How to Intercede Like Judah, and see Jesus, Genesis 44:18-45:1

 

Joseph has given his brothers a series of tests to determine if they’re the same selfish, hardhearted, wicked boys they were 22 years prior, when they threw Joseph in a pit, and then, sold him into slavery. (Joseph’s Final Exam).

So far, they’ve passed every test. Now, they’re at the end of the final exam.

Joseph just gave the brothers a way out. Go home in peace, just leave Benjamin with me. Tell dad, that Pharaoh’s right-hand man wouldn’t let him go. Who are you to resist the power of Egypt?

But Judah, once again, steps up to the plate. Stands in the gap. Intercedes for his brothers and carries them across the finish line.

Throughout Judah’s discourse he maintains a respectful humble posture. He calls himself and his brothers, and even his father, “servants”. He calls Joseph, “lord.” Small “l” reflecting a respectful term such as, master, sir.  

Judah’s, powerful speech, the longest speech in all of Genesis changes the course of Israel and gives God good reason to choose the line of Judah, to birth the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Messiah, Jesus the Christ our Savior and Lord.

The intercession of Judah is characterized by theologians and historians as:

"One of the masterpieces of Hebrew composition" (Kalisch).

"One of the grandest and fairest to be found in the Old Testament" (Lange).

"One of the finest specimens of natural eloquence in the world" (Inglis).

Indeed, the whole speech is most exquisitely beautiful, and perhaps the most complete piece of genuine and natural eloquence to be found in any language. (Benson Commentary).

Most importantly, this is an awesome outline for intercessors. As we read Judah’s intercession, we’ll see 16 characteristics of an intercessor.

Did your ears perk up when you heard the word, intercessor?

If you think you might be an intercessor, a person called to pray, a prayer warrior... then, you probably are.

¹⁸ Then Judah came near to him and said: “O my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s hearing, and do not let your anger burn against your servant; for you are even like Pharaoh. 

Judah steps away from his brothers and draws near to Joseph.

He does so to intercede for the sake of his brothers.

He does so boldly, yet humbly with reverential fear.

An Intercessor draws aways from others to draw near the Lord.

An Intercessor draws away from others for the sake of others.

An Intercessor stands boldly, yet humbly, before the Lord, with reverential fear, understanding the goodness and severity of the Lord. Romans 11:22.

Knowing both the earth shaking, rock splitting, rushing mighty wind and the loving, gentle, quiet, still small Voice. In the midst of a hurricane or the still of the night, the intercessor is found standing near the Lord.

¹⁹ My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’ 

The brothers just wanted to know how much grain they could get. Whereas Joe wanted to know about dad and another brother.

An Intercessor may go to the Lord for someone, but the Lord may say, “Wait, before we talk about them, let’s talk about you.

Let’s talk about your father, your brother. You know, the father you’ve been lying to for over 22 years. The brother you can’t look in the eye because of what you’ve done.

An intercessor must be pure of heart.

That doesn’t mean perfect of heart, but of a heart always ready when convicted to repent and make things right.

Jesus puts it like this:

Matthew 5:23-24
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

²⁰ And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, who is young; his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him.’

They told Joseph what they assumed to be true.

Obviously, Joseph, Benjamin’s brother was very much alive, standing right in front of them.

An Intercessor is entirely honest.

They need be, for the Lord sees straight through to the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Psalm 51:6
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

 ²¹ Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’ 

Joseph, of course, wanted to see his little brother, to confirm he was alive and well. That the brothers didn’t do to Benjamin what they did to him.

So, he did a Ronald Reagan. Trust but verify. Prove your words are true. Show me your brother. He held them accountable. 

An Intercessor is held accountable.

If you say, you’ll pray, you do, if you don’t, you won’t be able to sleep.

Insomnia may be an intercessor’s wake-up call to pray.

²² And we said to my lord, ‘The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’

Their stepmom, Rachel had two sons with their dad, Jacob. Joseph and Benjamin. Rachel had died and they assumed, Joseph was dead also. So, obviously Jacob didn’t want to risk losing his youngest son Benjamin, the only one left from Rachel.

