Studies in Genesis

1. Studies in Genesis Presentation 62

2. Transforming Grace Gen 43v15-44v34 Presentation 62

3. Introduction Charles Colson, the Nixon aid imprisoned for his involvement in the Watergate scandal, was considered one of the sharpest legal minds in the U.S.A. He came to faith in prison and then founded the Prison Fellowship Movement. It has enjoyed considerable success around the world. Reflecting upon the usefulness of his life, he made the following comment: “In was not my success God used to enable me to help those in this prison, or in hundreds of others just like it. All my achievements meant nothing in God's economy. No, the real legacy of my life was my biggest failure-that I was an ex-convict. My greatest humiliation - being sent to prison – was the beginning of God's greatest use of my life”. We tend to think that our successes and achievements are the things that God will recognise and use. But it is often our greatest humiliations that he shapes into instruments to serve his purpose. Presentation 62

4. The Winsomeness of Love This was certainly true in the lives of Joseph's brothers, who for many years had preserved a dark secret in a hidden room in their hearts. It had been hidden from their father, their younger brother, their wives and children. God wanted this dark secret brought out into the daylight as part of his process of transformation. We have seen God use physical deprivation, harsh treatment, imprisonment and unsettling kindness. And while these men’s hearts had softened, they had not yet openly confessed to their harsh treatment of Joseph. How would God proceed from here? Presentation 62

5. The Winsomeness of Love Some ministers have argued that the only thing that really awakens conscience is the terror of the law. And their preaching week after week focuses on the terror and judgement of God. To wound before healing may be sound theology but one needs to be conscious of the fact that an imbalance occurs, when law is regularly preached without grace. Many more have been won to Christ by the winsomeness of God’s love than by the endless terrors of his law. Presentation 62

6. The Winsomeness of Love God uses the power of genuine love to melt the hearts of these brothers. The narrative begins with the brothers’ fear of the sort of welcome they would receive, when they returned to Egypt. But when they do present themselves at court and are immediately invited to dine with Joseph that very day. They could not accept this invitation at face value and were quite sure that it was part of a plot against them 43 v18... Against this background of fear and suspicion Joseph's goodness and love unfolds. Presentation 62

7. The Winsomeness of Love First, their minds are put at ease concerning the money found in their sacks on their previous trip. Secondly, they are reunited with Simeon, who was released from prison as promised. Thirdly, they were given provision for their donkeys and water to wash and refresh themselves - signs of respect and courtesy in the Middle East. They were not being treated like enemies! Fourthly, when Joseph arrived he spoke kindly to them enquiring after their family. Finally, a sumptuous feast was spread before the astonished brothers. cf v34. The brothers enjoyed Joseph's kindness without knowing who he really was. Presentation 62

8. The Winsomeness of Love Many people today benefit from God’s kindness without realising it! This is what theologians call ‘common grace’. Now mankind has sinned against God and rejected his Lordship. And so God uses a variety of means to awaken them to their need and bring them to an open confession of their sin. But men often go no further than God's tactics forces them to go. Despite God’s good and gracious provision many fail to acknowledge God as the supplier of these benefits. By nature men tend to show contempt for God's kindness. Presentation 62

9. The Prison of Self-Confidence Picture the scene after the feast and with fresh supplies of food the brothers make their way back home. Their hearts had been awakened by God and their consciences had been working overtime but as yet there has been no open confession of past sin. They had found no reason, thus far, to abandon themselves to the mercy of God. Were they congratulating themselves on how easily they had escaped a potentially difficult situation? It was then that God exploded their self-confidence. It would be out of a death to self experience that the brothers would enter into newness of life. Presentation 62

10. The Prison of Self-Confidence The brothers had gone to Egypt with many suspicions and fears and left again with a heightened sense of self-confidence. Their 'truthfulness' had been vindicated - they were not spies! The return of their original payment had shown them to be 'honest' men. And so when Joseph’s steward caught up with them and accused them of stealing the silver cup, they were indignant cf 44v7-9... Their self-confidence must have grown as their sacks were opened starting with the eldest …until Benjamin's sack was reached and the ‘stolen’ cup retrieved! Presentation 62

