BBBI - 2019.09.18 - PM - Out of the Frying Pan (Gen. 43)

Genesis chapter number 43 here in our midweek Bible study and prayer time. I draw your attention down. I really will start verse number 8 in Judith said unto Israel his father send we will arise and go that we may live and not die both we and thou and also our little one and I will be Surety for him of my hand shall require him. If I bring him not under the and set him before the then let me bear the blame for ever for except we had lingered surely now we had returned the second time. And their father Israel verse 11 set it to them if it must be so now do this taking the best fruits of the land in your vessels carry down the man present a little boy and a little honey spices. And myrrh nuts Norman's and take double money in your hand and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sack carried again in your hand for adventure was an oversight take also your brother in a ride and go again on to the man. And God Almighty give you Mercy before the man that he may send away your other brother. And Benjamin if I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved. Let's look down at verse number 26. Continuing in the story once Joseph has his brothers come back and he's having dinner with them. Joseph came home. They brought him the present which was in their hand into the house by themselves to him to the Earth and he asked them of their welfare and said, it's your father. Well the old man of whom you speak is alive and I answered that serving our fathers in good health. He is yet alive and they bowed down their heads and said is your younger brother of whom is this your younger brother of whom you speak unto me and he said God be gracious unto thee my son and Joseph made hays for his bowels upon his brother and he saw it where the week and he entered into his chamber and wept there. He wash his face and went out refrained himself and said set on bread. They said on for him by himself and for them by themselves and for the Egyptians which Diddy with him and by themselves because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrew word. That is an Abomination unto the Egyptians and they sat before him. The first born according to his Birthright and the youngest according to his Youth and the men marbled one another and he took and sent messages under them from before them from before him. But Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs read this last phrase with me here if you would and they drank and we're merry with him Lord. I pray that you will speak to us tonight according to that work that we would be able to learn and glean from the truth of scripture here tonight, and we will be encouraged and comforted that our fears would subside and that we would understand the graciousness in the mercy that we've been given that one day. We'll be able to sit around the table with our Lord Jesus Christ and sup with him Lord Vanquish all fear and doubt. And forgive us our shortcomings and Lord. I pray that you would help us to see Christ in this tonight. Thank you for the story of Joseph. Thank you for your People Israel. And thank you for the Salvation that comes through your holy name. We pray that you'll help us to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen, this is quite a story is it not now Genesis chapter number 43 parallels in chapter 42. So if you recall from a couple of weeks ago the structure that we studied in chapter 42, then you can take that to chapter 43 and a lot of the same narrative just different speakers in different different conversations that are being had but this transitory a a climactic point between Joseph and the reuniting with his brothers and ultimately with his father and this is in God's providential means of fulfilling his prophecy to Abraham about 400 years stay in a foreign land and so this is God using Joseph to get Israel into Egypt. That 400 years to where he will eventually then bring them out by strong arm and the mighty Exodus under Moses and so as we think about Joseph having gone through everything that he went through at the hand of his brothers from being thrown into a pit because of their envy and jealousy. I want you to know tonight to come to a head for them. It's been probably two years. I would guess since the brothers left and chapter 42 and they've gone back now with the provisions they have they they've made it a couple of years now, but things are beginning to wane and the cupboards are beginning to look pretty bone dry and they go and their there's hunger. I'm sure there's concern because they've rash and everything. I'm sure that they rash and everything to the nth degree that they could and now they're in a in a pressing situation because if they're going to continue to live they've got to go back. I think Joseph understood how this would unfold. I don't know if he understood how long it would take them to get back home and back to him. So now this whole time they've been only 10 brethren. Because Simeon was left back with Joseph. I gave you some ideas about what I thought Mike and tail simeon's detaining and a house Simeon had quite a history in a in a rap sheet about him. Again. The scriptures don't specifically state that but I wonder if Simeon wasn't the one that was at the Forefront of Joseph being being maligned by his brother when he was 17 years of age thrown in the pit. Now some other things we need to notice that Judah will be the one now that begins to Ash and to a prominence in leadership among his brother Reuben begins to decrease in Judah begins to increase and as Ruben had stood before his dad and encouraged Dad to let them take Benjamin down and Ruben went so far as to put his own son's neck on the line and say you can take your son back. Ruben all his leadership is basically turned into complaining when they were before Joseph. He just reminded them did I not tell you so that's something to keep an eye on with any kind of leadership. This is just a general application when things start happening and leaders don't take responsibility like they should and they start saying I Told You So and they start complaining about everything that's wrong. You don't have someone who is really going to be a fit leader to take responsibility to assess the situation and be able to navigate forward from that point sarubin begins to diminish and Judah then she's has the responsibility and steps up and says we got to do something about this or the family is going to die and now stands before his father. And please with him one more time and he says we've got to go. The only way we can go is if we take Benjamin with us because the man will not let us see his face. We will not introduce me to him. You can kid eat Simeon. He's never coming home unless you let us take Benjamin back down to Egypt with us because that was a stipulation that the man had said so they still don't know who this is. We're not even told that they know his name is that fast for them that he was getting when Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt second in command under him Chili's chapter 43 opens we encounter yet again how severe the famine was it was sore in the land according to verse number one. And this is now driven the family to consider. What are we going to do? There's a place for a Cornelius plantinga junior. He draws a distinction between the sins of covetousness and envy I mentioned to you that it was envy that drove Joseph's brothers to cast him in a pit because of the coat of many colors. Listen to what Cornelius plantinga junior said, he said enemy is a nasty or since then Muir covetousness. When interviewer wants is not first of all what another has what an interviewer wants is for another not to have it. To Envy is to resent somebody else's good so much. That one is tempted to destroy it. The governor has empty hands and wants to fill them with somebody else's good Goods, but the enviar has empty hands and therefore wants to empty the hands of the envy. NV moreover carries overtones of personal resentment an Enver resents not only somebody else's blessing but also the one who has been blessed. Think about Joseph's brother's here comes dad's favorite. Now. He's got the coat of many colors that tells the whole world. Joseph is the favorite. Well, now that favoritism has been passed on to Benjamin because Joseph is shielded are Jacob is shielding him from going down into Egypt now two years until the Pains of his stomach and hunger pangs have driven him to give here where he wouldn't listen to Ruben before now he's willing to listen to Judah because the situation is so severe Envy has driven Joseph's brothers to their murderous deed. They wanted to kill him and remember it was judah's idea. It was judah's idea to sell him into slavery. And now Judah is the one who stands before Dad and also barters once again to go get Simeon now from Egypt not knowing that he's really bartering for Joseph. For the reuniting that's about to occur. And so what the brothers resented was Joseph having that coat of many colors. They resented his person even more than his possession of that coat. They resented him. What did Joseph do he was simply born and listen to his dad and did what his dad said to do and Joseph cut the flag for This is how bitter Envy can be. And so they stripped him of that coat. They beat him. They tossed him in a pit and left him to die. One person said it like this Envy's wreckage litters the biblical landscape. From Kane who emptied able to solve UMB David and indeed the landscape of our own existence as well the public inphamiz like the 1989 Iowa high school love triangle in which Miss Harvest Queen strangled Miss homecoming with her leather belt for stealing her boyfriend. And there's also the hidden images of the church that are sometimes seen in the halls of conventions or conferences in which one Observer wrote most of the conversation in the hotel rooms in the Halls was characterized either by Envy of those who are doing well or scarcely concealed the light for those who are doing poorly. I've been to Breezers meetings before and he's like, okay how many you running brother? Why do you want to know? Because if I tell you I'm doing you no more than you you're going to say. I'm not doing as good as you are.

