is a sign that he would make him fruitful, even in difficult circumstances. Truthfully, you need to understand that until you forget, you won't be fruitful!

- Until you forgive those who have hurt you, you won't move forward to bless!

• Genesis 41:53-57 : "Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended, and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Then Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, 'Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, do.' The famine was over all the face of the earth, and Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians. And the famine became severe in the land of Egypt. So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands." : Now, the scene is set. Egypt has begun to feed itself, but it did not stop there. God's famine came upon all countries.

- All around that area, there was a deep loss, which will begin part 3 of our story next week.

Conclusion

- As we conclude, I want to leave us with several points that come from our chapter tonight.

- First, Dungeon Life Is Prepartion For Palace Life! Everything that God allowed to happen got Joseph ready for the moments to come. Don't resent dungeons!

- Second, The Gift You Have Is The Gift That God Needs! What if Joseph had wished that He was a prophet? What if Joseph neglected his gift to seek after something else? Use your gifts!

- Third, The Time Spent Waiting Is Not Without Purpose! There is a perfect time for your trial. In you, character is developed. In the people around you, crisis is brewing.

- Finally, You Will Look Back And It Will Make Sense! Looking in and around will just cause confusion. Try to put it together. You can't! But one day, you'll see the why of everything!