11. The Prison of Self-Confidence The brothers’ analysis of the situation is interesting. They conclude that they are guilty of a more serious sin, which God is now uncovering and for which he is about to punish them. Judah’s says, ‘What can we say my Lord... How can we prove our innocence, God has uncovered your servants guilt’ v16. How can he speak of innocence and guilt in the same sentence? The words accurately reflect the situation. They were innocent of stealing Joseph's cup, but deeply guilty of having thrown their brother down a well before selling him into slavery. Presentation 62

12. The Prison of Self-Confidence When the brothers’ self-confidence, self-righteousness and good opinion of themselves is broken, and not a moment before, they would be healed. When they had been content to cover up their sin God had been a stranger to them. When they felt most secure in themselves then God uncovered their guilt and brought about the confession that was to set them free from their past. Previously in Gen 42.28, they became aware of the fact that God was involved in their personal histories. Now something quite radical is taking place. Presentation 62

13. The Prison of Self-Confidence Joseph had recreated the scene of earlier years, when he had been sold into slavery. Benjamin, now their father's favourite, was at risk. The cup had been found in his sack. They had told Joseph’s steward that if any of them was found guilty of theft they should be enslaved. Would they allow that to happen? Would they concoct another lie to explain Benjamin's disappearance to their father? God’s grace was at work in their hearts and no such possibility entered their minds. Instead of abandoning their brother they return with him to face the anger of the Egyptian Prime Minister. These were changed men! Presentation 62

14. The Scale of The Transformation The quality of transformation find's poignant expression in the moving appeal of Judah in v18-34. In a state of utter brokenness that he pleads on his brother's behalf. The substance of Judah's appeal focuses not upon Benjamin, nor his brothers but upon their father Jacob for whom they have developed a deepening love cf 30-31. Gone is a callous disregard for this old man’s feelings. They had seen Jacob crushed by the belief that Joseph was dead. Judah fears that news of the loss of Benjamin would now kill their father! Do you see what God’s grace has done in these men’s hearts? Presentation 62

15. The Scale of The Transformation At the very heart of this appeal in v33 we find the idea of vicarious suffering. That is, choosing to suffer in someone else’s place. The most famous O.T. example is that of Moses. After the golden calf incident at Mt Sinai, where Israel had engaged in idolatry, God threatened to destroy Israel. Then Moses interceded on their behalf: 'But now please forgive their sin, then if not blot me out of the book you have written' Ex.32.32. Moses showed the same vicarious self sacrifice that Judah displays here. Presentation 62

16. The Scale of The Transformation Judah’s readiness to suffer vicariously on behalf of another mirrors God’s own heart. For Jesus, by taking our place on the cross was saying: 'I will endure their hell so that they can enjoy my heaven'. The difference being that he was not only willing to suffer, he did in fact suffer. And he suffered, not for family but for his enemies for those who were in open rebellion to his rule! Rom.5.6-8. He suffered, ‘the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God’. 1Pet.3.18 Presentation 62

17. The Scale of The Transformation The sacrificial love of God is found in the heart of Judah. He revealed a new family likeness. Jesus said, ‘you will know them by their fruit’. Was Judah truly a new man or not? God’s work in his life was breath-taking! Those who had known Judah years earlier would have rubbed their eyes in disbelief. Could he be the same man? He is not the same man! He is a different man - made different by God's Grace. He is a man whose conscience has been awakened and whose life is now under new management. Presentation 62

18. Conclusion What had Joseph expected, when he devised this test for his brothers? Could he have wished for a better result? All off the difficulties and hardships that God allowed these brothers to experience had this glorious object in view. They were men made new! Does seeing the lengths God will go to bring men to repentance? Does this help us to see the incredible value that he places upon us? Will we allow God to work in our lives so that in years to come people will rub their eyes and ask, 'Could this be the same person I used to know?' No, not the same person but someone transformed by God's grace. Presentation 62