Looking Back

Introduction

A. What do you like best about looking through old photographs? The snapshots of the past allow us to remember people and events. Many years ago, I was looking through snapshots of a family trip with my mother and there was a young boy in several of the photos. None of us could remember who that young boy was. We made some assumptions but the memory was gone. That’s the way life is sometimes. We see old photos and we can’t remember who people are or what was the event behind the photo. But there are other events that cannot be forgotten. These events will be a part of our lives for as long as our mind remains good. Often these events — good or bad — were events which left an impression like hands in wet cement. The result remains for all time.

B. Looking at old photographs renew memories and they remind us that life exists in the accumulation of events and people and that life is filled with memories both good and bad. There are times that we remember events and we know that without that event we wouldn’t be the person we are or in the place we are. We all have stories or have heard of stories that changed people’s lives. Part of the wonder of it all is how God is at work in those events. How only he can take something that appears useless and insignificant and turn it into something that matters at the moment, in the future, and perhaps eternally.

C. Our attitude about life is largely based on our thinking about God. Our faith is largely based on whether we think God is for us or against us. And in large measure our attitude is based on our belief that God is using events and people other than ourselves. Today let’s use one more episode in Joseph’s story to remind us that God is at work using events and people to carry out his will in ways that we cannot imagine nor at time understand. May our faith grow.

Joseph Reveals Himself

A. It has taken a lot of time for Joseph to get to where he is. Sold into slavery at age 17. Put into power at age 30. Seven years of plenty and now two years into a seven year famine. Joseph is approaching 40 by the time his brothers come to Egypt seeking food. There were a number of times that Joseph could have revealed himself to his brothers but he chose instead to test them. To use opportunities to see if their hearts were any better; to see if they had changed for the better; to see if they still had hearts that were filled with anger and bitterness and jealousy. And what he finds is that hearts have changed. The years have brought about greater allegiance to father and youngest brother, Benjamin. The hearts have changed from arrogance and jealousy to acceptance and self-denial and integrity even to the point of offering to serve the youngest brother’s sentence of lifelong slavery.

B. It is this change of heart that results in Joseph revealing himself to his brothers. With an explosion of emotion, Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers. Over 20 years have passed. The brothers are not expecting to see Joseph. The Bible tells us that the brothers are terrified — so terrified that they are rendered speechless. The brothers are knocked off center. They are confused. Too many things are swirling in their heads. Too many questions with little answers. Nothing makes sense.

C. I am amazed at his first question. Is my father still living? The brothers have talked about their father from the beginning. They have talked about Jacob as if he were alive. Why this question? I suspect that Joseph still wonders if the brothers are capable of lying. I suspect that Joseph wonders if his brothers still have deceptive intents. Here’s the lesson. Integrity once lost is difficult to restore. Over 20 years after selling him into slavery, Joseph questions his brothers’ integrity. Integrity is one of those areas of life that isn’t easily granted nor easily assumed once lost.

D. But Joseph’s heart is wanting to trust. He wants to believe in his brothers. He wants to restore his relationship with his brothers. After 20+ years Joseph wants a relationship. And after 20+ years the brothers have to choose to believe Joseph as well. Haven’t you found that to be the case. Sooner or later you have to choose to trust? Trust isn’t fully earned. Trust is voluntary. We look at the facts; we see evidence; but then we have to choose to trust. Joseph chooses to trust his brothers and his brothers have to choose to trust Joseph. Look at verse 4 — Come close to me. The word used here carries an idea of intimacy. It is the idea of getting closer to someone not just in proximity but in connection. Joseph isn’t asking his brothers to get close to him in the physical but to trust him that he will not harm them. To let down their defensive shields and allow themselves to trust.

E. Isn’t this what Jesus does? Jesus says look at my life. Look at the way I love. Trust me. Bring me your burdens and exchange then for a yoke that is shared. Learn from me how to deal with burdens. Learn from me how to trust. Joseph had learned something in his last 20+ years about trusting God. Look at verse 8 — the brothers didn’t send me down here; God did. The brothers hated him; the brothers threw him into a pit; the brothers sold him; the brothers lied about him. None of that was God. But Joseph had come to understand something that we too need to understand. God was still working. God was taking the actions of others and using them to bring about his will.

God at Work

A. Joseph wouldn’t be where he was if his brothers hadn’t done what they had done. Joseph didn’t like being sold into slavery; being a prisoner; being forgotten. But in spite of those things God never left Joseph and in fact worked through those things to make Joseph second in all of Egypt.

B. Were there times that Joseph was angry about being a slave and a prisoner? The Bible doesn’t say but I suspect there were. Were there times when Joseph wished things were different? The Bible doesn’t say but I suspect there were. Were there times when Joseph thought about revenge? The Bible doesn’t say but I suspect there were. But here in chapter 45, Joseph is not angry, bitter, revengeful or wishing for something different. Here he is boldly announcing that the past 20+ years has all been a part of God’s plan to save his family. He trusted God and he calls on his brothers to trust him.

C. Joseph reminds us of Jesus. Jesus says “everything I went through God was using to bring about his will and purpose.” The cross; the rejection; the humiliation; the betrayal; the temptations — all part of God’s plan. Trust Jesus. Draw near to God. Give your heart to God. Sooner or later you choose where to place your faith. We look back and we can at times see God at work. Our attitude is largely based on how we think God is at work in our lives or how we think he isn’t at work. Joseph looked back and saw that without certain events and people he would not be the person he was. And he trusted that God had used those events and situations to bring about what was good for Joseph, good for his family, and the fullest intent and will of God.

1. What about you? What do you believe?

   a. God has failed me.

   b. God works in other people’s lives but not mine.

   c. I don’t know if I can trust God and so I will keep trusting myself.

   d. Lord, I want to trust you even when I don’t understand.

2. Jesus calls us to draw near. In the words of Michael Card — Jesus let us come to know you; let us see you face to face. Words of trust. Words of faith. Words of resolve.

Follow Jesus

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