WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.360 Well, it's a great privilege for me this morning to be able to share the Word of God with us as a church family. 00:00:07.419 --> 00:00:20.800 We're continuing in the book of Genesis. We've made it to chapter 42, and we will read that together. I'll read it if you would read along with me as I read it out loud. 00:00:20.800 --> 00:00:27.039 So if you're able, in honor of God's Word, would you stand for the reading of chapter 42 of the book of Genesis? 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:38.039 When Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, 00:00:38.859 --> 00:00:41.700 Why do you look at one another? And he said, 00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:50.280 Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die. 00:00:50.280 --> 00:00:59.980 So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt, but Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brother. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:11.420 For he feared that harm might happen to him. Thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan. 00:01:11.420 --> 00:01:19.579 Now, Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. 00:01:19.579 --> 00:01:24.320 And Joseph's brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the ground. 00:01:24.980 --> 00:01:31.700 Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them. 00:01:32.099 --> 00:01:34.219 Where do you come from? He said. 00:01:34.219 --> 00:01:35.179 They said, 00:01:35.179 --> 00:01:37.060 From the land of Canaan to buy food. 00:01:37.780 --> 00:01:41.819 And Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. 00:01:42.379 --> 00:01:46.719 And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them. 00:01:46.859 --> 00:01:47.879 And he said to them, 00:01:48.280 --> 00:01:49.280 You are spies. 00:01:50.140 --> 00:01:53.039 You have come to see the nakedness of the land. 00:01:53.759 --> 00:01:54.480 They said to him, 00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:55.239 No, my lord. 00:01:55.759 --> 00:01:57.500 Your servants have come to buy food. 00:01:57.879 --> 00:01:59.460 We are all sons of one man. 00:01:59.599 --> 00:02:00.539 We are honest men. 00:02:00.540 --> 00:02:03.359 Your servants have never been spies. 00:02:03.540 --> 00:02:04.460 He said to them, 00:02:04.580 --> 00:02:08.219 No, it is the nakedness of the land that you have come to see. 00:02:08.620 --> 00:02:09.140 And they said, 00:02:09.300 --> 00:02:11.180 We, your servants, are twelve brothers, 00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:13.860 the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. 00:02:13.939 --> 00:02:17.300 But behold, the youngest is this day with our father, 00:02:17.780 --> 00:02:19.420 and one is no more. 00:02:20.360 --> 00:02:21.640 But Joseph said to them, 00:02:22.259 --> 00:02:23.980 It is as I said to you, 00:02:24.099 --> 00:02:25.480 You are spies. 00:02:26.980 --> 00:02:28.960 By this you shall be tested. 00:02:28.960 --> 00:02:30.659 By the life of Pharaoh, 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:35.060 you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 00:02:35.700 --> 00:02:36.520 Send one of you, 00:02:36.920 --> 00:02:39.879 and let him bring your brother while you remain confined, 00:02:40.040 --> 00:02:41.960 that your words may be tested. 00:02:42.460 --> 00:02:43.900 Whether there is truth in you, 00:02:44.580 --> 00:02:46.319 or else by the life of Pharaoh, 00:02:46.540 --> 00:02:48.159 surely you are spies. 00:02:48.920 --> 00:02:52.560 And he put them all together in custody for three days. 00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:53.879 On the third day, 00:02:53.980 --> 00:02:55.080 Joseph said to them, 00:02:55.080 --> 00:02:56.200 Do this, 00:02:56.240 --> 00:02:57.020 and you will live. 00:02:57.860 --> 00:02:59.020 For I fear God. 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:01.080 If you are honest men, 00:03:01.600 --> 00:03:05.880 let one of your brothers remain confined where you are in custody, 00:03:06.020 --> 00:03:07.140 and let the rest go, 00:03:07.540 --> 00:03:09.840 and carry grain for the famine to your households. 00:03:10.200 --> 00:03:12.340 And bring your youngest brother to me, 00:03:13.320 --> 00:03:15.520 so your words will be verified, 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:17.420 and you shall not die. 00:03:17.960 --> 00:03:19.439 And they did so. 00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:24.180 Then we said to one another, 00:03:24.300 --> 00:03:24.759 In truth, 00:03:24.859 --> 00:03:26.939 we are guilty concerning our brother, 00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:31.240 in that we saw the distress of his soul when he begged us, 00:03:31.740 --> 00:03:32.719 and we didn't listen. 00:03:33.859 --> 00:03:36.300 That is why this distress has come upon us. 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:37.900 And Reuben answered them, 00:03:38.139 --> 00:03:41.340 Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? 00:03:41.900 --> 00:03:43.319 But you did not listen. 00:03:43.319 --> 00:03:47.360 So now there comes a reckoning for his blood. 00:03:47.360 --> 00:03:50.640 They did not know that Joseph understood them, 00:03:50.720 --> 00:03:53.140 for there was an interpreter between them. 00:03:53.880 --> 00:03:55.860 Then he turned away from them and wept. 00:03:56.360 --> 00:03:58.580 And he returned to them and spoke to them, 00:03:58.760 --> 00:04:02.840 and he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes. 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:07.080 And Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain 00:04:07.080 --> 00:04:09.440 and to replace every man's money in his sack, 00:04:09.960 --> 00:04:12.100 and to give them provisions for the journey. 00:04:12.680 --> 00:04:13.780 This was done for them. 00:04:13.780 --> 00:04:17.199 Then they loaded their donkeys with the grain and departed. 00:04:18.019 --> 00:04:22.079 And as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, 00:04:22.139 --> 00:04:24.120 he saw his money in the mouth of the sack. 00:04:24.339 --> 00:04:25.399 He said to his brothers, 00:04:25.819 --> 00:04:27.420 My money has been put back. 00:04:28.139 --> 00:04:30.180 Here it is in the mouth of my sack. 00:04:30.740 --> 00:04:32.540 At this their hearts failed them, 00:04:33.079 --> 00:04:35.220 and they turned shrembling to one another, 00:04:35.379 --> 00:04:35.699 saying, 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:38.459 What is this that God has done to us? 00:04:38.459 --> 00:04:42.099 When they came to Jacob the father in the land of Canaan, 00:04:42.199 --> 00:04:44.139 they told him all that had happened to them, 00:04:44.239 --> 00:04:44.459 saying, 00:04:44.899 --> 00:04:46.419 The man, the lord of the land, 00:04:46.599 --> 00:04:49.919 spoke roughly to us and took us to be spies of the land. 00:04:50.539 --> 00:04:51.599 But we said to him, 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:52.740 We are honest men. 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:54.620 We have never been spies. 00:04:55.159 --> 00:04:57.359 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. 00:04:57.859 --> 00:04:58.819 One is no more, 00:04:59.240 --> 00:05:02.299 and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan. 00:05:02.919 --> 00:05:04.740 Then the man, the lord of the land, 00:05:04.839 --> 00:05:05.319 said to us, 00:05:05.319 --> 00:05:07.819 By this I shall know that you are honest men. 00:05:08.180 --> 00:05:09.860 Leave one of your brothers with me, 00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:13.959 and take grain for the famine of your households, 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:14.920 and go your way. 00:05:15.659 --> 00:05:17.439 Bring your youngest brother to me, 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:20.139 then I shall know that you are not spies, 00:05:20.339 --> 00:05:21.180 but honest men. 00:05:21.699 --> 00:05:24.060 And I will deliver your brother to you, 00:05:24.379 --> 00:05:25.740 and you shall trade in the land. 00:05:26.459 --> 00:05:27.659 As they emptied their sacks, 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:31.339 behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack. 00:05:31.860 --> 00:05:34.600 And when they and their father saw their bundles of money, 00:05:34.600 --> 00:05:35.439 they were afraid. 00:05:36.060 --> 00:05:37.900 And Jacob their father said to them, 00:05:38.400 --> 00:05:40.300 You have bereaved me of my children. 00:05:40.500 --> 00:05:41.740 Joseph is no more, 00:05:42.220 --> 00:05:43.500 and Simeon is no more, 00:05:43.660 --> 00:05:45.220 and now you would take Benjamin? 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:47.700 All this has come against me. 00:05:48.660 --> 00:05:50.060 Then Reuben said to his father, 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:53.439 Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:55.280 Put him in my hands, 00:05:55.340 --> 00:05:57.260 and I will bring him back to you. 00:05:57.700 --> 00:05:58.300 And he said, 00:05:58.360 --> 00:06:00.280 My son shall not go down with you, 00:06:00.340 --> 00:06:01.560 for his brother is dead, 00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:03.379 and he is the only one left. 00:06:03.379 --> 00:06:04.939 If harm should happen to him 00:06:04.939 --> 00:06:07.100 on the journey that you are to make, 00:06:07.560 --> 00:06:09.579 you would bring down my gray hairs 00:06:09.579 --> 00:06:11.339 with sorrow to shield. 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:12.980 Let's pray. 