Hello Friends, welcome to
3ABN Sabbath School Panel,
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I'm John Lomacang.
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Thank you for
taking the time to join us
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as we have been going
through the book of Genesis
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in an unusual revelatory way...
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seeing things
that we have forgotten
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and learning things that God
has brought back to our memory.
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Now, this is called:
Joseph, Prince of Egypt
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Lesson Number 12
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which means,
we'll only have one more
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but keep with us for
the exciting conclusion
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of how Genesis has reminded
us of the goodness of God.
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To get a copy of the lesson,
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go to:
3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com
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and download a copy
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or better yet, go to our local
Seventh-day Adventist Church
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where you can enjoy
brother-to-brother...
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sister-to-sister study
through this exciting book.
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Stay tuned...
we'll be right back.
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Music...
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Lomacang: Hello and welcome
to 3ABN Sabbath School...
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I'm John Lomacang.
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Thank you for
taking the time to join us.
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We have been enjoying our study
through the book of Genesis
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haven't we? Panel: Amen.
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Lomacang: And
we've had fun together,
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we've learned a lot together
and I pray that that has been
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your experience too
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as we've opened
the book of Genesis
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from the fall... looking
at the frailty of humanity
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and the glory of God
through broken, ruined vessels.
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God can take any bad situation
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and reverse it to
His honor and glory
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and for the
betterment of every one of us.
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That's been the constant lesson
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and we've read some stories
that would cause you to blush
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and others that will
cause you to praise God
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and today is going to
be another revelation,
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Joseph, Prince of Egypt.
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How did his life affect
the lives of those in Egypt?
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Well, stay
tuned, you'll find out.
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But right to my left is my
good friend, James Rafferty,
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good to have you here, James.
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James: Good to be here John,
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I am going to be
covering Monday's lesson
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which is: Joseph
confronts his brothers.
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Lomacang: Oooooh! I
can't wait for that one
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and I know you
have a good one...
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Jason, we haven't
seen you all Quarter
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but good to have you today.
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It's great to be here,
I'm excited about this,
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I have Tuesday's lesson
entitled Joseph and Benjamin.
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Lomacang: Hmmm... and Jill,
I always look forward to your
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expositorily outlined
approach to the Word of God.
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Jill: I am super
excited about this lesson.
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I think it's one of my
favorite the whole Quarter.
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Lomacang: Okay, and
Shelly... the lady from Texas.
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Shelley: Lady
with the Texas here...
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I am so excited to be here
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and I get to talk about
how even human foibles...
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God... God's providence
overrules human's foibles...
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human foibles.
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Lomacang: That's a new word:
foibles... I like that one.
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Shelley: I've had to
say that two or three times.
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Panel: Laughter.
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Lomacang: Well,
good to have you here.
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Well, Jason, we
haven't seen you all Quarter
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so, why don't you
have a prayer for us today?
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Jason: Absolutely,
"Dear Heavenly Father,
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we thank you that we have
the opportunity and privilege
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to open your Word
and study together
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and Lord, we just ask for
the presence of Your Holy Spirit
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as we study... in
Jesus' name, we pray, amen. "
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Panel: Amen.
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Lomacang: You
know, we talked about
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the unusual providence of God
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in getting Joseph
to the palace in Egypt
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and I talked about
it from pits to palaces.
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God doesn't put you somewhere
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except there's a
providential purpose behind it.
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Panel: Yeah.
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Lomacang: God doesn't
just give us a position to...
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to lavish it or languish in it
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but God puts us in places
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where he knows his
name can be glorified
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but it comes down to
the decisions that we make.
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So, we find in
Genesis chapter 41...
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let's all go there together
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and what we're going to see is
how God worked in amazing ways
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through the revelations that He
allowed Joseph to communicate.
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The understanding of each of
these revelations came from God
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but the revelations themselves
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were an opportunity
for God to be glorified.
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The... the text we have
first is in Genesis 41 verse 28,
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this is the thing which
I have spoken to Pharaoh,
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God has shown Pharaoh
what He is about to do.
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I love that...
what He is about to do.
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So, any time God
reveals anything,
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God is always up to something.
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I've always stood
back and have been amazed
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at how God has
worked through the most
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unpredictable circumstances...
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even the most
harrowing circumstances,
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even the most...
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the circumstances
that have caused you
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to pull over on the
side of the road and say,
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"Lord, I just... I
can't handle this...
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what's this all about?"
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And I've had those
experiences in my own life.
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When I came to church
one day and I said you know,
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"Have you ever
had the feeling that
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this is the place
you don't want to be?
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I don't want to
be here right now,
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I need you guys
to pray for me. "
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And people
surrounded me and prayed for me.
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But I realize that God
brings us to certain places
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that are for a
number of reasons,
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one... refinement
and also... remembrance.
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When we forget God, He
will find a way to remind us
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and the Lord took Joseph through
a series of catastrophic events
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to bring him to a
place of prominence
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because the Lord loved Pharaoh
just as much as He loved Joseph.
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That's amazing
what the Lord did,
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let's look at verses 37 to
57 as the narrative unfolds
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in the courts of Egypt.
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Speaking about the advice.
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This is Genesis 41,
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"So the advice was
good in the eyes of Pharaoh
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and in the eyes
of all his servants.
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And Pharaoh
said to his servants,
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'Can we find such a one as this,
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a man in whom is
the Spirit of God?'
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Then Pharaoh said to Joseph,
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'Inasmuch as God
has shown you all this,
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there is no one as
discerning and wise as you. "
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That's what happens when
God is in charge of your life.
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Panel: Amen... yeah.
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"You shall be over my house,
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and all my people shall be
ruled according to your word;
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only in regard to the throne
will I be greater than you. "
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And Pharaoh said to Joseph,
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"See, I have set you
over all the land of Egypt. "
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Then Pharaoh took his
signet ring off his hand
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and put it on Joseph's hand;
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and he clothed him in
garments of fine linen
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and put a gold
chain around his neck.
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And he had him ride in the
second chariot which he had;
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and they cried out
before him, "Bow the knee!"
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So he set him over
all the land of Egypt.
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Verse 44, "Pharaoh
also said to Joseph,
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'I am Pharaoh,
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and without your consent no
man may lift his hand or foot
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in all the land of Egypt. ' "
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That's powerful.
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Panel: Yeah.
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Lomacang: That's
some amazing power...
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he was in a prison not
too long before that...
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now, he's giving commands
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and Pharaoh says, "You
say it... they will move...
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if you don't say
it... nobody's moving. "
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Look at verse 45,
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"And Pharaoh called
Joseph's name Zaphnath-Paaneah.
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And he gave him
as a wife Asenath,
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the daughter of
Poti-Pherah priest of On.
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So Joseph went out
over all the land of Egypt.
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Joseph was thirty years old
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when he stood before
Pharaoh king of Egypt.
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And Joseph went out
from the presence of Pharaoh,
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and went throughout
all the land of Egypt.
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Now in the seven plentiful years
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the ground
brought forth abundantly.
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So he gathered up all
the food of the seven years
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which were in the land of Egypt,
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and laid up the
food in the cities;
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he laid up in every city
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the food of the
fields which surrounded them.
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And Joseph
gathered very much grain,
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as the sand of the sea,
until he stopped counting,
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for it was immeasurable.
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And to Joseph were born two sons
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before the years of famine came,
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whom Asenath,
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the daughter of Poti-Pherah
priest of On bore to him.
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So, Joseph called the
name of the firstborn Manasseh:
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'For God has made
me forget all my toil
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and all my father's house. '
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And the name of the
second he called Ephraim:
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'For God has
caused me to be fruitful
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in the land of my affliction. '
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Then the seven years of plenty
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which were in the
land of Egypt ended,
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and the seven years
of famine began to come,
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as Joseph had said.
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The famine was in all the lands,
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but in all the land
of Egypt there was bread.
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So when all the land
of Egypt was famished,
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the people cried
to Pharaoh for bread.
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Then Pharaoh said
to all the Egyptians,
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'Go to Joseph;
whatever he says to you, do. '
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The famine was over
all the face of the earth,
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and Joseph opened
all the storehouses
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and sold to the Egyptians.
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And the famine became
severe in the land of Egypt.
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So all countries came to
Joseph in Egypt to buy grain,
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because the famine
was severe in all lands. "
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What a story!
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Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... hmmm...
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Lomacang: And
this has been a pattern
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throughout the entire lesson.
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The... the... the
writer of the lesson
00:09:20.82\00:09:22.19
has given us a lot of reading
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but if you think about
going through 13 Lessons
00:09:23.59\00:09:26.80
and 50 plus chapters,
00:09:26.83\00:09:28.33
it's not an easy task.
00:09:28.36\00:09:29.80
So, it was necessary... and
sometimes we skip through it
00:09:29.83\00:09:33.47
and you miss the examples.
00:09:33.50\00:09:35.30
So, let's go to the
question that was written
00:09:35.34\00:09:37.44
by the
constructor of our lesson.
00:09:37.47\00:09:39.87
What is God's place
in the success of Joseph?
00:09:39.91\00:09:44.18
Now, what I liked about
this and I want to read exactly
00:09:44.21\00:09:47.48
the way that the person
who wrote the lesson said,
00:09:47.52\00:09:50.59
it says, "Pharaoh
selects Joseph to take charge
00:09:50.65\00:09:53.69
not so much because he had
interpreted his dreams correctly
00:09:53.72\00:09:57.53
and revealed the
forthcoming problem of the land,
00:09:57.56\00:10:01.36
but because he had a
solution to that problem. "
00:10:01.40\00:10:04.27
You know, God has a
solution to every problem.
00:10:04.30\00:10:07.10
Jill: Amen.
00:10:07.14\00:10:08.47
Lomacang: You may be
in a circumstance today
00:10:08.50\00:10:09.90
that you might
wonder, "Is there a solution?"
00:10:09.94\00:10:12.77
Wait on the Lord and
the solution will come
00:10:12.81\00:10:15.61
but the one thing that you
could do that can reverse...
00:10:15.64\00:10:18.21
that can make the
situation more dire
00:10:18.25\00:10:20.72
is try to bring about a
solution when God is not in it.
00:10:20.75\00:10:23.79
God brought a solution
00:10:23.82\00:10:25.32
for man who not too
long before this was in a pit
00:10:25.35\00:10:28.52
but now, everyone in
Egypt knows who Joseph is.
00:10:28.59\00:10:31.76
Genesis 41 verse 37,
00:10:31.79\00:10:34.70
the Bible
reminds us about Joseph
00:10:34.73\00:10:36.50
and the advice that God gives.
00:10:36.53\00:10:38.50
So, the advice was... what?
00:10:38.53\00:10:40.70
Good in the eyes of Pharaoh
00:10:40.74\00:10:42.80
and in the eyes
of all the servants.
00:10:42.84\00:10:44.64
When God gives you
wisdom and understanding,
00:10:44.67\00:10:46.91
nobody can counteract
what God has revealed to you.
00:10:46.94\00:10:49.78
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:10:49.84\00:10:51.18
Lomacang: The Bible
says, "If anyone lacks wisdom,
00:10:51.21\00:10:52.55
let him ask of God
00:10:52.58\00:10:53.92
and He will give it
without withholding anything. "
00:10:53.95\00:10:55.28
And so, also
Joseph made it very clear
00:10:55.32\00:10:58.09
that God was in
charge of his life.