Okay, I'm just best preachers for you. Okay, brother Smith's comment or not, but he says the most important growth we look for in a church is not quote how many running brother it's how has your church grow spiritually? Where's the spiritual growth are people being saved? Are they being baptized and are they I didn't say how many are I said are they then you stay true to the mission you staying true to the call that God gave. And I mean just think about it. If every church had to have big numbers to be successful. Where would Jeremiah's congregation be? If we're going to determine success by numbers, okay, God has a plan and he's working it. Now numbers are important. We have a whole book in the Bible named numbers right numbers are important to God they matter to God, but we also can be caught up in success means because success might mean you make a difference in one person's life. And that's what God has given you to do. It might be too it might be three might be 10 in might be a hundred but God can use you to reach somebody else. And so we go in the moon we multiply disciples but Envy cheer I draw your attention to this because in chapter 43, I think there's more than meets the eye. We have to connect the broader context and consider how Envy has moved behind the scenes. Not only in causing Joseph Brothers to do what they did to him back in chapter 37, but now Joseph is going to put a test before them. Have they changed? Have they matured at all? Have they come to a place where they've dealt with the bitterness in their heart? Do they have guilt is there remorse over what happened surrounding the events with Joseph? So here's a test that Joseph is going to put on his brother. And one thing that stood out to me from this passage, that was a great comfort to my heart and a great edification to me personally is to read chapter 43 and put yourself in each person's shoes put yourself in Jacob's shoes. Here's a father who's been hurt. I don't have a nose hit the character of his son's there's been enough. He has a father's intuition. He knows maybe not everything's about he's hesitant to send Benjamin and I think. Now granted he was a little blind I think and what God was wanting to do but he's flesh-and-blood just like you and I and to say that you would do better than Jake Rio. I don't know if we should go that far as to say I would have done such and such never put yourself in his shoes now. He is growing in his faith. When did I think that is weird to be pouring down his commentary? There is some unbelief and Joey and Jacob Park. And if you if you read the devotional commentary by Henry Morris made some comments about that as well in that he pointed out the fact that from chapter 37, I believe on up to right now. The only name that he's been known by is Jacob in the first instance. That is really shoot again during that time of non-usage is right here because he makes a reference. To El Shaddai makes a reference to God almighty. Which goes back to the Covenant that God had made with Abraham. So somewhere along the line. Jacob began to waver and wonder I mean salmon can do that to people put yourself in Jacob's shoes. Things aren't looking very good has God forgotten us my prayers feel like they're hitting the ceiling in that they're not making any further. We haven't left we stayed in what we need.

