Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- A task of the preacher is to make the word plain
- Example from the Old Testament
- A lot of words, verses and thoughts – some images come to mind
- ‘As wise as serpents’
- Joseph is shrewd
- Did he go to far?
- Was it right to plant this cup in Benjamin’s sack and accuse him of stealing?
- Was it right to use a cup of divination?
- He was simply using a technique
- He did not practice divination
- He prayed, loved and served God
- He is testing them – do they really love their father and younger brother?
- ‘As innocent as doves’
- The brothers are innocent
- Judah explains why
- ‘The substitutional lamb’
- Judah is prepared to be a perpetual salve
- Judah is prepared to suffer in the place of Benjamin
- Many Gospel overtones
- Entitled "Gospel Overtures in Times of Desperation"
- They made a rash promise
- Concentrating on Judah
- The fourth eldest brother
- But he took the lead – v14
- Jacob did not listen to rash Reuben but did listen to Judah
- Judah becomes the leader of the brothers
- His self-sacrificial character
- Gen 49:8
- Judah eventually becomes the leading tribe of Israel
- The Messiah comes through the line of Judah
- God raises up people by His sovereign purpose
- Often the people we least expect
- Joseph weeps
A Confession of Guilt
- The brothers could not understand it
- But they were prepared to be slaves forever
- They tear their clothes
- All the brothers return with Benjamin
- They do not want anything to happen to Benjamin
- Judah
- v16 – ‘God has done this’
- God has found out the iniquity of their hearts
- The sin of 22 years ago [selling Joseph to Egypt]
- He is a truly changed man
- He was a hard hearted person as a younger man
- Now he is changed
- He feels keenly their sin
- He has gone through many things in his life
- God has been humbling him
- Sometimes we do not understand the gravity of our sins until later events occur
A New Man
- Not blaming anyone else
- Deeply respectful to Joseph
- He begins to plead with Joseph
- He and the other brothers do not leave Benjamin but stay with him
- v18
- Example of Abraham and Sodom & Gomorrah
- Judah speaks carefully to Joseph
- We should learn from Abraham and Judah
- Remember that God is "Holy, holy, holy"
- He speaks much about his father (12 times)
- He does not think about himself being in perpetual servitude
- He worries about his father dying – v22, 34
- His life was being transformed
- He was not what he was previously
- He has a new heart and a new disposition
- He is not bitter towards Jacob (with Joseph and Benjamin being favourites)
- He has been truly humbled
- He is willing to offer himself for Benjamin
- Ex 32:32
- Example of Paul
- None of this can be compared to the love of Jesus Christ
- He offered His life for a multitude of rebellious sinners
- Quote from Song: ‘Here is love’ and ‘Alas and did my Saviour bleed’
Closing Remarks
- It has taken 2 years of testing for the brothers to be restored – for Judah to have a new heart
- Joseph showed trickery
- Joseph showed love
- Joseph sees his brothers are really changed
- God can test/convict/humble us in painful ways
- Example of Peter
- Example of Ruth and Orpah
- Example of Syrophoenician woman
- A call to honesty before God
- A call to ownership of sin
- A call to marvel at the grace of God
- Closing Song