All right, let's take our Bibles
now and turn to Genesis 43. Genesis chapter 43. I would like for us to deal with
the remainder of this 43rd chapter, verses 25 to 34. And I've entitled this message
Precious Times of testing. The brothers of Joseph have been
brought to Joseph's house. Now this whole book is all concerning the mercy of
God shown to God's people. But in the book of Genesis especially,
we have beheld from the beginning, from the fall in the garden,
we have been viewing, reviewing, musing upon, savoring the preciousness
of God's mercy and how the Lord has brought his people back,
how that union has been reestablished that Brother Bryant was talking
about, at peace, how God has established God establishes peace. And this is how, this precious
book that we're in, Genesis, we see how the Lord has been
pleased to do that. So he's showing us in picture
and type how he's drawn us to his house. They're going to Joseph's
house historically. Oh, but this is how we're going
to the abode of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. The scripture says
in verses 25 and 26, and they made ready, that is the brothers,
made ready the present against Joseph came at noon. Now that sounds, as you read
that, it says, well it doesn't seem like it's saying what I
think it ought to say, it's used in these words. And they made
ready, the present against Joseph came at noon. What it is, they
came, they had this present, and as Joseph was coming, they
had a present towards his end of him being at his house. They
had this present is what it's actually saying. For they heard
that they should eat bread there. And when Joseph came home, They
brought him the present which was in their hand into the house
and bowed themselves to him to the earth. Now here we're seeing
the whole of Joseph's life as a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. And he's bringing his family,
he's bringing his brothers, he's gonna bring his daddy, and they're
going to all be with him. But this process of how the Lord
does this. Now I want you to remember, he
has been hiding the fullness. They know him as the man there
in Egypt. They know him as the ruler over
the distribution of the corn. They know him there. but he has
been pleased to hide the fullness of his identity to his brothers
while they are being made sure, he's making sure that they stay
in his presence. But let me ask you this. Is this
not the case of our relationship to the Lord? Even before we knew
him, he knew us. They didn't know who Joseph was.
He had not revealed himself. He knew them. And has the Lord
always not been with his people? He's always been with us. Look
at Psalm 145. 145, Lord willing, I'd like to continue
in this. We started in this verse, chapter
a week or so ago. I'd like to continue here, but
look at 145, verse 18. The Lord is nigh unto all them
that call upon him. all that call upon him in truth. Truth. He's near. He's near. Joseph's brothers,
they were ready, they were willing to present that gift that their
dad had told them to bring, and they've got this gift, and they're
ready to give it to the man, the ruler, in Egypt, but they
had no idea who they were standing before. They had no idea that
they were in the very presence of the one that loved them, that
had grown up with them, that knew them. The one that had the
power and the authority to provide their every need. They had no
idea who he was. Brethren, if we could just grasp
hold of how near the Lord is. I know he's in heaven. I know
he's at the right hand of the majesty of heaven. I know he's
in the midst of us right now. I know that. But for his people
that know him in truth, he's in us by his Holy Spirit. How near? I got to going over
these notes again today, and I thought, why am I afraid? Why am I always afraid? I know
it's because of the sin that's within me. But to be able to
remember this passage of scripture, be content with such things you
have, for he said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. You know, Scripture bears out
that the Lord has sent angels. His ministering spirits. To those
who are the heirs promise. Ministering spirits and I'm so
thankful for that. But listen to this verse again.
I will never leave you. I will never forsake you. Consider
who has promised. to never leave or never forsake
us. Let me tell you who He is. He's the Savior of sinners. He's the Savior. Who has promised to never leave
us? God Almighty. I and my Father
are one. To see me, you've seen the Father. Think about what He's done for
us. Eternally answered is our surety. chosen in Him from before
the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without
blame before Him, before God in love. Consider who will never
leave us. We've heard this from a child. And he bore the guilt of his
sin, of his people's sin. Bore their guilt, made it his
own. If I could ever grasp hold of that which I know, this side
of glory, I won't. I know it. I believe it. You
know Him. You do too. But the fullness
that He has borne the guilt of my sin and put it away. And that I'm robed in His righteousness. I'm robed in His righteousness.