00:10:58.12\00:11:00.89
Look at Verse 38, this
was the clear declaration
00:11:00.92\00:11:04.03
that Pharaoh saw
in the life of Joseph.
00:11:04.06\00:11:07.40
"Can we find such a one as this,
00:11:07.43\00:11:09.86
a man in whom is
the Spirit of God?"
00:11:09.90\00:11:12.77
When you look at the lesson,
one of the things you find is
00:11:12.80\00:11:16.10
that Joseph didn't tell Pharaoh
00:11:16.14\00:11:19.47
it was imperative
for him to accept his God
00:11:19.51\00:11:21.54
but he allowed God to be
reflected through his life.
00:11:21.58\00:11:25.01
You know, sometimes
you encounter people that
00:11:25.05\00:11:27.12
may not want to be what you are
00:11:27.15\00:11:28.58
doctrinally or spiritually,
00:11:28.62\00:11:29.95
but that doesn't hinder you
from allowing your life to be a
00:11:29.98\00:11:32.89
place where God
is being revealed.
00:11:32.95\00:11:34.29
I run into people that
are secular and very...
00:11:34.32\00:11:37.13
some political...
some very secular...
00:11:37.19\00:11:38.96
some don't want to
hear about God at all,
00:11:38.99\00:11:40.70
but I've learned this and
this is something we can learn.
00:11:40.73\00:11:43.90
You know, there are
people that are very wise
00:11:43.93\00:11:45.43
in the ways of the world
00:11:45.47\00:11:46.80
but I've seen in
many instances...
00:11:46.84\00:11:48.17
I worked for insurance
companies... banks... law firms,
00:11:48.20\00:11:51.04
and I've seen...
whenever the conversation...
00:11:51.07\00:11:53.41
even when I was a member
of the Sky Squires Field...
00:11:53.44\00:11:57.75
RC Airplane Club down
here in Southern Illinois,
00:11:57.81\00:12:02.08
I notice that when
difficult times came,
00:12:02.12\00:12:04.75
the Head of the Club
came to me one day and said,
00:12:04.79\00:12:06.96
"You know, my wife is
going through difficulty,
00:12:06.99\00:12:08.92
can you pray for me?"
00:12:08.96\00:12:10.29
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... hmmm...
00:12:10.33\00:12:11.66
I never told him... I never
preached to them on the field,
00:12:11.69\00:12:13.13
but they saw something
that in a moment of difficulty
00:12:13.19\00:12:17.03
he came to me and said,
00:12:17.07\00:12:18.93
"My wife is going
through a difficulty,
00:12:18.97\00:12:20.70
can you pray for me?"
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:12:20.74\00:12:22.07
Lomacang: Right on
that Sunday afternoon...
00:12:22.10\00:12:23.44
right there at
the Sky Squires Field,
00:12:23.47\00:12:24.87
we had all of our
model planes ready to fly...
00:12:24.91\00:12:27.28
so, when you live the
life that you should live,
00:12:27.31\00:12:30.18
God will direct people
to you... not for your glory
00:12:30.21\00:12:33.01
but always for His.
00:12:33.05\00:12:34.38
You find also, these are
the things that was evidence
00:12:34.42\00:12:38.32
that God was in
the life of Joseph
00:12:38.35\00:12:42.22
and what happens...
00:12:42.26\00:12:43.59
what evidences
should be revealed
00:12:43.63\00:12:45.29
in the lives of those who
are led by the hand of God?
00:12:45.33\00:12:47.63
Psalm 19 verse 7,
00:12:47.66\00:12:49.63
notice what happens
when we follow God's leading,
00:12:49.66\00:12:51.67
"The law of the LORD is
perfect, converting the soul;
00:12:51.70\00:12:55.67
the testimony of
the LORD is sure,
00:12:55.70\00:12:57.71
making wise the simple. "
00:12:57.74\00:13:00.91
Joseph... at one
point in his life,
00:13:00.94\00:13:03.48
had a lot of learning to do.
00:13:03.51\00:13:05.45
I like the way
you pointed that out.
00:13:05.48\00:13:07.88
He couldn't keep his
mouth shut for his own glory
00:13:07.92\00:13:11.25
but now he's opening his
mouth for the glory of God.
00:13:11.29\00:13:13.79
He became wise...
he used to be simple...
00:13:13.82\00:13:16.73
Psalm 119 and verse 130,
00:13:16.76\00:13:18.96
"The entrance of
Your words gives light;
00:13:18.99\00:13:21.20
it gives
understanding to the simple... "
00:13:21.23\00:13:23.93
and when that
understanding is revealed,
00:13:23.97\00:13:25.90
all you've got to do is
stand back and let God be seen.
00:13:25.93\00:13:29.10
"Let your light
so shine before men,
00:13:29.14\00:13:31.11
that they may
see your good works
00:13:31.14\00:13:33.07
and glorify your
Father which is in heaven. "
00:13:33.11\00:13:35.34
Matthew 5 and verse 16.
00:13:35.38\00:13:36.98
Not only that,
00:13:37.01\00:13:38.35
Joseph recognized that it
was not his actions but God's.
00:13:38.38\00:13:42.52
Philippians 2:13,
00:13:42.55\00:13:44.49
"For it is God who works
in you both to will and to do
00:13:44.52\00:13:49.26
of His good pleasure. "
00:13:49.29\00:13:51.56
God can do for us
also what He did for Joseph
00:13:51.59\00:13:55.76
and what was that?
00:13:55.80\00:13:57.13
Here's the quick reminder.
00:13:57.17\00:13:58.50
Genesis 41 verse 33,
00:13:58.53\00:14:01.30
"Now therefore, let
Pharaoh select a discerning
00:14:01.34\00:14:06.34
and a wise man,
00:14:06.37\00:14:08.18
and set him over
the land of Egypt. "
00:14:08.21\00:14:10.75
God can give you
discernment and wisdom
00:14:10.78\00:14:13.15
and then put you in a
position where He is glorified.
00:14:13.18\00:14:16.95
Panel: Amen...
amen. Lomacang: James.
00:14:16.99\00:14:18.52
James: Amen, thank you, John.
00:14:18.55\00:14:19.89
My name is James Rafferty
and I have Monday's Lesson:
00:14:19.92\00:14:22.46
Joseph Confronts His Brothers.
00:14:22.49\00:14:24.83
This is based on
Genesis chapter 42
00:14:24.86\00:14:27.26
and like you said John,
00:14:27.30\00:14:28.66
the author of the Quarterly
wants us to read a lot.
00:14:28.70\00:14:31.00
Read Genesis 42.
00:14:31.03\00:14:32.77
Well, we're not going
to read the whole chapter,
00:14:32.83\00:14:34.47
I'm going to summarize it
because there's a lot here
00:14:34.50\00:14:36.77
that the Quarterly has brought
out that I think is really good.
00:14:36.81\00:14:39.61
So... famine...
the famine in the land
00:14:39.64\00:14:41.88
really obliges Jacob
to send his sons to Egypt.
00:14:41.91\00:14:44.81
That's where we left off...
there's a famine in the land...
00:14:44.85\00:14:46.75
it wasn't just in Egypt
but it was in the whole land
00:14:46.78\00:14:49.98
and sometimes, God works
through the famines in our land
00:14:50.02\00:14:53.22
to bring us to the place
where we can be helped...
00:14:53.25\00:14:56.56
where we can be delivered...
where we can be saved
00:14:56.59\00:14:58.69
and this is what's
happening with Joseph.
00:14:58.73\00:15:01.66
Now, remember,
Jacob hasn't seen his son
00:15:01.70\00:15:04.33
forever... right?
00:15:04.37\00:15:06.23
He believes he's
dead... he's lost
00:15:06.27\00:15:08.44
and God is going to
work through this famine
00:15:08.47\00:15:10.74
as He works through
the famines in our lives
00:15:10.77\00:15:12.77
to bring a blessing to Joseph...
00:15:12.81\00:15:15.94
to bring renewal to him
00:15:15.98\00:15:18.48
to reunite him with his lost son
00:15:18.51\00:15:22.18
and I think God is going
to work through the famines
00:15:22.22\00:15:24.05
in our lives... to reunite
us with our lost destiny,
00:15:24.09\00:15:26.99
with our lost image with
the kingdom that God established
00:15:27.02\00:15:30.16
on this earth that we would
enjoy for... for all eternity.
00:15:30.19\00:15:33.29
So, ironically it's Jacob
who initiates this project.
00:15:33.33\00:15:36.87
Now, I believe God
is working on his heart
00:15:36.90\00:15:38.93
because, of course,
God has a purpose for him
00:15:38.97\00:15:41.00
and sometimes God speaks to
us... He works on our hearts...
00:15:41.04\00:15:43.41
we don't know why it is
00:15:43.44\00:15:45.07
that we make some of
the actions that we do
00:15:45.11\00:15:46.81
but afterward, we see
00:15:46.84\00:15:48.38
that God was working
through the whole thing...
00:15:48.41\00:15:50.05
through the whole process.
00:15:50.08\00:15:51.58
So, the unfortunate old man,
00:15:51.61\00:15:53.08
is a victim of circumstances
beyond his control...
00:15:53.11\00:15:55.52
thinking they're bad
but they're actually good...
00:15:55.55\00:15:57.89
unknowingly sets in motion
an amazing chain of events
00:15:57.92\00:16:00.76
that will lead him to
being reunited with the son
00:16:00.79\00:16:03.53
whom he has mourned
for so long... praise God.
00:16:03.56\00:16:06.09
So the providential
nature of this meeting
00:16:06.13\00:16:08.60
is highlighted through
two fundamental characters.
00:16:08.66\00:16:12.13
First of all, it is seen as a
fulfillment of Joseph's dreams.
00:16:12.17\00:16:16.17
Remember the event was
predicted in Joseph's dreams
00:16:16.20\00:16:18.64
that your sheaves will
bow down to my sheaf, right?
00:16:18.67\00:16:21.08
That's Genesis 37 verse 7.
00:16:21.11\00:16:22.88
This is now taking place...
00:16:22.91\00:16:24.58
Joseph is identified as
the governor over all the land.
00:16:24.61\00:16:28.62
All right, that's Genesis 42:6,
00:16:28.65\00:16:31.75
"And the lord of the
land... " Genesis 42:30 and 33,
00:16:31.79\00:16:34.89
so, Joseph's powerful
position is in contrast
00:16:34.92\00:16:38.16
with the need of his brothers
00:16:38.19\00:16:40.23
who bow before him with
their faces to the earth,
00:16:40.26\00:16:42.66
Genesis 42:6.
00:16:42.70\00:16:44.03
When they go there to the...
to the governor of the land,
00:16:44.07\00:16:47.80
to try to get
victuals... to try to get food
00:16:47.84\00:16:51.51
to keep their families
and their flocks alive.
00:16:51.57\00:16:55.11
And then it goes on to say
00:16:55.14\00:16:56.81
the same ten
brothers who mocked Joseph
00:16:56.85\00:16:58.61
about his dreams and
doubted their fulfillment.
00:16:58.68\00:17:00.52
It says "ten" because
there's 12 altogether,
00:17:00.55\00:17:02.22
Joseph was number 11...