Dad’ll just die if Benny leaves him, they told Joe.

But they were wrong. It wouldn’t kill him. Benjamin would leave. Jacob would live and not die.

The brothers didn’t understand that Joseph wanted to help them. And he would help them. However, first, he needed to test them.

An Intercessor need not understand God, to trust God

An Intercessor’s testimony rises from testing

 ²³ But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.’

That’s the third time Judah repeated the words of Joseph back to him.

An Intercessor speaks the Word of God, to God.

For example:

Lord, You say in Your Word, that Your Word will not return void.

Isaiah 55:10-11
“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, ¹¹ so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

You also say in Your Word that Your Word is like Seed.

Mark 4:14-20:
The sower sows the Word. ¹⁵ And these are the ones by the wayside where the Word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the Word that was sown in their hearts. ¹⁶ These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the Word, immediately receive it with gladness; ¹⁷ and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the Word’s sake, immediately they stumble. ¹⁸ Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the Word, ¹⁹ and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful. ²⁰ But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the Word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

Lord according to Your Word, we pray that our hearts are good ground that receives Your Word that has gone forth like rain and snow, Your Word that has been sown like seed, and that it will bear much fruit, good fruit, Your fruit, a hundredfold.

Thank You Lord, we love You forever, amen.

²⁴ “So it was, when we went up to your servant my father, that we told him the words of my lord.

An Intercessor repeats the Word of God to others.

 ²⁵ And our father said, ‘Go back and buy us a little food.’ ²⁶ But we said, ‘We cannot go down; if our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down; for we may not see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’

It took about a year before they used up all the grain from their first trip, and then, Jacob told them to return to Egypt for more.

The brothers didn’t forget the words of Joseph, and they wouldn’t even try to disobey them, even if it meant disagreement with their father.

An Intercessor obeys the Word of God over the word of man.

 ²⁷ Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons; ²⁸ and the one went out from me, and I said, “Surely he is torn to pieces”; and I have not seen him since. ²⁹ But if you take this one also from me, and calamity befalls him, you shall bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.’

Judah explained what happened when they returned to their father.

This was the first time Joseph heard, about what his father knew of his disappearance 22 years earlier.

An Intercessor explains the situation to the Lord.

Come let us reason together says the Lord.

Not that He needs to hear it. But we need to speak it, and while we’re speaking, if we’re listening, He’s responding.

While we’re talking it out, He’s working it out.

³⁰ “Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life, ³¹ it will happen, when he sees that the lad is not with us, that he will die. So your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave.

Notice, Judah, never blamed Joseph. He didn’t say, “you will bring our dad to the grave.”

Notice Judah never claimed they were framed. He didn’t say, “Benjamin did not steal that cup!”

An Intercessor leaves all judgement to God.

Romans 12:19
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

 ³² For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father forever.’ 

Judah offered himself, as surety, as guarantee, to bear the burden for the return of Benjamin.

An Intercessor bears another’s burden.

An intercessor takes personal responsibility, ownership, for what happens to the person they’re interceding for.

³³ Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. ³⁴ For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would come upon my father?”

Judah, like Christ, offered his life, so his brothers could be free. He not only prayed for an answer but was willing to be the answer.

An Intercessor gives his, or her, life to the Lord, for others.

The intercessor can say, I surrender my all to Jesus, not just for me, but because the more I do, the better for you.

45:1 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.

When Judah drew near to Joseph and showed the greatest Love by offering his life in exchange for his brother, Joseph could restrain himself no more and made himself known to his brothers.

Draw nigh to God and He will draw night to you. James 4:8.

The Lord makes Himself known, personally, intimately, to the Intercessor.

An Intercessor sees Jesus.

Jesus came to exchange His Life, for the life of others.

The day we delivered this message, was the day the ceasefire and hostage exchange began between Israel and hamas.

On the day Jesus first made Himself known (Luke 4:16-21) He read from Isaiah 61:1-2, where it tells how He came to set the captives free, to open the prison to those who are bound, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord...