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:13.420 Father, 00:06:14.420 --> 00:06:16.899 we thank you for your powerful word, 00:06:17.139 --> 00:06:18.839 the word that shines light, 00:06:19.540 --> 00:06:20.839 that we might know you. 00:06:21.579 --> 00:06:22.740 And Lord, I pray this morning 00:06:22.740 --> 00:06:24.819 as we look at this word, 00:06:25.079 --> 00:06:26.560 as we examine it, God, 00:06:26.620 --> 00:06:28.519 that you would move our hearts 00:06:28.519 --> 00:06:31.599 through the power and truths of your scripture. 00:06:31.819 --> 00:06:32.479 I pray in your name. 00:06:32.759 --> 00:06:33.099 Amen. 00:06:34.299 --> 00:06:35.159 Have a seat. 00:06:35.160 --> 00:06:48.940 So as we read through this section of Genesis 00:06:48.940 --> 00:06:52.340 that shares stuff about Joseph, 00:06:52.520 --> 00:06:54.160 we get to know Joseph. 00:06:55.060 --> 00:06:56.200 Did you notice, though, 00:06:56.260 --> 00:06:58.860 that we're only getting small tidbits of his life? 00:06:58.860 --> 00:07:04.240 We know about the time he was 17 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:06.699 and when the brothers sold him into slavery. 00:07:07.500 --> 00:07:09.620 And then we hear this one story 00:07:09.620 --> 00:07:10.759 while he's in prison 00:07:10.759 --> 00:07:12.699 about the cupbearer, 00:07:13.699 --> 00:07:16.840 about the chief baker. 00:07:16.839 --> 00:07:19.399 And we're told about that. 00:07:19.599 --> 00:07:22.000 We're shown a dream that he interprets. 00:07:22.159 --> 00:07:25.439 He actually has the chance to be before Pharaoh. 00:07:25.859 --> 00:07:27.919 And so you understand there's years go by 00:07:27.919 --> 00:07:29.239 and we don't know much information. 00:07:29.959 --> 00:07:30.859 And here we are again, 00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:33.399 we're learning something new about Joseph, 00:07:33.539 --> 00:07:37.019 that he is the head of all the land of Egypt 00:07:37.019 --> 00:07:38.099 minus Pharaoh. 00:07:38.799 --> 00:07:42.079 We see this more information about Joseph. 00:07:42.479 --> 00:07:46.000 But you know the story is not truly about Joseph. 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:48.420 Joseph mostly is about God. 00:07:48.819 --> 00:07:49.800 So we ask the question, 00:07:50.660 --> 00:07:52.339 Moses, why did you write this? 00:07:52.459 --> 00:07:54.399 Why did you share this story with us? 00:07:55.060 --> 00:07:58.379 What we want to see this morning is Joseph is, 00:07:58.540 --> 00:08:03.019 I mean, Moses is making us aware of who God is. 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:06.720 Who is this great God that we serve? 00:08:08.759 --> 00:08:11.779 And so the main portion of our time this morning 00:08:11.779 --> 00:08:15.139 will be spent from verse 6 to verse 25. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:18.139 That's the main meat of our time together. 00:08:18.300 --> 00:08:21.120 But we have these verses that precede it, 00:08:21.220 --> 00:08:23.259 these five verses that are intro 00:08:23.259 --> 00:08:25.980 to where we'll spend the most of our time. 00:08:26.060 --> 00:08:29.259 So I'm going to use South Carolina country 00:08:29.259 --> 00:08:30.959 interpretation this morning 00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:32.559 as I read these five verses 00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:34.879 and just add a little bit of insight 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:36.500 into what's going on here. 00:08:36.840 --> 00:08:39.539 And then we'll dig in to verse 6. 00:08:39.539 --> 00:08:43.120 So when Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt, 00:08:43.259 --> 00:08:44.039 he said to his sons, 00:08:44.139 --> 00:08:45.379 why do you look at one another? 00:08:46.419 --> 00:08:48.799 Why are you staring at each other? 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:50.620 Don't you realize we need some food? 00:08:50.719 --> 00:08:51.740 We're about to die. 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:53.699 All of our stores are about going. 00:08:54.480 --> 00:08:57.179 Get up and quit looking at each other. 00:08:57.240 --> 00:08:58.120 Go to Egypt. 00:08:58.259 --> 00:09:00.439 Man, haven't you heard that there's grain in Egypt? 00:09:00.819 --> 00:09:02.099 I'm too old to travel. 00:09:02.100 --> 00:09:06.000 But I need y'all to go get us some food 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:08.420 so that all of our children don't die. 00:09:10.060 --> 00:09:13.379 He said, behold, I've heard that there's grain for sale in Egypt. 00:09:13.540 --> 00:09:15.060 Go down and buy grain for us 00:09:15.060 --> 00:09:16.800 that we may live and not die. 00:09:16.899 --> 00:09:20.820 So 10 of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. 00:09:22.220 --> 00:09:24.220 So you might ask, why did 10 go? 00:09:24.440 --> 00:09:28.700 Well, we might know already that it's a dangerous road. 00:09:28.700 --> 00:09:33.980 This road that goes from Israel to Egypt is not a safe place. 00:09:35.780 --> 00:09:39.620 You might know that there's slave traders that ride through there. 00:09:39.740 --> 00:09:43.160 That's how Joseph ended up in Egypt. 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:45.400 And so the brothers look at each other. 00:09:45.460 --> 00:09:46.120 I'm not going. 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:47.300 I'm not going. 00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:47.820 You're going? 00:09:47.980 --> 00:09:48.400 I'm not going. 00:09:49.040 --> 00:09:50.100 Why don't we all go? 00:09:50.980 --> 00:09:53.500 So all 10, they're safer numbers, 00:09:54.160 --> 00:09:56.320 safer as they travel in numbers. 00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:59.400 And so all 10 go down to the land. 00:09:59.520 --> 00:10:01.860 But they, Joseph, I mean, excuse me, 00:10:03.220 --> 00:10:05.760 Jacob did not want to send Benjamin. 00:10:05.900 --> 00:10:06.120 Why? 00:10:06.280 --> 00:10:09.100 Because Benjamin is now his favorite 00:10:09.100 --> 00:10:11.480 because his other favorite, he made the coat for, 00:10:11.580 --> 00:10:14.520 is no longer around, supposedly dead. 00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:18.600 And so he says, this is my only link to my beloved Rachel. 00:10:18.740 --> 00:10:20.020 You cannot go. 00:10:20.160 --> 00:10:21.020 You're going to stay here. 00:10:21.280 --> 00:10:24.800 This protectiveness he had for Benjamin is real. 00:10:24.799 --> 00:10:31.079 And thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came for the famine in the land of Canaan. 00:10:32.299 --> 00:10:33.899 Among the others who came. 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:37.079 If we look back in 41 at the last verse, it said, 00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:41.859 all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain. 00:10:42.439 --> 00:10:44.839 This famine was wide. 00:10:45.059 --> 00:10:47.099 This famine was severe. 00:10:47.100 --> 00:10:50.759 This morning, as we look at 6 through 25, 00:10:52.259 --> 00:10:55.860 there's going to be three main points that I want to make this morning. 00:10:56.019 --> 00:10:56.980 Three main points. 00:10:57.100 --> 00:11:01.300 We'll look at three main topics that I want you to see. 00:11:01.420 --> 00:11:03.940 The first of which is this, is the providence of God. 00:11:04.800 --> 00:11:11.860 We will see the hand of God absolutely in control of all of this. 00:11:11.860 --> 00:11:15.120 We saw that last week, right? 00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:18.560 We saw that God will accomplish his plan no matter what. 00:11:18.860 --> 00:11:24.279 Well, this week what we're going to see is that God is in control of all the world 00:11:24.279 --> 00:11:28.539 in his providence for his people. 00:11:28.659 --> 00:11:29.300 Let me say it again. 00:11:29.820 --> 00:11:37.320 God is absolutely in control of the whole world in his providence for his people. 00:11:37.320 --> 00:11:39.879 Now, underline the word for. 00:11:41.760 --> 00:11:45.340 Why does God choose to control the whole world? 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:50.879 Or better said, how is it that God chooses to control the whole world? 00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:51.760 Here it is. 00:11:52.020 --> 00:11:54.060 It's for his people. 00:11:54.280 --> 00:11:57.640 He has a plan for his people. 00:11:58.540 --> 00:12:01.580 And he's working that plan, and we'll see that this morning. 00:12:01.700 --> 00:12:05.780 You might ask, well, where do we see in this passage the providence of God? 00:12:05.780 --> 00:12:06.680 Let me say this. 00:12:07.320 --> 00:12:14.340 If we were to understand in verse 6 that Joseph was the governor, 00:12:15.580 --> 00:12:19.140 and because of last week we understand that the position he was given, 00:12:19.620 --> 00:12:24.600 Pharaoh said, you have every rule in all this land. 00:12:24.700 --> 00:12:27.680 There's nothing you can't do save sit on the throne. 00:12:28.160 --> 00:12:30.140 I hand you my signet ring. 00:12:30.340 --> 00:12:32.080 I put gold around your neck. 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:34.140 I clothe you in royal garments. 00:12:34.139 --> 00:12:40.100 I allow you to get in my chariot and walk down so that everybody recognizes who you are. 00:12:40.519 --> 00:12:45.139 There's no one except for Pharaoh that tells Joseph what to do. 00:12:45.939 --> 00:12:49.740 He has that kind of authority in the land. 00:12:51.019 --> 00:12:54.460 And so you might ask this question, well, why is it then, 00:12:54.460 --> 00:13:02.840 if he's got this high position, why is it that when the brothers arrive, he's the one that meets them? 00:13:02.840 --> 00:13:10.000 You know, isn't it interesting how God causes these things to come to pass? 