Questions & Answers

So today we are continuing in our series of messages. We’re calling Genesis Part five as we work our way through the book of Genesis. And if this is your very first time here, we’re so glad that you’re with us. Or maybe you’re streaming in online every single week. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t been here for any of the previous messages. We know and trust and believe that God has a word for us, and we would love nothing more than to connect with you after the service. In fact, Pastor Ben and I will be right through these doors, right over by the coffee. And we’d love to shake your hand if you introduce yourselves to us. And then we can learn just a little bit more about you. what’s interesting about part five is we’re actually at the halfway point. so as we begin the month of March, as this is the first Sunday of March, we have six weeks to go as and then we will actually conclude, Genesis, which will be incredible. We’re gonna have a massive party on April 6th. So make sure you’re here for April 6th. It’s going to be off the charts. Epic. You’re going to if you’re a streamer, you’re going to want to come to church. I’m just telling you, April 6th, the week before Holy Week kicks in, I do want to highlight one of them for you as well. Is that in a couple of days, we will be celebrating Ash Wednesday. And our service times this year are three and six. the reason we have a 3:00 service, it’s for those of you that don’t drive in the dark, okay? Or you’re retired, or you work remotely and you have the opportunity to get here during the day, and you want to come to the earlier service. so we have those two services.

And if you’ve never been to an Ash Wednesday service before, maybe you have no context about what that even means. Let me just tell you something. When I first came to Shepherds Gate, I had never been to an Ash Wednesday service before either. And so the way that we’ve designed this service is to explain what it is, why we do it, and how it actually kicks off 40 days to Easter. So we really hope that you’ll be part of that. we do get to receive ashes on our foreheads in the sign of a cross. So it’s a really cool service as well as receive communion. one final thing, because you notice our worship team, they’re just doing an incredible job, and they’re they’ve been introducing us to some new songs. And some of you have been asking about that. we actually have a playlist that they have put together. And so if you scan this QR code with your phone or if you go on our app, it’s actually right on the homepage of our app, you can go to Spotify or YouTube and you can listen to the worship songs that we sing during the week. Isn’t that cool that they do that for us? So we’re just blessed that we have that we can give them praise. They did such a great job this morning.

So let me just catch you up really quick on where we’ve been. Joseph is our central character, as you just heard. he’s a completely devoted follower of God. I mean, this is a guy that has done everything in the view of who God is, no matter what his circumstances. He’s now second in command in Egypt. And so there’s been this seven years of plenty where the crops were busting at the seams. And God had given Joseph the vision, to give to Pharaoh that they should store a percentage of those crops because they are going to experience the seven years of famine. And so last week was year one of the famine. This week is going to be year two of the famine. And so because it was so severe, his family members, they don’t live anywhere near Egypt, had to travel to Egypt because they were starving. And so ten of his 11 brothers actually came to Egypt to buy food. This is the first time that Joseph actually seen his brothers, and over 20 years he sends them all back except for one. He keeps one back for himself. Simeon, because of the brother that he really wants to see is Benjamin. Now, if you haven’t been with us, you have to understand this. The brothers don’t know that Joseph is their younger brother, that they sold into slavery. He still has kept this a secret from them. And so he does. This is kind of an insurance policy because he wants them to return with his youngest brother, the youngest brother of all of them. And so last week, one of the things that’s really cool is that every chapter kind of leaves you with a cliffhanger.

so, you know, isn’t it interesting that, you know, Netflix does this and Hulu does this, and Amazon Prime does this. Do you know where they got the idea from the Bible. Okay. That’s why some of you binge watch shows. And so here you go. This was last week’s verse. This was the last verse of chapter 42. one of the brothers, Reuben, had actually offered to his dad and said, we need to go back to Egypt. We need to go get our last brother, Simeon. And he said, I will guarantee that I will bring Benjamin back safely to you if I don’t, you can kill my two sons. Which seems extreme, doesn’t it? And this is how dad, aka Jacob responds. My son Benjamin will not go there with you. Not going to happen. Sorry. So he loves Benjamin so much. But he’s warned to leave Simeon, who is over in Egypt, rotting in a prison. So at the beginning of chapter 43, if you have your Bibles, if you want to turn there, you can do so. It tells us the famine is still severe. They’ve eaten up all of the grain they got on their first trip there. And finally dad looks at the brothers and says, you need to go back and you need to get some more food or we’re all going to die. Now, in this chapter, we see a new brother emerge as kind of the spokesperson. This time it’s Judah. And he says to dad, do you not remember what we already told you? That Egyptian ruler told us that if we don’t bring Benjamin, we’re going to be in serious trouble. Don’t even bother coming back. If you don’t bring him with you.