Jesus stopped there. But the very next line in Isaiah reads, “And the day of vengeance of our God.” Isaiah 61:2b.

Jesus paused the clock for this age of grace, and we rejoice as hostages are set free, as multitudes imprisoned to sin are released. However, this is a sign and a warning that the day of vengeance is at hand.

Just as Joseph will warn his brothers about the seven year famine, the Lord gives us signs and warnings that the seven year Tribulation is at hand.

Thus, the clarion call goes out now for intercessors to answer, rise up and pray without ceasing for souls to be saved for the harvest is plenteous, the laborers are few and the time is short. The night is far spent, the day is at hand.

Are you called to be an intercessor?

If you think you might be... you probably are.

An Intercessor...

1.    Draws away from others to draw near the Lord.

2.    Draws away from others for the sake of others.

3.    Stands boldly, yet humbly, before the Lord

4.    An intercessor is pure of heart.

5.    An Intercessor is entirely honest.

6.    An Intercessor is held accountable.

7.    An Intercessor need not understand God, to trust God

8.    An Intercessor's testimony rises from testing

9.    An Intercessor speaks the Word of God, to God

10.  An Intercessor repeats the Word of God to others.

11.  An Intercessor obeys the Word of God over the word of man.

12.  An Intercessor explains the situation to the Lord.

13.  An Intercessor leaves all judgement to God.

14.  An Intercessor bears another’s burden.

15.  An Intercessor gives his, or her, life to the Lord, for others.

16.  An Intercessor sees Jesus.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word that not only tells us what did happen, but also what will happen. So, we are not caught unaware. So, we are not scared, but prepared. So, we are without excuse.

Lord, we pray for intercessors to rise, awake and aware, ushering in Your will, on earth as it is in heaven. And Lord, let us, be one.

We love You, forever, amen.   

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

Facebook: Church at WPV

Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

Watch online:

Facebook: How to Intercede Like Judah, and see Jesus, Genesis 44:18-45:1

You Tube: How to Intercede Life Judah, and see Jesus, Genesis 44:18-45:1

This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.

 

Walking in His Calling, Acts 19:8-20

 

Paul is on his third missionary journey; this is his second visit to Ephesus.

Upon arrival he met with a dozen disciples and introduced them to the Holy Spirit. (Last week’s study: Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? Acts 19:1-7).

Then, as was his custom, Paul headed to the synagogue.

⁸ And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. 

The Greek word for, synagogue, means, assembly or gathering, reflecting the communal aspect of Jewish worship and learning.

Historically, synagogues were not only places of worship but also centers for education and community matters.

Like, Little House on the Prairie, the Church house doubled as the schoolhouse and or, meetinghouse.

So, the synagogue was like a Jewish Clubhouse.

⁹ But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

The “Way” used six times in Acts, refers to the Church, the Christians, the people, Ekklésia, the believers in Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, the Life.

The school of Tyrannus, was a dinosaur museum for tyrannosaurus rex. 😊. Just kidding.

It was also called the "lecture hall of Tyrannus." It was likely a public space for teaching and debate.

So, they went from a Jewish Clubhouse to a public clubhouse.

The important thing to note is that the commitment was to spreading the gospel not to a venue.

Church can happen anywhere.   

We’ve had Church in a school gym, an old store in a strip mall, a conference room in a bank, a gymnastics hall, the backyard of a cattle ranch, and a Clubhouse.

Church isn’t location, it’s people, committed to serving and loving God and people. Daily. All the time, everywhere.

They met daily. That took discipline. That’s the stuff disciples are made of. Consistent commitment.

Christianity is a full time, all pervasive, never ending, commitment to Jesus, in every aspect of life, even in, especially in, the thought life.

Luke 9:23
Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

¹⁰ And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

This continued two years, and all in Asia, both Jews and Greeks heard the Word of the Lord.

Hallelujah!

From that one spot, Church in a secular venue, they reached the whole world as it passed through Ephesus’, a major seaport and trade route.

