Old Llantrisant Hill
- Reading Gen 45:4-7
- Looking at Reconciliation and Forgiveness in the life of Joseph
- Introductory comments
- Sold as a slave aged 17
- Came to prominence aged 30
- There had been seven years of abundance
- The famine had been present for 2 years
- He has not seen his brothers for nearly 20 years
- What did the brothers feel when Joseph revealed who he was
- This is a wonderful example of reconciliation and forgiveness
- Things we do can have long-term consequences
- Overview:
- Jacob had gone to his relatives seeking a wife
- He had been tricked into marrying another woman
- He ended up with two wives which caused jealousy
- There were favourite children
- There was jealously amongst the family / brothers
- The brothers hated Joseph and planned to kill him
- Instead they sold him into slavery and told Jacob he had died
- Joseph was sold to Egypt went to various trials and difficulties
- Potiphar and his wife
- Butler and baker
- The brothers were experiencing guilt and fear - they were a dysfunctional family
- Our lives can be dysfunctional
- Things may not be resolved and consequences arise
- The Lord was with Joseph
- He had prospered in Egypt despite all the difficulties against him
- He had a spirit of God
- He is elevated to second in command, only lower than Pharaoh
- His sons were called Manasseh and Ephraim
- The names had special meanings
- God had comforted him
- Often in the darkest of times - God is with us
- Quote from song
- God provides grace
- Example of congregant with motor neuron disease
- God's grace had helped Joseph come to the point where he could forgive his brothers
- He does not punish them
- The brothers had not repented of their son (though they did regret it)
- Yet Joseph was willing to forgive them
- The problem was with the brothers and through God's sustaining grace he had not become bitter
- God blesses us through painful experiences
- God tests us and provides for us
- There was seven years of terrible famine
- It was a test of the faith to trust God
- It became the means of Joseph and his brothers being reconciled
- As we look back in our lives - do we see God's guiding hand?
- The consequences of living with unforgiven sin in the brothers
- They had lied to their father
- Joseph questions the brothers, implying they are spies
- The brothers report they are honest - but they are not truthful
- They have not told their father the truth
- They have a conspiracy of silence
- The father (Jacob) does not trust the sons because of the earlier 'death' of Joseph
- He will not send Benjamin with the brothers
- We are 'honest men'
- We did a terrible thing many years, but since then we have tried to live correctly
- It had not resolved the issue nor there guilt
- They did not want to face up to the truth
- They had a guilty conscience
- They felt they were being punished because of their brother
- Reuben had tried to warn them, but they did not listen
- They felt God was against them
- They tried to make atonement
- Reuben swore to bring Benjamin back
- They had a fear of punishment
- Especially when they found the money in their packs (an act of kindness from Joseph)
- Example of hymn lyrics
- Do you have things in your past that you have not faced up?
- Do you feel guilty?
- Have you reconciled these things?
- God is moving things to the point of reconciliation - through a problem with a cup [today's reading]
- There appears to be a change in the brothers
- They bow down before him (as per the prophetic dream)
- God is fulfilling His promise and providing for Joseph and his family
- Jacob thinks all is against him, but God is working
- Judah pleads to stay in Benjamin's place
- Joseph turns aside to cry
- Joseph reveals himself
- He is not angry with them
- He does not excuse their behaviour
- He is loving towards them
- There is a wonderful time of reconciliation
- God's family is a place with reconciliation needs to occur
- If not, this is so sad and destructive
- There is a wonderful power in forgiveness
- Quote (long) from book by Cory Ten Boom
- The love of God was brought about in Joseph's situation
- Joseph was a type of Jesus
- Jesus came into the world to seek and save the lost - to bring forgiveness of sin