Jacob then turns on Judah and says, why did you bring this trouble on me? Why did you even tell him that you had an, younger brother back in town? And so they get together and they say, dad, you don’t understand. This guy was questioning us. He was asking us all these questions about our family. He was asking questions about you. He wanted to know what the the family dynamics really were. And at no point did they ever in their brains think that maybe, just maybe, this was their brother that they had abandoned. Maybe, just maybe, there was something more to the story. Why was this guy so obsessed with their family dynamics? Why did he keep asking pinpoint in questions about their family dynamics? And of course, they said, listen, he’s asking us all these questions. All we did was simply answer his questions. So Judah does something similar to what Reuben had done, but a little bit different. Twist because he says to Israel, which is Jacob. So he’s got one of these names that goes from Jacob to Israel. He says to his dad, send Benjamin along with me, and we and our children will live and not die like we have to do this. This is a matter of life and death, dad. I myself will guarantee his safety. You can hold me personally responsible for him. Do you see the difference between what he’s saying to his dad and what Reuben said to his dad? He’s willing to put his own life on the line, and if he doesn’t bring him back, he will bear the blame before his father and before his family all of his life.

Now, there’s kind of a foreshadowing in these verses, because this is exactly what Jesus has done for every single one of us in here. He was the one that was willing to insert himself into our mess, into our story, and say thus, God the Father, I’m willing to go do what they can’t do for themselves. I’m willing to go to the cross. I’m willing to take their sins upon my physical body. I’m willing to be beaten and flogged and mocked, because I’m the only one that’s going to be able to pay the price for their sins. There’s no way they can do this outside of me. This is why when Jesus is hanging on a cross, he’s the one that’s able to look out at the crowd, and he’s the one that says to to God forgive them, for they don’t even realize what they’re doing. Thanks be to God that we experience that grace and mercy now in our lives. Something that happened 2000 years ago and we receive the benefits of it. What’s also fascinating in his conversation with his dad is he says, look, I will put my reputation, my own life on the line for it. Also, dad, if we had not delayed, we could have gone and returned twice by now. So you imagine trying to convince this old guy, like, look at what you’re doing, look at that. Look at the dynamics that are happening in our family. Why is he still stalling? He wants them to go, but he doesn’t want them to take Benjamin with them. What is the one thing that Jacob is forgetting in all of this?

What is he forgetting about God? God, the goodness of God, the faithfulness of God, the provision of God. And for a moment, because I know we’ve been beaten up on Jacob for a long time. I mean, he’s an easy character to look at and go, man, all of his faults and failures are laid bare before us, going back and looking at how many times God has been with Jacob. This is a guy that when he left his hometown because he lied to his brother and to his dad, ends up having an insane encounter with God all by himself in this place called Bethel. He has this supernatural dream of a ladder reaching to heaven, and he’s so overwhelmed by the presence of God in that place. And God makes a promise to him. God makes a covenant to him. I will never leave you. I will never forsake you. In fact, I will bring you back to this land you and your family, and I will bless you and be with you. He’s single at the time he ends up in Haran, he ends up going and marrying not one but two women. Those two women have servants that convince him he should sleep with them and as a result, he has all of these children. 20 years go by and it’s God. Think of this God is the one that comes to him and says, it’s time for you to go home. God has another encounter with him and on his way home, when he’s so close to getting back to his parents and he’s so close to getting back to his brother, he ends up getting into a fight with God.

He wrestles with God all night long until God finally breaks him down and restores him and reminds him of the covenant and promises that he has already given him 20 years prior. This is a guy that’s been blessed over and over and over and over again in his life. He was wealthy when he was when he was back with his father in law and his wives and his kids. And we’re in the in the town that they came from. And he still continues to be wealthy to this day. They just can’t figure out how to make the food that they need to sustain them. Like that’s how severe it is for him right now. And I wonder in our lives how many times we do this very thing. We go through a valley, we go through a difficulty. Something comes into our life that disturbs what we had planned out and what we thought and how we thought our life should turn out and what we do. Come on church. We forget the blessings of God. We forget to look back at the markers that all along the way, God is the one who has been faithful. God is the one who is always provided for us. God has always given us every single thing that we have needed in him. And so for us, I think this morning, it is it’s a good wakeup call to say, no matter the circumstances that we find ourselves in, we’re all in the same boat. Our faith constantly does this.

