Genesis 42 – 50 Joseph and His Brothers

Part I : Chap 42-45God has a purpose

in our hurts

41 29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine will follow them.

Pharaoh's Dream

42 7 As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked.

Jacob's Sons went to Egypt for grains

44 12 Then the steward proceeded to search, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.

Joseph planted his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack

45 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!

Joseph revealed who he is

50 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

God allows us to be hurt or harmed .. Why?

Jim Elliot

Worked among the Auca Indian Tribe - Huaorani

The Huaorani Tribe

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose

Elisabeth Elliot

1.We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!We go not forth alone against the foe;Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.

2.Yes, in Thy Name, O Captain of salvation!In Thy dear Name, all other names above;Jesus our Righteousness, our sure Foundation,Our Prince of glory and our King of love.

3.We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling,And needing more each day Thy grace to know:Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing,“We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.”

4.We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise;When passing through the gates of pearly splendor,Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.

We rest on Thee

50 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

God allows us to be hurt or harmed .. Why?

What are our reactions when we are hurt? Hatred Anger Sorrow Distress Anguish Need for Revenge Loss of faith Blame God Blame others Hide …….

How Joseph viewed what happened to him

4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no ploughing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.[a]

Consider JOB

Job chap 1 and 2.

Job 2:10“.. Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?”

Job 2:11In all these, Job did not sin in what he said.

Consider JESUSIsaiah 53:10-1210 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin,he will see his offspring and prolong his days,and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.11 After he has suffered,he will see the light of life and be satisfied;by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,and he will bear their iniquities.12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,and he will divide the spoils with the strong,because he poured out his life unto death,and was numbered with the transgressors.For he bore the sin of many,and made intercession for the transgressors

Isaiah 53:10-1210 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin,he will see his offspring and prolong his days,and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.11 After he has suffered,he will see the light of life and be satisfied;by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,and he will bear their iniquities.12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,and he will divide the spoils with the strong,because he poured out his life unto death,and was numbered with the transgressors.For he bore the sin of many,and made intercession for the transgressors