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God’s grace for our repentance, reconciliation and restoration

Date: 3 November 2024, 9.30 am

Speaker: Ps Daniel Tan Sermon Text: Genesis 42:1–45:15

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TRANSCRIPT

Introduction

Does this wall look familiar to any of us?


I’ve only seen it from pictures like this, but have never been there.


This is the Reformation Wall in Geneva.


The Wall is in the grounds of the University of Geneva, which was founded by John Calvin, and was built to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Calvin's birth and the 350th anniversary of the university's establishment.


Along the wall, to either side of the central statues, is engraved the motto of both the Reformation and Geneva: Post Tenebras Lux (Latin for after darkness, light).


It reminds us of God’s sovereignty, how He has graciously pulled the church from darkness to light.


For those of us who are intending to travel to Switzerland, this year-end, may I suggest a visit to this Reformation Wall.


It will add greater significance to your holiday. You will be able to infuse it with some Christian history.


And when you are there and recall the 5 Solas, give thanks to these men featured on the wall. We are the beneficiaries of their ministry.


As a church, we have been journeying through Genesis in 2024. Since Genesis chapter 12, we have been following specifically the line of Abraham.


I submit that this phased from darkness to light can also be applied to the lives of Abraham and his descendants.


We have been told that God will make Abraham the father of many nations and that through Abraham and his descendants, God will be blessing the world.


Yet, in the lives of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, it seems at times, they turned towards darkness instead of going towards God’s light.


Even as God revealed His plan and purposes, for the Patriarchs, sometimes they were in-line with God, but most of the time, it seems they didn’t quite understand it, in fact it seems they often actively worked against it.


But thanks be to God, because He is sovereign, His purposes still prevail. Step by step, God is moving His elect towards the light.


In Genesis 37, Moses records for us the dreams of the 17 year old Joseph and we have seen two weeks ago, that there is now light at the end of the tunnel for Joseph’s dream.


God the dream maker and the dream revealer, is in today’s passage, shinning light towards Joseph’s dream. It is coming into reality.


As surely as God has brought to pass the dreams He gave to Pharaoh, he is now bringing to pass Joseph’s dream in Genesis 37.


And in God’s fulfilment of Joseph’s dreams, I submit that in the life of Joseph, it would seem, that he is moving from darkness to light too.



Suffering that gives opportunities for repentance 

What is pain?


I understand that pain is typically the result of tissue damage and it allows the body to react to and prevent harm.


Pain can be short- or long-term and stay in one place or spread around the body.


I understand too that pain can be acute, chronic and even emotional.


Pain seems to be the warning signals for the body to take note, something not good is happening and it needs to be looked into.


I’m sure there are multiple reasons for our pain and one of them is suffering.


Gen 41:57 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.
Gen 42:1 When Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” 2 And he said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die.” So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt.

In Genesis 42, we see that God uses suffering – the famine in the land of Egypt and Canaan as spiritual warning signals for the sons of Jacob.


In God’s providence, the famine so affected Jacob’s family, that they had to go buy grain from Egypt.


In God’s grace, He was leading the brothers to a point where they can repent and subsequently have the opportunity together with Joseph for reconciliation.


And we will realize that in God’s bigger picture, in God’s sovereignty, this whole episode that stretches when Joseph was 17 to when he was 37, is God’s plan to restore and sustain the life of the 12 sons of Jacob.


To quote the first stanza of one of my favourite hymns:


God never moves without purpose or plan

When trying His servant and molding a man

Give thanks to the Lord though your testing seems long

In darkness He giveth a song


The Joseph story began in Genesis 37 and there, Moses records Joseph’s dream


Gen 37:7 Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.”

Gen 42:6 Now Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.

The posture of bowing and the image of the sheaves combine to foretell the situation of Genesis 42 and v9 tell us that Joseph remembered the dream.


Joseph whom the brothers did not recognize, accuses them of coming to spy on the land, to find out her vulnerabilities.


The brothers, of course refute the accusation. No, they are here just to pay for grain so that they may survive.


In God’s providence, Joseph proceeds to administer a few tests on his brothers to see if they have truly changed for the better, have integrity, humility and no longer jealous and selfish.


So v16 says, Joseph tested them about whether there is any truth in what they have said.


To provide to them that it was a true test, Joseph had to cement his authority over them.


He thus places them in prison for 3 days. For 72 hours, in an uncomfortable prison, they are left with their thoughts - will they be able to send for Benjamin, the apple of Jacob’s eye to prove their sincerity and honesty?


Gen 42:21 Then they said to one another, “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.” 22 And Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.” …... 28 He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back; here it is in the mouth of my sack!” At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”

To be misunderstood, to be thrown down into the pit of prison, awakened the brothers’ sense of guilt in what they did to Joseph.


Their stomachs must have turned when they found their money in the sack after leaving Egypt.


In Genesis 37, the brothers sold Jospeh off for some money. Now, they are having to buy grain from Joseph with money.