That’s why having Church in the Clubhouse is such a good and God idea. Folks not going to Church, but just going about their day, passing through the Clubhouse can’t help but overhear the gospel. Plus, like Ephesus, we have people from all over passing through.  

Now, pause and consider that the Church in the Jewish synagogue lasted just a few months, then, like usual whenever Paul was trying to minister to the Jews, things when sideways, and Paul left.

Now remember, the Lord told Paul that he was called to the gentiles. Peter was called to the Jews.

Peter and Paul (maybe us too) might’ve thought that was backwards.

Paul the Bible Scholar, the learned Jew, would seem to be the perfect pick to minister to the Jews. Paul says in Philippians 3:5 that he was circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee. Paul indeed would be the prime candidate for ministry to the Jews, or so it would seem.

Peter, the redneck fisherman from Redneckville, Bethsaida, on the shores of Galilee, seemed to be a sure catch for rednecks and gentile dogs.

But God saw it differently. Peter and Paul, and all who are called, will be called out of their comfort zone, so dependence on God, not their own abilities, will be priority.

Things fare much better when we walk outside our comfort zone and inside His calling zone.

¹¹ Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, ¹² so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.

The most important two words in those two verses is: God worked.

God worked unusual, extraordinary, miracles. God caused diseases to leave, and evil spirits to go.  

Handkerchiefs, refers to something like a leather headband, sweatband. There was no Power in it, or the apron.

Acts 5:15; tells of folks being laid in the street to be healed, when just the shadow of Peter passed by them.

Mark 5:25-34; The woman who’d been bleeding for 12 years said, “if I just touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, I’ll be healed”. She touched and was healed. Jesus felt “virtue” or “Power” go out of Him, not the hem. And He told the woman, “Your faith has made you well.”

At times, some folks have used a tangible item as a point of contact to release, or increase, their faith. It was their way of putting feet to their faith and in His amazing grace, God worked with that, and healed them.

The Healer and the healing is only and always the work of God.

Now this question pops up. Why’d He do more miracles then, than now?

Maybe He did, maybe He didn’t.

A few things to consider.

We have a laser focused view as we read through the Bible. The spotlight is on the highlights. We don’t see the passage of time between the amazing miraculous events. We don’t see those weren’t delivered and healed.

Furthermore, there’s a big difference in function between foundation stones and finishing stones.

We are the finishing stones of the Church Jesus has been building for 2,000 years. Our function is to stand and shine on the Church foundation stones. Those who’ve gone before.

We have the same purpose, build the Church, but different functions.      

God still heals, God still delivers, God still requires we walk by faith in His calling, not our comfort.

 ¹³ Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 

If you’re in a place with 14 temples worshipping false gods and one of the temples has 1,000 male and female prostitutes, (temple of Diana) you can be sure there’s a whole lot of demonic activity going on.

Thus, ghost busters will be in high demand.

These itinerant Jews who were traveling exorcists. They may have meant well, but they didn’t know Jesus.

So, their success was probably about the same as a snake oil salesmen. 

¹⁴ Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.

¹⁵ And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

It’s not what you know it’s Who you know.

Matthew 7:21-23
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

The seven sons of Sceva may have known just the right words, but they didn’t know Jesus personally, so they had no authority. 

¹⁶ Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Someone under demonic power has superhuman strength.

Jesus is not a genie in a Bible. One cannot quote a few Bible verses or say the name of Jesus like an incantation and expect miracles and deliverances to happen.

It’s all about relationship with Jesus.

Filled with Jesus.

In Love with Jesus.

Knowing Jesus.

 ¹⁷ This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. ¹⁸ And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. ¹⁹ Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all.

What became known?

An evil spirit stripped and beat the seven sons of Sceva?

Why would that cause them to fear?

Well, seven grown men got whooped by one evil spirit. BUT, a multiple evil spirits, and sicknesses, and diseases, tuck tail and run at just the touch of a hanky or apron from Paul.

That, put the fear of God in them.  

They piled up their witchcraft, occult, voodoo, tarot card, Harry Potter, Twilight books and DVDs.

It was a big pile...

And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. ²⁰ So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

A piece of silver was a day’s wage. So, 50,000 days’ wages up in smoke.