I want to send my son down there. I mean the boys went down there last time they made a big mess of it. They just aired everything out before I mean, what are they going to say the next time they go down to him. How can I even think about letting Benjamin go away? I'm not going to be in the famine pushes him and he listens to Judah and he says so be it. I think he comes around to see a little bit of God's Providence. He can't see the end of it all yet. But he finally says peradventure God Almighty would give you Mercy put yourself in his father's shoes as he prays for his sons that are making this journey to go deliver. Not only but deliver their family from famine. Jacob has to relinquish everything to God put yourself in Judah shoes. I think Judah has grown quite a bit from the last time we saw him in-depth and chapter 38, but there's also a little bit of play on words here in the sense in which he stands up and he promises to be a surety for Benjamin. What else you go back to chapter number 38 there was another thing that he was he made a pledge for he made it Surety for that didn't work out so well for his character. Remember the bracelets and stash and God works a bad situation out there and worked it out for good because through Tamar and that whole scenario we're going to have light of Messiah. So God is going to bring Salvation regardless of how depraved our heart can be. And here at Judah says I'll be Surety. Maybe harkening back to that tarnishment of his character in chapter 38 to to shine and leading up to one of the Genesis where Judas going to shine the most once they get down into Egypt. Judah is going to be the one to stand up and say hold on. I put my neck on the line for Benjamin and we are going to see a picture of Jesus Christ in Judah. And in that account where he stands up and makes intercession for his brother Benjamin and it moves Joseph. So put yourself in the shoes. Have we grown or we the same we used to be or have we grown our life and we matured a little bit maybe hard times have have polished off some of the rough patches around us and we begin to Sparkle like a gym through adversity and now Judith begins to rise to prominence because one day through his lineage,

David the greatest leader Israel would ever ever have besides Jesus Christ will come from Judah and Jacob prophesize that about you two later on but Judah has some growing to do and here we see Judah really shining put yourself in Joseph shoes.

I Know a Man one time that told me a story about how badly he was hurt because someone had come into his most intimate place of his life and stolen something of Great Value to him. Something that was more precious to him. You couldn't put a price of money on this. And he knew exactly who did it, but he couldn't prove it and the authorities they were no help at all. All they could do is document what was gone. And then after time passed this perpetrator decided he wanted to make his way back into into this man's life and the main and I talked and he shared with me the grief of his heart and said I just can't do it. I can't let him back around anything this precious to me because of what he did before. And I went on the council and explain, you know, forgiveness is always available but trust must be restored.