And so, they rightly concluded that all that has happened in Egypt was divine discipline. To bring up to the surface their guilt of what they did to Joseph.


By their description of Joseph in v21, it must have been so traumatic for Joseph when he was in the pit. They had no heart even as Joseph begged in utter distress.


As physical pain in our body is a warning to stop and take a look at the problem, God can in our suffering bring to surface areas where we have fallen short.


And the brothers, show that they are changed persons in the following ways.


Firstly, in the words of Reuben, acknowledgement - in v22  ‘so now there comes a reckoning for his blood.’


Secondly, when they returned to Jacob, they told him the truth of what happened in Egypt v29-34.


The last time the brother’s left Joseph and returned to Jacob, they told lies about Jospeh’s supposed death. But this time, they did not lie.


Finally, we see that when Jacob refused the demands of Joseph to have Benjamin return to Egypt so that Simeon can be freed, we observe Reuben’s offer of having his two sons be surety for Benjamin.


In God’s graciousness, He wants us to lead a life of repentance. And this means, like the family of Jacob, He does providentially allow suffering and challenges to come our way.


Now genuine repentance is not just acknowledging our guilt, no, it would mean also turning to do the opposite.


From lying, the brothers now tell Jacob the truth. From selfish concerns, Reuben is willing to even offer his sons as surety.


May the Lord grant us today, discernment when we go through our trials.



Repentance is seen through appropriate action 

The first test was to see if their conscience was sensitive and that they had integrity.


The next test which we will see over Genesis 43 and 44 was how they viewed Benjamin.


Now in Genesis 42, the start and the end of the chapter has Jacob telling the 10 brothers, Benjamin is the apple of my eye.


At the beginning, Benjamin is not included to go down to Egypt to buy grain.


Gen 42:38 But he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is the only one left. If harm should happen to him on the journey that you are to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.”

At the end of chapter 42, Jacob says, Benjamin is the only one left. It seems, now that Joseph is presumed dead, the favourite son title has been passed to Benjamin.

He has 9 other sons standing in front of him but Jacob says, I have only one son left (v38).


Remember the brothers were very jealous of Joseph, so jealous that they wanted to kill him initially. So, will they do that to Benjamin as well?


The famine was going to be 7 long years. By the time they went back to Joseph for the 2nd time, Genesis 45:11 tells us that there were 5 more years of famine still to come.


So Genesis 43 tells us, the grain from the first trip ran out and soon they had to make the decision about going back to buy grain.


Nothing is said about Simeon, but it must have been terrible for him. Not knowing if the brothers would be able to come back with Benjamin to free him. I’m sure Joseph would have kept him sufficiently fed at least.


Have the brothers changed for the better?


We see that now Judah goes one level up from Reuben. Judah pledges himself as the surety for Benjamin.


Gen 43:9 I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.

Gen 44:33 Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers.

What a turnaround for Judah. In Genesis 37, he was the one who suggested selling Joseph for some cash.


In Genesis 38, Judah’s infamous legacy is noted, how he did not follow the levirate law but instead followed the ways of the pagans and sought the services of a temple prostitute.


This same Judah now says I will be a pledge for his safety. And something he will make good in Genesis 44.


It’s one thing to say it in Canaan to Jacob and it’s another to mean it in from of Joseph in Egypt. Such steadfastness to the promise for the reconciliation of Jacob with Benjamin.


Many centuries later, another man from the line of Judah will do just that as well. He will resolutely turn his face towards Jerusalem and be the sacrificial Passover Lamb. Enabling for all eternity, reconciliation between God and man.


2 ways the brothers were tested for jealously.


Firstly, when they sat to eat with Joseph, Benjamin was given 5 times the portion as the others. Yet what we see, no mentioned of jealously for they drank and were merry with him.


Gen 44:12 And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city. 14 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground….. 33 Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers. 34 For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would find my father.”

Secondly, in Genesis 44, when the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack, v13 said they all tore their clothes and every man loaded his donkey and they returned to the city.


If they were still jealous about Benjamin, they would have left him to be the Egyptian slave, citing that they were not responsible for his actions.


And as we have already notice, Judah then stood in the gap for Benjamin when Jospeh pronounced the judgement.


Judah when he sold Joseph did not have any regards to how Jacob would feel in losing his favorite son, but now here in Genesis 44, his plea to Joseph is filled with consideration for Jacob.


True repentance will lead to appropriate action.


What does N.A.T.O stand for? The original meaning is - North Atlantic Treaty Organization.


What is our Singlish meaning? No Action Talk Only.


True repentance cannot be N.A.T.O. If there are no appropriate actions, repentance hasn’t happen.


The brothers showed a maturity of their character for there was now unity that binds them and not jealousy that had threatened to tear them apart.  


The conduct of the brothers here bring to mind Genesis 4. There after Cain has killed Abel, Cain replies to God, am I by brother’s keeper.