And there's a new man in me and you that know Him.
that does not sin, Mitch, does not sin. Consider who will never
leave us, never forsake us. And one day, the trumpet's gonna
sound. The dead in Christ are gonna
rise first. We which remain on this earth
are not gonna precede them, but we're gonna meet them in the
air. And so shall we ever be with
the Lord. This world is filled with trouble. The Lord's promised we're going
to have trials and tribulations. Think of what these boys have
gone through. as Joseph has called him to himself.
Look, the trials and tribulations they're going through as he's
continuing to call them. They have nothing but trouble
in their mind. That's what they see. This man said, if we don't
bring Benjamin, Simeon's not gonna get out. We just, oh, the
trials. But the Lord has been pleased
to bring us through this valley of tears, this veil of tears.
Now, this is who Joseph pictured. the Lord Jesus Christ, the one
who's willing and able to provide for his family. Brethren, I know
that in this world, we're suffering. I know that. I told you a week
or so ago, I know some of the troubles that some of you are
going through right now. But rejoice, all things in Christ
are ours. All things. All things for life
and godliness are ours. Almighty God has promised that
they're ours according to his everlasting covenant of grace
and mercy. So again, let me ask this, why
do we fear? These boys are fearful, but they
didn't realize who they were standing before. Oh, wretched
man that we all are, who shall deliver us from the body of this
death. Verse 27, 28. And he asked them, they're standing
before him now, they've bowed themselves to the earth, shown
him obeisance, and he asked them of their welfare, and said, is
your father well, the old man of whom you speak? Is he yet
alive? And they answered, thy servant,
our father, is in good health. He is yet alive, and they bowed
down their heads and made obeisance. You know, consider how differently
He's speaking to them now. These boys are scared. They already
said that. We looked at that last time.
They're being brought to Joseph's house and they're scared because
they're guilty. They got a conscience that's
bothering them. They remembered how the money
was still in their sacks, how it got there. We don't know.
Something about this is not right in their minds. And this man
that they're standing before has spoken harshly to them before,
you're spies. We're not spies, we're just here
to buy food, that's all we're gonna do. And now they're still
very, very reverential, reverent to this man. Bowed before him,
they bowed themselves to him to the earth in verse 26 and
he asked them, Now, instead of speaking harshly to him, he asked
him, he said, how are you doing? How are you
guys doing? How's your welfare? How are you? Is it peace with
you? And your father that you talk
about so much, the old man that you keep telling me about, how
is he doing? Is he doing okay? Oh, I think
about how tender. he is to him as he speaks. But you know, when he spoke harshly
to him, loved him. He loved him. Those were his
brothers. Now he's inquiring about how
they're doing, how their welfare. Oh, realize this picture and
put ourselves in this scenario right here. We are Joseph's brothers
and the Lord's drawing us to himself. And though He's had
to speak harshly to us in time past, showing us what we are,
show our need of Him, our need of correction, does He not speak
tenderly to us? Is He not speaking tenderly to
us right now? Think of these scriptures that
we're saying. I just thought that the Lord
would say, To me, Marvin, how you doing? How are you doing?
Well, Lord, with you here, I'm doing good. I'm doing really
good. How's your welfare? Lord, I thank you for letting
me be here again. I'm doing good. Thank you. Thank you for caring.
Thank you for loving me. Thank you for speaking tenderly
to me. Thank you, Lord, for not leaving me to myself. Because
I remember, I remember something of me. I remember when I wasn't
respectful to you. And I'm very thankful. You know,
the Lord deals with us as He sees fit. Again, there's times
that He's got to deal with us in chastisement. He knows better
than we do. But it's always for our good.
