Acknowledge Broken Relationships Gen, 42:6 -7, 9, 13-24a May 4:2008
1. Acknowledge Broken Relationships . . Evaluating The Past. Gen. 42:6-7, 9
A. Evaluate . . Meeting And Acknowledging
Relationships Of The Past. 42:6-7
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. "Where do you
come from?" he asked. "From the land of Canaan to buy food," they
replied.
B. Evaluate . . Memories And Acknowledging
Relationships Of The Past. 42:9
9 Joseph remembered his dreams about them and said to them, "You are
spies. You have come to see the weakness of the land."
What immediate
reaction did Joseph experience as he saw his brothers; anger, joy,
unbelief,
amazement? It had been 22 years since they sold him into slavery, and
now they meet. Joseph
recognizes them but they do not recognize him. No doubt both had
changed, and the position
and authority of Joseph probably disguised him. It may be true that he
thought more about them
than they thought about him although they must have experienced regret
for their actions. I
venture a guess that he thought of the many memories these brothers
were responsible for; but
they also must have relived their actions. Even if this is true Joseph
knew God worked through
all these thoughts and actions to perform a mighty work.
2. Acknowledge Broken Relationships . . Explore The Present. Gen. 42:13-21
A. Explore The Present . . Confrontation Of
Broken Relationships. 42:13
13 But they replied, "We, your servants, were 12 brothers, the sons of
one man in the
land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no
longer living."
B. Explore The Present . . Confinement Of Broken
Relationships. 42:14-16
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 of your number 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!"
C. Explore The Present . . Confirmation Of Broken
Relationships. 42:17-20
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 men, 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.
D. Explore The Present . . Contrition Of Broken
Relationships. 42:21
21 Then they said to each other, "It is plain that we are being
punished for what we did to our brother. We saw his deep distress when
he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is
why this trouble has come to us."
Joseph confronted
his brothers and obtained additional information about his father and
younger brother. I think Joseph enjoyed tantalizing his brothers and at
the same time gaining
information about home. The information about his father and brother,
Benjamin, must have
produced great joy that was difficult to conceal. In order to gain more
information he design an
immediate plan of confinement for all his brothers but after three
days, "the fear of God" caused
him to change the plan and only confine one brother for a lengthy
imprisonment. Joseph desired
a confirmation that these brothers told the truth. Their contrition
after all these years must have
impressed him, but after what they did to him; can he trust them? The
brothers consented to his
second offer but what other choice did he give them? He made an offer
they couldn't refuse. Didn't he?
3. Acknowledge Broken Relationships . . Estimating For The Future. Gen. 42:22-24
A. Estimate The Future . . Rehearsing The Past Of
Broken Relationships. 42:22-23
22 But Reuben replied: "Didn't I tell you not to harm the boy? But you
wouldn't listen. Now we must
account for his blood!" 23 They did not realize that Joseph understood
them, since there was an interpreter
between them.
B. Estimate The Future . . Regretting The Past Of
Broken Relationships. 42:23-24
24 He turned away from them and wept. Then he turned back and spoke to
them. He took Simeon from
them and had him bound before their eyes.
The brothers of Joseph believed the judgment of God caused their present difficulty. Ruben rehearsed his attempt to get his brothers to not proceed with their plan, but to no avail, and now they are reliving their decision. They did this with regret. Do you think Joseph sort of enjoyed hearing their regret even though he realized God used it for everyone's benefit? Joseph must have relived the events his brothers spoke of and to a degree also regret. All of us can learn from the action of Joseph's brothers as well as from Joseph's dealing with them as we may Acknowledge Broken Relationships, and try to understand how God might use them. Amen? Amen!