We doubt, we question, we get ahead of God. We get frustrated with God. I mean, it’s just part of this human experience that we have. And it’s so difficult sometimes of living in that tension of knowing what it is that God wants us to do, but then also doing what it is that God wants us to do now, Joe or Jacob must have got really hungry because finally, finally, and I wish we knew how long the period was that he waited. He finally agrees to send Benjamin and look at the lengths that he goes through. Look at what he gives the boys to take to this Egyptian ruler, but he doesn’t realize is his son choice. Fruit’s a gift. It’s always a good idea to bring a gift along, isn’t it? To trying to butter somebody up a little balm, a little honey? All the organic people in the church said, we know you’re out there. Gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts and all means. I mean, who doesn’t like pistachio nuts and almonds? Unless you have a nut allergy and double the money, double the silver that was their currency because they tried to pay for the grain the last time they went. And remember, Joseph instructed his servants to put it back in their sacks. And when they got home, they were like, we don’t know why we have this money, dad. We don’t know where it came from. I promise you, I swear to you, we paid them. And so they were all nervous, Jacob included, that they were going to be punished because they didn’t actually pay for their food the first time around.

Now, here you’re going to see Jacob do the right thing. You’re going to see Jacob actually do something that we think he should do because of the way that God has been with him his whole life. He says to them after he packs everything up after, I mean, he’s all in on this. He’s pushing all the chips to the end of the table. I mean, this is it. He has no idea if he’s about to lose his entire family. All of these gifts, all of these things. And right before they leave, he gives them a blessing. And he tells the boys this, May God Almighty grant you mercy. Way to go, Jacob. Good job. This is what you should be doing. Not only giving them a blessing, why not circle them up? Everybody hold hands. Let’s do a big family prayer before they take off. By the way, boys, why didn’t he do this? Why didn’t he recap what I just recap for you? I know that God’s going to go with you. I know that God will be with you. I know that God will protect you. I know that God will provide you. Let me tell you about when I was a kid. Let me tell you when I was a young adult. Let me tell you about wife one and two.

Let me tell you about all the grandkids. Let me tell you about when I wrestled with God. Let me tell you about the time that my brother, when I, when I hadn’t seen him for 20 years, didn’t kill me. Instead, he put his arms around me and hugged me and loved me and forgave me. Why? And then he reverts right back to being the Jacob that we know. As for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved. I want to trust you, God, but I realize it might not turn out the way that I want it to. I want to believe that you’re going to provide and protect them, but I’m not really sure. And God, if you if you do it the right way and you do it the way that I want, that I’ll be excited. But if you don’t do it the way that I want, then I’m going to be depressed. And I don’t even see the point of living anymore. That’s what your fate is for my family. Now, these boys load up on their donkeys. They make it to Egypt, which is a pretty good distance. And of course, Joseph. Who is he after? Benjamin. He sees them at this point. It’s kind of at a distance, and he looks at his servant and he says, take those men into my house, slaughter an animal and prepare a meal, because they are to meet with me at 12 noon. It’s very specific. I mean, Joseph is very calculated. And when the brothers hear this from the servant, they have kind of an adverse reaction.

They’re frightened. They’re not sure if this is a trap, like, wait, wait, what time? Oh, why would an Egyptian, at his stature in his place in society, want us at his house? Why in the world would he ever invite us to lunch? He didn’t do this the last time we were here. And so they’re so nervous and they’re so in fear that they think that it’s because the silver got brought back to the house. They think that maybe this is a trap and that they’re all going to end up in prison, along with their brother who’s already there. Simeon, not only are they worried about themselves, do you know what else they’re worried about? Did you hear in the text? They are worried about themselves, and they are equally as worried about their donkeys. Which makes absolutely no sense. If you’re in prison, what do you give a rip about your donkey if you’re thrown in prison? Read the text. The servant is the one that brings hope to them. The servant is the one that says, listen, guys, don’t be afraid. Your god. Hey, remember that God that you serve, the God that you worship. He’s the God of your father. Remember what he did for your dad. He’s the one that is giving you treasures in your sacks. Relax. Take a deep breath. You’re amongst friends. We’re preparing a meal because that’s what Joseph has told us to do for you. So much so they bring Simeon out of the prison. And when you know, they all get to be reunited in that moment.

