Joseph's Journey: A Reflection of Christ's Love
Summary
In our journey through the life of Joseph, we find a profound narrative that mirrors the story of Jesus Christ. Joseph, the beloved son, was despised, rejected, and sold into slavery, yet God exalted him to a position of power in Egypt. This parallels Jesus, God's dearly loved Son, who was rejected and crucified but rose to the highest place at the right hand of the Father. The second part of Joseph's story focuses on his brothers, whose lives were marked by sin and deceit. Their transformation begins with an awakening of conscience, a process God initiates through various means, such as disturbing their peace and arousing their memories.
God's kindness, as demonstrated by Joseph, plays a crucial role in awakening the brothers' conscience. Joseph's act of returning their money was a gesture of generosity that left them bewildered, prompting them to question what God was doing in their lives. This kindness is a reflection of God's love, which can soften even the hardest hearts. As we delve deeper into the story, we see Jacob's reluctance to send Benjamin to Egypt, highlighting the immense love and sacrifice involved in sending a dearly loved son. This reluctance serves as a window into the heart of God, who willingly sent His only Son into the world for our salvation.
The brothers' experience in Egypt changes dramatically when they return with Benjamin. They are met with love and kindness, a stark contrast to their previous encounter. This transformation illustrates the power of coming to God in the company of His dearly loved Son, Jesus. When we approach God with Jesus, we are welcomed into His presence and showered with grace. Joseph's identity as the ruler who knows his brothers, the brother who loves them, and the victim ready to forgive them, points us to Jesus Christ. Jesus knows us completely, loves us deeply, and stands ready to forgive us. Through Him, we are known, loved, and can be forgiven.
Key Takeaways:
- Awakening of Conscience: Real change begins when we are awakened and convicted of our sins. God uses various means to disturb our peace and arouse our memories, leading us to a realization of our need for His grace. This awakening is the first step towards transformation. [01:35]
- God's Kindness: God's kindness is a powerful force that can awaken even the hardest hearts. Joseph's act of returning the brothers' money was a gesture of generosity that left them questioning God's work in their lives. This kindness reflects God's love, which is meant to lead us to repentance. [03:44]
- Reluctance and Sacrifice: Jacob's reluctance to send Benjamin highlights the immense love and sacrifice involved in sending a dearly loved son. This serves as a window into the heart of God, who willingly sent His only Son into the world for our salvation. [11:45]
- Transformation through Love: The brothers' experience in Egypt changes dramatically when they return with Benjamin. This illustrates the power of coming to God in the company of His dearly loved Son, Jesus. When we approach God with Jesus, we are welcomed into His presence and showered with grace. [15:53]
- Identity of Jesus: Joseph's identity as the ruler who knows his brothers, the brother who loves them, and the victim ready to forgive them, points us to Jesus Christ. Jesus knows us completely, loves us deeply, and stands ready to forgive us. Through Him, we are known, loved, and can be forgiven. [35:01]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Introduction to Joseph's Story
- [01:17] - Awakening of Conscience
- [03:44] - Kindness Awakens Hearts
- [05:10] - Reluctance of Jacob
- [08:19] - The Loved and Favored Son
- [10:07] - Jacob's Reluctance and Change
- [11:45] - God's Sacrifice
- [15:53] - Experience of the Brothers
- [18:16] - Coming with the Loved Son
- [20:29] - Steward's Words of Peace
- [23:03] - Release of Simeon
- [25:23] - The Banquet of Kindness
- [27:16] - Kindness Before Reconciliation
- [30:17] - Identity of Joseph
- [35:01] - Identity of Jesus
- [39:22] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Genesis 43
- John 3:16
- Romans 2:4
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Observation Questions:
1. What actions did Joseph take to show kindness to his brothers, and how did they react to these gestures? [03:44]
2. How does Jacob's reluctance to send Benjamin to Egypt reflect his feelings and priorities? [11:45]
3. What changes occurred in the brothers' experience when they returned to Egypt with Benjamin? [15:53]
4. How does Joseph's identity as a ruler, brother, and victim point to the identity of Jesus Christ? [35:01]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the awakening of conscience in Joseph's brothers illustrate the beginning of transformation in a person's life? [01:35]