It's always according to His will and purpose. Joseph's brothers
answered him in a way of respect. They made obeisance to him. They
bowed and prostrated themselves before him. And that's what we
do. Whether the Lord leads us through fire, some through the
water, some through the fire, all through the blood, it's always
for our good, no matter what. It's good. Verse 29 and 30, he lifted up
his eyes and he saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and
said, is this your younger brother of whom you spake unto me? And
he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. And Joseph made
haste for his bowels, his emotions did yearn upon his brother. And he sought where to weep and
he entered into his chamber and wept there. Now here, we behold
the tenderness of Joseph, without a doubt. But oh, the tenderness
of the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ. What joy. Turn to Psalm 119,
verse 156. What joy, Psalm 119. Verse 156, what joy, what peace, what comfort
that the Lord would look upon his people tenderly. Psalm 119, 156, great are thy
tender mercies, O Lord, quicken me according to thy judgments. Great are thy tender mercies. O Lord, Jehovah, Father, Son,
Spirit, quicken me according to thy judgments. The joyful,
tender heart of Joseph is truly a beautiful picture of the Lord's
joy to behold us. the vessels of His mercy. Herein
is love. We talk about love. Herein is
love. Not that we loved Him. You want
to talk about love, that He loved us. Undeserving, born unthankful,
born wrathful children against Him. The joy of the Lord toward His
people. We're gonna be brought into His
very presence, and it's a joyful thing for Him to bring us into
His presence. I'm telling you, this day today,
this is just one day closer for God's people to be near Him,
with Him, in glory. One day closer. Whatever's happening
to us right now, whatever's going on in your life, believer, right
now, That is the Lord's will in bringing you to himself. Now he looked upon this boy,
Benjamin. Now that right there, look at
the wording of it. Verse 29, he lifted up his eyes
and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son. He had some brothers. They were
sons of bondwomen. There were four that were bondwomen. sons of a bondwoman, two different
bondwomen. Had some of the boys that were
sons of Leah, but he had one true blood brother, and it was
Benjamin. And there was a closeness about
Benjamin, his true brother. And his heart melted with love
Well, that boy, turn with me to Hebrews 2.17. Like I said,
here was a true blood brother. Mother, father, same mother,
father. That boy right there, that was Joseph's brother, true
brother, his true brother. Hebrews 2.17. Look at the relationship that
we have unto the Lord. Hebrews 2.17. Wherefore, in all
things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the things
pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. God Almighty has created new
men in his people, created in righteousness and true holiness. Created by God, they are birthed of God totally,
born from above. And whenever he saw Benjamin,
scripture says he sought where to weep. When he saw his beloved
brother, he knew his origin, he knew what he had been through,
he knew what he had suffered. And when he saw his brother and
heard of his father, that he was alive and well, the sight
of one and the sound, the news of the other, created joy, a
joy of ecstasy that he could not contain himself. Whenever Lazarus was sick, and
the report came to the Lord Jesus Christ, he whom thou lovest,
he whom thou lovest is sick. He whom thou lovest is sick. He went to the grave of Lazarus.
He tarried. He tarried a few days, and Lazarus
died. And the scripture says, All I
can say is what scripture says. Jesus wept. He knew. He knew. What was the fullness?
I would not even try to enter in to the fullness of that. The tenderness, the love, the
love for Lazarus, the love for his sisters, Mary and Martha.
He wept. He was tender. He knows. He knows. He knows. Joseph saw Benjamin and he just had to go somewhere and just
cry. Can we hear of Joseph's compassion
and not think of our blessed Lord and the joy to rescue from
the bondage of sin, his people, the joy. Joseph, Joseph, turn
back to Genesis 42 for a minute. Joseph cried one other time. In Genesis 42, he's standing there with his
brothers. Now listen to this conversation. He speaks to them,
and then his brothers start speaking to each other. And they're gonna
speak in Hebrew. Now they think he's an Egyptian. And he gonna talk to them, and
then They're going to speak to each other, but obviously they're
speaking in Hebrew and they think he don't understand. Genesis
42 verse 19, starting in verse 19. Genesis 42 verse 19. He said unto them, if you be
true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your
prison. Go ye carry corn for the famine of your houses, but
bring your youngest brother unto me, so shall your worries be
verified and you shall not die. And they did so. And they said
one to another, we are very guilty concerning our brother in all
that we saw the anguish of his soul. Now they're talking about
what they did to Joseph. And Joseph's listening to this.
We saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us We would
not hear, therefore is this distress come upon us. And Reuben answered
them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against
the child, and you would not hear? Therefore, behold, also
his blood is required. And they knew not that Joseph
understood them, for he spake unto them by an interpreter.
And he turned himself about from them, and wept, and returned
to them again, and communed with them, took from them Simeon,
bound him, before their eyes. Here, he listened to them confess. Listened to their broken hearted
speech, what they'd done to him. And he just broke his heart.
I think about, scripture says in 1 John 1.9, if we confess
our sins, he's faithful and just to forgive us our sins. Cleanse
us from all unrighteousness. I wouldn't, I would not, I would
not want to go beyond the scriptures. But I just wonder when he listened
to his brothers, Joseph listened to his brothers and it broke
his heart. Could it be the tenderness of the Lord when he hears the
cry of his people asking for his forgiveness? Lord, forgive
me. I'm so sorry. Lord, that which I have done
unto you, please have mercy on me. He's faithful and just to
forgive us. Well, back in Genesis 43, his
brothers are now standing before him, and he knows what they've
suffered, and he knows especially the youngest, Benjamin, the suffering
that he's gone through. Turn to Hebrews 4 again, verse
15. He knows, beloved. We talk about
suffering in the trials and tribulations that we go through. Look at Hebrews
4.15. This is one who prays for us.
We have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling
of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we
are yet without sin. We have not one that cannot be
touched with the feelings of our infirmities. Think about someone near and
dear to you, whether it be your mom, your dad, your kids. Let me ask you this. When they
hurt, do you hurt? When they're going through a
trial, are you going through a trial? When they're suffering, are you
suffering? I thought so. This is the tenderness of our
Lord. These are his brethren. Oh, the precious compassion. I read this, you wanna just turn
to this, Nehemiah. I'll tell you how to get there.
Look at Psalms, start backing up. Go to Psalms and go back
to Job, then you're gonna get to Esther, then you're gonna
get to Nehemiah. Nehemiah 8. I got to reading
this verse of scripture. Nehemiah 8, and I just wanna
look at verse 10. Nehemiah 8, 10. This is the very last part of
this verse, just bless my heart. Verse 10, Nehemiah 8, 10, then
he said unto them, go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet,
send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared, for this
day is holy unto our Lord, neither be you sorry, for the joy of
the Lord is your strength. The joy of the Lord is your strength. Now let me tell you this. We
truly rejoice in the Lord, our God. We rejoice in the mercy
that the Lord has shown us, but our joy is from the Lord. We rejoice in him, but where
do we get that joy? It's the fruit of the Spirit.
Go back and look at all those manifestations of the fruit of
the Spirit. Love, peace, joy, longsuffering. That's where we got that, so
he provided that. But consider this passage of
scripture as expressing Jehovah's joy. Jehovah's joy being our
strength. I look that word strength up.
You know, the joy of the Lord, and I'm talking about his joy,
the joy of the Lord. To do what? To save us. That
is our, listen to this, safety. Our protection, that's what strength
means. Our safety, our protection, our refuge, our stronghold. The
joy of the Lord, Psalm 104. Psalm 104 and verse 31. Psalm
104, verse 31. The glory of the Lord shall endure
forever. The Lord shall rejoice in his
works. The Lord shall rejoice. We rejoice
in the Lord. He gives us that joy. We rejoice,
but the joy of the Lord. Now there's our stronghold, the
joy of the Lord. What? To show mercy, to save
us. Obviously, according to that
verse we just read, the Lord rejoiceth in His works. In His works, the Lord rejoices.