Think about that as it applies to what Joseph is dealing with forgiveness. Absolutely. No question about it. The brothers have been forgiven since before they even came to Egypt. I'm sure Joseph dealt with that before God years before they ever even showed up and have to ask for forgiveness because Joseph was already right with God in that perspective and he had eyes to see what God was doing but trust. That's another issue. UC to choose not to remember is to make the decision to not bring something up again. It doesn't mean it means when it comes up. You're not going to be the one that brings it up again and reopen Old Wounds all that was dealt with we're going to be on the other hand. If you just trust those you forgive you can expect to be hurt again and again and again and if you let them into that inner circle, you can mark it down. You will probably more than likely ninety-nine times out of a hundred be taken advantage of

They're Christians, you know, they'll just turn the other cheek give the coat in the cloak of the extra mile. I can take advantage of them.

I wish people are like that, but they are. And so as I cancel with this person I said, you know forgiveness is one thing but trust is another trust must be rebuilt. There must be fruit meet for repentance suitable that shows there's been a change of mine to park that there's remorse over what they did to wrong before Joseph puts his brothers to a test to see how they changed at all are they really sorry are they truly upset and are they are they played in their conscience over what they did to me or they just the same old brothers that I knew before I left home. Against my volition have they changed it all. Well, let's have a dinner party. Can you remind me to you like to read maybe you like to read The Count of Monte Cristo? I don't know that has a moral to The Count of Monte Cristo. If you've ever read that story, this is a man who had by the end of it. He's wasted everything all this great treasury comes into any wasted all trying to get rid of an Joseph is not out for Revenge. He's not wasting all of his substance just to try to get back at his brothers for what they did to him. Joseph is testing his brothers and see if they've really changed. So he begins to put all the Affairs in order. I'm sure he was expecting them to come back anytime once the food ran out and he was sure they have to have Benjamin wasn't because I was a stipulation he gave before so Judah has a conversation with Dad and Dad agrees to let him go under God's under God's a survey and God's providential watch care and they returned and now we see the reuniting of the brothers that they still don't know Joseph yet. But when they get there, they did what Dad said bring a gift that was some solomonic wisdom because a gift in the bosom would appease the that they came right? There's a proverb that says something to that effect. You bring a gift and it'll peas and it will make the Wrath disappear that might be pulling them because remember they left and when they got halfway down the road, they looked in their sack and behold, we're in trouble what happened here. All our money is back and all the food and everything and it's going to look like we stole this stuff and then we went into we're going to have it in for us when we return So they go back with twice as much money.