2. In what ways does God's kindness lead to repentance, as seen in the story of Joseph and his brothers? [03:44]
3. How does Jacob's reluctance to send Benjamin serve as a window into the heart of God and His sacrifice? [11:45]
4. What does the brothers' experience in Egypt with Benjamin reveal about the power of coming to God with Jesus? [15:53]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when your conscience was awakened to a wrongdoing. How did that experience lead to change in your life? [01:35]
2. Consider a situation where you experienced unexpected kindness. How did it affect your perspective or actions? [03:44]
3. How can you demonstrate God's kindness in your daily interactions, especially towards those who may not expect it? [03:44]
4. In what ways can you relate to Jacob's reluctance to let go of something precious? How might this reflect your relationship with God? [11:45]
5. How does the story of Joseph and his brothers encourage you to approach God with Jesus, and what changes might this bring to your spiritual life? [15:53]
6. Reflect on the identity of Jesus as the ruler who knows you, the brother who loves you, and the victim ready to forgive you. How does this understanding impact your relationship with Him? [35:01]
7. Identify one area in your life where you need to experience God's grace and forgiveness. How can you actively seek this transformation? [35:01]
Devotional
Day 1: Awakening to Our Need for Grace
In the story of Joseph, the awakening of his brothers' conscience marks the beginning of their transformation. This awakening is initiated by God through various means, such as disturbing their peace and arousing their memories. It is a reminder that real change begins when we are convicted of our sins and recognize our need for God's grace. This process is often uncomfortable, as it forces us to confront our past actions and the state of our hearts. However, it is a necessary step towards spiritual growth and renewal. As we reflect on our own lives, we must be open to the ways God might be awakening our conscience, leading us to a deeper understanding of His grace and mercy. [01:35]
Hebrews 4:12-13 (ESV): "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
Reflection: What recent event or memory has God used to awaken your conscience? How can you respond to this awakening with openness to His grace today?
Day 2: The Transformative Power of Kindness
Joseph's act of returning his brothers' money was a profound gesture of kindness that left them questioning what God was doing in their lives. This act of generosity reflects God's love, which is powerful enough to soften even the hardest hearts. God's kindness is not just a passive attribute but an active force that leads us to repentance. It challenges us to reconsider our actions and attitudes, prompting a change in our hearts. As we experience God's kindness, we are called to extend the same grace and generosity to others, becoming instruments of His love in the world. [03:44]
Romans 2:4 (ESV): "Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"
Reflection: Think of a time when you experienced unexpected kindness. How did it impact you, and how can you extend similar kindness to someone in your life today?
Day 3: The Sacrifice of a Loved Son
Jacob's reluctance to send Benjamin to Egypt highlights the immense love and sacrifice involved in sending a dearly loved son. This narrative serves as a window into the heart of God, who willingly sent His only Son into the world for our salvation. The sacrifice of Jesus is the ultimate expression of God's love for humanity, demonstrating the lengths He will go to restore us to Himself. As we reflect on this sacrifice, we are reminded of the depth of God's love and the call to live in response to it, embracing the sacrificial love that transforms lives. [11:45]
1 John 4:9-10 (ESV): "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
Reflection: What does the sacrifice of Jesus mean to you personally? How can you live out this sacrificial love in your relationships today?
Day 4: Embracing Transformation through Love
The brothers' experience in Egypt changes dramatically when they return with Benjamin, illustrating the power of coming to God in the company of His dearly loved Son, Jesus. When we approach God with Jesus, we are welcomed into His presence and showered with grace. This transformation through love is a testament to the power of God's grace to change lives. It invites us to embrace the new identity we have in Christ, living as people who are known, loved, and forgiven. As we journey with Jesus, we are called to reflect His love and grace to those around us, becoming agents of transformation in the world. [15:53]
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation."
Reflection: How has your relationship with Jesus transformed your life? In what ways can you share this transformative love with others today?