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:21.860 In my mind, I'm thinking like this is that do you realize that in our business culture that the CEOs don't make all the sales for their company? 00:13:21.860 --> 00:13:26.779 They have many people that they hire to make the sales. 00:13:26.940 --> 00:13:30.120 Our CEO at my company doesn't sell a thing. 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:32.759 He tells us that we better work a little harder. 00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:42.120 And he encourages us, he puts in these systems so that we can go out and do what we've been hired to do, that is to sell. 00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:51.000 And in this case, there's no chance that he's meeting every single individual that comes to Egypt to buy grain. 00:13:51.500 --> 00:13:57.899 But by the providence of God, he happens to be at the very place where these sons arrive. 00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:02.080 You know what's interesting too? 00:14:04.299 --> 00:14:08.039 Is what's happening between Joseph and the Lord here. 00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:11.820 Do you see the interaction that's going on? 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:16.879 So if you can picture this, there's people coming from all over the place. 00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:22.320 Joseph happens to be at one of these locations, these grain locations at that time. 00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:24.539 And these brothers come walking up. 00:14:25.560 --> 00:14:30.500 And the scripture says twice, it says this, he recognized his brothers. 00:14:31.539 --> 00:14:33.279 He recognized his brothers. 00:14:35.220 --> 00:14:37.840 Now, we might say, of course he recognized his brothers. 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:39.519 I mean, good grief. 00:14:40.860 --> 00:14:42.000 He was born in the same family. 00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:43.000 He was 17. 00:14:43.580 --> 00:14:44.960 17 years he lived with them. 00:14:45.019 --> 00:14:46.259 Why would he not recognize his brothers? 00:14:46.379 --> 00:14:50.580 Do y'all realize how long it's been since he was in Canaan? 00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:59.799 If you do a little quick math, what you're going to add up is add up from 17 years old when he was sold to 30 years old when he was placed in power. 00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:03.840 Add another seven years for all the good years when they were collecting grain. 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:08.539 Add at least one more year for the famine to hit Canaan really bad. 00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:10.059 And if you add all that up, guess what? 00:15:10.099 --> 00:15:11.599 You've got 25 years there. 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:13.220 I think he looked a little different. 00:15:14.220 --> 00:15:15.180 Maybe a little heavier. 00:15:16.379 --> 00:15:17.440 Maybe a little broader. 00:15:18.180 --> 00:15:19.600 Maybe his hair wasn't the same. 00:15:19.680 --> 00:15:20.659 And I know that for sure. 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:20.920 Why? 00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:22.740 Because Egypt didn't like hair. 00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:25.019 They shaved their heads. 00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:26.279 They shaved their body hair. 00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:29.059 They'd like to be smooth skinned. 00:15:29.399 --> 00:15:33.100 I don't know why, except there might have been a little bug and lice problem in Egypt. 00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:34.179 Maybe that's the reason. 00:15:34.860 --> 00:15:37.600 But for whatever case, he's in his garb. 00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:38.980 He's in a position. 00:15:39.179 --> 00:15:41.620 The brothers would not expect that. 00:15:41.799 --> 00:15:44.059 Matter of fact, the brothers probably thought he was dead. 00:15:44.059 --> 00:15:51.419 And yet he saw all these people flowing through, flowing through, flowing through. 00:15:51.500 --> 00:15:52.719 And then he saw these ten. 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:54.479 And these ten caught his eye. 00:15:54.699 --> 00:15:57.299 And by the providence of God, he recognized them. 00:15:59.219 --> 00:16:03.799 And not only that, but we see the providence of God in verse 9. 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:04.219 He says, 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:08.359 And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them. 00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:11.939 He remembered the dreams. 00:16:11.939 --> 00:16:13.739 Where do you think that memory came from? 00:16:14.059 --> 00:16:17.799 Does God ever do this in your life? 00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:22.079 Do you, at moments that you don't expect, have memories that flood up into your mind? 00:16:23.119 --> 00:16:27.239 And I believe that this case, that dream came fully to life. 00:16:27.359 --> 00:16:29.399 25-plus-year-old dream. 00:16:29.859 --> 00:16:31.419 It came to life in his mind. 00:16:31.459 --> 00:16:31.799 And he said, 00:16:32.239 --> 00:16:32.779 Oh, yeah. 00:16:33.479 --> 00:16:34.759 Look at what's happening. 00:16:34.859 --> 00:16:35.579 And what is happening? 00:16:35.579 --> 00:16:36.139 It says, 00:16:36.939 --> 00:16:42.159 Joseph's brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:44.179 You remember the dream in 37? 00:16:49.959 --> 00:16:50.439 Briefly, 00:16:51.179 --> 00:16:55.319 I will share this. 00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:57.000 He had not one dream, but two. 00:16:57.100 --> 00:16:57.399 You remember? 00:16:57.399 --> 00:17:00.759 He had two dreams. 00:17:00.860 --> 00:17:04.440 And ultimately, the dream said this, as a paraphrase. 00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:07.859 In my dream, he's sharing his dream with his brothers. 00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:10.299 In my dream, you won't believe what happened. 00:17:10.359 --> 00:17:11.200 In my dream, man. 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:12.019 Here it is. 00:17:12.059 --> 00:17:13.079 And he shared his dream. 00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:19.639 And this concept of him being stood up and all of them bowing down before him. 00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:25.560 And, of course, in that day is the favorite son with the really nice, colorful jacket he was given. 00:17:25.660 --> 00:17:26.600 He was his dad's favorite. 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.620 Everybody knew it. 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:31.960 He sounded very arrogant here, didn't he? 00:17:32.820 --> 00:17:34.060 We know you're the favorite. 00:17:34.860 --> 00:17:36.320 We're sick of hearing about it. 00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:38.660 And now you're telling us this stupid dream? 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:41.100 That one day we're going to bow down to you? 00:17:41.099 --> 00:17:43.119 That's comical. 00:17:44.199 --> 00:17:45.240 But in the moment, 00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:49.699 God brings this memory up of this dream and he says, 00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:50.279 Whoa. 00:17:51.819 --> 00:17:53.379 I've forgotten about this. 00:17:54.159 --> 00:17:54.579 Wow. 00:17:54.719 --> 00:17:55.939 God, what are you doing here? 00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:58.099 What are you about to do? 00:17:58.359 --> 00:18:01.419 I can't believe it in a sense that this has come to pass. 00:18:01.419 --> 00:18:04.859 Had no idea when and if and ever this would come to pass. 00:18:05.159 --> 00:18:09.240 But in the moment, don't you know that he recognized the hand of God in this situation? 00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:14.519 Because the dream was confirmation that God's doing something. 00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:19.460 God told him through the dream that it was going to happen at some time in the future. 00:18:19.700 --> 00:18:21.900 And now he's living in the moment. 00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:23.259 Didn't expect to see these guys. 00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:33.700 But we see the providence of God that God would accomplish the dream that he had given to this 17-year-old boy. 00:18:33.700 --> 00:18:43.200 What is the chance that this radical dream would take place roughly 25 years later in a foreign country? 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:45.259 Who could predict it? 00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:52.779 Third, I'd like you to see the province of God in this respect. 00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:55.640 Do you see irony here? 00:18:55.640 --> 00:18:59.200 It is so ironic. 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:02.800 Can you remember 37? 00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:04.620 Chapter 37 said this. 00:19:05.140 --> 00:19:07.420 As we read it and we lived that story. 00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:10.080 The story was that they got so mad with their brother. 00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:12.620 They were so full of hate for their brother. 00:19:13.020 --> 00:19:13.800 That they put him. 00:19:13.900 --> 00:19:14.840 They were going to kill him. 