And a gift some of the gifts that they have we read about them and in the verses hear what they were going to bring he says it took the present double money. And also some of the other things as the fruits the best fruits a present a little bomb a little honey spices mer nuts and almonds caution that was issued in one of the books. I read about this passage and I thought you know, that's a good thought about preaching. So for those who are interested in studying how to preach and teach let me encourage. You don't just take a little phrase like this where he says take it take it in your hand. He says a little ball in a little honey. There have been preachers that have taken that phrase a little honey and basically gone off on a springboard to talk about all these things that have nothing to do with a text and apply that take a little honey that whatever they want and they're imposing their height is on the text rather than getting there as a side note for taking notes. You just want to hold on to those things. Don't impose what you want to preach on the text. Just let the text Preach from itself and her in that way. So they take this this present down to appease appease Joseph cuz I don't want to be in trouble with him. They would have been in trouble. He would have been able to take them as slaves. And so I want you to notice as we get into this the fact that Judah stands up and takes responsibility. He's going to help rescue their family. This is some verses 1 through 15. He's going to rescue their family from the famine. He's going to rescue their testimony because he's going to listen to his dad and they're going to take a gift down and they're going to they're going to pay homage and going to say it was an oversight. We didn't mean to do this. We brought all the money back plus enough to buy more and oh, by the way, I brought you a gift too because we're good guys. We didn't do this on purpose. Just going to save only their family from the fam and he's going to save their testimony from the tarnishment. He's going to save their brother Simeon from the prison in from captivity in Egypt. And we see that in verses 1 through 5 is Judah stands up. We know that Jacob gives him a bold rebuke based on a false Assumption of negligence and I pointed this out last time together, but if you notice Jacob just as soon as they went down there and aired out all their laundry before Joseph. Why would you tell him all of this stuff? We didn't tell him everything he pulled it out of it. It's like before we even asked and he has to specifically and so Jacob had his understanding corrected and then he's willing to let them go down. And the risks of responsibilities are assumed. With that responsibility he's willing to take the risk. So as we apply it to where we are. I want you to think about a responsibility maybe that the Lord would have you to take maybe you didn't do anything wrong, but you need to take that extra measure and take 150% of the blame and let Christ shine through it and be willing to lay it on the line and take the necessary risks that involve taking this kind of responsibility because other lives are at stake. It's not about you. It's about God's plan being furthered the end from the beginning but he's following along and he's taking responsibility. Secondly. I would point out to you that I asked in this world must must we have to deal with integrity. I learned a very good definition of integrity when I work for bricks and I used to repeat it often. Maybe you've heard me say it before honesty is telling the truth Integrity is telling the truth. Even when it hurts brinson's one day. I show up to the Vault I have to hand in a sealed bag that has shredded $20 bills in it have to have integrity of this what happened to that money machine ate it up. And here's what's left. Sorry. It's not very salvageable. But that's Integrity. You see honestly would just be the machine shoot it up. But you know, there were other other ATM handlers that had that what we would call Sticky Fingers, you know what I mean? And every once in a while, it's 20 would just kind of disappear into thin air and nobody ever knew where it went. Honesty is telling the truth Integrity is telling the truth. Even when it hurts. There was one message through that I was aware of was being under investigation for disappearance of up to the tune of $90,000 because he was working on ATMs and be sure to Market down those that are supervising eventually catch on because they run the numbers and those who have integrity they notice. Hey, you know, the sticky fingers issues doesn't seem to be applied to this scenario because they can take in the average those things you see and the ones who do have some sticky fingers or milking the clock or however you want to play you see honesty is telling the truth Integrity is telling the truth even when it hurts. And we must deal with Integrity as Joseph's brothers return to Egypt they do so with Integrity. They take double money back enough to restore what what would have been assumed stolen and to pay for the food that they are going to need to continue forward. They're trying to clear their name and I would just remind you that the Bible encourages us to abstain from all appearance of evil and hear these brothers are doing their very best to do that. They don't want to look like evil evil people coming into into Egypt to take advantage of a bad situation showing versus 16222. We see them in their dealing with an Integrity abstaining from all appearance of evil. We it was an oversight. We didn't mean to do this and as they did that I want to point out to your principal and scripture that is some more stuff solomonic wisdom because in Proverbs it says it if you'll deal In this kind of way, you will obtain favor with God and man in here. That's exactly what happens Joseph brothers because of their integrity to lay everything out no matter the cost. I mean, they could be arrested they could be taken and in and made slaves. They're going to come clean and they're going to do it right and because of that they received favor with God and man. This is powerful in verses 23 to 25. We read the account and he said Peace be to you fear not who is this? This is who they're having to confess to they come back and this is Joseph servant. He already given them instructions because you need to understand Hebrew speaking people. And they come into Egypt trotting on their camels. They come up to Joseph servant and the first word that I hear from it Egyptian none the less.

They are peace and their own language. They hear a greeting that says maybe they're not as mad at us as we thought maybe things are going to be. Alright, he's not coming out with a Restless. He's actually saying peace. This is this is amazing. Show all media are not hate you don't have anything to worry about now. They've already confessed the right when we came to the end. We open our sex me whatever means money was in the middle of the second I really was is there is a bull waiting and we were to get into your head. It's right here. We got it all. We are we're in big trouble. It will be have other money to.

Since it's all right, you don't have to worry.

You're welcome. Your God and the god of your father. Jacob Israel has forgiven you maybe want * this word or underline this word or take a note of this word has given you what?

He goes on to say I had your money. Here's how I maybe I could put it to you in a way. That would make a little more sense. This is that's all right. You don't need to worry about that. I already already balanced books. I got it. I got your money. Whatever you found in your bag. For you. You guys are clear. Your account is settled. It's been reconciled.

What that sinking? What did Jesus do for us? My debts been paid my account with God's been reconciled. I've been delivered and yet his righteousness is put to me say I've got money in the bank was God what?