00:17:02.25\00:17:03.59
Benjamin who hadn't
been born yet was Number 12.
00:17:03.62\00:17:06.35
So, second, this providential
meeting is described
00:17:06.42\00:17:09.39
as a response.
00:17:09.42\00:17:10.76
The linguistic
and thematic echoes
00:17:10.79\00:17:13.19
between the two events
00:17:13.23\00:17:14.56
underline the characteristic...
00:17:14.60\00:17:16.33
the character of
just retribution.
00:17:16.36\00:17:18.77
Now, here we go,
00:17:18.83\00:17:20.17
the phrase "they
said to one another"
00:17:20.20\00:17:22.37
was also used when they
began to plot against Joseph
00:17:24.14\00:17:26.64
in Genesis 37 verse 19.
00:17:26.68\00:17:29.01
So they said to one another,
00:17:29.04\00:17:30.88
"Here comes that
dreamer of dreams... "
00:17:30.91\00:17:32.25
they said to one another,
"Okay, the governor... he... "
00:17:32.28\00:17:35.88
and... and the story goes on.
00:17:35.92\00:17:37.89
They also used this...
00:17:37.95\00:17:39.75
the brothers also when
they were sojourning...
00:17:39.79\00:17:41.92
when they were sojourning
in prison... excuse me...
00:17:41.96\00:17:44.69
it echoes the sojourn of
Joseph when he was in prison
00:17:44.76\00:17:47.46
in Genesis 40:3 and 4.
00:17:47.50\00:17:48.83
In fact,
Joseph's brothers relate
00:17:48.86\00:17:51.17
what is
currently happening to them
00:17:51.20\00:17:53.47
and what they did to their
brother perhaps 20 years ago.
00:17:53.50\00:17:56.84
when they say... "Then
said they one to another,
00:17:56.87\00:18:00.21
'We truly are guilty
concerning our brother,
00:18:00.24\00:18:03.55
for we saw the
anguish of his soul
00:18:03.58\00:18:05.45
when he pleaded with us,
00:18:05.48\00:18:07.05
and we would not hear;
00:18:07.08\00:18:08.62
therefore this
distress has come upon us. "
00:18:08.65\00:18:11.09
Now, I kind of want to
pause here for just a second,
00:18:11.12\00:18:14.32
this is really significant
00:18:14.36\00:18:15.89
because sometimes
when we turn away from good
00:18:15.92\00:18:19.59
and we do evil, we
close our ears and our eyes
00:18:19.63\00:18:23.26
to God's conflicting Spirit.
00:18:23.30\00:18:25.40
Obviously these
brothers had not done that yet
00:18:25.43\00:18:28.24
and so, they're
coming to a place
00:18:28.27\00:18:30.64
where they're
remembering their evil
00:18:30.67\00:18:33.01
and they're
regretting it. Panel: Yeah.
00:18:33.07\00:18:35.68
James: They're coming to a
place and they're really...
00:18:35.71\00:18:37.45
they're open to this...
they're susceptible to...
00:18:37.48\00:18:39.35
to think about what
they did in the past
00:18:39.38\00:18:41.28
and to make a
turn for the better.
00:18:41.32\00:18:43.42
So, we need to recognize
00:18:43.45\00:18:44.92
sometimes when God
reminds us of our past,
00:18:44.95\00:18:46.99
you know, sometimes it happens,
you know, we get a guilt complex
00:18:47.02\00:18:49.29
or Satan comes in
there... whatever...
00:18:49.32\00:18:50.66
sometimes that's
to bring us to a place
00:18:50.69\00:18:52.79
where we stand before God
guilty... so that Romans 3:19...
00:18:52.83\00:18:56.06
our mouths could be stopped...
00:18:56.10\00:18:57.80
we can become guilty before God
00:18:57.83\00:18:59.47
and then we can
return to Jesus Christ...
00:18:59.50\00:19:01.20
we can return to His forgiveness
00:19:01.24\00:19:02.70
and that's what these
brothers needed right now
00:19:02.74\00:19:04.81
and this is what
they're going to accept...
00:19:04.87\00:19:06.68
they're going to experience.
00:19:06.71\00:19:08.14
So, it goes on here and
it says, Reuben's words...
00:19:08.18\00:19:11.45
"His blood is
now required of us. "
00:19:11.48\00:19:13.31
Genesis 42 verse 22,
00:19:13.35\00:19:14.82
is the echo of the past warning,
00:19:14.85\00:19:16.22
"Shed no blood. "
Genesis 37 verse 22,
00:19:16.25\00:19:18.89
So, they
reinforced the link between
00:19:18.92\00:19:20.72
what they were now
facing and what they had done.
00:19:20.76\00:19:23.32
You know, every one
of us is going to face...
00:19:23.36\00:19:25.79
come face to face with
the record of our lives
00:19:25.83\00:19:28.46
and... and God is
calling us to come face to face
00:19:28.53\00:19:31.13
with that record right now
00:19:31.17\00:19:32.50
while there's a
Mediator in heaven
00:19:32.53\00:19:33.87
and while we can have
forgiveness for our sins.
00:19:33.90\00:19:36.17
That's what God decides.
00:19:36.20\00:19:37.67
Some men's sins are opened
beforehand... go into judgment
00:19:37.71\00:19:40.01
and others... they follow after.
00:19:40.04\00:19:41.38
And those that
follow after can't be hid,
00:19:41.41\00:19:43.18
God wants to
hide our iniquities,
00:19:43.21\00:19:45.11
He wants to hide
the history of our sins.
00:19:45.18\00:19:46.88
The whole thing is
going to be blotted out.
00:19:46.92\00:19:48.58
God wants to do that
for every single human being
00:19:48.62\00:19:50.82
on planet earth.
00:19:50.85\00:19:52.19
That's really what
the Investigative Judgment
00:19:52.22\00:19:53.69
is all about... it's
not a negative thing,
00:19:53.72\00:19:55.79
it's... it's part of
the everlasting gospel
00:19:55.82\00:19:57.86
so, it must be a good
thing... it must be good news.
00:19:57.89\00:20:00.13
So, most of us surely have
done, the Lesson Quarterly says,
00:20:00.16\00:20:04.03
things for which we are sorry
00:20:04.07\00:20:05.67
so, how can we... to
whatever we did possible
00:20:05.70\00:20:08.07
make up for what we've done?
00:20:08.10\00:20:09.44
Also, why is accepting
God's promise of forgiveness
00:20:09.47\00:20:13.21
through Jesus so crucial for us?
00:20:13.27\00:20:15.71
Why is it so important
for us and how can we...
00:20:15.74\00:20:17.88
how can we make amends?
00:20:17.91\00:20:19.25
Well, one of the ways, I think,
that's really important for us
00:20:19.28\00:20:22.72
to recognize and make amends
00:20:22.75\00:20:24.85
is as Joseph's brothers
did to think about our past
00:20:24.89\00:20:28.89
when the Spirit convicts us
00:20:28.92\00:20:30.33
and to allow God to give us
that remorse and that regret.
00:20:30.36\00:20:33.83
Don't be afraid of
that... don't be afraid...
00:20:33.86\00:20:36.06
if you've made a mistake,
00:20:36.10\00:20:37.43
don't be a afraid
to acknowledge it.
00:20:37.47\00:20:38.80
This was the experience of...
00:20:38.83\00:20:40.54
of the famous
leaders of the Old Testament
00:20:40.57\00:20:43.10
like David, for example
00:20:43.14\00:20:44.84
who Jill, you brought
out in our last Session,
00:20:44.87\00:20:47.51
acknowledged his sins
and iniquities in Psalm 51.
00:20:47.54\00:20:50.11
"Against Thee and Thee
only have I sinned... "
00:20:50.15\00:20:52.51
because really, ultimately
all sin was paid for by God.
00:20:52.55\00:20:57.05
God wants us to
experience forgiveness.
00:20:57.09\00:21:01.42
Now, what's really interesting,
I'm just going to jump back here
00:21:01.46\00:21:04.23
to Genesis 41...
00:21:04.26\00:21:05.59
John, you covered that
chapter with just one verse
00:21:05.63\00:21:07.53
that I think is
really significant, verse 51,
00:21:07.60\00:21:11.00
it says that Joseph
named his son, Manasseh
00:21:11.03\00:21:14.14
because God has
caused him to forget
00:21:14.17\00:21:17.24
"all of my father's
house and all of my trouble. "
00:21:17.27\00:21:19.67
Now, that word "Manasseh"
is a really significant word
00:21:19.71\00:21:22.08
it means in the
root... to forgive... to remit
00:21:22.11\00:21:25.28
to remove... God
has caused me to forget.
00:21:25.31\00:21:27.02
In other words, Joseph
had come to the place where
00:21:27.05\00:21:30.39
God had caused him to
forget and in a sense forgive
00:21:30.42\00:21:33.69
what his
brothers had done to him
00:21:33.72\00:21:35.82
because Joseph had realized...
00:21:35.86\00:21:37.89
God's brought all
this evil for good.
00:21:37.93\00:21:39.66
Praise the Lord
00:21:39.69\00:21:41.66
and so, God does
that in our lives.
00:21:41.70\00:21:43.60
God works in our lives
00:21:43.67\00:21:45.63
so that He can actually heal us.
00:21:45.67\00:21:47.64
He can bring forgiveness to us
00:21:47.67\00:21:49.57
even if other
people who have hurt us
00:21:49.60\00:21:52.27
are not in the picture yet.
00:21:52.31\00:21:53.64
Sometimes that
forgiveness comes first to us
00:21:53.68\00:21:56.04
before the other people
are even in the picture.
00:21:56.11\00:21:57.58
Joseph's brothers
aren't in the picture yet.
00:21:57.61\00:21:59.05
He hasn't even see them
00:21:59.08\00:22:00.42
but he's already feeling
the... the grace of God...
00:22:00.45\00:22:03.45
the forgiveness of God.
00:22:03.49\00:22:04.82
God... and he says,
00:22:04.85\00:22:06.19
"I'm going to
name my first son...
00:22:06.22\00:22:07.56
I'm going to name
him: Manasseh... "
00:22:07.59\00:22:08.92
and by the way, Dan is not
present in Revelation chapter 7,
00:22:08.96\00:22:11.99
the Sealing Chapter,
00:22:12.03\00:22:13.40
you know, you have the
12 tribes there symbolized.
00:22:13.43\00:22:15.43
Dan is gone... because
Dan is an adder in the way.
00:22:15.46\00:22:17.40
We'll talk about that later
but... but he is replaced...
00:22:17.43\00:22:19.97
there are still 12 tribes there
00:22:20.00\00:22:21.34
and the one who
replaces him is Manasseh...
00:22:21.37\00:22:23.14
the one who forgives
00:22:23.17\00:22:25.91
or the one who
causes to forgive.
00:22:25.94\00:22:27.54
Now... but I think
this is significant
00:22:27.58\00:22:30.61
even though Joseph
forgives his brothers,
00:22:30.65\00:22:33.52
he still tests
them when they show up.
00:22:33.55\00:22:36.38
Just because we forgive people
00:22:36.45\00:22:38.52
doesn't mean we just bring
them right into the circle again
00:22:38.55\00:22:40.96
and we just trust them, right?