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:16.980 And then they decided, well, let's just put him in the pit. 00:19:17.580 --> 00:19:19.020 And then some of them wanted to kill him. 00:19:19.100 --> 00:19:20.000 Reuben said, no, no, no. 00:19:20.040 --> 00:19:21.360 We don't want blood on our hands. 00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:26.159 And luckily, by the province of God, a traitor came by. 00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:27.659 And they said, ah, let's do that. 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:29.639 Let's take him and give him to them. 00:19:29.699 --> 00:19:31.399 And he ended up in Egypt as a slave. 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:39.939 But you see that at that moment, in a sense, they controlled the fate and the destiny of Joseph. 00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:47.359 Whether he was going to die or whatever was going to happen to him, they had taken him captive, in a sense. 00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:50.000 And they chose his fate. 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:53.220 Do you see how 37 has been reversed in chapter 42? 00:19:54.119 --> 00:19:56.980 Do you see whose fate is in whose hands now? 00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:00.940 Isn't that ironic? 00:20:01.380 --> 00:20:05.819 That God would reverse that whole situation. 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:10.339 And now here they are standing in front of this brother. 00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:12.019 They do not recognize. 00:20:12.559 --> 00:20:16.380 He's been given power that can't be explained except the hand of God is upon him. 00:20:16.380 --> 00:20:21.380 And what is his mindset toward these men? 00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:24.780 We will look at that shortly. 00:20:25.880 --> 00:20:28.860 But you see the providence of God that he would reverse it. 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:34.100 Now the fate of these brothers is in the hand of the one that they betrayed. 00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:40.559 How God has turned the tables so that he can do what he desires to do. 00:20:40.779 --> 00:20:46.759 It's so much so that if we look in verse 18, as he's interacting with the brothers, you know what he says? 00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:48.819 He said, do this and you will live. 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:51.379 As if he had power to kill them, did he? 00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:52.179 Of course he did. 00:20:53.919 --> 00:20:57.139 He's the most powerful man besides Pharaoh in the whole land of Egypt. 00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:57.919 Could he kill them? 00:20:58.079 --> 00:20:58.339 Yes. 00:20:59.240 --> 00:21:00.679 He calls them spies, right? 00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:02.360 He's got grounds to kill them. 00:21:04.340 --> 00:21:10.980 But by the providence of God, God turned the tables and God had a purpose in it. 00:21:11.580 --> 00:21:14.000 There's a reason that God turned the tables there. 00:21:14.420 --> 00:21:17.660 Fourth, I want you to see this as the providence of God. 00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:24.440 Do you recognize that the famine is not a by chance thing? 00:21:24.600 --> 00:21:26.420 It's not a random act. 00:21:26.420 --> 00:21:29.380 It's not circumstance that just happened. 00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:36.299 Do you all recognize that this is actually the hand of God that's causing and sending the famine? 00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:40.700 The providence of God sent the famine for a purpose. 00:21:40.860 --> 00:21:41.500 What's the purpose? 00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:43.519 We'll see. 00:21:45.539 --> 00:21:50.539 We saw it last week and we'll see it again this week that God is doing this. 00:21:50.860 --> 00:21:54.120 He's controlling all these things for a grand purpose. 00:21:54.119 --> 00:22:01.919 And along the way, he's got multiple other things that he's accomplishing in his sovereignty, in his providence. 00:22:02.399 --> 00:22:11.500 Isn't it amazing that God can today, in your life and my life, he can be actively doing something in each of our lives. 00:22:11.659 --> 00:22:15.679 And God is so grand that it can be different every single life in this place. 00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:19.200 And not only that, but he's doing something in the life of the people in Ghana. 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:24.160 And he's doing something in the life of the people that we prayed for this morning in East Cooper Baptist Church. 00:22:24.820 --> 00:22:30.860 God is so great that he can touch each of us in different ways at the same exact moment. 00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:37.959 And we see that there's multiple things happening in this text through the providential hand of God. 00:22:38.779 --> 00:22:40.339 And we'll see a couple of those. 00:22:40.419 --> 00:22:41.559 There's three main points this morning. 00:22:41.659 --> 00:22:43.319 This first point is the providence of God. 00:22:43.339 --> 00:22:45.819 And we're looking at the fourth item. 00:22:45.919 --> 00:22:49.699 The fourth item is this, is that God sent this famine for a purpose. 00:22:50.719 --> 00:22:55.439 And if you are questioning whether that's true, let's turn back to the last chapter. 00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:58.059 Here's what he, here's, you remember the interaction with Pharaoh. 00:22:58.419 --> 00:22:59.419 Pharaoh's got this dream. 00:22:59.420 --> 00:23:00.720 He can't understand what it means. 00:23:00.800 --> 00:23:02.140 Nobody in the whole land can understand. 00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:06.600 He hears about this guy in prison that's somehow able to interpret dreams. 00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:08.800 He calls him and sits him in front and says, hey man, I got a dream. 00:23:08.860 --> 00:23:09.400 Can you tell me what it means? 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:10.380 Yep, sure can. 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:12.140 It's not me, but God can. 00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:15.060 And what does he say? 00:23:15.140 --> 00:23:18.580 What does Joseph say to Pharaoh about this dream? 00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:24.259 Let me just remind us by looking at a couple of verses back in the previous chapter, 41. 00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:28.779 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, the dreams of Pharaoh are one. 00:23:28.779 --> 00:23:29.680 He had two dreams. 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:30.980 They're one. 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:35.399 God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 00:23:35.879 --> 00:23:36.399 You hear that? 00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:37.599 Who's in control? 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:43.480 God has revealed to Pharaoh what God is about to do. 00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:44.960 And what is God about to do? 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:45.940 He's about to send a famine. 00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:46.579 How do we know? 00:23:46.639 --> 00:23:49.059 Well, let's look a little further down here in verse 28. 00:23:49.059 --> 00:23:51.339 It is as I told Pharaoh. 00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:55.200 God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 00:23:55.679 --> 00:24:01.139 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. 00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:04.879 But after them, there will arise seven years of famine. 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:08.920 And all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. 00:24:09.040 --> 00:24:10.980 The famine will consume the land. 00:24:11.320 --> 00:24:15.980 And the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow. 00:24:16.380 --> 00:24:18.420 It will be very severe. 00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:24.860 And the doubling of Pharaoh's dream means that this thing is fixed by God. 00:24:25.800 --> 00:24:30.960 And God will shortly bring it to pass. 00:24:31.580 --> 00:24:32.500 Did you catch that? 00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:37.160 The power behind the famine, the calls behind the famine, 00:24:37.380 --> 00:24:42.100 is the God who is sovereign in all things and who has a plan and will accomplish it. 00:24:42.099 --> 00:24:48.399 Fifth, do you see what God is doing here? 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:53.199 Do you see this theme that's woven into the pages of chapter 42 00:24:53.199 --> 00:24:58.740 that God is pressing these people, his people, 00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:05.019 that are mostly in Canaan, he's pressing them where? 00:25:05.339 --> 00:25:05.959 To Egypt. 00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:10.619 As if God has his finger and he's pushing. 00:25:10.619 --> 00:25:16.039 He's saying, I'm going to do this in your life and you aren't going to have a choice. 00:25:16.419 --> 00:25:20.559 I'm going to cause you to land in the nation of Egypt. 00:25:20.659 --> 00:25:22.679 Now, they don't know how God's going to do that. 00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:25.079 And they don't even know that God's behind it all. 00:25:25.159 --> 00:25:27.019 But the word of God declares he's behind it all. 00:25:28.979 --> 00:25:33.519 And so he sends this famine and he knows there's coming a time when they ain't going to have no food. 00:25:34.419 --> 00:25:37.519 I'm using that South Carolina lingo again. 