Bible Study - Overcome (5) - Overcome Bitterness - Genesis 45: 3-11 - November 16, 2014

Bible Study – Overcome (5) – Overcome Bitterness – November 16, 2014

This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled “Overcome: Living beyond Your Circumstances.”

Our focus scripture is Genesis 45:3-11.

Relationships can only move forward with forgiveness.

In last week’s study, the final verses were Genesis 41:56-57:

56 Because the famine had spread across the whole country, Joseph opened up all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Every nation came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, for the famine was severe in every land.

This leads us to Genesis Chapter 42. There is a lot that takes place between Chapter 42 and our focus scripture in Chapter 45, which I suggest that you read. I will give snippets in an effort to bridge the gap.

Let’s read Genesis 42:

Joseph’s Brothers in Egypt

1 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you keep looking at each other? 2 Listen,” he went on, “I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us so that we will live and not die.” 3 So 10 of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he thought, “Something might happen to him.”

Joseph’s father, Jacob, instructed his sons to go to Egypt to purchase some grain. Why do you think the brothers looked at each other? Oh my, were their past sins about to catch up with them?

Ten of Joseph’s brothers traveled to Egypt. It was the same ten who had sold Joseph into slavery. Jacob did not let Benjamin, the youngest son go in fear that something would happen to him.

Genesis 42:5-7:

5 The sons of Israel were among those who came to buy grain, for the famine was in the land of Canaan. 6 Joseph was in charge of the country; he sold grain to all its people. His brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the ground. 7 When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke harshly to them.

Joseph recognized his brothers but they did not recognize him. Joseph was in the catbird seat and just had to play with them. Joseph accused them of coming to Egypt to spy. He probed them about their family.

Genesis 42:14-20:

14 Then Joseph said to them, “I have spoken: ‘You are spies!’ 15 This is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 16 Send one from among you to get your brother. The rest of you will be imprisoned so that your words can be tested to see if they are true. If they are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!” 17 So Joseph imprisoned them together for three days. 18 On the third day Joseph said to them, “I • fear God —do this and you will live. 19 If you are honest, let one of you be confined to the guardhouse, while the rest of you go and take grain to relieve the hunger of your households. 20 Bring your youngest brother to me so that your words can be confirmed; then you won’t die.” And they consented to this.

Genesis 42:25-28:

25 Joseph then gave orders to fill their containers with grain, return each man’s money to his sack, and give them provisions for their journey. This order was carried out. 26 They loaded the grain on their donkeys and left there. The Brothers Return Home 27 At the place where they lodged for the night, one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his money there at the top of the bag. 28 He said to his brothers, “My money has been returned! It’s here in my bag.” Their hearts sank. Trembling, they turned to one another and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”

Genesis 42:35-38:

35 As they began emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his bag of money! When they and their father saw their bags of money, they were afraid. 36 Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my sons. Joseph is gone and Simeon is gone. Now you want to take Benjamin. Everything happens to me!” 37 Then Reuben said to his father, “You can kill my two sons if I don’t bring him back to you. Put him in my care, and I will return him to you.” 38 But Jacob answered, “My son will not go down with you, for his brother is dead and he alone is left. If anything happens to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hairs down to • Sheol in sorrow.”

Genesis 43:1-5:

1 Now the famine in the land was severe. 2 When they had used up the grain they had brought back from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us some food.” 3 But Judah said to him, “The man specifically warned us: ‘You will not see me again unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go, for the man said to us, ‘You will not see me again unless your brother is with you.’” 6 “Why did you cause me so much trouble?” Israel asked. “Why did you tell the man that you had another brother?”

Genesis 43:15-16:

15 The men took this gift, double the amount of money, and Benjamin. They made their way down to Egypt and stood before Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to his steward, “Take the men to my house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for they will eat with me at noon.”

Genesis 43:29-31:

29 When he looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest brother that you told me about?” Then he said, “May God be gracious to you, my son.” 30 Joseph hurried out because he was overcome with emotion for his brother, and he was about to weep. He went into an inner room to weep. 31 Then he washed his face and came out. Regaining his composure, he said, “Serve the meal.

Genesis 44:1-5:

1 Then Joseph commanded his steward: “Fill the men’s bags with as much food as they can carry, and put each one’s money at the top of his bag. 2 Put my cup, the silver one, at the top of the youngest one’s bag, along with his grain money.” So he did as Joseph told him. 3 At morning light, the men were sent off with their donkeys. 4 They had not gone very far from the city when Joseph said to his steward, “Get up. Pursue the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? 5 Isn’t this the cup that my master drinks from and uses for • divination? What you have done is wrong!’”