Day 5: Known, Loved, and Forgiven
Joseph's identity as the ruler who knows his brothers, the brother who loves them, and the victim ready to forgive them, points us to Jesus Christ. Jesus knows us completely, loves us deeply, and stands ready to forgive us. Through Him, we are known, loved, and can be forgiven. This profound truth invites us to live in the freedom and assurance of God's love, embracing our identity as His beloved children. As we reflect on this identity, we are called to extend the same love and forgiveness to others, embodying the grace that we have received in Christ. [35:01]
Ephesians 1:7-8 (ESV): "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to accept God's forgiveness? How can you embrace your identity as someone who is known, loved, and forgiven by God today?
Quotes
God uses a number of means in order to awaken or to arouse the conscience we saw that in the story he does it by disturbing the peace here are these brothers they've gone on for more than 20 years maintaining a pretense and a lie, suddenly God breaks in through a famine and the rhythm of their life is disturbed. [00:02:14]
Joseph showed kindness to his brothers who remember we saw last time by putting the money that they had paid for the food they had purchased in Egypt back in the sack and it was a wonderful act of generosity. I'm just gonna give them this as a gift Joseph is saying and he puts the money back in their sack an act of kindness. [00:03:48]
God's love and kindness can further awaken even the hardest of hearts and I want to make just three observations today from the end of chapter 42 and chapter 43 that's been read for us the first relates to the reluctance of Jacob the father the second the experience of the brothers and all the love and kindness that was shown to them. [00:05:00]
Jacob says in effect to these boys there is no way in the world that that is ever going to happen I've already lost Joseph no way in the world I'm never gonna let Benjamin get out of my sight verse 36 Jacob the father said to them you've bereaved me of my children Joseph is no more remember they've told him Joseph is dead. [00:08:48]
Aren't you glad that God is a better father than Jacob he who did not spare his one and only son but freely gave his son up for us all how will he not also along with him graciously give us all things well I think it's easy to understand Jacobs reluctance but let our understanding of Jacob's reluctance be a window into what it actually meant for God the Father to send his one and only and dearly loved son into this world. [00:11:23]
When the brothers came to Egypt on their own, the great ruler spoke to them harshly, but when they come with the dearly loved son, they are showered with kindness for his sake the home is opened up to them they are brought in and they are showered with kindness why because they're in the company of the dearly loved son. [00:17:36]
The brothers actually here give to us a very good example of a calm direct response that simply states the truth verse 7 could we in any way know that he would say bring your brother down and so after this exchange it seems that there was a stalemate and it lasted for a long time because if you look in verse 10 one of the brothers says if we had not delayed we could have been dead and back twice. [00:14:00]
Kindness comes first repentance comes later that's what we learned here in the kindness that Joseph is showing even when reconciliation has not yet happened barriers are being lowered think about this it was while we were still sinners that God loved us and that Christ died for us and Joseph's love and Joseph's kindness is going to create an environment in which the most marvelous reconciliation is going to take place. [00:27:19]
Joseph is pointing to Jesus friends who is Jesus who is Jesus Christ Jesus is the ruler who knows you he is the brother who loves you and he is the victim who is ready to forgive you just think about that with me in this last moment he is the ruler who knows you that's who Jesus Christ is he's the one and only Son of God he's the sovereign Lord he knows all things nothing is hidden from him. [00:35:01]
He is the ruler who knows you that's who Jesus Christ is he's the one and only Son of God he's the sovereign Lord he knows all things nothing is hidden from him no secret is ever kept from him before a world is on your tongue he knows it completely before a thought goes through your mind he's entirely aware of it there is nothing about you or about your life that is not completely known to him. [00:35:18]
The woman at the well goes running into the town of psy car and she says come and meet a man who told me everything I ever did and she's completely joyful about it despite the fact that many of the things that she had done she should never have done and Jesus told it about them so why is she so joyful about this Jesus knowing everything about her because she's also discovered that the sin Jesus loves her. [00:36:39]
Here's the message that comes from the identity of Joseph that points to the identity of Jesus you are known you are loved and you can be forgiven through Jesus Christ who is the one and only Son of God and when you see who he is why would you not submit to him as your ruler and love him as your brother and trust him as your Savior who gave himself as a sacrifice for your sins. [00:38:47]
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