Joseph in the plain clothes

1
Joseph in the plain clothes

• Genesis 42 1 431
• The Lesson of Sacrifice
• The Proper Use of Power
• The Lesson of Mercy
• The Power of Brotherly Love
• The Ultimate Forgiveness
• The Lesson of Sacrifice!

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The Lesson of Sacrifice!

• Sacrifice
• (Webster Dictionary)
• to suffer loss of, give up, renounce, injure, or
  destroy especially for someone, an ideal, belief,
  or end
• Usually one would give up something or someone
  precious for something or someone even more
  precious, not necessary demanding a return!
• Its not an exchange or replacement!
• e.g. parental sacrifice
• Jesus sacrifice

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The Lesson of Sacrifice

• Not all sacrifices are good.
• e.g. Hamas
• e.g. Tibetan worshippers
• 3 different sacrifices by 3 individuals
• The Good
• The Bad
• The Ugly

4
The Lesson of Sacrifice The Bad

• Jacob
• Abraham ? Isaac ? (Esau) Jacob
• Grasping Esaus heel at birth (2526)
• Cheated his brother for birthright (25 31)
• Cheated his father for blessing (27)
• Learned his lessons to rely on God, became good
• Blessed with 12 sons

5

• Gen. 35 23 - 26
• Jacob Leah
• ?Reuben (the first born), Simeon, Levi, Judah,
  Issachar Zebulun
• Jacob Rachel (the favored one)
• Joseph Benjamin
• Jacob Bilhah (Rachels servant)
• ?Dan Naphtali
• Jacob Zilpah (Leahs servant)
• Gad Asher
• His favorite Joseph Benjamin

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• Now Israel (Jacob) loved Joseph more than any of
  his sons, because he had been born to him in his
  old age (373)
• When his brothers saw that their father loved
  him more than any of them, they hated him and
  could not speak a kind word to him.(374)
• Jacob became bad again by sacrificing his 11
  (especially 10) other sons for Joseph
• Every sacrifice demands a cost!
• 1st sacrifice
• This sacrifice almost cost the life of his
  favorite son Joseph (3712 36)

7

• Gen. 4238
• But Jacob said My son (Benjamin) will not go
  down there with you his brother is dead and he
  is the only one left. If harm comes to him on
  the journey you are taking, you will bring my
  gray head down to the grave in sorrow.
• The (bad) sacrifice of Simeon for the life of
  Benjamin i.e. 2nd sacrifice
• Cost Jacob the delay of Gods blessing waiting
  for him in Egypt
• Simeon ( other 9), Joseph Benjamin
• - should all have equal value

8
Applications

• Parents
• a/ Are we sacrificing one child over the others?
• b/ Are we costing the future of other kids when
  we play favorite?
• c/ Are we delaying Gods blessing when we make
  the wrong sacrifice?
• Non-parents
• a/ Do we show favoritism to our parents, or
  others?
• b/ Are we delaying Gods blessing through others?

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The Ugly - Reuben

• The oldest son of Jacob, i.e. the oldest brother
  of 12
• I told you so mentality
• Reuben replied Didnt I not tell you not to
  sin against the boy? But you wouldnt listen! Now
  we must give an account to his blood. (4222)
• 1/ Sacrifice his responsibility as the oldest to
  protect the young.
• - Left the crime scene (Gen. 3726 29)

10

• Judah said to his brothers, What will we gain
  if we kill our brother and cover his blood? Come
  let us sell him to the Ishmaelitesafter all, he
  is our brother, our own flesh and blood. His
  brothers agreedpulled Joseph up out of the
  cistern and sold him for 20 shekels of silver to
  the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. When
  Reuben returned to the cistern and saw Joseph was
  not there, he tore his clothes.
• His sacrifice of his responsibility as the oldest
  brother
• Almost cost the life of his brother Joseph

11

• The foolish ugly sacrifice mentality
• Their father Jacob said to them, You have
  deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more
  and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take
  Benjamin. Everything is against me! Then Reuben
  said to his father, You may put both of my sons
  to death, if I dont bring him (Benjamin) back to
  you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring
  him back. (4236 37)
• ? He was willing to sacrifice the lives of his
  own children for their uncle!

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Applications

• Parents
• a/ Are we willing to sacrifice the lives of our
  children for more money, professional career,
  corporate ladder?
• b/ Are we willing to sacrifice our childrens
  faith in God over Chinese, music, dancing or
  sport lessons?
• Non-parents
• a/ Are we willing to sacrifice our relationship
  with our parents, spouse over internet, TV,
  friends, money, professional career, corporate
  ladder?

13
Joseph The Good

• In charge of the whole land of Egypt(4141)
• - 2nd in command next to Pharaoh at 30
  y.o.(4146)
• after 7 yrs of abundance, now within 7 yrs of
  famine 40 y.o.(4153 57)
• experience the unlimited power for 10 yrs
• Final test of a persons character
• Handsome well-built
• Excellent managerial skills wisdom
• ? Unlimited power money

14

• Famine throughout the land of Egypt surrounding
  area (Canaan)
• Josephs brothers arrived, they bowed down to
  him with faces to the ground. As soon as Joseph
  saw his brothers he recognized them, but he
  pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to
  them(426-7)
• Testing their words for 3 days
• He wept (24)
• Giving back all their money (silver) (25)
• Filling all 10 bags with grain (25)
• Giving them provision for the journey back (25)

15

• Joseph sacrificed his emotion of revenge and his
  right unlimited power to retaliate but instead
  showed unlimited forgiveness, mercy and
  generosity to his brothers, in spite of all the
  wrongs from them.
• Joseph a type of Christ!
• Foreshadows the Greatest to come!
• Josephs mercy in the presence of repentance
• Father, forgive them, for they do not know what
  they are doing. (Luke 2334)
• ? Complete forgiveness mercy in the presence of
  a lack of repentance
• ? Complete sacrifice complete atonement

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Applications

• Have we all experienced this complete sacrifice
  from Christ and experienced this complete
  forgiveness?
• Are we willing to sacrifice this emotion of
  retaliation to our spouse, children, parents, or
  friends who have wronged us?
• Are we willing not only just to forgive but
  sacrifice our resentment bitterness and step
  out to show mercy generosity to them who
  wronged us?
• Turn bitterness to betterness!

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The lesson of sacrifice!

• We are making sacrifices every day!
• Are our sacrifices
• The Good?
• The Bad?
• The Ugly
• Are we?
• The Good?
• The Bad?
• The Ugly?
• Turn to the Greatest Sacrifice Jesus Christ!