Jehovah rejoices in His works. It pleased the Lord to choose
His people. It pleased Him. The Lord rejoices in His works.
Listen to this. It pleased the Lord, Jesus, to
redeem His people. Hebrews 12, 2, Looking unto Jesus,
the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was
set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and he sat
down at the right hand of the throne of God. It was joyful
for him. It was joy for him to endure
the cross. Turn to Luke 15, Luke 15. I'll tell you another thing that's
joyful to the Lord. The Lord rejoiceth in all his
works. He rejoices to choose to redeem. How about to regenerate? How
about to regenerate one of his own? Luke chapter 15. Luke 15,
yeah, Luke 15, three to seven. He spake this parable unto them,
saying, what man of you having a hundred sheep, if he lose one
of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness and
go after that which is lost till he find it? And when he had found
it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. When he cometh home,
he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them,
Rejoice with me. I have found my sheep, which
was lost. I say unto you that likewise.
Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than
over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance. I can
tell you this. It is joyful unto the Lord, all
of his works. He rejoices in all of his works.
He rejoices to choose his people, he rejoiced to redeem his people,
and he's joyful to regenerate his people, and to call them
to himself. Back in Genesis 43, verses 31
and 32, and he washed his face, and went out and reframed himself,
and said, sat on bread, and they sat for him by him, and they
sat for him, for Joseph, by himself, for them by themselves, that
is, his brothers, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with
him by themselves. Egyptians might not eat bread
with the Hebrews, but that's an abomination unto the Egyptians. Now, just notice as we're wrapping
this up, notice the separation of the group. Joseph was set
by himself, his brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians by themselves. Three. One man, brothers, Egyptians. Now the Egyptians, according
to Genesis 46, 34, would have nothing to do, the Egyptians
would have nothing to do with Joseph's brothers because they
were an abomination. They were shepherds. Genesis
46, verse 34, explains this whenever Joseph
was speaking to his father, telling him that it says in verse 33
and 34 of Genesis 46, he shall come to pass when Pharaoh shall
call you and shall say, what is your occupation? That you
shall say thy servant's trade hath been about cattle. from
our youth, even until now, both we, also our fathers, that they
may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination
unto the Egyptians." So the Egyptians, they wouldn't sit and dine with
the Hebrew. Well, what is that teaching us?
In this world, you're gonna have tribulation, but you're gonna
be hated. You're gonna be hated of all men, for my name's sake. put his brothers over there.
But Joseph's brothers were seated alone from the Egyptians, really
for their benefit. Joseph knew that those Egyptians
were not going to sit with those Hebrews. So he just put the Hebrews
over there and he put the Egyptians over here. But what he was actually
doing, he was actually teaching them the necessity to be separated
from the uncleanness of this world. and it's false religion. Come out from among them, be
you separate, and I'll receive you. So really he was doing that
for the benefit of his brothers. Egyptians were arrogant and pride,
but that's false religion. But the most amazing thing is
that while Joseph, he may have been sitting by himself, showing his place of authority,
but would it not Should it not? Could it not have been an indication
to his brothers? Why is he not sitting with them?