00:25:37.919 --> 00:25:39.059 They ain't going to have no food. 00:25:39.059 --> 00:25:42.259 And they're going to have to go all the way down to this other country. 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:44.339 It's not safe to go. 00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:45.960 They've got a whole family that's going to be going. 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:48.440 There's a fear factor involved. 00:25:48.539 --> 00:25:49.399 And yet, what's God doing? 00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:50.759 He's providing a way. 00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:52.679 Not only a way, he's forcing them to go to Egypt. 00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:53.940 Why would God do that? 00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:57.559 Why do you think God wants them in Egypt? 00:25:58.599 --> 00:25:59.859 What's the big deal with Egypt? 00:26:00.039 --> 00:26:01.519 Well, I don't know. 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:06.579 Matter of fact, it's kind of hard to figure out why God does what he does. 00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:09.920 But we see that the word of God declared he's doing it. 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:11.440 And we know it's his hand. 00:26:11.879 --> 00:26:20.859 But I do find it fascinating that God shared with Abraham something that was going to happen in the future. 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:23.279 He shared it with him back in Genesis 15. 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:27.859 Do you all remember what he said after this dream? 00:26:27.859 --> 00:26:32.939 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. 00:26:33.479 --> 00:26:36.859 And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. 00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:38.979 Then the Lord said to Abram, 00:26:39.859 --> 00:26:45.879 Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that's not theirs, 00:26:46.439 --> 00:26:49.059 and will be servants there, 00:26:49.539 --> 00:26:53.299 and they will be afflicted for 400 years. 00:26:53.299 --> 00:27:02.419 Do you realize that God already pre-told what was going to happen to his people out in the future somewhere? 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:04.980 And that future just arrived. 00:27:05.919 --> 00:27:14.019 This chapter and the next couple of chapters are giving us a picture of the hand of the God 00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:17.700 who is providential in all things, who's sovereign in all things. 00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:18.279 And what is he doing? 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:20.379 He's accomplished what he said was going to happen. 00:27:21.419 --> 00:27:22.859 He's accomplished his plan. 00:27:22.859 --> 00:27:24.019 Do we know why he's doing it? 00:27:24.059 --> 00:27:24.699 Not a clue. 00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:26.599 I don't have any idea. 00:27:26.859 --> 00:27:27.599 I do have a little. 00:27:28.539 --> 00:27:29.559 I don't know if it's accurate. 00:27:29.719 --> 00:27:30.859 Just me trying to interpret. 00:27:31.219 --> 00:27:33.139 God, why would you send your people to Egypt? 00:27:33.699 --> 00:27:36.299 Why would you want them to be slaves for 400 years? 00:27:36.419 --> 00:27:37.379 What are you trying to do? 00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:40.500 That's a big question. 00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:42.240 We will not answer that question this morning. 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:44.079 Number six. 00:27:44.979 --> 00:27:46.339 This is beautiful to see. 00:27:48.859 --> 00:27:52.039 God is doing a work in the heart of these brothers. 00:27:52.039 --> 00:27:52.719 Do you see it? 00:27:52.859 --> 00:28:06.179 If we look at the passage, God is pushing the brothers too. 00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:10.319 He's pushing the family to Egypt, but he's pushing the brother. 00:28:10.419 --> 00:28:11.659 What is he pushing the brothers to? 00:28:13.319 --> 00:28:13.799 Repentance. 00:28:13.799 --> 00:28:19.579 He's pushing his people to repentance. 00:28:21.139 --> 00:28:25.119 We'll look at that in a minute when we look at the third point this morning. 00:28:25.579 --> 00:28:30.240 But I want you to see that it is the hand of God that's doing this. 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:36.779 That God has a purpose, and that purpose is to lead these brothers to repentance. 00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:45.220 I will take a second to talk to us in this present day. 00:28:45.299 --> 00:28:51.759 Do you realize as the people of God, all of us who are in the kingdom, all of us who are 00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:57.420 Christians, all of us who are born again, all of us that by faith trust in Jesus as our 00:28:57.420 --> 00:29:00.899 Savior, do you realize God is doing a work in your life too? 00:29:00.900 --> 00:29:05.019 That he's pushing you or drawing you to repentance? 00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:17.440 God is in control of all things for his people. 00:29:18.280 --> 00:29:19.580 Point number two this morning. 00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:21.440 Point number two. 00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:23.620 I want you to look at the heart of Joseph. 00:29:28.320 --> 00:29:32.860 In order to understand the heart of Joseph in this passage, we have to understand what 00:29:32.860 --> 00:29:33.519 he's gone through. 00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:35.340 Do you remember what he went through? 00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:43.920 If we go back to the events in chapter 37 when he was betrayed by his brothers, when they 00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:46.220 hated him so vehemently. 00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:52.660 And if you've forgotten that hatred, let me just read just a couple of phrases out of 00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:53.339 37. 00:29:56.620 --> 00:30:00.940 It said, the brothers, after he received his coat from his father and he knew that the 00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:05.539 father loved him, said they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him. 00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:09.980 He had a dream and he shared his dream and they hated him even more. 00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:13.860 He said, are you indeed over us? 00:30:14.740 --> 00:30:16.620 Are you going to rule over us? 00:30:17.220 --> 00:30:22.099 And it says they hated him even more for the dreams and for his words. 00:30:22.420 --> 00:30:25.319 And it says his brothers were jealous of him. 00:30:25.319 --> 00:30:34.819 And so as a result of that, he's hated by his brothers and his family. 00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:36.779 Certainly not his dad. 00:30:36.939 --> 00:30:40.839 He's given a coat. 00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:47.220 He's a favorite of his dad for crazy reasons. 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:48.759 They threw him in a pit. 00:30:49.139 --> 00:30:50.579 They wanted to murder him. 00:30:50.700 --> 00:30:52.220 They sold him to slave merchants. 00:30:52.220 --> 00:30:55.100 And as a result, what happened? 00:30:56.600 --> 00:31:03.600 Listen, can you imagine being in a privileged family, in the family of a wealthy man with 00:31:03.600 --> 00:31:10.019 all of this, these possessions, with the idea that he's set for life? 00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:13.100 And what happens? 00:31:13.180 --> 00:31:14.779 He's sold as a slave. 00:31:14.900 --> 00:31:21.680 He becomes, instead of a favored son of a wealthy man, now in a day, in a moment, he becomes a 00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:22.039 slave. 00:31:22.940 --> 00:31:25.839 Can you imagine that change in the emotion that goes along with that? 00:31:27.460 --> 00:31:28.480 He's a slave. 00:31:28.600 --> 00:31:29.440 Sold as a slave. 00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:32.059 He's endured much suffering. 00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:35.259 He ended up in prison. 00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:37.339 He's accused falsely. 00:31:38.100 --> 00:31:41.519 He's separated from everything he had. 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:44.900 Let me ask this question. 00:31:44.900 --> 00:31:49.539 There's two questions I want to ask you in reference to the heart of Joseph. 00:31:49.700 --> 00:31:50.559 Question one is this. 00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:55.139 How would most people respond if they were in the shoes of Joseph when his brothers were 00:31:55.139 --> 00:31:55.319 up? 00:31:55.319 --> 00:31:58.579 How would you respond? 00:32:00.500 --> 00:32:05.619 If you're Joseph in this role as governor and you have all the power to do whatever you want 00:32:05.619 --> 00:32:10.279 to do in the nation of Egypt and these brothers who did all that to you and caused all this 00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:12.679 suffering, how would you treat them? 00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:14.299 How would you respond to this situation? 00:32:18.440 --> 00:32:19.480 How did he respond? 