Genesis 44:9-17:

9 If any of us is found to have it, he must die, and we also will become my lord’s slaves.” 10 The steward replied, “What you have said is right, but only the one who is found to have it will be my slave, and the rest of you will be blameless.” 11 So each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. 12 The steward searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest, and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 Then they tore their clothes, and each one loaded his donkey and returned to the city. 14 When Judah and his brothers reached Joseph’s house, he was still there. They fell to the ground before him. 15 “What is this you have done?” Joseph said to them. “Didn’t you know that a man like me could uncover the truth by divination?” 16 “What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed your servants’ iniquity. We are now my lord’s slaves —both we and the one in whose possession the cup was found.” 17 Then Joseph said, “I swear that I will not do this. The man in whose possession the cup was found will be my slave. The rest of you can go in peace to your father.”

This leads us to our focus scripture. Joseph tantalized his brothers but he had a plan in mind. He needed to see the true hearts of his brothers. He had the advantage because he recognized them but they had not recognized him. His brothers agreed to be Joseph’s slaves but Joseph refused and told them Benjamin would be his slave.

Genesis 44:18, 32-34:

18 But Judah approached him and said, “Sir, please let your servant speak personally to my lord.

32 Your servant became accountable to my father for the boy, saying, ‘If I do not return him to you, I will always bear the •guilt for sinning against you, my father.’ 33 Now please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave, in place of the boy. Let him go back with his brothers. 34 For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the grief that would overwhelm my father.”

Judah pleads with Joseph. Keep in mind that it is through the line of Judah that CHRIST comes to earth. CHRIST pleads with every person upon earth to accept HIM as his or her Savior by placing his or her faith in HIM.

Enough is enough and Joseph had to tell his brothers something very important as we read in our next scripture.

Let’s read Genesis 45:1-4:

Joseph Reveals His Identity

1 Joseph could no longer keep his composure in front of all his attendants, so he called out, “Send everyone away from me!” No one was with him when he revealed his identity to his brothers. 2 But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and also Pharaoh’s household heard it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But they could not answer him because they were terrified in his presence. 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please, come near me,” and they came near. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt.

The cat is out of the bag so-to-speak. Now Joseph’s father will know the truth of what had happened to him at the hand of his brothers many years ago. This was likely a bitter-sweet moment for his brothers.

Let’s read Genesis 45:5-8:

5 And now don’t be worried or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. 7 God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. 8 Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

Joseph puts their minds at ease when he told them that they meant it for harm but GOD meant it for good. When they heard those words I am sure they were relieved for awhile. Joseph saw his calling was to save a remnant of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Joseph was chosen to carry out GOD’S plans and purpose. Joseph may not have fully realized his purpose until his brothers arrived in Egypt. He likely saw that GOD had placed him in the position where their lives would be reunited since Joseph was second in command in Egypt and in charge of the distribution of the food. Joseph was again at the right place at the right time because GOD directed his life.

Let’s read Genesis 45:9-15:

9 “Return quickly to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: “God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me without delay. 10 You can settle in the land of Goshen and be near me—you, your children, and grandchildren, your sheep, cattle, and all you have. 11 There I will sustain you, for there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you, your household, and everything you have will become destitute.”’ 12 Look! Your eyes and my brother Benjamin’s eyes can see that it is I, Joseph, who am speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all my glory in Egypt and about all you have seen. And bring my father here quickly.” 14 Then Joseph threw his arms around Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept on his shoulder. 15 Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept, and afterward his brothers talked with him.

Restoration of relationships is a wonderful moment. Joseph was ready for his family to come to Egypt where he could make sure they would be taken care of. You can feel the urgency in his words. He embraces his brothers and kisses them. This is a precious moment.

Joseph was a powerful man and he could have made life miserable for his brothers but he didn’t. He recognized that GOD’S hand had directed his life to save not only his family but many other people throughout the land. He had to forgive his brothers for what they had done to him.

Maybe you have been done wrong by a family member. Has it led to bitterness or to forgiveness? If you still are holding a grudge, confess it to CHRIST and ask HIM to help you do the right thing and restore broken relationships. Blessings!!!