Question is, how long was Simeon in that prison in which brother said, listen, we want to come here a long time ago, but dad was the one stalling because he didn’t want to let go of Benjamin. You just wonder if that took place. I don’t know if it did. You just wonder. So finally he gets these guys all cleaned up. He gets them showered, he cleans their feet. He even takes care of their donkeys. All right. He has the servants take care of their donkeys. Joseph comes home. They present him with all of these gifts, which we have no idea if he was impressed with all that for you is just like, okay, whatever. Because that really wasn’t what he wanted. They, of course, they bow down once again to the ground which fulfilled the dream that God had given Joseph, that his brothers would actually do this. And now here we see Benjamin as part of this as well. Joseph then goes on to have the conversation as just like he did last chapter. Hey, I want to know more about your family. I want to dig in and get some updates on what’s going on. Specifically, how is your dad? And they tell him, you know, he’s still kickin, he’s still alive and well. Then he looks and now he’s face to face with the person he really, truly wanted to see. Benjamin. This is his own mother’s son. This is the only brother he shares a biological mom with.

And if he didn’t know, mom passed away giving birth to Benjamin. Joseph hasn’t seen his brother Benjamin in 20 years. And so he ask a question he already knows the answer to. Because you still going along with tricking them? Is this your younger brother? They nod yes and then he gives him a blessing. God be gracious to you. And as he’s uttering these words, God be gracious to you, my son. He’s overcome with emotion at this point. He can’t keep his emotions in check. He’s moved at just being in the same room as him. And wouldn’t you know, all of a sudden he has to hurry off and try to find a place where he can weep in private? Remember, this happened the last time they were in town when he saw nine of his brothers. He was overwhelmed and he had to leave. It’s kind of interesting if you just slow this down for a moment and think of the significance of what is taking place. Joseph’s got everything you could ever want, dream or imagine. It’s got a wife. He’s got two beautiful boys of his own lives in a massive house. He’s a ruler. Everything he wants is at his fingertips. And yet deep down, he’s still a human being. Deep down, there’s still these desires in his heart to want to connect on a relational level with those who he loves, even if he hasn’t seen them for a very long time.

And as I was thinking about this this week, I was thinking about the significance of this moment because I don’t think anything’s changed since the time of Joseph, particularly when it comes to men. Why are we taught men to weep in private? Because we’ve been told it’s a sign of weakness. And this has been passed down from generation to generation to generation. Think about it. Some of you that are in here, whatever stage you’re in, if a young man or a young boy comes into a room, say your living room and they’re crying, what’s the first thing that you say to them? Stop crying. Suck it up, buttercup. And you have a son. Who would validate that? Wouldn’t he? What happens if they keep crying? What do we tell them? Stop crying. Go to your. Oh, it’s funny. You all heard the same thing. Think about this. Where did we get the idea that men shouldn’t show their emotions? The reason he’s not doing it is he’s not ready to reveal himself of who he actually really is to his brothers. Now, I know growing up, I think my dad’s in here. Dad, are you in here? You are in here. I he knows this. I’ve seen my dad cry twice during my childhood. You know this. I’ve told you this once. Was at your mother in law’s funeral, which was my grandma. The second time I saw my dad cry. Like, really, truly cry was when he retired from the Navy.

He’s a veteran because that was such a huge part of his life. Now I can tell you this when a man turns 70 years old, they all start crying. Am I wrong? Some men are just natural criers. Some men, they’re just in touch with their feelings and their emotion like they have no problem. That’s just the way that they are. And it’s not that they’re any less of a man. They’re just that the way God has made them. My wife just, you know, when it comes to my wife, she is so funny in our house because she says, you always have two emotional breakdown downs every single year. The difficulty is I never know when they’re going to come, because all of a sudden I’ll just be emotional and I’ll say, Lisa, I need you. I need you in this moment, I need you. She’s like, you don’t need me any other day or week or month of the year. Hold on. I gotta remember how to do this for you in this moment. I was even thinking about it when it relates to our boys. Because our boys will go to bed, and sometimes there’s something that she’s doing. So I’ll go in and I’ll do their prayers with them and say good night. And more often than not, they will say, well, send mom in when she’s ready. And I’m like.

Am I not good enough? What was my prayer? Not good enough? Was my hug not good enough? And then Lisa will go in there and like time will lapse and then all of a sudden she’ll come in and she’d be like, oh man, this one or that one was really dealing with something and really bared their soul and even tears in their eyes and I’m like, what are you talking about? I asked both of them if they were fine and they were like, yeah, dad. Good. Can I see you in the morning? I was talking to Pastor Ben about this and remember he just got ordained last June. Hasn’t even been a year yet. And as he was processing this text with me, it was interesting because this is what he said. It’s interesting. Now, that is, he’s been at several bedsides in hospitals, or he’s been there at the funeral home to do funerals or even here at Shepherd’s Gate. How many times in just a short period of time, he has specifically had a look at the men and give them permission to cry, give them permission to weep, to let that stuff out because it’s not good for us to build it up. You know, the Scripture say, rejoice with those who rejoice. Mourn with those who mourn. Do you know, Jesus told us to pray in secret?