00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:27.940 You know, it is hard to forgive, isn't it? 00:32:27.940 --> 00:32:36.700 and yet i believe that joseph recognized the hand of god and by the way 00:32:36.700 --> 00:32:45.080 i want us to see a nice little caveat in chapter 41 that we may have missed from last week and it's 00:32:45.080 --> 00:32:54.460 this in in verse 51 i'll start in 50 before the year of famine came two sons were born to joseph 00:32:54.460 --> 00:33:01.860 asenath the daughter of potipharah priest of onan bore them to him joseph called the name of the 00:33:01.860 --> 00:33:11.620 firstborn manasseh why did he use that name it tells us for he said god has made me forget all 00:33:11.620 --> 00:33:19.900 my hardship and all my father's house do you hear that god has done a work in my heart 00:33:19.900 --> 00:33:27.620 to make me forget all the difficult suffering and affliction that i had and he's even made me 00:33:27.620 --> 00:33:33.440 forget all about my father's house i don't it doesn't even register in my mind anymore i don't 00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:38.480 want to go back i don't have any interest the fact that i'm here and i may never see my family again 00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:43.400 that's good i'm fine i've gotten to the point joseph would say where i'm past it 00:33:43.400 --> 00:33:51.180 and then the name of the second he's called ephraim for he makes this statement for god has made me 00:33:51.180 --> 00:34:00.180 fruitful in the land of my affliction do you hear how something has changed in the perspective of joseph 00:34:00.180 --> 00:34:07.880 that god has done a work in his heart so that when his brothers show up he is not ruthlessly bitter 00:34:07.880 --> 00:34:18.360 towards them and yet i would ask this question why did joseph treat them like strangers 00:34:18.360 --> 00:34:30.000 why did he treat them like strangers we see that in verse 7 and he spoke roughly to them why if he's 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:38.980 past all that and his heart is not bitter and god has is made him joyful and has prospered him and 00:34:38.980 --> 00:34:47.079 given him this position of authority why does he treat them like this you know what it's hard to know 00:34:47.079 --> 00:34:58.679 some of these things isn't it but in his humanness i suppose that he would wonder if these brothers still 00:34:58.679 --> 00:35:07.000 have the same evil intentions that they've always had i would wonder that i think that as a result 00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:13.940 it's almost like god was saying do you not see that i'm doing something here do you not see that i'm 00:35:13.940 --> 00:35:20.659 using you in the lives of these brothers i want you to follow my lead and here's what i want you to do 00:35:20.659 --> 00:35:29.460 i want you to test them i want you to test them what does he mean he we see in verse 15 00:35:29.460 --> 00:35:35.019 he says by this i you shall be tested 00:35:35.019 --> 00:35:42.119 in essence he's saying we're gonna see if what you're saying is true 00:35:42.119 --> 00:35:51.179 god is stirring up something in the lives of these brothers that needs to be purged 00:35:51.179 --> 00:36:02.039 a sin and an attitude and a tendency that needs to be purged and he's choosing to use joseph as a 00:36:02.039 --> 00:36:12.099 vehicle to do it he put joseph in that position partly for this moment this moment that was going to be 00:36:12.099 --> 00:36:17.059 happen that god knew was going to happen that god orchestrated for the sake of the hearts of these 00:36:17.059 --> 00:36:23.299 brothers that they would be purged of this and what did god lead him to do call them spies 00:36:23.299 --> 00:36:30.839 and do you notice what they said i find it comical these brothers we're honest men 00:36:30.839 --> 00:36:38.900 we're not spies he's like oh you think you're honest man well isn't it interesting that joseph 00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:44.280 they don't know he's joseph they don't know he's his brother and joseph has this omniscient view in a 00:36:44.280 --> 00:36:50.059 sense to know i know your past at least when i was 17 i know it and you say you're honest man 00:36:50.059 --> 00:36:56.660 ha i call you bluff you're not honest man matter of fact what you just said isn't him honest 00:36:56.660 --> 00:37:02.240 they said one of our brothers is no more well he's right in front of you what he means no more 00:37:02.239 --> 00:37:09.039 you're making a claim based on your assumption which is not even true and yet you're saying 00:37:09.039 --> 00:37:15.919 we're honest men well you're honest enough to tell your your dad that that i was killed by some animal 00:37:15.919 --> 00:37:21.299 and you took back a coat with fake blood on it and you told him that i was dead yeah you're honest 00:37:21.300 --> 00:37:31.460 all right sure i believe that right and so god is leading him to test these men he puts them in jail 00:37:31.460 --> 00:37:38.500 for three days well he's in jail for a lot longer time than that and he's tested if you will so do 00:37:38.500 --> 00:37:45.039 you see the picture joseph was tested by betrayal and in this case these brothers are going to be 00:37:45.039 --> 00:37:51.920 tested by accusation so he's accusing them of not being honest he's accusing them of being spies and 00:37:51.920 --> 00:38:00.320 lying and so we see this played out that god would use them but i want you to see this point 00:38:00.320 --> 00:38:08.119 is that if we look forward in this chapter what we what do we see that happens that reveals the heart 00:38:08.119 --> 00:38:14.320 of joseph well the brothers started talking their their native language they weren't speaking through an 00:38:14.320 --> 00:38:18.420 interpreter or they were speaking through an interpreter but don't you know that joseph heard 00:38:18.420 --> 00:38:29.940 every word they spoke and when they said this this thing in in verse 21 in truth we're guilty 00:38:29.940 --> 00:38:37.880 considered our brother and that's him he's sitting there listening to him he he hears something that at 00:38:37.880 --> 00:38:44.260 least is leading toward repentance see we are guilty this is a 25 year old sin that's 00:38:44.260 --> 00:38:49.400 hung out in their heart for this long and he hears that what does he do he he immediately turns around 00:38:49.400 --> 00:38:56.900 and leaves why does he leave because his emotion is just bubbling up this compassion in him is bubbling 00:38:56.900 --> 00:39:04.000 up and he weeps why does he weep because he sees what god's doing in their heart that god is revealing 00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:10.720 their sin and that there's a fondness that is regrowing itself toward these brothers 00:39:10.719 --> 00:39:18.779 i love what god has done in the heart of joseph and let me just say this brothers and sisters church 00:39:18.779 --> 00:39:21.059 has he done that in your heart 00:39:21.059 --> 00:39:27.339 let me ask it this way is there a single person on the planet 00:39:27.339 --> 00:39:35.539 in your life that has caused you to hold on to anger bitterness or resentment 00:39:35.539 --> 00:39:40.340 are there people in your life that have mistreated you deeply 00:39:40.340 --> 00:39:44.079 are there people that have wounded you 00:39:44.079 --> 00:39:51.539 are there memories in your mind about how you were treated in the past that you've not let go of 00:39:51.539 --> 00:39:54.980 and you've not talked to god to heal you about 00:39:54.980 --> 00:39:56.940 but they still are a cancer 00:39:56.940 --> 00:39:59.900 that's inside of you that's eating away 00:39:59.900 --> 00:40:04.860 what will it take for you to finally get to the place where you say god i release them 00:40:04.860 --> 00:40:08.680 and i forgive them and no longer to hold any bitterness 00:40:08.680 --> 00:40:14.500 brothers and sisters i beg you to deal with those things 00:40:14.500 --> 00:40:17.280 and to get them out of your life 00:40:17.280 --> 00:40:22.380 god has called us to live a life of forgiveness 00:40:22.380 --> 00:40:25.480 even towards the person that's hurt us the deepest 00:40:25.480 --> 00:40:29.880 it's wounding us it's causing us to 00:40:29.880 --> 00:40:33.300 suffer and so the third point this morning 00:40:33.300 --> 00:40:37.780 third point that we really looking at is this path to repentance for the brothers 00:40:37.780 --> 00:40:44.039 what is it going to take to get these brothers to the point where they actually deal with their sin 00:40:44.039 --> 00:40:50.199 what is it going to take for them to finally recognize their sin 00:40:50.199 --> 00:40:53.799 and finally not only admit it but deal with it 00:40:53.799 --> 00:40:58.379 what will it take to change the heart of these men 00:40:58.379 --> 00:41:00.739 who sold him into slavery 00:41:00.739 --> 00:41:04.059 can you imagine selling your own brother or sister into slavery 00:41:04.059 --> 00:41:07.539 well we see it 00:41:07.539 --> 00:41:11.239 for sake of time i'm not going to read the whole thing 00:41:11.239 --> 00:41:14.379 but if we start at verse 9 and worked our way down to 22 00:41:14.379 --> 00:41:17.539 we would see what's happening 00:41:17.539 --> 00:41:20.619 is that they're claiming to be honest men when they're not 00:41:20.619 --> 00:41:24.960 and now they're being tried and they're being told you're not honest at all 00:41:24.960 --> 00:41:26.400 i don't believe you 00:41:26.400 --> 00:41:30.340 and by the way in order for you to prove it you got to go get your youngest son 00:41:30.340 --> 00:41:36.920 well joseph knew that that youngest son was a treasure to his dad 00:41:36.920 --> 00:41:39.699 and his dad wouldn't in no wise let him go 00:41:39.699 --> 00:41:46.159 and sure enough if we work through the passage we see that i am not