00:22:40.99\00:22:42.32
We can forgive people
00:22:42.36\00:22:43.69
and still have a little
bit of a... a boundary there,
00:22:43.73\00:22:47.46
right? Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:22:47.50\00:22:48.83
James: We can have a little
bit of a boundary there and say,
00:22:48.86\00:22:50.20
"Wait a minute, I want to see
if these guys have changed... "
00:22:50.23\00:22:52.00
I mean, when we look at the
stories of the Old Testament,
00:22:52.03\00:22:53.84
we see this over and over again,
00:22:53.87\00:22:55.20
for example, Job... he
prayed for his friends,
00:22:55.24\00:22:57.31
"These miserable comforters...
00:22:57.34\00:22:58.67
worthless facetious friends...
00:22:58.71\00:23:00.04
he prayed for
his friends, right?
00:23:00.08\00:23:01.41
But he still
challenged them when they said,
00:23:01.44\00:23:03.21
"Yeah Job, your...
00:23:03.24\00:23:05.45
you know, your
theology is off... "
00:23:05.48\00:23:06.92
"No, it isn't... "
00:23:06.95\00:23:08.88
"You don't believe in...
" "I do believe in God... "
00:23:08.92\00:23:10.25
he stood up to them,
right? Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:23:10.29\00:23:11.62
James: So, our attitude
toward others of forgiveness...
00:23:11.65\00:23:14.46
of prayer... of intercession
00:23:14.49\00:23:15.82
doesn't mean that we just
acquiesce to what they believe
00:23:15.86\00:23:18.53
what they... we don't have
to be what others say we are,
00:23:18.56\00:23:21.23
we are what God calls us to be
00:23:21.26\00:23:23.00
and we see this in
David too, you know,
00:23:23.03\00:23:24.83
David had this attitude
of forgiveness towards Saul
00:23:24.87\00:23:28.37
but he didn't head back
to the palace, you know,
00:23:28.40\00:23:31.87
he maintained his distance.
00:23:31.91\00:23:33.91
He had healthy boundaries
00:23:33.94\00:23:35.88
and Joseph has set up
these healthy boundaries.
00:23:35.91\00:23:38.31
"I want to see if these
brothers have changed...
00:23:38.35\00:23:40.72
if they're different
00:23:40.75\00:23:42.08
and I'm going to put a little
test in... in place here. "
00:23:42.12\00:23:44.15
And so, when
Joseph's brothers come,
00:23:44.19\00:23:46.52
we see the whole... and
this is the whole scenario of...
00:23:46.55\00:23:48.59
of Genesis chapter
42... he tests them.
00:23:48.62\00:23:51.59
He decides, you know,
00:23:51.63\00:23:53.03
"I'm going to
put the cup in there
00:23:53.06\00:23:54.56
and I'm going to
put the Silver back
00:23:54.63\00:23:56.06
and I'm going to see
how they treat Benjamin.
00:23:56.13\00:23:57.47
I'm going to see if
Benjamin will come...
00:23:57.50\00:23:58.83
I'm going to put
one of them in prison...
00:23:58.87\00:24:00.20
I'm going to test these guys. "
00:24:00.24\00:24:01.74
And you know,
they... they bear that test.
00:24:01.77\00:24:03.10
They accept their situation
00:24:03.14\00:24:05.41
and eventually, as
Joseph reveals himself...
00:24:05.44\00:24:08.74
they confess indeed
that they had sinned
00:24:08.78\00:24:12.01
They confess it not just
to Joseph but also to Jacob
00:24:12.05\00:24:14.88
and reconciliation takes place,
00:24:14.95\00:24:17.39
you know, forgiveness
brings reconciliation
00:24:17.42\00:24:19.92
to all of our relationships
00:24:19.95\00:24:21.29
and that's what God's all about.
00:24:21.32\00:24:22.66
Panel: Amen...
00:24:22.69\00:24:24.03
Lomacang: Thank you,
that's wonderful... wonderful.
00:24:24.06\00:24:25.39
You know, I also want...
00:24:25.43\00:24:26.76
I've been mentioning
the writer of the lesson,
00:24:26.80\00:24:28.13
I want to just
acknowledge Jacques B. Doukhan
00:24:28.16\00:24:30.10
who has done an excellent job
in constructing these lessons
00:24:30.13\00:24:33.27
with an entire
wonderful Committee.
00:24:33.34\00:24:35.50
But we have more
for you to enjoy,
00:24:35.54\00:24:37.61
don't go away,
we'll be right back.
00:24:37.64\00:24:39.64
Music...
00:24:39.67\00:24:45.31
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or share it on Facebook...
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Well, you can by visiting:
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A clean design makes it easy
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Lomacang: Welcome back to
our 3ABN Sabbath School Panel
00:25:16.04\00:25:18.88
on the book of Genesis
00:25:18.91\00:25:20.25
and now we're going
to go to Jason Bradley.
00:25:20.28\00:25:22.68
Jason: All right,
I've got Tuesday's Lesson
00:25:22.75\00:25:25.52
and it is
entitled: Joseph and Benjamin
00:25:25.55\00:25:28.16
and you know,
Joseph's journey is perhaps
00:25:28.19\00:25:31.36
one of my favorite
stories in the Bible.
00:25:31.39\00:25:34.53
There are so many
lessons that can be gleaned
00:25:34.56\00:25:37.30
from his experience
00:25:37.33\00:25:38.93
but I'd like for us to start
by looking at his father Jacob
00:25:38.97\00:25:43.61
and there's somewhat
of a natural order to life
00:25:43.64\00:25:46.44
and what I mean by that is
00:25:46.47\00:25:47.98
that parents aren't supposed
to outlive their children.
00:25:48.04\00:25:52.38
Panel: Hmmm...
00:25:52.41\00:25:53.75
Jason: It's unfortunate
that death is currently
00:25:53.78\00:25:56.05
a part of life... and I can't
think of anyone that I know
00:25:56.08\00:25:59.09
that hasn't experienced
the loss of a loved one.
00:25:59.12\00:26:02.26
I know, for me,
I've lost consistently
00:26:02.29\00:26:05.96
about two loved ones...
two family members per year
00:26:05.99\00:26:10.97
for five or six years
in a row. Panel: Hmmm...
00:26:11.00\00:26:14.80
Jason: Death is painful
00:26:14.84\00:26:16.67
and traumas from tragedies
can make us slower to move
00:26:16.71\00:26:20.01
and sometimes leads us to a
state of analysis paralysis.
00:26:20.08\00:26:23.35
I want us to
look at several verses
00:26:23.38\00:26:25.41
and you'll notice
a common thread here.
00:26:25.45\00:26:27.38
The first verse I want us to
look at is Genesis chapter 37
00:26:27.42\00:26:31.45
verse 35.
00:26:31.49\00:26:33.46
You may want to write these down
00:26:33.49\00:26:34.82
because we're going to move
through these rather quickly.
00:26:34.86\00:26:36.69
But Genesis
chapter 37 verse 35 says,
00:26:36.73\00:26:39.46
"And all his sons
and all his daughters
00:26:39.49\00:26:42.16
arose to comfort him;
00:26:42.20\00:26:43.53
but he refused to be comforted,
00:26:43.57\00:26:45.53
and he said, 'For I
shall go down into the grave
00:26:45.57\00:26:48.60
to my son in mourning. '
00:26:48.64\00:26:50.07
Thus his father wept for him. '"
00:26:50.11\00:26:51.97
Genesis chapter 42 verse 38,
00:26:52.01\00:26:55.01
"But he said, 'My son
shall not go down with you,
00:26:55.04\00:26:59.08
for his brother is
dead, and he is left alone.
00:26:59.11\00:27:01.88
If any calamity should
befall him along the way
00:27:01.92\00:27:05.55
in which you go,
00:27:05.59\00:27:06.92
then you would bring
down my gray hair with sorrow
00:27:06.96\00:27:10.53
to the grave. "
00:27:10.56\00:27:11.89
Perhaps by now, you're
noticing the common thread
00:27:11.93\00:27:15.06
but we'll look at
Genesis chapter 42 verse 4,
00:27:15.10\00:27:18.20
it says, "But Jacob did not
send Joseph's brother Benjamin
00:27:18.23\00:27:22.84
with his brothers,
00:27:22.87\00:27:24.21
for he said, 'Lest
some calamity befall him. '"
00:27:24.24\00:27:27.04
It is only when we are
placed in desperate situation
00:27:27.08\00:27:31.35
that we take desperate action
00:27:31.38\00:27:33.11
and as the lesson points out...
00:27:33.15\00:27:34.78
Jacob could not easily
allow the departure of Benjamin
00:27:34.82\00:27:38.65
his only son with
Rachel who remained with him.
00:27:38.69\00:27:41.62
He was afraid
that he would lose him
00:27:41.66\00:27:43.93
as he already lost Joseph.
00:27:43.96\00:27:45.49
It is only when
there was no more food
00:27:45.53\00:27:47.86
and when Judah
pledge to guarantee
00:27:47.90\00:27:50.17
the return of Benjamin,
00:27:50.20\00:27:51.53
that Jacob finally consented
for a second visit to Egypt
00:27:51.57\00:27:55.70
and allowed Benjamin
to go with his brothers
00:27:55.74\00:27:58.37
and I can only imagine
that Jacob's level of anxiety
00:27:58.41\00:28:03.08
must have been
at an all-time high.
00:28:03.14\00:28:06.51
Genesis chapter
43 verses 13 and 14.
00:28:06.55\00:28:09.92
"Take your
brother also, and arise,
00:28:09.95\00:28:13.29
go back to the man.
00:28:13.32\00:28:14.72
And may God Almighty
give you mercy before the man,
00:28:14.76\00:28:18.43
that he may release your
other brother and Benjamin.
00:28:18.46\00:28:21.96
If I am
bereaved, I am bereaved!"
00:28:22.00\00:28:26.30
And I can picture him saying
that with... with such pain
00:28:26.33\00:28:30.37
and... and passion in his voice.
00:28:30.41\00:28:32.01
It's interesting...
according to Dr. Kevin Fleming,
00:28:32.04\00:28:35.88
"Persistent complex
bereavement disorder
00:28:35.91\00:28:39.01
is a DSM-5 Diagnosis
00:28:39.05\00:28:41.45
assigned to individuals
00:28:41.48\00:28:43.25
who experience an unusually
disabling or prolonged response
00:28:43.28\00:28:48.52
to bereavement. "
00:28:48.56\00:28:49.89
Some of the symptoms of
PCBD that stood out to me
00:28:49.92\00:28:55.00
has it could possibly have
pertained to Jacob's situation
00:28:55.03\00:28:58.50
were: feeling
shocked... stunned...
00:28:58.53\00:29:01.07
or numb since a
loved one's death.
00:29:01.10\00:29:03.57
Feelings of disbelief or
inability to accept the loss.
00:29:03.61\00:29:09.08
Rumination about
the circumstances
00:29:09.14\00:29:12.31
or consequences of the death.
00:29:12.35\00:29:14.28
Trouble trusting others.
00:29:14.32\00:29:16.69
Intense reactions to memories
or reminders of the deceased.
00:29:16.72\00:29:22.12
The thing that
continues to blow my mind
00:29:22.16\00:29:25.09
is that Jacob's
grief or his bereavement
00:29:25.16\00:29:28.06
fell under false pretenses.