He never told us to weep in secret. I don’t know, maybe we need to get more, intentional about being in touch with our feelings and emotions. And maybe there are times, times when we need to just let it flow and let it out because it’s good and it’s normal and it’s healthy for us to do it. Amen. So this guy is bawling his eyes out, so much so he’s got to wash his face, get control of himself. And then when he finally, you know, does whatever he needs to do, he comes out and tells his servants to serve the food. Now, here’s the last few verses in this chapter. They serve Joseph by himself. The brothers by themselves. And then the Egyptians got to eat by themselves. Imagine having a house that’s so big. You have three dining room tables in it. And the reason is, obviously it says that the Egyptians couldn’t eat with the Hebrews and vice versa. Now here’s another fascinating part, because the servants actually lined up the men in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest. And what are they doing looking at each other, going, who knew? How did they know that this was our birth order? Still another clue that Joseph is giving them, and they’re still not picking up on it. And the reason is the reason he’s doing this is very strategic and on purpose, because Joseph is not done testing his brothers and so much so the last verse says this, that when the portions were served to them from Joseph’s table.

So he wanted to make sure they knew it came from his table. When they got to Benjamin, they went all the way down the line. And when they got to Benjamin, they gave him how much? As any one else. He wants to see the condition of their heart. He wants to see if they still have the same animosity and hatred for Benjamin that they had for him, because he knows that Benjamin is now dad’s favorite kid. They want to see in the last 20 years, there’s anything changed in their life, or are they still being a stubborn person? Are they still willing to hold on to this? Why are they still willing to hold on to unforgiveness and at least just admit that what they did? Hey, if you want to experiment this with your own kids, here’s how you do it. You’re ready. Those of you that have multiple kids take them all out for ice cream and give the oldest one and everyone after a half a scoop of ice cream. And when you get to the baby, the family, you give them five scoops of ice cream. And then you see are the other kids as they turn and look at the little one, are they throwing a fit or are they throwing their ice cream down? Are they telling you that they’re mad at you? And how dare you do this? And it’s so disrespectful. Look at how they responded. They can see it as clear as day. I mean, make no mistake, he’s doing this on purpose. And it says they feasted and they drank freely with him. Imagine what’s going on in Joseph’s heart in this moment.

Part of you wonders is this just him trying to reclaim that family table that he’s been dismissed from for the last 20 years? Part of this, he just wants that community that fellowship with his brothers. But the bigger story, the bigger narrative, is we know he’s trying to help them. He’s trying to flesh this area out in their lives. This is exactly what he’s doing. He’s testing them. He really, truly wants to see if they’re going to be repentant, because at this point, all he’s done is eavesdrop on a conversation that they had last week. And so he heard them recap the story. And Reuben is the one who said, you guys, we really screwed up and we shouldn’t have done this, but yet they haven’t told dad and they haven’t come clean in front of anybody else. And even in their sin, even in their misery. Even with this lie, he still continues to provide for them. He did it last week with what he sent home with them. He’s doing it now in his own house, even providing for their donkeys, for crying out loud. So much so that he invited them to this incredible banquet and he’s feasting with them.

Now think about what it is that God does for you. Think of how much grace and mercy it is that God has for you in your fallen, sinful state. Do you know that God test us? That God actually tells us that he disciplines those he loves? So if you’re going through a hardship, if you’re going through a valley, if you’re going through a difficulty, it may very well be because God is trying to get your attention, because God is trying to get you to not rely on yourself, your education, your wealth, whatever it is that you think you can create with your time on this earth. And he’s trying to get you to realize who he is and what it is that he has come to do through His Son, Jesus Christ, who went to the cross for us. He’s the one that seeks repentance for us. Then we go out and we just keep doing the same thing over and over again. Or we do with sin that we know is wrong. And yet at the same breath, we want God’s blessing and God scratching his head saying, I want to bless you. I want to provide for you. You know what to do is the right thing to do. Will stop doing what’s wrong and start doing what is right. Here’s the crazy part we don’t get it right. We screw it up.

We often don’t forgive others. We don’t seek repentance. We don’t even confess the sins that we should confess. And yet somehow God still provides for us. You look back at your life and you see all the markers across your life. You will see the ways in which God provides for you in the past now, in the present. And he will never stop providing for you in the future. And this is nuts. He wants to feast with you. He wants to feed you off his table. He wants you to taste and see that the Lord is good and what he has for you. The attributes that flow out of him, mercy and grace and forgiveness and peace are yours because of who Jesus is, not because of who we are or anything that we have done to earn or deserve it. Amen.