letting benjamin go until 43 00:41:46.159 --> 00:41:50.039 next week you're going to see that they're going to be so hungry 00:41:50.039 --> 00:41:51.519 that he changes his mind 00:41:51.519 --> 00:41:55.399 because they said this is the only hope so what happens in this heart 00:41:55.399 --> 00:41:57.119 so they're in jail three days 00:41:57.119 --> 00:42:01.279 and ultimately all of them are going to have to stay in jail until one of them went back 00:42:01.279 --> 00:42:03.420 and got this youngest son to prove they were true 00:42:03.420 --> 00:42:08.639 and so all of this is coming on them and they don't know what the outcome is going to be 00:42:08.639 --> 00:42:09.759 but what they see is 00:42:09.759 --> 00:42:10.779 man we're done 00:42:10.779 --> 00:42:13.519 here we did we told you we shouldn't have come to get grain 00:42:13.519 --> 00:42:16.500 we're in here to get grain and now we're about to be locked up for the rest of our life 00:42:16.500 --> 00:42:18.860 they didn't know they'd get out 00:42:18.860 --> 00:42:22.719 they assumed that he said go get that younger brother 00:42:22.719 --> 00:42:24.300 they didn't know how that would go down 00:42:24.300 --> 00:42:26.559 they didn't know if that would get them out of jail 00:42:26.559 --> 00:42:27.579 they really didn't know 00:42:27.579 --> 00:42:29.480 and so that tension 00:42:29.480 --> 00:42:31.019 that unknown 00:42:31.019 --> 00:42:34.599 it led to verse 21 00:42:34.599 --> 00:42:36.980 then they said to one another 00:42:36.980 --> 00:42:39.679 i wrote i read this a minute ago 00:42:39.679 --> 00:42:42.199 listen at it from the perspective of the brothers 00:42:42.199 --> 00:42:44.099 what do we hear in the heart of the brothers 00:42:44.099 --> 00:42:47.939 in truth we're guilty concerning our brother 00:42:47.939 --> 00:42:51.899 in that we saw the distress of his soul when he begged us 00:42:51.899 --> 00:42:53.460 and we didn't listen 00:42:53.460 --> 00:42:57.119 this is why this distress has come upon us 00:42:57.119 --> 00:42:58.899 and reuben answered them 00:42:58.899 --> 00:43:02.159 did i not tell you not to sin against the boy 00:43:02.159 --> 00:43:03.899 but you didn't listen 00:43:03.899 --> 00:43:07.779 so now there comes a reckoning for his blood 00:43:07.780 --> 00:43:09.640 you know what they're saying 00:43:09.640 --> 00:43:13.000 the wrath of god 00:43:13.000 --> 00:43:15.500 has come upon us 00:43:15.500 --> 00:43:17.060 because of our sin 00:43:17.060 --> 00:43:20.280 the wrath of god 00:43:20.280 --> 00:43:22.140 has caught up with us 00:43:22.140 --> 00:43:24.660 we knew we shouldn't have done that 00:43:24.660 --> 00:43:25.700 and we did it anyway 00:43:25.700 --> 00:43:27.460 and it's been eating 00:43:27.460 --> 00:43:28.080 eating 00:43:28.080 --> 00:43:31.019 eating on us for 25 years 00:43:31.019 --> 00:43:33.579 and now look what's happened as a result 00:43:33.579 --> 00:43:39.320 how gracious is god 00:43:39.320 --> 00:43:43.840 that he points out our sin 00:43:43.840 --> 00:43:46.759 do you see it that way 00:43:46.759 --> 00:43:51.400 do you tend to run from being exposed 00:43:51.400 --> 00:43:55.340 you tend to hide 00:43:55.340 --> 00:43:57.119 in your sin 00:43:57.119 --> 00:43:59.000 and not want anybody to know 00:43:59.000 --> 00:44:02.199 do you hold on to secrets 00:44:02.199 --> 00:44:06.019 that you know don't honor god 00:44:06.019 --> 00:44:07.739 and do you keep them in your life 00:44:07.739 --> 00:44:09.599 let me just say that 00:44:09.599 --> 00:44:11.699 god is gracious enough 00:44:11.699 --> 00:44:13.559 to push you 00:44:13.559 --> 00:44:16.739 to do a work in your heart 00:44:16.739 --> 00:44:19.219 to bubble all that junk out 00:44:19.219 --> 00:44:20.039 do you believe that 00:44:20.039 --> 00:44:22.300 do you believe god's doing a work in your life 00:44:22.300 --> 00:44:23.599 where he's exposing your sin 00:44:23.599 --> 00:44:25.559 he sure is 00:44:25.559 --> 00:44:28.420 it's called sanctification 00:44:28.420 --> 00:44:30.019 and he's doing that 00:44:30.019 --> 00:44:31.960 every life of every believer 00:44:31.960 --> 00:44:32.680 on the planet 00:44:32.680 --> 00:44:34.619 i don't know how he does it 00:44:34.619 --> 00:44:35.400 all at the same time 00:44:35.400 --> 00:44:36.579 he's sovereign 00:44:36.579 --> 00:44:38.139 and that he's able to do that 00:44:38.139 --> 00:44:38.960 i want you to hear 00:44:38.960 --> 00:44:40.539 a beautiful 00:44:40.539 --> 00:44:41.700 beautiful 00:44:41.700 --> 00:44:44.159 picture of the reason 00:44:44.159 --> 00:44:45.440 that god is doing this 00:44:45.440 --> 00:44:46.119 and it's from 00:44:46.119 --> 00:44:46.980 john 00:44:46.980 --> 00:44:48.240 the apostle john 00:44:48.240 --> 00:44:49.400 in his epistle 00:44:49.400 --> 00:44:50.320 first john 00:44:50.320 --> 00:44:52.500 chapter one 00:44:52.500 --> 00:44:55.480 listen to the truth 00:44:55.480 --> 00:44:56.679 about how god 00:44:56.679 --> 00:44:57.559 treats his 00:44:57.559 --> 00:44:58.219 people 00:44:58.219 --> 00:45:01.460 and listen 00:45:01.460 --> 00:45:02.260 to it 00:45:02.260 --> 00:45:03.079 through the 00:45:03.079 --> 00:45:03.699 mouth 00:45:03.699 --> 00:45:04.860 of john 00:45:04.860 --> 00:45:07.039 who by the way 00:45:07.039 --> 00:45:08.599 was placed on patmos 00:45:08.599 --> 00:45:09.760 on an island 00:45:09.760 --> 00:45:10.599 by himself 00:45:10.599 --> 00:45:11.960 lonely 00:45:11.960 --> 00:45:12.900 out the wazoo 00:45:12.900 --> 00:45:13.619 he had a vision 00:45:13.619 --> 00:45:14.219 a dream called 00:45:14.219 --> 00:45:15.119 the book of revelation 00:45:15.119 --> 00:45:17.420 a guy who suffered 00:45:17.420 --> 00:45:19.000 a guy who knew christ 00:45:19.000 --> 00:45:19.860 i mean there's a lot 00:45:19.860 --> 00:45:21.039 we could say about john 00:45:21.039 --> 00:45:21.639 but here he is 00:45:21.639 --> 00:45:22.240 sharing this 00:45:22.239 --> 00:45:25.039 john had gotten to the point 00:45:25.039 --> 00:45:27.239 in his later life 00:45:27.239 --> 00:45:29.359 where he said this 00:45:29.359 --> 00:45:31.239 he said i'm writing this epistle 00:45:31.239 --> 00:45:32.299 here's why i'm writing it 00:45:32.299 --> 00:45:35.359 so what we've seen and heard 00:45:35.359 --> 00:45:37.059 jesus jesus 00:45:37.059 --> 00:45:39.859 what we've seen and heard 00:45:39.859 --> 00:45:41.839 we proclaim also to you 00:45:41.839 --> 00:45:42.559 here's why 00:45:42.559 --> 00:45:45.079 so that you may have fellowship 00:45:45.079 --> 00:45:45.979 with us 00:45:45.979 --> 00:45:48.839 and truly our fellowship 00:45:48.839 --> 00:45:49.739 is with the father 00:45:49.739 --> 00:45:50.979 with his son jesus christ 00:45:50.980 --> 00:45:52.920 do you hear the beautiful picture 00:45:52.920 --> 00:45:55.059 of an abiding relationship 00:45:55.059 --> 00:45:57.740 john had gotten to the point 00:45:57.740 --> 00:45:58.320 where the 00:45:58.320 --> 00:45:59.559 the 00:45:59.559 --> 00:46:01.780 the idols of this life 00:46:01.780 --> 00:46:02.519 meant nothing 00:46:02.519 --> 00:46:04.340 you know why 00:46:04.340 --> 00:46:05.460 it's because he had tasted 00:46:05.460 --> 00:46:06.860 something that's so much 00:46:06.860 --> 00:46:07.400 greater 00:46:07.400 --> 00:46:11.019 and this thing that's great 00:46:11.019 --> 00:46:12.079 is called fellowship 00:46:12.079 --> 00:46:14.699 and he's saying to the people 00:46:14.699 --> 00:46:16.280 he said i'm sharing these things 00:46:16.280 --> 00:46:17.740 that you might enjoy fellowship 00:46:17.740 --> 00:46:19.019 and look at verse 6 00:46:19.019 --> 00:46:20.300 if you're there 00:46:20.300 --> 00:46:21.480 you don't have to be there 00:46:21.480 --> 00:46:22.019 i'll read it 00:46:22.019 --> 00:46:23.300 if we say 00:46:23.300 --> 00:46:24.820 john's saying this to the church 00:46:24.820 --> 00:46:26.039 to this epistle 00:46:26.039 --> 00:46:26.820 to these christians 00:46:26.820 --> 00:46:28.460 if we say we have fellowship 00:46:28.460 --> 00:46:28.960 with him 00:46:28.960 --> 00:46:30.380 while we walk in darkness 00:46:30.380 --> 00:46:30.980 we lie 00:46:30.980 --> 00:46:32.179 and don't practice the truth 00:46:32.179 --> 00:46:33.119 did y'all hear that 00:46:33.119 --> 00:46:35.059 we can claim 00:46:35.059 --> 00:46:36.820 that we have fellowship 00:46:36.820 --> 00:46:37.480 with god 00:46:37.480 --> 00:46:38.280 and yet we've got 00:46:38.280 --> 00:46:39.360 all this stupid 00:46:39.360 --> 00:46:40.500 sin in our life 00:46:40.500 --> 00:46:42.320 and we're letting it 00:46:42.320 --> 00:46:43.059 stay in our life 00:46:43.059 --> 00:46:44.420 and we're stepping into it 00:46:44.420 --> 00:46:44.820 willingly 00:46:44.820 --> 00:46:46.000 on a regular basis 00:46:46.000 --> 00:46:46.940 and you know what 00:46:46.940 --> 00:46:47.840 we're missing out on 00:46:47.840 --> 00:46:49.920 we're missing out on fellowship 00:46:49.920 --> 00:46:51.820 we're missing out on intimacy 00:46:51.820 --> 00:46:53.519 because we want to 00:46:53.519 --> 00:46:55.380 some reason we treasure 00:46:55.380 --> 00:46:56.539 this sin 00:46:56.539 --> 00:46:59.199 I don't know why we treasure it 00:46:59.199 --> 00:46:59.920 what is it that 00:46:59.920 --> 00:47:01.420 entices us so much 00:47:01.420 --> 00:47:05.920 if we say we have fellowship 00:47:05.920 --> 00:47:06.380 with him 00:47:06.380 --> 00:47:07.599 while we walk in darkness 00:47:07.599 --> 00:47:08.280 we lie 00:47:08.280 --> 00:47:09.599 and do not practice the truth 00:47:09.599 --> 00:47:11.179 but if we walk in the light 00:47:11.179 --> 00:47:12.860 as he is in the light 00:47:12.860 --> 00:47:14.000 we have fellowship 00:47:14.000 --> 00:47:14.820 with one another 00:47:14.820 --> 00:47:17.000 and the blood of Jesus' son 00:47:17.000 --> 00:47:18.500 cleanses us from all sin 00:47:18.500 --> 00:47:24.880 you know it's not by being good 00:47:24.880 --> 00:47:25.600 