00:29:28.10\00:29:30.53
In other words,
Joseph wasn't dead
00:29:30.57\00:29:33.17
and the actions of his brothers
00:29:33.20\00:29:35.74
caused their father
an immense amount of pain
00:29:35.80\00:29:38.74
for an extended period of time
00:29:38.77\00:29:40.88
and impacted his
decision-making process.
00:29:40.94\00:29:43.58
Now, I don't want
to sound too cliché
00:29:43.65\00:29:46.25
but it's important
that we're cognizant
00:29:46.28\00:29:48.85
of the choices that we make
00:29:48.88\00:29:51.02
realizing that they
don't just impact us.
00:29:51.05\00:29:54.36
They have
long-lasting ramifications
00:29:54.39\00:29:57.36
for others as well.
00:29:57.39\00:29:58.73
The lesson poses the question:
00:29:58.76\00:30:00.96
What effect had
Benjamin's presence
00:30:01.03\00:30:04.80
on the course of events?
00:30:04.83\00:30:06.57
I'd like to submit to you that
00:30:06.60\00:30:09.37
Benjamin was the
spiritual barometer
00:30:09.40\00:30:12.94
by which Joseph measured the
fruit of his brothers' lives.
00:30:12.97\00:30:16.95
Allow me to unpack that.
00:30:16.98\00:30:18.85
Matthew chapter 7
verses 18 to 20 says,
00:30:18.88\00:30:23.08
"A good tree
cannot bear bad fruit,
00:30:23.12\00:30:26.32
nor can a bad
tree bear good fruit.
00:30:26.35\00:30:29.02
Every tree that does not
bear good fruit is cut down
00:30:29.06\00:30:33.29
and thrown into the fire. "
00:30:33.33\00:30:35.43
And verse 20,
00:30:35.46\00:30:36.93
"Therefore by their
fruits you will know them. "
00:30:36.97\00:30:41.20
Joseph tested his
brothers on multiple occasions
00:30:41.24\00:30:45.47
as you brought out
earlier Pastor Rafferty,
00:30:45.51\00:30:48.34
and I love this quote that's
found in Patriarchs and Prophets
00:30:48.38\00:30:51.65
it's on Pages 228 and 229.
00:30:51.68\00:30:54.38
It says, "Joseph sent messes
unto them from before him;
00:30:54.42\00:30:59.19
but Benjamin's was five times
as much as any of his brothers.
00:30:59.22\00:31:03.66
By this token of
favor to Benjamin
00:31:03.69\00:31:06.19
Joseph hoped to ascertain
00:31:06.23\00:31:08.16
if the youngest brother
was regarded with the envy
00:31:08.20\00:31:11.53
and hatred that had been
manifested toward himself.
00:31:11.57\00:31:14.64
Still supposing that Joseph did
not understand their language,
00:31:14.67\00:31:18.71
the brothers freely
conversed with one another;
00:31:18.74\00:31:22.08
thus he had a good opportunity
to learn their real feelings.
00:31:22.11\00:31:27.18
Still, he desired
to test them further,
00:31:27.22\00:31:31.12
and before their departure
00:31:31.15\00:31:32.82
he ordered that his
own drinking cup of silver
00:31:32.85\00:31:35.99
should be concealed in
the sack of the youngest. "
00:31:36.02\00:31:39.29
There are a
couple of key takeaways:
00:31:39.33\00:31:42.03
Number 1: Joseph valued
family and sibling unity.
00:31:42.06\00:31:47.04
Number 2: The
ministry of reconciliation
00:31:47.07\00:31:51.27
is our responsibility.
00:31:51.31\00:31:53.74
2nd Corinthians
chapter 5 verses 17 through 20,
00:31:53.78\00:31:57.88
says, "Therefore if
anyone is in Christ,
00:31:57.91\00:32:00.92
he is a new creation;
00:32:00.95\00:32:02.72
old things have passed away;
00:32:02.75\00:32:04.95
behold, all
things have become new. "
00:32:04.99\00:32:07.49
Now, normally we
stop right there, we say,
00:32:07.52\00:32:09.76
"Amen...
hallelujah... praise the Lord"
00:32:09.79\00:32:11.56
but we're going to continue
till verses 18 through 20,
00:32:11.59\00:32:15.03
because you have to catch this.
00:32:15.06\00:32:16.73
"Now all things are of God,
00:32:16.77\00:32:18.67
who has reconciled us to
Himself, through Jesus Christ,
00:32:18.70\00:32:22.30
and has given us the
ministry of reconciliation,
00:32:22.34\00:32:26.31
that is, that God was in Christ
00:32:26.34\00:32:28.44
reconciling the
world to Himself,
00:32:28.48\00:32:30.68
not imputing their
trespasses to them,
00:32:30.71\00:32:33.48
and has committed to us
the word of reconciliation.
00:32:33.52\00:32:37.49
Now then, we are
ambassadors for Christ,
00:32:37.52\00:32:40.99
as though God were
pleading through us:
00:32:41.02\00:32:43.46
we implore you
on Christ's behalf,
00:32:43.49\00:32:46.80
be reconciled to God. "
00:32:46.83\00:32:49.00
Panel: Yeah...
yeah... that's right.
00:32:49.03\00:32:50.57
Jason: Point Number 3:
00:32:50.60\00:32:52.47
Sometimes it's in
our darkest moments
00:32:52.50\00:32:54.97
that God's light
shines the brightest.
00:32:55.00\00:32:57.44
Joseph possessed qualities
that were needed in trials.
00:32:57.47\00:33:01.68
and so, let's take a
look at those qualities.
00:33:01.71\00:33:05.05
James chapter 1
verses 19 and 20.
00:33:05.08\00:33:08.55
"So then, my beloved brethren,
00:33:08.58\00:33:11.32
let every man be swift to hear,
slow to speak, slow to wrath;
00:33:11.35\00:33:17.39
for the wrath of man
00:33:17.43\00:33:18.89
does not produce the
righteousness of God. "
00:33:18.93\00:33:21.80
Point Number 4:
00:33:21.83\00:33:23.87
Sometimes,
separation is preparation
00:33:23.90\00:33:26.77
for our eternal destiny.
00:33:26.80\00:33:28.77
God took the tragedy
that occurred in Joseph's life
00:33:28.80\00:33:33.14
and turned it into a
triumphant saving grace.
00:33:33.17\00:33:37.18
Panel: That's right... amen.
00:33:37.21\00:33:38.55
Jason: And
finally, Point Number 5:
00:33:38.58\00:33:40.25
We all experience
trials and that's a fact.
00:33:40.28\00:33:44.62
How can we profit from trials?
00:33:44.65\00:33:46.65
James chapter 1
verses 2 through 5,
00:33:46.69\00:33:49.26
"My brethren, count it all joy
00:33:49.29\00:33:51.89
when you fall
into various trials,
00:33:51.93\00:33:53.90
knowing that the testing of
your faith produces patience.
00:33:53.93\00:33:58.10
But let patience
have its perfect work,
00:33:58.13\00:34:01.14
that you may be perfect
and complete, lacking nothing.
00:34:01.17\00:34:04.97
If any of you lacks
wisdom, let him ask of God,
00:34:05.01\00:34:08.94
who gives to all
liberally and without reproach,
00:34:08.98\00:34:12.81
and it will be given to him. "
00:34:12.85\00:34:14.98
So, the
question I leave you with
00:34:15.02\00:34:17.49
is who do we reflect as
we're going through our trials?
00:34:17.52\00:34:24.09
Panel: Amen... amen...
00:34:24.13\00:34:25.73
Jill: Great job
Jason, I love that.
00:34:25.76\00:34:28.36
Each one of you...
thank you for the lesson.
00:34:28.40\00:34:30.77
I am Jill Morikone
00:34:30.80\00:34:32.80
and I have Wednesday's
Lesson: The Divination Cup
00:34:32.83\00:34:36.00
but I actually took the
liberty to re-name this Lesson.
00:34:36.07\00:34:39.17
My name for it is:
True Repentance Revealed
00:34:39.21\00:34:43.31
because that's what we
see in Genesis chapter 44.
00:34:43.35\00:34:47.32
As we've seen
already through this journey,
00:34:47.35\00:34:50.42
Joseph was sold as a
slave when he was 17.
00:34:50.45\00:34:53.22
He spent 10 years
in Potiphar's house...
00:34:53.25\00:34:55.99
three years in prison...
00:34:56.02\00:34:57.39
he's 30 when he
became Governor of Egypt.
00:34:57.43\00:35:00.73
Over all the land, there
was seven years of plenty
00:35:00.76\00:35:04.37
and the famine began...
00:35:04.43\00:35:05.77
so, it's been a while
since he has seen his father.
00:35:05.80\00:35:09.87
We're talking years.
00:35:09.90\00:35:11.54
Now, it's interesting.
00:35:11.57\00:35:13.11
Why did it take Joseph so long
00:35:13.14\00:35:16.08
to reveal who he
was to his brothers?
00:35:16.14\00:35:18.85
When Pastor James had his
lesson in Genesis chapter 42,
00:35:18.88\00:35:22.98
Joseph could have said,
"Hey guys, I'm Joseph... "
00:35:23.02\00:35:25.25
but he did not
00:35:25.29\00:35:26.92
and there has to be
probably at least a year
00:35:26.96\00:35:30.16
or more than a year
00:35:30.19\00:35:31.53
from Genesis 42... till we
get down to Jason and my lesson
00:35:31.56\00:35:34.46
because they
were there in Egypt...
00:35:34.50\00:35:36.36
they went all the
way back to Canaan...
00:35:36.40\00:35:38.23
they ate and ate and
ate and used up all the food
00:35:38.27\00:35:41.40
and then finally,
Daddy Jacob gives permission
00:35:41.44\00:35:44.47
for Benjamin to go with
the brothers back to Egypt.
00:35:44.51\00:35:47.91
So, this is quite a while
00:35:47.94\00:35:49.28
and then, Joseph
still has the meal
00:35:49.31\00:35:52.18
and gives more
portions to Benjamin
00:35:52.21\00:35:54.18
and still, he does not
immediately reveal who he is.
00:35:54.22\00:35:58.22
You see, in Genesis 42,
00:35:58.25\00:36:00.59
as Pastor James
brought out so well,
00:36:00.62\00:36:02.52
there was conviction
and there was regret.
00:36:02.56\00:36:04.99
The Holy Spirit was
working bringing conviction...
00:36:05.03\00:36:07.53
what did they do to Joseph?
00:36:07.60\00:36:09.83
There was regret but I don't
think you see true repentance
00:36:09.86\00:36:13.40
till you get to
Genesis chapter 44.
00:36:13.44\00:36:15.90
I divided it
into three sections...
00:36:15.94\00:36:18.37
we have the setup...
00:36:18.41\00:36:19.94
the brothers' response
00:36:19.97\00:36:21.34
and then, Judah's intercession
which is my favorite part.
00:36:21.38\00:36:25.98
So, let's look at the setup,
00:36:26.01\00:36:27.35
we're in Genesis
44 verses 1 through 5,
00:36:27.38\00:36:29.92
"And he... " this is Joseph,
00:36:29.95\00:36:32.65
"commanded the
steward of his house, saying,
00:36:32.69\00:36:34.56
'Fill the men's sacks with
food, as much as they can carry,
00:36:34.59\00:36:37.26
and put each man's money
in the mouth of his sack.