Joseph wasn't sitting with them. Why is he not seated with them? He's not sitting with us. We
understand he's the ruler and so we understand that. But could
his brothers be so blind in their understanding? Did they not notice
that that would have been a strange thing? It almost appears that
they're Egyptians and we thought he was an Egyptian. Our Lord was speaking. He was
showing them something. But they did not, they could
not see. Didn't the Lord say to Philip,
Philip, have I not been so long with
you? And still you don't understand. What did he say to the two? on
the road to Emmaus when he began to expound unto them, you know,
all fools and slow of heart. Let me ask you this. His brothers,
he was telling them something about himself, that he was separate
from the Egyptians and they didn't get it. They didn't see. But
then look at verse 33. They sat before him, the firstborn,
according to his birthright, and the youngest according to
his youth. And the men marveled at one another. Well, here was
the reason. The brothers were given seats
before him. Joseph set them up before him
according to their age. That's what it said. They sat
before him. Actually, the brothers were given
seats before him. That's why they marveled. Now,
if they were to just pick those seats out, they wouldn't have
marveled. They picked it out. But Joseph
picked it out. Joseph set them in order. What
was it saying? I know who you are. I know you. I know how old you are. I know
which of you is older than the other one. Now, They set before
him the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest
according to his youth. He set them all in order. And
the men marveled at that. How would he know that? How could
he know who was older than the other? The Lord said, I know
my sheep. I know my sheep. They were given
him by the Father. I know them. They follow me. Verse 34. He took and sent messes
unto them from before him. He gave them each a portion of
food. Benjamin's mess was five times
so much as many of theirs, and they drank, now listen to this,
and were merry with him. This last verse was a marvelous
thing to consider. I believe the Lord gave me some
light on it. There was a lot of suggestions of what was going
on here. Why would he give Benjamin five
times five times as much as theirs. Well, let me tell you what I
know in closing about this last verse. These are his brethren. They're absolutely pictures of
his elect, pictures of God's elect in Christ. Joseph is the
type of Christ. Now, he gave every one of them
a portion. He gave Benjamin, the youngest,
five times Let us learn, as Joseph is a type of Christ, he's God. And he does as he will in the
army of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth. And no
man can stay his hand or question him. Everything belongs to him. Everything is his. Turn to Ecclesiastes
5. Everything belongs to the Lord. and it's going to be given according
to his good pleasure. In Ecclesiastes chapter 5, verses
18 and 19, the scripture says, behold, that which I have seen,
it's good and comely for one to eat and to drink and to enjoy
the good of all his labor that he taketh under the sun all the
days of his life which God giveth him. for it is his portion. Every
man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given
him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice
in his labor, this is the gift of God. Why is one man given possessions
more than another? Why do some men go through life,
some women go through life, and they're poor, and they struggle? Why? Because the Lord ordered
it that way. That's what the scripture says.
It's a gift of God. All things work together for
good to them that love God, to them who are the called according
to His purpose. But with Benjamin receiving more than his brothers
at the hand of Joseph, the Lord knows how to teach his people
something. I'm coming to that last part of that 34th verse
where it said they were merry. There's the key to this verse
right here. These boys right here years before had sold their
brother out. Why? Because they were envious. They were envious of him. His
daddy loved him. He gave Joseph a coat of many
colors. And he had that vision. God had told him that their sheaves
were gonna, his sheaves were gonna stand up, all their sheaves
around him were gonna bow down to him. And they envied, they
hated him. They were envious. And now Joseph,
remember that, and as a type of Christ, he's gonna teach them
something. Turn with me to Philippians 4, and we'll stop. We're gonna
all learn something, brethren. Philippians 4. I have no earthly idea who has
what monetarily in this congregation. Gary and I have a rule. I'll
tell you the rule. He knows the rule, and he's good
at it. Don't ever tell me anything about
finances. I don't want to know. I don't
want to know. Don't tell me anything. I'm just a human being. Don't
tell me anything about it. God's people are going to be
taught something. Philippians 4, 11 and 12. Not that I speak in respect of
want, for I've learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased
and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things
I'm instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound
and to suffer need. These boys who was envious of
Joseph, Joseph was gonna make them have to sit there and watch
their brother get five times what they got. Oh, the blessing. The blessing. They got their mess. Joseph got
five messes. Look at that last part right
there. And here's a beautiful picture of God's grace to God's
people. And they drank and they were
merry with him. They were content. What did we
learn in that last verse? God is God, and he gives as he
will according to his good pleasure. You're sitting here with a bank
full of money. I'm so thankful for you. I thank
God for you. We're gonna be content with what
the Lord's given us. I pray that the Lord bless this,
teach us something about our journey through this world to
glory.