that we're cleansed 00:47:25.600 --> 00:47:27.940 you know how we're cleansed 00:47:27.940 --> 00:47:28.760 by the blood of Jesus 00:47:28.760 --> 00:47:31.920 have you been cleansed 00:47:31.920 --> 00:47:32.700 by the blood of Jesus 00:47:32.700 --> 00:47:33.420 do you know him 00:47:33.420 --> 00:47:34.059 as Lord and Savior 00:47:34.059 --> 00:47:36.320 oh it's my prayer to do 00:47:36.320 --> 00:47:39.200 and the beautiful possibility 00:47:39.200 --> 00:47:39.780 of fellowship 00:47:39.780 --> 00:47:40.700 listen to what he says 00:47:40.700 --> 00:47:43.180 see he's going to show you 00:47:43.180 --> 00:47:43.620 your sin 00:47:43.619 --> 00:47:45.299 verse 8 00:47:45.299 --> 00:47:46.920 if we say that we have no sin 00:47:46.920 --> 00:47:48.819 we're deceiving ourselves 00:47:48.819 --> 00:47:52.759 and the truth is not in us 00:47:52.759 --> 00:47:53.659 but 00:47:53.659 --> 00:47:54.799 look at this 00:47:54.799 --> 00:47:56.859 if we confess our sins 00:47:56.859 --> 00:47:58.639 he is faithful 00:47:58.639 --> 00:48:02.019 and just to forgive us our sins 00:48:02.019 --> 00:48:03.259 and to cleanse us 00:48:03.259 --> 00:48:05.099 from all unrighteousness 00:48:05.099 --> 00:48:05.819 brother and sister 00:48:05.819 --> 00:48:07.779 have you confessed 00:48:07.780 --> 00:48:11.519 is it true for you 00:48:11.519 --> 00:48:12.540 that at this moment 00:48:12.540 --> 00:48:13.580 there's no 00:48:13.580 --> 00:48:15.100 conscious 00:48:15.100 --> 00:48:16.240 sin 00:48:16.240 --> 00:48:17.440 in your life 00:48:17.440 --> 00:48:18.460 that you've not confessed 00:48:18.460 --> 00:48:21.440 and by the grace of God 00:48:21.440 --> 00:48:22.600 by the power of God 00:48:22.600 --> 00:48:23.340 you can repent 00:48:23.340 --> 00:48:28.980 and when we do 00:48:28.980 --> 00:48:30.460 guess what we receive 00:48:30.460 --> 00:48:31.760 we receive 00:48:31.760 --> 00:48:32.380 an intimate 00:48:32.380 --> 00:48:33.660 powerful 00:48:33.660 --> 00:48:35.300 fellowship 00:48:35.300 --> 00:48:36.440 with God 00:48:36.440 --> 00:48:37.280 you know there's nothing 00:48:37.280 --> 00:48:38.200 greater on the planet 00:48:38.200 --> 00:48:40.980 why does God love you 00:48:40.980 --> 00:48:43.140 why would God love you 00:48:43.140 --> 00:48:43.640 you know what 00:48:43.640 --> 00:48:45.039 he wants you 00:48:45.039 --> 00:48:46.500 to enjoy him 00:48:46.500 --> 00:48:48.420 you know the greatest gift 00:48:48.420 --> 00:48:49.200 you could ever receive 00:48:49.200 --> 00:48:50.160 is to enjoy him 00:48:50.160 --> 00:48:51.440 is to be in his presence 00:48:51.440 --> 00:48:52.659 to see his glory 00:48:52.659 --> 00:48:54.079 to be in fellowship 00:48:54.079 --> 00:48:55.179 to be in union 00:48:55.179 --> 00:48:56.260 with God 00:48:56.260 --> 00:48:57.119 you know there's a day 00:48:57.119 --> 00:48:58.159 coming for believers 00:48:58.159 --> 00:48:59.679 we have this hope 00:48:59.679 --> 00:49:00.420 in the future 00:49:00.420 --> 00:49:01.480 whenever it is 00:49:01.480 --> 00:49:03.099 that we're going to be 00:49:03.099 --> 00:49:03.659 with him 00:49:03.659 --> 00:49:04.380 where he is 00:49:04.380 --> 00:49:05.059 that is Jesus 00:49:05.059 --> 00:49:06.300 and we're going to see 00:49:06.300 --> 00:49:07.679 the father face to face 00:49:07.679 --> 00:49:08.980 we're going to enjoy 00:49:08.980 --> 00:49:11.760 him 00:49:11.760 --> 00:49:14.500 in a way we can't imagine 00:49:14.500 --> 00:49:15.519 you know he wants us 00:49:15.519 --> 00:49:16.240 to start now 00:49:16.240 --> 00:49:17.900 you know how we start 00:49:17.900 --> 00:49:18.880 repentance 00:49:18.880 --> 00:49:21.260 and we see the effect 00:49:21.260 --> 00:49:22.460 in the life of Reuben 00:49:22.460 --> 00:49:24.480 he was willing to say 00:49:24.480 --> 00:49:25.140 alright 00:49:25.140 --> 00:49:26.940 enough's enough 00:49:26.940 --> 00:49:30.120 I see what this is 00:49:30.120 --> 00:49:31.420 God's revealing our sin 00:49:31.420 --> 00:49:34.900 God I openly confess 00:49:34.900 --> 00:49:35.560 that I'm guilty 00:49:35.560 --> 00:49:37.920 and I deserve your wrath 00:49:37.920 --> 00:49:39.000 God I see that 00:49:39.000 --> 00:49:40.260 because I've walked in the sin 00:49:40.260 --> 00:49:40.840 and I'm guilty 00:49:40.840 --> 00:49:42.820 but what he did 00:49:42.820 --> 00:49:43.620 was he changed 00:49:43.620 --> 00:49:44.680 so much so 00:49:44.680 --> 00:49:45.320 that he said 00:49:45.320 --> 00:49:46.020 listen dad 00:49:46.020 --> 00:49:47.420 you can have 00:49:47.420 --> 00:49:48.760 my first two sons 00:49:48.760 --> 00:49:49.740 and you can kill them 00:49:49.739 --> 00:49:50.799 if I don't come back 00:49:50.799 --> 00:49:51.739 trust me 00:49:51.739 --> 00:49:52.639 that I'm going to do 00:49:52.639 --> 00:49:53.219 what I'm telling you 00:49:53.219 --> 00:49:53.559 I'm going to do 00:49:53.559 --> 00:49:55.119 he went from being dishonest 00:49:55.119 --> 00:49:56.439 to a changed heart 00:49:56.439 --> 00:49:58.139 God's doing some work 00:49:58.139 --> 00:49:58.579 we don't know 00:49:58.579 --> 00:49:59.479 if he's all the way there 00:49:59.479 --> 00:50:00.559 but we see Reuben 00:50:00.559 --> 00:50:01.500 making statements 00:50:01.500 --> 00:50:02.159 that reveal 00:50:02.159 --> 00:50:03.319 that this is having 00:50:03.319 --> 00:50:04.439 an impact in his heart 00:50:04.439 --> 00:50:05.359 brother and sister 00:50:05.359 --> 00:50:06.659 let's chase 00:50:06.659 --> 00:50:07.619 the father 00:50:07.619 --> 00:50:09.799 and let's be 00:50:09.799 --> 00:50:11.219 open to confessing 00:50:11.219 --> 00:50:12.059 our own sins 00:50:12.059 --> 00:50:12.379 amen 00:50:12.379 --> 00:50:13.779 let's pray 00:50:13.779 --> 00:50:16.199 father I see 00:50:16.199 --> 00:50:16.939 your hand 00:50:16.939 --> 00:50:21.259 your sovereign hand 00:50:21.259 --> 00:50:22.719 that's in control 00:50:22.719 --> 00:50:23.679 of all things 00:50:23.679 --> 00:50:25.019 father even the trials 00:50:25.019 --> 00:50:25.919 that come in our life 00:50:25.919 --> 00:50:26.559 you're absolutely 00:50:26.559 --> 00:50:27.439 in control of 00:50:27.439 --> 00:50:28.899 and God you say 00:50:28.899 --> 00:50:29.539 in your word 00:50:29.539 --> 00:50:30.219 that you're causing 00:50:30.219 --> 00:50:31.239 all things 00:50:31.239 --> 00:50:32.939 to work for our good 00:50:32.939 --> 00:50:34.059 for the good 00:50:34.059 --> 00:50:34.739 of those who are 00:50:34.739 --> 00:50:35.619 called by your name 00:50:35.619 --> 00:50:35.939 God 00:50:35.939 --> 00:50:37.359 even the difficult 00:50:37.359 --> 00:50:38.399 times in our life 00:50:38.399 --> 00:50:40.000 are sent by you 00:50:40.000 --> 00:50:41.439 that you might 00:50:41.439 --> 00:50:42.500 accomplish your plan 00:50:42.500 --> 00:50:43.119 and do a work 00:50:43.119 --> 00:50:43.759 in our lives 00:50:43.760 --> 00:50:44.120 and God 00:50:44.120 --> 00:50:45.420 I pray that you 00:50:45.420 --> 00:50:46.240 would change our 00:50:46.240 --> 00:50:47.420 hearts so much 00:50:47.420 --> 00:50:48.900 so that we would 00:50:48.900 --> 00:50:49.800 not hold bitterness 00:50:49.800 --> 00:50:50.780 towards those 00:50:50.780 --> 00:50:51.680 who mistreated us 00:50:51.680 --> 00:50:53.060 God that we would 00:50:53.060 --> 00:50:54.040 have a divine 00:50:54.040 --> 00:50:54.540 mindset 00:50:54.540 --> 00:50:57.020 that understands 00:50:57.020 --> 00:50:58.240 that you love us 00:50:58.240 --> 00:50:59.400 you have a plan 00:50:59.400 --> 00:50:59.960 for us 00:50:59.960 --> 00:51:01.080 and you're absolutely 00:51:01.080 --> 00:51:02.080 sovereign in control 00:51:02.080 --> 00:51:02.660 of all things 00:51:02.660 --> 00:51:03.300 God you say 00:51:03.300 --> 00:51:04.160 not to worry 00:51:04.160 --> 00:51:04.960 about a single 00:51:04.960 --> 00:51:05.460 thing 00:51:05.460 --> 00:51:07.300 but in all things 00:51:07.300 --> 00:51:07.760 through prayer 00:51:07.760 --> 00:51:08.760 and supplication 00:51:08.760 --> 00:51:09.440 with thanksgiving 00:51:09.440 --> 00:51:10.820 let our request 00:51:10.820 --> 00:51:11.500 be made known 00:51:11.500 --> 00:51:12.000 to you 00:51:12.000 --> 00:51:12.800 to release 00:51:12.800 --> 00:51:13.519 all control 00:51:13.519 --> 00:51:13.820 to you 00:51:13.820 --> 00:51:14.280 and you say 00:51:14.280 --> 00:51:14.880 the peace 00:51:14.880 --> 00:51:15.340 of God 00:51:15.340 --> 00:51:16.000 your peace 00:51:16.000 --> 00:51:17.360 which is beyond 00:51:17.360 --> 00:51:18.039 our understanding 00:51:18.039 --> 00:51:18.900 will guard our hearts 00:51:18.900 --> 00:51:19.360 and our minds 00:51:19.360 --> 00:51:19.760 so God 00:51:19.760 --> 00:51:21.059 help us to get 00:51:21.059 --> 00:51:21.679 to the place 00:51:21.679 --> 00:51:22.300 where we trust 00:51:22.300 --> 00:51:23.119 you in that way 00:51:23.119 --> 00:51:25.659 Father help us 00:51:25.659 --> 00:51:26.760 to be diligent 00:51:26.760 --> 00:51:28.579 about confessing 00:51:28.579 --> 00:51:29.039 the sin 00:51:29.039 --> 00:51:29.800 that's so real 00:51:29.800 --> 00:51:30.719 even the stuff 00:51:30.719 --> 00:51:31.119 that's hidden 00:51:31.119 --> 00:51:32.099 that you gradually 00:51:32.099 --> 00:51:33.300 are making us 00:51:33.300 --> 00:51:33.780 aware of 00:51:33.780 --> 00:51:34.340 God would you 00:51:34.340 --> 00:51:34.940 give us 00:51:34.940 --> 00:51:35.519 through your 00:51:35.519 --> 00:51:36.380 Holy Spirit 00:51:36.380 --> 00:51:37.420 a willingness 00:51:37.420 --> 00:51:38.300 to confess 00:51:38.300 --> 00:51:38.980 and repent 00:51:38.980 --> 00:51:39.780 and turn away 00:51:39.780 --> 00:51:40.139 from it 00:51:40.139 --> 00:51:40.539 and serve 00:51:40.539 --> 00:51:41.059 and worship 00:51:41.059 --> 00:51:42.259 and enjoy 00:51:42.259 --> 00:51:42.539 you 00:51:42.539 --> 00:51:43.359 I pray in your name 00:51:43.359 --> 00:51:43.940 Amen 00:51:43.940 --> 00:51:45.940 Amen