00:36:37.29\00:36:40.16
Also, put my
cup, the silver cup,
00:36:40.20\00:36:43.00
in the mouth of the
sack of the youngest,
00:36:43.03\00:36:44.70
and his grain money. '
00:36:44.73\00:36:46.07
So he did according to the
word that Joseph had spoken.
00:36:46.10\00:36:48.70
As soon as the morning
dawned, the men were sent away,
00:36:48.74\00:36:51.27
they and their donkeys. "
00:36:51.34\00:36:52.67
I'm sure they were
happy they had this feast
00:36:52.71\00:36:54.41
but Benjamin gets to go back...
00:36:54.44\00:36:55.78
Simeon's released...
everything's going well.
00:36:55.81\00:36:57.78
"When they had gone out of the
city, and were not yet far off,
00:36:57.81\00:37:00.78
Joseph said to his steward,
00:37:00.82\00:37:02.35
'Get up, follow the men;
00:37:02.38\00:37:04.09
when you overtake
them, say to them,
00:37:04.12\00:37:05.45
'Why have you
repaid evil for good?
00:37:05.49\00:37:07.86
Is not this the one
from which my lord drinks,
00:37:07.89\00:37:11.26
and with which he
indeed practices divination?
00:37:11.29\00:37:14.00
You have done
evil in so doing. '"
00:37:14.03\00:37:16.67
So, they were set
up... the brothers were
00:37:16.70\00:37:19.03
to make it look
like they had stolen.
00:37:19.07\00:37:21.37
They had stolen the money
00:37:21.40\00:37:22.90
and they had also
stolen the divination cup.
00:37:22.94\00:37:26.27
Scyphomancy... I hope I
pronounced that correctly,
00:37:26.31\00:37:31.25
Scyphomancy is divination
using a cup or a goblet.
00:37:31.28\00:37:35.45
It may involve forecasting
by using a cup of water
00:37:35.48\00:37:39.59
and reading the signs
00:37:39.62\00:37:41.36
represented by certain articles
that are floating in the water.
00:37:41.39\00:37:45.29
It's considered one
of the oldest methods
00:37:45.33\00:37:48.00
of foretelling the future
00:37:48.03\00:37:49.40
by means of
crystalline reflection
00:37:49.43\00:37:52.13
both in ancient
Egypt and in Persia.
00:37:52.17\00:37:54.94
So, divination
with liquids was common
00:37:54.97\00:37:57.71
but it was strictly forbidden.
00:37:57.74\00:37:59.31
We know that... in Leviticus,
00:37:59.34\00:38:00.94
you shall not eat
anything with blood
00:38:00.98\00:38:02.64
nor shall you practice
divination or soothsaying.
00:38:02.71\00:38:06.11
So, why does
Joseph even make it appear
00:38:06.15\00:38:08.62
as if he's using
the divination cup
00:38:08.68\00:38:10.75
because that's
clearly not Biblical?
00:38:10.79\00:38:12.72
I would say there
are three reasons.
00:38:12.75\00:38:14.56
First, the divination was a
means of acquiring information.
00:38:14.59\00:38:18.66
Joseph used the cup
to acquire information
00:38:18.69\00:38:21.23
not by pouring liquid
into it in some sort of Séance
00:38:21.26\00:38:24.77
with trying to
foretell the future.
00:38:24.80\00:38:26.80
He did it by
testing his brothers.
00:38:26.84\00:38:28.74
That's how he used it
to acquire information.
00:38:28.77\00:38:31.71
Had they really changed?
00:38:31.74\00:38:33.68
Were they repentant?
00:38:33.71\00:38:35.58
The second reason I see is
that taking the divination cup
00:38:35.61\00:38:39.11
increased the
guilt of the offender.
00:38:39.15\00:38:41.05
It would have
held great financial
00:38:41.08\00:38:42.98
and spiritual significance
in the land of Egypt.
00:38:43.02\00:38:45.19
So, if one of the
brothers was found to have
00:38:45.22\00:38:47.42
the divination cup,
00:38:47.46\00:38:48.79
it would be a huge deal
for them there in Egypt.
00:38:48.82\00:38:51.49
And the third reason is the
divination cup would indicate
00:38:51.53\00:38:54.26
to the brothers that
Joseph could read their hearts.
00:38:54.30\00:38:57.10
Patriarchs and
Prophets, page 229,
00:38:57.13\00:38:59.93
"Joseph had never
claimed the power of divination,
00:38:59.97\00:39:03.00
but he was willing
to have them believe
00:39:03.04\00:39:05.51
that he could read the
secrets of their lives. "
00:39:05.54\00:39:08.64
Once again, it's
putting pressure on them.
00:39:08.68\00:39:11.25
Now, let's look at
the brothers' response.
00:39:11.28\00:39:13.98
The first response
is that of innocence.
00:39:14.02\00:39:16.22
"Who Us? We
didn't take the money,
00:39:16.25\00:39:18.92
we didn't do anything,
why would we take the cup?"
00:39:18.95\00:39:21.36
Their second
response is one of smugness...
00:39:21.39\00:39:24.59
one of cockiness...
00:39:24.63\00:39:26.46
"We are so certain
that we didn't take the cup
00:39:26.49\00:39:29.60
that whoever's bag has the cup,
00:39:29.66\00:39:32.23
you can kill him. "
00:39:32.27\00:39:33.67
That's smug, right?
00:39:33.70\00:39:35.04
"We're certain that
we didn't take the cup. "
00:39:35.07\00:39:37.61
And the steward kind of
modifies the sentence, it says,
00:39:37.64\00:39:40.11
"No... they're
not going to be killed
00:39:40.14\00:39:42.14
but they'll just be the slave. "
00:39:42.18\00:39:43.55
They will become a slave.
00:39:43.58\00:39:45.58
Now we see the true
repentance being revealed
00:39:45.61\00:39:48.18
because the brothers
could have said, what?
00:39:48.22\00:39:49.92
"Okay, it's in Benjamin's cup,
00:39:49.95\00:39:51.79
good riddance...
he's going back to Egypt,
00:39:51.82\00:39:53.96
we're going home to Daddy...
00:39:53.99\00:39:55.62
we're not
concerned about it... "
00:39:55.66\00:39:57.33
like they had done
with Joseph, right?
00:39:57.36\00:39:58.79
"He's gone... we don't care...
00:39:58.83\00:40:00.56
we're going back to Dad...
00:40:00.60\00:40:01.93
we don't care if we
break our father's heart...
00:40:01.96\00:40:03.37
we don't care if we hurt him...
00:40:03.40\00:40:05.23
we don't care what
our sin has caused... "
00:40:05.27\00:40:07.67
but instead, they
all tore their clothes.
00:40:07.70\00:40:10.04
Instead, they all
returned to Egypt with Benjamin.
00:40:10.07\00:40:13.88
Takeaway Number 1:
00:40:13.91\00:40:15.81
True repentance
acknowledges my own sin
00:40:15.84\00:40:18.81
and doesn't point
fingers at others.
00:40:18.85\00:40:21.68
All the brothers
responded with grief.
00:40:21.75\00:40:24.55
All the brothers took the blame.
00:40:24.59\00:40:27.76
And then, we see Judah
speaks in Genesis 44 verse 16,
00:40:27.79\00:40:31.26
Judah said, "What
shall we say to my lord?
00:40:31.29\00:40:33.43
What shall we speak? How
shall we clear ourselves?
00:40:33.46\00:40:35.76
God has found out the
iniquity of your servants;
00:40:35.80\00:40:38.43
here we are, my lord's slaves,
00:40:38.47\00:40:40.00
both we and he also with
whom the cup was found. "
00:40:40.04\00:40:43.47
Pause...
00:40:43.51\00:40:45.14
Judah recognizes that
they're guilty before God...
00:40:45.17\00:40:47.51
not that they took the cup
00:40:47.54\00:40:48.88
they're not guilty of that.
00:40:48.91\00:40:50.25
But their sins of the
past have come back to...
00:40:50.28\00:40:54.58
you could say... haunt them.
00:40:54.62\00:40:56.18
They recognize the
guilt that they incurred
00:40:56.22\00:40:59.89
with being jealous
of their brother...
00:40:59.95\00:41:01.99
with hating their brother...
00:41:02.02\00:41:03.43
with selling their brother.
00:41:03.46\00:41:04.79
Takeaway Number 2:
00:41:04.83\00:41:06.19
True repentance acknowledges
guilt before God alone.
00:41:06.23\00:41:10.70
Our sin is to God and God alone
00:41:10.73\00:41:13.97
and they acknowledge and
recognize the sin in their life.
00:41:14.00\00:41:18.24
Joseph answers and he says,
00:41:18.27\00:41:20.34
"You're all not
going to be slaves,
00:41:20.38\00:41:21.71
I'm only keeping Benjamin. "
00:41:21.74\00:41:23.48
Now we come to
my favorite part...
00:41:23.51\00:41:25.25
this is Judah's intercession.
00:41:25.28\00:41:27.68
It's the longest speech that
you find in the book of Genesis.
00:41:27.72\00:41:32.19
Right here is
Judah's intercession.
00:41:32.22\00:41:34.59
I think there's three
elements in Judah's appeal.
00:41:34.62\00:41:37.19
There's an attitude
00:41:37.23\00:41:38.63
namely submission
to Joseph's authority.
00:41:38.66\00:41:42.50
There is an
action namely repentance.
00:41:42.53\00:41:45.57
This is a change
in Judah's behavior
00:41:45.60\00:41:48.57
in which he's willing
to offer himself as a slave
00:41:48.60\00:41:51.34
so that Benjamin can go free.
00:41:51.37\00:41:54.38
And there is an
affection or an emotion
00:41:54.41\00:41:57.28
seen in the heartfelt
appeal that Judah makes
00:41:57.31\00:42:00.42
to Joseph's compassion
00:42:00.45\00:42:01.98
where he gives the
devastating consequences...
00:42:02.02\00:42:04.45
"This is what's
going to happen to our Dad
00:42:04.49\00:42:06.89
if you keep Benjamin...
00:42:06.96\00:42:08.62
this is what's going
to happen to our Dad. "
00:42:08.66\00:42:11.53
Judah offers himself
in the place of Benjamin.
00:42:11.56\00:42:14.33
He says, "Let Benjamin go free
to our father and I will stay,
00:42:14.36\00:42:19.90
I will be the one imprisoned...
00:42:19.93\00:42:21.54
I will be the slave. "
00:42:21.57\00:42:23.14
We studied several
lessons ago, Mount Moriah...
00:42:23.17\00:42:26.31
Substitutionary Atonement.
00:42:26.34\00:42:27.78
Remember when Abraham was
ready to offer his son, Isaac,
00:42:27.81\00:42:31.25
the ram was
caught in the thicket
00:42:31.28\00:42:33.05
and the ram was
offered in place of Isaac.
00:42:33.11\00:42:35.85
We see Substitutionary Atonement
here... Judah, what does he say?
00:42:35.88\00:42:40.52
"Take me... I will
be the substitute...
00:42:40.56\00:42:43.02
I will take the penalty...
00:42:43.06\00:42:44.66
I will take that on myself...
