Book of Genesis - Ch. 43, Vs. 1-34 (04/29/2001)

let your light so shine. Mary Ellen is looking it up.

Read it. Read it Bill. Alright turn off the lights

Greg. Now supposing this room is dark, it'd be no trouble seeing this light would it?

Alright turn them on. Now it doesn't shine as bright.

Light is made for darkness. Think about it. Genesis 43.

And the famine was sore in the land. And it came to pass that when they had eaten up all the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, go again and buy us a little food.

And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did.

And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did.

And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did. And they did you'll know what to do, for he has ordained that also.

Six, and Israel said, wherefore dealt ye so ill with me as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?

Now he's getting on them for telling the man that they had a brother. And they said, the man asked us straightly of our state and of our kindred, saying, is your father yet alive?

Have you another brother? And we told him, according to the tenor of these words, could we certainly know that he would say, bring your brother down?

Well, they didn't have any way to know. When things seem to go so against us, we have to overlook controlling the hand of God.

We must, we must, it's imperative that we learn this and put it in the back of our head, that always it's according to the will of God.

And Judah said unto Israel, his father, send the lad with me, and we will rise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and thou, and also our little ones.

Now the lad was at least 30 years of age. He had a family of his own.

By your keeping, Benjamin, we are prevented from going to Egypt. If we go not to Egypt, we shall get no corn.

If we get no corn, we shall surely all perish by famine. And Benjamin himself, who otherwise might live,

I will be surety for him. Up my hand shalt thou require him. If I bring him not unto thee and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for it.

Now what do you think about such a statement, Bill? David, was this, was

Judah sincere in what he was saying? What did he mean,

Jesse, by I'll bring, I'll let me bear the blame forever?

Well, those are good words. Would they work? No. Turn to Philemon 118.

Brother Rogers, does she have it? Would you ask her to read it, please?

Put that on my account. If he hath wronged thee or owed thee, put it on my account.

Same thing that Judah was saying. But we can't do that, can we?

For except we had lingered, and surely now we had returned the second time. Now he's getting a little bit perturbed with his father.

He said if he hadn't held his hair and dilly -dallied around so much, we could have already been back.

But, and their father Israel said unto them, if it must now be so, or if it must so now, do this.

Take of the best fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry the man a present, a little balm, and honey, and spices, myrrh, nuts, and almonds.

Well, I thought they were destitute for food. Well, what's going on here?

June, why is he sending all of this?

Clarence? All right, all of this that's mentioned here would come under what category?

It'd be sweets, wouldn't it? No staples. Why would

Judah be qualified when Reuben wasn't? Well, there's no mention of that.

That's the deathbed that that comes into play. You might be right, but it's not all that concerned about the fact that he's down.

He's already given up on him, as if he were dead after Joseph was.

So, in my mind, Jacob is still in a position where he is showing favoritism for the sons of Abed.

That's exactly right, even though it isn't spelled out. He does show all the way through this preference for those two boys,

Joseph and Benjamin. Nevertheless, the others were his boys.

Yes, you're right. We know that Judah didn't, but it is through Judah that he came.

And take double money in your hands, and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sex, carry it again in your hand.

For adventure it was an oversight. Take also your brother, arise, go again unto the man.

Those that would find mercy with men must first seek it where?

With God. First with God. And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother and Benjamin.

If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved. In other words, whatever happens is going to happen.

The will of the Lord is going to be done. And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin, and rose up and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay and make ready, for these men shall dine with me at noon.

Now let me ask you, how many of you could have withheld yourself?

How many could have stayed on the job and done your work, when here comes a brother you haven't seen in years and years?

Anybody? I think guys, girls, and men. His brother was in a position, seeing his brother, he was in a position, but he also had to hold a position, because he was one of the direct people in charge at that time.

And the man did as Joseph bade, and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.

Now is their conscience bothering them? Twenty -year -old conscience, and it's about to eat them up.

And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house, and they said,

Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time that we were brought in, that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen in our asses.

So not only the episode with Joseph, but now we had extra money when we left here, and he's going to get us for that.

A guilty conscience needs no accuser. And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house.

Now they're going to talk to the steward, and said, Oh sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food.

Now there's a frankness with them here that we hadn't seen before. They simply and honestly relate the whole circumstance of the money being found in their sacks, and so forth.

And it came to pass when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack.

Our money in full weight, and we have brought it again in our hand. We brought back everything that we had.

And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food. We cannot tell you who put our money in our sacks.

And he said, Peace be unto you. Fear not.

You're God, and it's capital G. And the God, capital

G of your fathers, hath given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money, and he brought

Simeon out unto them. Now things begin to make a little more sense.

Fear not, because your God has given you that money.

And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet, and he gave their asses profender.

And they made ready the present against Joseph came in at noon. For they heard that they should eat bread with him there.

And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand unto the house, and bowed their selves to the earth.

Turn to Genesis 37, 7. Bill, read that.

For behold, the blind, and sheaves of the field, and lo, my sheep arose, and also stood upright.

And behold, their sheep stood. You suppose this dream crossed their mind?

No way. They did not know it was a good one yet. That's right. And he asked them of their welfare, and said,

Is your father well? The old man of whom you speak, is he yet alive?

What is it with his father? He keeps asking us about him. They didn't what?

Alright. They're wanting to know whether they had killed him. Joseph was questioning them.

But in their mind, they don't know that, and they're wondering what in the world is it about our father?

And they answered, Thy servant our father is good, is in good health, he's yet alive.

And they bowed down their heads and made obeisance. And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother

Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom you speak unto me?

And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. Joseph's favorite.

Though he was the lord of the land, it would do him little good unless God were gracious to him.

And Joseph made haste, for his bowels did yearn upon his brother, and he sought where to weep.

And he entered into his chamber and wept there. He had to leave the room. It was too much for him.

Even the man, it was too much. And he voiced his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said,

Set on bread. And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the

Egyptians which did eat with him by themselves, because the

Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews, for it is an abomination unto the

Egyptians. How many tables do we have? Three. The Hebrews were shepherds like Egypt, had been almost ruined by a horde of lawless wandering bandits under the name of Hykos, the king's shepherds.

For two hundred and fifty -nine years they ruled the land. And they set before him the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth, and men marveled one at another.

Now a small thing, but they take notice of it, that he is seeding them according to their age.

How in the world does this man know this? And he took and sent messes unto them from before him, but Benjamin's mess was five times as much as theirs.

And they drank and were merry with him. I wish that the translator had used a word different than mess.

In Egypt, as in other oriental countries, there were and are two modes of paying attention to a guest whom the host wishes to honor.

Either by giving a choice piece from his own hand, or ordering it to be taken to the stranger.

The degrees of respect shown consist in their quantity, and while the ordinary rule of distinction is a double mess, it must have appeared a very distinguished mark of favor bestowed on Benjamin to have no less than five times as much as the rest.

Any questions? Statements? Things you thought of as we progressed our way through?

You're all wanting to go home? Good, we'll just stay here then.

No, that's all my voice will take for today. Russell, would you dismiss us please?