Open my sack as a center and I find the righteousness of Christ. Oh what treasure that must have been from your God. God must have done that for you. Now. You see there's some other things working that the brothers don't know about Joseph was pretty dog. He knew he was the one that told them to put the money in the sack. and so Jesus Christ as well as he was privy to our sin debt, and he knew it all and he knew the price that would be paid and he paid it for us what a beautiful picture painting favor with God and with men and so then They have their peace and then I can just imagine the flood of relief that comes over their soul and they sell right time to get ready for lunch. It's going to be a lunch like you've never seen they're going to worry about the famine that's going on by the time they sit down at table with you say, okay. It's time to get this ready.

I noticed how they obtain favor with God and Men simply because they were willing to put their necks on the line and deal with Integrity taking responsibility. Are we willing to take responsibility to deal with integrity? And thirdly I want to show you from this passage how all of these things can lead us to rejoicing without jealousy. Taking responsibility dealing with integrity and now notices we draw down to a close with everything rejoicing without jealousy and verses 26 to the end of the chapter. As things begin to unfold we realize there is something greater working here. You talk about dreams being fulfilled. Hey, this is a passage that speaks to fulfillment of dreams. We read how Joseph's brothers came and did obeisance to him. Not once not twice. At least we read about from this passage. fulfill dreams remember chapter 37 Joseph had a dream And here he sees that dream become a reality before his very eyes when you serve God and you follow him and you're willing to walk with integrity and take responsibility and following your lord and savior and all that you did There's dreams that we have there's hopes that we have that one day. We dream about being fulfilled. I'm telling you count on God one day you will see those dreams fulfilled right before your very eyes. I'm talking about dreams that are promises from scripture. Now. I'm not saying dreams about that next Lamborghini you want I'm talking about dreams of heaven and home and Paradise and send being eradicated out of this world and being able to serve the Lord with gladness entering into his presence. I'm talking about singles that you pray for fervently and labor over coming to Christ before your very eyes and seen those things because God answers prayer. We see that In this passage as well know it would do is do we see that following God helps helps us to see dreams Godly dreams. I should say come to fulfillment. We also see that prayers can be answered you remember when we were talking about Good Old Jacob there who now, he's back to Israel because he's he's really regained Sol Jacob. He's known as The Deceiver is this really is known as the prince with God has power with God now Israel's back on the scene with a little bit more hope and it's poison that maybe God's doing something more in this remember. He said a prayer over his boys before they left. He said Adventure God Almighty would show you remember the word? What's the word mercy? And Genesis is a fun book because in the Book of Genesis, we get to encounter many many firsts. This is one of them. This is the first time that this limo shows up in the Bible. That's just a fancy word for the root of it where it comes from. Okay, the first time this word mercy appears right here and notice who's being invoked when mercy shows up. God Almighty El Shaddai the Covenant keeping God for Mercy now the word is translated in this very chapter again, but it's not translated as the word mercy yet fast forward now. Down to where Joseph and encounters Benjamin, they, they sit down to meet or getting ready to eat and the brothers are getting ready to give the present and Joseph ask. How's Dad doing? How is your dear old dad is he well, is he alive? That's fine. Is this the sun you told me about is this your brother? And right after that Joseph pronounce is a benediction blessing on Benjamin and he almost can't contain himself. He has to exit before he loses composure. It has to go somewhere and and regroup and regather. If you look at the text, you'll see the word. It's translated Mercy when Jacob prayed over his son's before they left now. The prayer is answered because Joseph is said here. He made haste and verse 34 his bowels did yearn Do you see that? His bowels did you earn? That's the same word. Mercy This is a deep deep movement of compassion something that can be contained. We talked about a burning in our heart for somebody you remember when the disciples on the road to Emmaus walk with Christ in our hearts that we understand a culture like this paper than that but bowels of mercies that Paul writes about this is this is something that moves you so deeply, You can't you almost can't contain It Out imagine it took some time for Joseph to recompose himself, but do you see the connection? Israel prayed that God would show mercy and here it's almost like Moses is connecting both of those ideas because of the same Hebrew word Joseph's battles than your and what did he pray for Benjamin? He says may God have compassion be gracious on them. So the compassionate Mercy it seemed I want to tell you when you serve God you are willing to take responsibility of following Christ. When you serve the Lord and you deal with Integrity getting favor with God and you can mark it down your dreams will be fulfilled and following the Lord the desires of your heart. You will see them come to pass. He will give Thee the desires of thine heart. Your prayers will be answered. Right before your eyes and hear a Father's prayer comes to fulfillment. He asked God to do it. God did it and he did it in such an abundant way such an abundant way. And then I want you to notice here under this idea of rejoicing without jealousy how we can receive our blessings with Thanksgiving and with contentment. Remember I pointed out to you. Joseph is giving his brothers a severe test right here and they changed it all. Is there any difference can I begin to trust them a little bit now? He's not all the way out of the woods weather because there's a greater test yet coming where we talked about. Jude is going to stand for things going to put his neck on the line. But it all begins to test them have they changed so noticeably does I always wondered why in the world, you know, is it just because Benjamin was was Rachel's son. Was it just because they were full brothers and not half Brothers me. Why would my plates instead of one like the other brother's wife?