Gen 4:9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”

Jacob’s sons show us they understood that they should be their brother’s keeper. Moses writing Genesis to the Israelites after the Exodus, is saying to them, you must be your brother’s keeper.


And this same message is relevant to us as well.


To be our brother’s keeper, there is a need to repent when we have wronged our siblings-in-Christ and when we repent of it, it will require appropriate actions.


There is still one final step in this process of sanctification, so let’s go to the final point.



Reconciliation is possible with gracious forgiveness 

Today, many of us are captivated by all things Japanese.


Here is a picture of a South Korean who was a comfort women during World War II. Thousands of women from Korean and other countries were forced into sexual enslavement for Japanese troops.


If you were the women in the picture, or her relatives? Would reconciliation ever be possible?


Comfort Women were enslaved because of war. Joseph was sold out by his own flesh and blood. Might he have found it even harder to reconcile?


When we went through Genesis 40 and 41, Ps Luwin highlighted that Joseph kept true to his faith for he gave his children Hebrew names and not Egyptian ones.


Gen 41:51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.”

He named his first-born Manasseh and it meant that God had made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.


By God’s grace, Joseph has been healed emotionally and physically of the traumatic journey he took between the ages of 17 to 30.


And significantly, he has put aside thoughts of his family in Canaan.


When I read it initially, I felt it meant that Joseph had so immersed himself in his role in Egypt, that to him his family in Canaan did not exist anymore.


It’s like the past family hurts are too painful, I’ll just cut them off.


But if he named his sons with Hebrew names, then wouldn’t it still remind him of home?


As I read Genesis 42-45 and observed Joseph’s reaction to his brothers, I’m now wondering, for the phase ‘and all my father’s house’ might mean more about closure with the hurts associated with his family.


Throughout Joseph’s interaction with his brothers, he was graciously generous. He gave them back their money, even gave them provision for the journey for both trips.


And the bible mentions multiple times over these 4 chapters that Joseph wept.


  • Gen 42:24 Then he turned away from them and wept.

  • Gen 43:30 Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep.

  • Gen 45:2 And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it.

  • Gen 45:14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.


Joseph by God’s grace has already forgiven them. Thus, even has he was testing them, he was lavishing them with his generosity.


And because he was also lavish in his forgiveness, emotionally it came out in his weeping.  


I submit for our observation that when Joseph graciously extended reconciliation, the brothers had not done any restitution to Joseph.


Though he was testing them to see if they had integrity, unity and had rid themselves of jealously, these did not impact Joseph personally one bit.


The only thing he got was an acknowledgement of repentance from the divine reminders of what they had done to Joseph.


It’s not because of restitution that Joseph forgave, there wasn’t any.


No, God had already worked in Jospeh’s heart thus he named his son Manasseh.

Reconciliation can happen when we like Joseph, allow God’s grace to work in us firstly before allowing it secondly to work through us.


Family tensions, both in our biological families and also in our spiritual families are very, very draining.


The family of Joseph shows that it is possible under the grace of God to repent and reconcile.


The NT tells us in Christ, the dividing wall of hostility between the Jews and the Gentiles have been torn down. In the temple, the Gentiles in the outer counters was dissuaded upon the pains of possible death from entering the inner courts with the Jews.


Paul who persecuted Christians upon his conversion, was accepted as a fellow Apostle by Peter and James.


Elizabeth Elliot whose husband Jim was killed by the Ecuador Indians, forgave them and even went to live with them.

 

By God’s grace repentance can be met with reconciliation. 



Conclusion 

As we conclude, may I touch on the final ‘R’ of the sermon title, that of God’s grace enabling restoration.


The brothers attributed their consciousness of repentance due to God’s providential action while they were in Egypt.


Joseph now attributes everything from Genesis 37 to 45 to God’s providential action towards the family of Jacob.


Gen 45:6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.

7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of famine.


How was God going to keep His promise to Abraham. That Abraham’s descendants will inherit the Promised Land and be a blessing to many nations?


Joseph discovered that God had planned it all along and graciously prepared it for his family. That they may not just survive the famine but actually be lavishly fed.


The picture of God’s grace to Joseph family would have been a great encouragement to the first readers. These were the Israelites who had been wandering in the wilderness and were about to enter Canaan.


It is a historical picture also of why they came to Egypt in the first place and how this sovereign God who had rescue them from slavery will now be able to give them the Promised Land. The land filled with milk and honey.


And if we zoom out further as we look at both the Old and New Testament, Joseph’s story, points to the redemptive story of God for us.


The suffering, betrayal, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the sacrificial son of Judah, is how God has orchestrated for man to be reconciled and to be fully restored.


Scripture says all we need is to repent of our sins and put our trust in Jesus Christ. When that happens,

 

Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Church today, as we have commemorated communion, we are reminded that by Christ death, we have been transferred from darkness to light.


As God worked out his sovereign will in Joseph’s life, so too God is working out His sovereign will in our lives.


As we go out into the work week, let us go, trusting in the perfect wisdom of our God.

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