00:42:44.69\00:42:46.80
I will stand in Benjamin's place
00:42:46.83\00:42:48.90
so that he can go free. "
00:42:48.93\00:42:50.27
Judah... the one who suggested
to sell Joseph as a slave,
00:42:50.30\00:42:55.00
he is now offering his own life
00:42:55.04\00:42:57.74
in exchange for
his younger brother.
00:42:57.77\00:43:00.18
Why? because he loves his father
00:43:00.21\00:43:02.54
and he doesn't
want to cause him pain.
00:43:02.58\00:43:05.45
Takeaway Number 3:
00:43:05.48\00:43:06.95
True repentance grieves the sin
00:43:06.98\00:43:09.62
that hurts our Father's heart.
00:43:09.65\00:43:12.25
Takeaway Number 4:
00:43:12.29\00:43:13.99
True repentance doesn't
want to commit another sin
00:43:14.02\00:43:17.96
to further grieve
our Father's heart.
00:43:17.99\00:43:20.96
Judah regretted...
he was sorry for...
00:43:21.03\00:43:23.93
he repented what he had done
in selling Joseph as a slave
00:43:23.97\00:43:26.84
and he didn't want to hurt his
father more by keeping Benjamin
00:43:26.87\00:43:30.14
from his father.
00:43:30.17\00:43:31.51
You know, I used
to wonder why Judah...
00:43:31.54\00:43:33.84
why Jesus came from
the lineage of Judah,
00:43:33.88\00:43:36.44
why is that?
00:43:36.48\00:43:37.81
Because he sold
his brother as a slave.
00:43:37.85\00:43:40.18
But we see the greedy
man who sold his brother
00:43:40.22\00:43:43.18
is now willing to
become a slave himself
00:43:43.22\00:43:45.19
so that he can go free.
00:43:45.22\00:43:46.55
I used to wonder... why
is Judah the father of Jesus
00:43:46.59\00:43:50.86
because he had that whole affair
with Tamar his daughter-in-law
00:43:50.89\00:43:55.16
and yet, the man who lived a
sensual pleasure-oriented life
00:43:55.20\00:43:59.47
now offers to deny
himself any pleasure...
00:43:59.50\00:44:02.47
any rights...
any personal freedom
00:44:02.50\00:44:04.81
in exchange for
his brother's freedom.
00:44:04.84\00:44:07.08
The man who closed his
heart against his father's grief
00:44:07.11\00:44:10.61
for 21 years
00:44:10.65\00:44:12.25
now says... he cannot
bear to see his father grieve
00:44:12.28\00:44:15.32
from the loss of
his brother Benjamin
00:44:15.35\00:44:17.12
and so, he offers himself as
a substitute in Benjamin's place
00:44:17.15\00:44:23.43
so that Benjamin can go
back home to his father.
00:44:23.46\00:44:26.46
That is true
repentance revealed.
00:44:26.49\00:44:29.46
Panel: Amen... amen.
00:44:29.50\00:44:31.13
Shelley: Praise the
Lord and thank you all for...
00:44:31.17\00:44:34.10
this is such an amazing
study, I'm Shelley Quinn,
00:44:34.14\00:44:37.04
I have Thursdays...
00:44:37.07\00:44:38.74
and it is: I am
Joseph Your Brother.
00:44:38.77\00:44:42.74
You know, in Genesis 45,
00:44:42.78\00:44:45.28
the providence of
God is made manifest
00:44:45.31\00:44:48.92
in a very powerful way.
00:44:48.95\00:44:51.25
So, Joseph
looks very Egyptian...
00:44:51.32\00:44:56.73
he's dressed Egyptian...
no facial hair I'm sure...
00:44:56.76\00:44:59.79
probably had a shaved head,
00:44:59.83\00:45:01.30
his brothers
don't recognize him...
00:45:01.33\00:45:03.83
he's speaking in Egyptian
00:45:03.87\00:45:06.20
and as you said, he was 17
when he was sold into slavery,
00:45:06.23\00:45:10.64
30 when he was
brought before Pharaoh,
00:45:10.71\00:45:13.54
seven years of
good... so now we're at 37
00:45:13.58\00:45:16.34
and this is probably a
couple of years into it
00:45:16.41\00:45:18.68
so, it's 21 or 22 years
since he was sold into slavery.
00:45:18.71\00:45:24.25
They don't recognize him
00:45:24.29\00:45:26.12
but he's listening in...
00:45:26.15\00:45:27.92
they don't know he
can speak Hebrew...
00:45:27.99\00:45:30.96
listen to Genesis 45:1,
00:45:30.99\00:45:33.19
Joseph is overwhelmed
by his brother's words
00:45:33.26\00:45:36.60
and he could
not restrain himself
00:45:36.63\00:45:38.07
before all those
that stood before him;
00:45:38.10\00:45:40.57
and he cries out, "Make
everyone go out from me. "
00:45:40.60\00:45:44.01
He sends out the
Egyptian attendants
00:45:44.04\00:45:46.78
because he wants to
maintain his dignity.
00:45:46.84\00:45:49.64
So, on one stood with him,
00:45:49.68\00:45:52.65
while Joseph made
himself known to his brothers.
00:45:52.68\00:45:59.29
The... the Quarterly brings
out, "made himself known... "
00:45:59.32\00:46:04.89
that expression is used of
God in a number of instances
00:46:04.96\00:46:10.50
so, in a sense, God is
making Himself known...
00:46:10.53\00:46:15.50
He's revealing His
providence during this episode.
00:46:15.54\00:46:20.51
So, verse 2, Genesis 45 verse 2,
00:46:20.54\00:46:23.55
"Joseph wept aloud:
00:46:23.58\00:46:26.38
and the Egyptians and the
house of Pharaoh heard it. "
00:46:26.41\00:46:30.15
He's releasing 22
years of pent-up emotion
00:46:30.19\00:46:34.36
and Joseph said to his brothers,
00:46:34.39\00:46:36.83
'I am Joseph; does
my father still live?'
00:46:36.86\00:46:41.06
But his brothers
could not answer him;
00:46:41.10\00:46:43.47
for they were
dismayed in his presence. "
00:46:43.50\00:46:47.07
They're stunned!
00:46:47.10\00:46:48.44
Here all of a sudden... I'm sure
00:46:48.47\00:46:50.71
he... he's now
speaking to them in Hebrew...
00:46:50.74\00:46:54.48
Judah turns to them...
00:46:54.51\00:46:56.41
and he hears
this Egyptian Governor
00:46:56.44\00:46:59.48
who's saying to them,
"I'm Joseph your brother"
00:46:59.51\00:47:02.78
and they're like, "Uh oooh... "
00:47:02.82\00:47:05.05
I mean, they're not sure.
00:47:05.09\00:47:07.02
Joseph said in
verse 4 to his brothers,
00:47:07.06\00:47:11.23
"Please come near to me. "
00:47:11.26\00:47:13.06
That would be
breaking protocol...
00:47:13.09\00:47:14.70
they came near
00:47:14.73\00:47:16.10
and then he says, "I
am Joseph your brother,
00:47:16.13\00:47:19.67
whom you sold into Egypt. "
00:47:19.70\00:47:23.71
Now, what I love is
the next three verses,
00:47:23.74\00:47:27.78
because there is this
profound confession of faith
00:47:27.81\00:47:31.98
because what we're
going to see is three times...
00:47:32.01\00:47:36.85
Joseph acknowledges it
was God who sent him to Egypt.
00:47:36.89\00:47:41.72
Genesis 45:5, "But now... "
00:47:41.76\00:47:44.39
he's speaking to his brothers,
00:47:44.43\00:47:47.00
"do not, therefore, be
grieved or angry with yourselves
00:47:47.03\00:47:50.20
because you sold me here;
00:47:50.23\00:47:51.87
for God sent me... "
that's the first time...
00:47:51.90\00:47:55.04
"God sent me before
you to preserve life.
00:47:55.10\00:47:58.17
For these two years the
famine has been in the land,
00:47:58.21\00:48:02.21
and there are still five years
00:48:02.24\00:48:06.68
in which there will be neither
plowing nor harvesting. "
00:48:06.72\00:48:10.35
Verse 7, "And God sent me... "
00:48:10.39\00:48:13.72
second time he's
acknowledged this...
00:48:13.76\00:48:15.86
"before you to
preserve a posterity... "
00:48:15.89\00:48:18.66
you know what that
word literally, means?
00:48:18.69\00:48:21.06
A remnant...
00:48:21.10\00:48:22.56
he says, "God sent
me to preserve a remnant
00:48:22.60\00:48:26.23
for you in the earth,
00:48:26.27\00:48:27.77
and to save your lives
by a great deliverance... "
00:48:27.80\00:48:31.57
and look at verse 8,
00:48:31.61\00:48:33.11
he said it twice...
listen to what he says again,
00:48:33.14\00:48:36.44
"So now it was not you
who sent me here, but God;
00:48:36.48\00:48:41.65
and He has made me
a father to Pharaoh,
00:48:41.68\00:48:44.15
and lord of all his house,
00:48:44.19\00:48:45.82
and a ruler throughout
all the land of Egypt. "
00:48:45.85\00:48:51.29
You know what?
00:48:51.33\00:48:52.89
It's interesting...
00:48:52.93\00:48:54.26
Joseph was this spiritually
immature young man...
00:48:54.30\00:48:59.03
a little bit full of himself...
00:48:59.07\00:49:00.94
he gets sold into slavery
00:49:00.97\00:49:03.17
and I guarantee you...
00:49:03.20\00:49:04.84
on that long walk to Egypt,
00:49:04.87\00:49:06.91
that's when God
began to mature him
00:49:06.94\00:49:09.58
because we see his
spiritual maturity...
00:49:09.61\00:49:12.48
when he was in
Potiphar's house...
00:49:12.51\00:49:14.75
in prison and now
in front of Pharaoh,
00:49:14.78\00:49:17.29
but he recognizes... it was
God's hand that providentially
00:49:17.32\00:49:23.53
set him where he was
00:49:23.56\00:49:25.73
and God worked
beyond their bad intentions.
00:49:25.76\00:49:28.56
The brothers didn't
have good intentions.
00:49:28.60\00:49:30.73
But it was actually
God who sent him to Egypt
00:49:30.77\00:49:34.87
to preserve life
through Joseph's leadership
00:49:34.90\00:49:39.01
and as I said, we see that...
00:49:39.04\00:49:42.31
when he uses this
word: posterity...
00:49:42.34\00:49:46.05
it means: Remnant...
00:49:46.11\00:49:47.45
Joseph understood
the Abrahamic Covenant.
00:49:47.48\00:49:51.59
Jacob understood...
he'd explained it to Joseph,
00:49:51.62\00:49:56.16
Joseph understands
that this covenant promises
00:49:56.22\00:50:00.26
a nation... referring
to the people of Israel
00:50:00.30\00:50:04.70
who are then to spread
God's covenant blessings
00:50:04.73\00:50:09.10
to all future
generations and nations.
00:50:09.14\00:50:12.41
So, verse 9, Genesis 45:9,
00:50:12.44\00:50:15.21
here's what he says,
00:50:15.24\00:50:16.68
"Hurry up and go to my
father, and say to him,
00:50:16.71\00:50:20.02
'Thus says your son Joseph:
00:50:20.05\00:50:22.25
"God has made me
lord of all Egypt,
00:50:22.28\00:50:25.75
come down to me, do not tarry.