Have they changed it? All you see the paper Chisholm was on him before and he was Rachel's now that dad thinks he's gone off the steam all that. He knows brothers. And so he's going to find out are they the same? Show as they all sit down to eat. He's going to in essence put on Benjamin that coat of many colors with five plates of mess. 5 times as much so what will the reaction be will it be?

We have about 2 year olds at our house. I see that kind of stuff all the time.

We have middle schoolers and high schoolers and we have immature people. I see that stuff all the time. Okay, let's not just for the kids under the bus. We have some time some church members they get in the fuss over image of stuff like this. Joseph trying to find out have they changed are they going to be jealous over him and be envious over him because I bless him more. But they pass this test with flying colors. You know, why because I had you read that phrase out loud with me when you can't be began the end of the chapter. It says what they drank and we're merry with him. There was not a single sentiment of remorse that I didn't get as much as him. Count your many blessings name them one by one. It just might surprise you with the Lord has done. So instead of looking at what you didn't get or how much better somebody else appears to be doing than you before you start comparing and contrasting what you have with with somebody else has been blessed with why don't you just sit down right with God and say, thank you Lord. You've been so good to me. I'm not worried about what somebody else has. I'm thankful for what's on my plate whether it's one mess our 5 meses. Hay with 5 meses. Guess what? You got more dishes to clean.

I'm just being sarcastic. I'm being sarcastic, but even with one. There was no cinnamon of remorse. I can't believe how good God's been now. They can sit down and whereas before they might have burned inside with Envy. Why does he get 5 and only get one now? They can sit down and say what he's got f*** if that's awesome. This wonderful. Look how good is being blessed and we're all together. depressed test So Joseph's not done with them. He's going to send him away and catch him in the act and bring them back and say now I'm going to take Benjamin if that's what you just going to stand up. So how is it tonight? What is it in your life that God might be asking you or moving upon you calling you to take responsibility for and serving him. There's going to be some risk associated with that. Have you counted the cost? Have you sat down and done that to make sure that you can do what God's calling you to take responsibility for what is that responsibility?

You have a responsibility to protect your family in the church family in the testimony in the cause of Christ. You have a responsibility to take the gospel out so that those who are in shackles and imprison you can be set free. You have responsibilities as a follower of the Lord. You also need to understand some people are going to understand why you're doing what you're doing. They might have assumptions about you that are incorrect. You give that to God and stay Meek and when it comes time to stand up you make sure the truth be known. Just like Judah did. And you're fully ready to take the risks assumed with the responsibility of following Christ as you go forward for him. Remember you need to deal with Integrity maintain your integrity abstain from all appearance of evil. Stay right with God stay right with men and you will gain favor in the sight of God and man. And God bless you for it. And by the time you come to the end of your journey, you'll be able to Rejoice with no jealousy with no Envy in your heart. You'll be able to sit down and be merry because hey your dreams and following the Lord all the desires of your heart. He gave those to you and he blessed you and you saw your dreams fulfilled only that he answered your prayers when you ask him to do something. He did it exceeding abundantly above all you can ask or think and he has filled your plate to goodness. He has filled your plate with blessing and you can say with the psalmist my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy, shall follow me all the days of my life. You can receive the blessings of the Lord with Thanksgiving with gratitude in your heart with contentment for the things you have because godliness with contentment is great gain.