June 14 notes - Genesis 43:1-15

Genesis 43:1-15

 

READING

43 Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.”

3 But Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’”

6 And Israel said, “Why did you deal so wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you had still another brother?”

7 But they said, “The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ And we told him according to these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”

8 Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I myself will be surety for him; 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. 10 For if we had not lingered, surely by now we would have returned this second time.”

11 And their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 Take double money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man. 14 And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!”

15 So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph.

 

 

BOARD –

 

Do you want a transaction or transparency with God?

 

TIMING

TRANSPARENCY

TARGET

TRANSACTION

 

 

 

 

1-5 Timing

 

1 Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.”

3 But Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’”

1 – Famine was still happening and that means most did not have food – what a blessing that they had food given to them prior along with the silver that they should have paid

 

2 – It was when THEY had need not to save Simeon that brought them back – they thought of themselves rather than Simeon

 

3 – 5 – They don’t know him by name – did they even ask?  Notice the issue of the deal not Simeon or even reputation – it is to again save themselves

 

 

·     Note that the time was still at hand for the famine as God had told through Joseph.  Notice as well that Joseph did not pursue them but rather waited. 

 

·     Holy Spirit moves where and when he wants

 

·     God allows us to come to Him when we are ready.

 

·     Do you know what you need to do to return to God?  What is holding you back?  Why are you waiting to return?  Most know what to do but do not do it.

 

 

6 – 7 Transparency

 

6 And Israel said, “Why did you deal so wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you had still another brother?”

7 But they said, “The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ And we told him according to these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”

 

6 – Israel is named and asks now why this happened – it must have been because of these boys – note who he says is being harmed – HIM rather than simeon or someone else

 

7 – The boys argue back that they just answered honestly

 

·     Have we been caught just telling the truth – arguing that it must be someone else’s fault or even thinking that this is a bad story rather than one God has prepared for Good?

 

·     We are like CS Lewis puts it in the author of the story – how stupid are these guys – because we can see the end – but noting we would likely do the same thing – focus on ourselves and what we want and making up bad stories about what God is up to

 

·     So now both of the parties (Jacob/boys) have finally spoken of what happened in truthful ways – Jacob feels betrayed and blames the boys and the boys said they were just not thinking about being trapped by Joseph – both truth –

 

o  John 4:24 - God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

o  Ephesians 4:25

 

 

8-10 Target

 

8 Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I myself will be surety for him; 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. 10 For if we had not lingered, surely by now we would have returned this second time.”

 

8 – the boys could not be trusted to do this but note now there has to be a trust – we will die if you don’t let me go – and we must bring the brother or there will be no dealing in grain

 

9 – Personal blame is now being put on Judah if he doesn’t bring him back

 

10 – A dig at all of them for not going sooner

 

·     Judah’s plan in 37 saved Joseph and now is intended to save Simeon – note that this transaction between Judah and Jacob was based on a much different offer than that of Reuben in 42:37 – He offered HIMSELF

 

·     Still has feelings against Jacob and the group for not saving Simeon sooner

 

 

11-15 Transaction

 

11 And their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 Take double money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man. 14 And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!”

15 So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph.

 

11 – Take the best items – note there is a famine so these may have not been great – the rest would have been a significant offering based on the famine

 

·     What do you try and offer God?  Why don’t we simply be honest in front of Him and do what he asks simply?

 

 

12 – So double the money along with the initial money – so make up for what was given to them to try and strike the deal – could it have been an oversight?

 

·     Could what you have been given by God be an oversight?

 

13 – Finally, after all the haggling and waiting we get to the one simple thing the ‘man’ asked to be done – take the brother

 

14 – Hope is either a fierce declaration of a promise or it is the lowest form of despair – at this point it is definitely lowest form of despair – not what is happening here -

 

·     When Jacob has nothing else to go with he THEN calls on God – not in the meeting with the others – not in what happened but now – and  THEN says – if all is lost all will be lost – such HOPE!  NOT!!!

·     Same as what happened in Esther 4:16

 

15 – The time of reckoning is ready (we will study more next week

 

·     How do we do when we stand before God?

 

o  Do we have money?

o  Do we have gifts like honey and other items?

o  Do we have what God has asked for?

o  Did we do it in the timing He requested or when WE were ready?

 

·     2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.

 

·    Last week we did 1 John 1:8 and 10.  This week let’s talk to 1:9 – Who this God is…

 

 

Final Questions –

 

TIMING – What are you waiting for to come back to Christ?  Or even come to Him the first time?

 

TRANSPARENCY – Are you being transparent with God about where you are, what you are struggling with, and what you need?

 

TARGET – What is your ultimate target?  Answer honestly

 

TRANSACTION – Are you wanting a transaction with God?  What do you have to give Him that isn’t His already?  Is there anything – YES is the answer but only one thing.

 

·     Temptation and Tests sometimes Overwhelm our basic nature – some info from GotQuestions.org:

 

·     The Psalmist likens our testing to that of being refined like silver (Psalm 66:10).

 

·     Elsewhere in Scripture we can read of our trials as that of gold being refined in order to remove all its impurities (1 Peter 1:7).

 

·     By the testing of our faith, God causes us to grow and mature into strong disciples who truly live by faith in Him, not by what we see (2 Corinthians 5:7).

 

·     Most comforting of all, we know that God will never allow us to be tested beyond what we are able to handle and in all things will provide a way out of the test (1 Corinthians 10:13).