Joseph: Genesis 43:1-45:28 "True Motivation"

Read Genesis 43:1-45:28.

"Why have you repaid good with evil?" NIV

Joseph starts here really messing with his brothers. What is the reason? Is he exacting revenge on his brothers? Is he testing them to see if they have grown in integrity, humility, and love? Is he proving to them the power he has gained in spite of their actions? Is God directing Joseph to put his brothers through these steps? We can't really know the answer to any of these questions, but we can see the outcome. 

Joseph's brothers were humbled; they had become men of integrity; and they loved their father enough to not cause him grief a second time. The tests that Joseph puts his brothers through demonstrate all these traits. It also proves to them, once he has revealed himself, that he is trustworthy to take care of the whole family in Egypt. 

In the end, Joseph does not blame his brothers, but gives God all the honor and glory. What an amazing example of forgiveness. Did the brothers sin against Joseph? Yes. But with time and perspective, Joseph was able to see that God had planned it all along. Even with the bad times that Joseph had to go through, God was building his character. He also transformed the brothers through the pain of their guilt to where they even recognized punishment for their crime 20 years later. And most importantly, God made a way for the Hebrew children to immigrate to Egypt.

Could God have gotten Joseph and the Hebrews to Egypt another way? Of course He could. But He used the brother's jealousy and sin to make something good happen. God's transforming power. He's the only one who can take something horrible and painful and change it for our good and for His glory. How often when we have bad things happen to us do we sit around and moan and groan or become angry with others and with God. Some people will even walk away from the God because of difficulty casting the blame His way as they slam the door. The truth is that we must continue to trust God not just in the good times, but in the midst of trouble as well. As believers, we know there is a reason for everything, and God will make good what He will have to be done. We just see a microscopic view of history; God sees the whole picture -- past, present, and future. What He has designed will come about. We just have to choose if we will be participants in the transformation and with what kind of attitude we will maintain. 

Further Thoughts: 

1. Who else in the Bible had to suffer because of their own sin or someone else's sin? 
   
2. Are you angry at someone or even at God because of troubles in your life? If you are, you're not alone, and you might as well own up to your anger. You're not hiding your anger from God. But know that He loves you, understands your pain and hurts with you. He will never leave you but walk the road with you. His love is greater for you than you can ever imagine and His greater good will win out in the end.
   
3. Find Scripture that supports the fact that God is in control. What about His character shows that too us, too?

Matthew 10:37-39 "The Beneficial Sacrifice"

Read Matthew 10:37-39.

"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." NIV

Jesus finishes the persecution and one-aginst-another section with this final statement. He has been referring to some persecution to death, but in general it boils down to a complete separation from the world that sets us apart. In the process, we could physically lose our earthly existence, however, we must experience a daily surrendering of our body, mind, soul, and spirit everyday to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

Surrender is a word that scares so many people. War scenes of captured troops, hands raised, being herded at gunpoint into makeshift prisons, forever forgotten, may come to mind. No one wants to give up their own desires and pleasures to be left with an empty, boring life. But Jesus' form of surrender promises so much more than we can ever create for ourselves.

The "things" we create on earth -- home, careers, cars, other toys, various forms of entertainment -- these are all going to be gone one day. Even today, they can carry an emptiness that leaves us begging for more. These things are what make up our life in the flesh -- where we focus our energy and time. But they are fading and someday will no longer exist.

But Jesus' surrender entails guidance, peace, surety, heaven, and worry-free living. If we will give up our control, His Holy Spirit will guide us as we navigate our life here following the purposes God has set out for us. We can walk in a peace that passes all understanding and with a surety that we are loved and have eternity with God to look forward to. This all encompases not a life without difficulties, but one that I don't have to worry about my needs or many of my wants. I don't have to worry about tomorrow, for He has me in the palm of His hand. I don't have to worry about my children, because He loves them more than I ever could. I don't have to worry about how I will accomplish the jobs He has assigned for me to do, because He is the Almighty Creator of the Universe, capable of anything, and His Spirit lives within me. He will equip and empower me for any purpose He may have. My life is not emptied through surrender, but given a far greater meaning and purpose. I must only let go.

Lord, my hands are lifted into the air. My palms are open to you, hanging onto nothing. I can't do anything alone. My life is yours - do with it as it pleases You.

Further Thoughts:

1. God gave Abraham a frightening directive of surrender with his son, Isaac. What in Abraham's beliefs made him trust God with his promised, only son? Read the story in Genesis 22:1-18.
2. Surrender is not giving up control to a life of bondage, but to a life of freedom. Read Psalm 119:32, 146:7, John 8:34-36, Romans 6:6, 14, 20 - 22. Search for other passages on the freedom we now have.
3. Do you struggle with giving up control? If yes, why is that? What are you afraid of? What do you have to lose? What do you have to gain if you do?
4. Pride or fear are the two hinderances to the freedom you can have through surrender. Write down the reasons why they hinder freedom. Support with Scripture.
5. Do not let the enemy feed into these two sins - they will stop you from living the life God has for you to live. Ban them from your life and ... let go.