00:50:25.79\00:50:28.59
You shall dwell in
the land of Goshen,
00:50:28.62\00:50:31.96
and you shall be near to
me, you and your children,
00:50:31.99\00:50:35.83
and your children's children,
00:50:35.86\00:50:37.63
your flocks and your
herds, and all that you have.
00:50:37.67\00:50:41.00
There I will provide for you,
lest you and your household,
00:50:41.04\00:50:46.34
and all that you
have, come to poverty;
00:50:46.37\00:50:50.45
for there are still
five years of famine. "'"
00:50:50.48\00:50:53.65
See, God didn't just give
Joseph a plan to save Egypt,
00:50:53.72\00:50:59.62
He gave him a plan to
save the clan of Jacob
00:50:59.65\00:51:05.99
by moving them to
Goshen and you know what?
00:51:06.03\00:51:08.56
Goshen was the most
fertile area in Egypt,
00:51:08.60\00:51:12.67
this is where their
herds could be roaming
00:51:12.70\00:51:16.14
and actually grazing in richness
00:51:16.17\00:51:19.37
and over 400 years later,
at the time of the exodus,
00:51:19.44\00:51:24.38
where do we find
the... the clan of Jacob?
00:51:24.41\00:51:28.48
In Goshen... so they
lived there for over 400 years.
00:51:28.52\00:51:34.16
Now, what Joseph does
00:51:34.19\00:51:36.32
is... he arranges for all
these animals and the caravan
00:51:36.36\00:51:41.06
of the brother to
be loaded up with food
00:51:41.10\00:51:44.73
to take to Jacob
and the relatives
00:51:44.77\00:51:47.67
but then this is interesting,
00:51:47.70\00:51:50.07
the text kind of makes it
sound like it's Pharaoh's idea
00:51:50.11\00:51:53.98
but at least we know
Pharaoh approved of it.
00:51:54.01\00:51:56.34
They sent carts down
00:51:56.38\00:51:59.18
and these carts
are going to play...
00:51:59.21\00:52:01.48
these were to transfer
the weaker members of the clan
00:52:01.55\00:52:06.15
when they are
immigrating back to Egypt
00:52:06.19\00:52:09.99
and they play an
important role in the story,
00:52:10.03\00:52:13.16
let's look...
Genesis 45 verse 25,
00:52:13.19\00:52:16.56
"Then they went up out of Egypt,
00:52:16.60\00:52:19.83
and came to the land of
Canaan to Jacob their father.
00:52:19.90\00:52:23.20
And they told him saying,
00:52:23.27\00:52:25.81
'Joseph is still alive,
00:52:25.87\00:52:28.38
and he is governor over
all the land of Egypt. '
00:52:28.41\00:52:33.35
And Jacob's
heart stood still... "
00:52:33.38\00:52:38.52
I want to say something here,
00:52:38.55\00:52:40.96
this abbreviated account,
00:52:41.02\00:52:43.36
remember we talked
about how distilled
00:52:43.39\00:52:45.69
the accounts in Genesis
are, how condensed they are.
00:52:45.73\00:52:49.86
This abbreviated account of
this incidence doesn't record
00:52:49.90\00:52:56.44
Jacob's sons confessing
to their father their sin
00:52:56.47\00:53:00.84
but obviously,
they had to confess...
00:53:00.88\00:53:04.78
I would assume at this
point, they're confessing...
00:53:04.81\00:53:07.25
can you imagine...
00:53:07.32\00:53:09.78
this is one thing
that's hard for me to imagine.
00:53:09.82\00:53:14.06
These
brothers... ten brothers...
00:53:14.12\00:53:19.09
had kept a secret for 22 years.
00:53:19.16\00:53:22.76
They had watched their
father mourn for 22 years.
00:53:22.80\00:53:31.37
They knew their
sin caused him pain
00:53:31.41\00:53:35.81
but as you said, Jill,
00:53:35.84\00:53:38.35
they didn't come
to true repentance
00:53:38.38\00:53:41.42
until it nearly happened again
00:53:41.45\00:53:45.05
with Rachel's
other son, Benjamin...
00:53:45.09\00:53:47.69
is when they finally...
00:53:47.72\00:53:49.46
there's a
selfishness that's revealed here
00:53:49.49\00:53:52.06
but he's stunned
because he does not believe them
00:53:52.09\00:53:55.30
but when they told him
00:53:55.33\00:53:57.03
all the words which
Joseph had said to them...
00:53:57.07\00:53:58.90
"When he saw the carts which
Joseph had sent to carry him"
00:53:58.93\00:54:04.61
that... that was key...
00:54:04.64\00:54:07.14
"the spirit of Jacob
their father revived.
00:54:07.18\00:54:10.18
And then Israel... "
00:54:10.21\00:54:11.81
that's the spiritual
name God that gave to Jacob.
00:54:11.85\00:54:16.05
Israel is a spiritual name...
00:54:16.08\00:54:17.95
so, now Israel
says, "It is enough.
00:54:17.99\00:54:22.06
Joseph my son is still alive.
00:54:22.09\00:54:24.89
I will go and see
him before I die. "
00:54:24.93\00:54:29.36
God's blessing is on Jacob...
00:54:29.40\00:54:32.93
he's going to be
reunited with his son.
00:54:33.00\00:54:35.54
He is going to enjoy prosperity
00:54:35.57\00:54:38.31
and I've got one final
point that I'm going to leave
00:54:38.37\00:54:42.24
for our concluding thoughts
00:54:42.28\00:54:44.31
but it's a beautiful story.
00:54:44.35\00:54:46.48
Panel: Amen... amen... amen.
00:54:46.51\00:54:48.58
Lomacang: Okay, I thought you
were going to give it right now,
00:54:48.62\00:54:50.79
I was waiting for her.
00:54:50.82\00:54:53.05
Well, James, summarize your day.
00:54:53.09\00:54:55.16
James: Well,
forgiveness is a two-way street
00:54:55.19\00:54:57.69
but first,
forgiveness comes from God
00:54:57.73\00:55:00.40
and then it comes to
us unconditionally...
00:55:00.43\00:55:02.13
just like it did with Joseph.
00:55:02.16\00:55:03.77
Joseph forgave his brothers
00:55:03.80\00:55:05.23
but when his
brothers came to the place
00:55:05.27\00:55:06.84
where they were about to
experience that forgiveness
00:55:06.87\00:55:09.74
in ways, they didn't understand
00:55:09.77\00:55:11.11
and many times, we
experience forgiveness from God
00:55:11.14\00:55:13.17
in ways, we didn't understand.
00:55:13.21\00:55:14.54
It tested them...
forgiveness is a two-way street
00:55:14.58\00:55:17.98
because it elicits a response
00:55:18.01\00:55:20.58
and that response is
vital in the plan of salvation.
00:55:20.62\00:55:23.52
Panel: Amen. Lomacang: Jason.
00:55:23.55\00:55:24.99
Jason: Just as
Joseph was sitting there
00:55:25.05\00:55:26.96
listening to his brothers
00:55:26.99\00:55:28.32
as they were
speaking in their language,
00:55:28.36\00:55:29.69
people are watching
how you respond to trials
00:55:29.72\00:55:33.29
and if you respond in a way
that brings Christ the honor
00:55:33.33\00:55:37.37
and the glory in the
most difficult of times,
00:55:37.43\00:55:39.63
someone's soul could be
won to Him as a result of that.
00:55:39.67\00:55:44.27
Jill: Amen... that's good.
00:55:44.31\00:55:45.77
Genesis 44 is
all about repentance
00:55:45.81\00:55:48.88
and specifically
Judah's repentance
00:55:48.91\00:55:51.21
although it was
all of the brothers.
00:55:51.25\00:55:53.52
I don't know, in your life
00:55:53.55\00:55:55.45
you might feel that you
have walked a Judah path.
00:55:55.48\00:55:57.85
Maybe you've
acted out of jealousy...
00:55:57.89\00:56:00.22
maybe you've killed someone...
00:56:00.26\00:56:01.86
maybe you've acted out
of hatred and envy and lust
00:56:01.89\00:56:06.80
and passion.
00:56:06.83\00:56:08.16
Know that the Lord
Jesus can forgive...
00:56:08.20\00:56:11.30
that He can restore...
00:56:11.33\00:56:13.70
that you can have the
privilege of walking with Jesus
00:56:13.74\00:56:18.64
and becoming a leader for Him.
00:56:18.67\00:56:20.44
Shelley: Amen... my thought
as I read through Genesis 45...
00:56:20.48\00:56:25.65
this is a story
of reconciliation
00:56:25.68\00:56:29.82
and Joseph is an
inspiring example to us
00:56:29.85\00:56:33.96
of how we should
forgive... not hold grudges...
00:56:33.99\00:56:39.39
and be reconciled to one another
00:56:39.43\00:56:43.37
and sometimes, you know,
when people do bad things to us,
00:56:43.40\00:56:47.80
later Joseph is
going to tell them,
00:56:47.84\00:56:49.80
"What you intended for
evil, God intended for good. "
00:56:49.84\00:56:54.08
But when people
do bad things to us,
00:56:54.11\00:56:57.75
we need to remember,
"Hey, God's in control...
00:56:57.78\00:57:01.15
how is God going
to turn this around?"
00:57:01.18\00:57:05.05
That's what Joseph did
and he's an inspiration to me.
00:57:05.12\00:57:08.76
Panel: Amen.
00:57:08.79\00:57:10.13
Lomacang: Wow, what a story!
00:57:10.16\00:57:11.69
I mean, this book has been rich.
00:57:11.73\00:57:13.23
Genesis... you wouldn't
think that the Bible could begin
00:57:13.26\00:57:17.00
like a blockbuster movie
00:57:17.03\00:57:20.17
and we have really been
able to break this story down
00:57:20.24\00:57:24.57
into small tidbits
to be able to digest it
00:57:24.61\00:57:27.04
and it has shown us the
clarity and the beauty of God
00:57:27.08\00:57:30.11
and that's why I love
the words of John 14:29,
00:57:30.15\00:57:32.68
"And now I have
told you before it comes,
00:57:32.71\00:57:36.05
that when it does come
to pass, you may believe. "
00:57:36.08\00:57:39.35
I believe...
00:57:39.39\00:57:40.92
we believe because God
has been so wonderful to us.
00:57:40.96\00:57:43.19
We're going to encourage
you to come back and join us
00:57:43.22\00:57:45.99
for our Lesson Number 13:
00:57:46.03\00:57:47.36
which is
entitled: Israel in Egypt.
00:57:47.40\00:57:50.07
What can we learn from that?
00:57:50.10\00:57:52.50
but here's a
thought about Joseph's life.
00:57:52.53\00:57:55.24
Proverbs 15:33,
"The fear of the LORD
00:57:55.27\00:57:57.91
is the instruction of wisdom,
00:57:57.94\00:57:59.77
and before honor is humility. "
00:57:59.81\00:58:03.18
If you want to
experience the honor of God,
00:58:03.24\00:58:05.95
choose to be humble.
00:58:05.98\00:58:07.32
See you next time.
00:58:07.35\00:58:08.68
Jill: Amen.
00:58:08.72\00:58:10.05