50k / 365= 137 years’ worth of wages. Today that’d be about 11 million dollars.

Harry Potter series author, JK Rowling, said her main ambition was to promote death.

Her death promoting series has sold over 600 million copies, translated into 84 languages.

Stephenie Meyer wrote the Twilight series filled with vampires and demonic activity.

She’s a Mormon. Mormonism, was founded by Joseph Smith who claimed, starting in 1823, he had multiple encounters with an angel called Moroni. Smith said the angel convinced him that Christians didn’t have all the truth. So, he said, he was given special revelation from golden tablets. The book of Mormon came out of that.

Galatians 1:8, But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. (Anathema, devoted to destruction; eternally condemned to hell).

Mormonism is based on a demonic revelation.

Reportedly, on Meyer’s website she tells how the Twilight series came through nighttime visions, or dreams. She says she could not stop the literal voices from giving her story lines. She kept a pen and paper by her bed and would wake in the morning to read what she’d written. 

In Ephesus they got out of their comfort zone and burned their black magic, satanic ritual paraphernalia.

Psalm 101:2-3, tells us to walk through our house with a perfect heart we set no unclean thing before our eyes. 

What’s in your house? In your heart?

Is Jesus saying, get rid of this or that? It hinders our relationship. It keeps you from really knowing Me.

Do you want to stay in your comfort zone, or walk in His calling zone?

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, no matter the venue, no matter the function, help us be a people disciplined and committed to walk in Your calling, not our comfort.

Thank You Lord,

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

Facebook: Church at WPV

Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

Watch online:

Facebook: Walking in His Calling, Acts 19:8-20

You Tube: Walking in His Calling, Acts 19:8-20

This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.

Joseph’s Final Exam, Genesis 44:1-17

There’s only about a minute between chapters 43-44.

Joe and the bros. just finished a family reunion feast. However, Joseph was the only one that recognized they were brothers.

This was the second time in about a year Joseph’s brothers made the approximately 300-mile trip from Canaan to Egypt. They had to. It was the only place to buy food, because for two years, their whole world had been suffering severe famine.  

They didn’t know that the person they just ate with, the one who provided the food for their very survival, was their very own brother, Joseph.

The brother they hadn’t seen in 22 years.

The very brother that 22 years prior, they despised, rejected, abused, threw in a pit to leave for dead, but then, sold as a slave instead.

Yet, God was with Joseph, and raised him up.

Sound familiar?

Jesus was despised, rejected, abused and scourged, thrown in a tomb, left for dead. Isaiah 53.  

Yet, God was with Jesus and raised Him up! Philippians 2:5-11.

Even after all that, Joseph still loved his brothers.

Sound familiar?

While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8.

Genesis 44:1
 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack.

Joseph showed them kindness, gave them provision as much as they could carry, and didn’t take a penny but returned their money, back in their sack. 

His will for them was only good, to give them a future and a hope, to deliver them from the wrath of the seven-year famine.

Yet, he had to test them, to prove them. To discern the thoughts and intents of their hearts. To determine if his blessings would help them, or only feed envy and greed and evil behavior.

Sound familiar?

My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction; For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:11-12, (Hebrews 12:5-6).

 ² Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain money.” So he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.

Putting the money back in the sack was a repeat of their first visit. A repeat of the first test of their honesty.

They passed that test and returned the money.

Now, the test goes deeper than greed and exposes the thoughts and intents of their heart, their love for one another, especially, their youngest brother, Benjamin.

Joseph had given his full-blooded brother Benjamin five times more food at dinner. Benjamin was probably seated closest to Joseph.

Would this provoke the brothers’ jealousy, like the coat of many colors their father Jacob gave to Joseph?

Would their true colors now show?

Would they turn against Benjamin like they did Joseph?

Notice, the testing came, not through fiery trials, but through acts of generosity and kindness.

Joseph gave them their money back—twice.

Now, he adds his silver cup and sets them free.

Our most telling tests are what we do with our freedom, our blessing.

Do we squander our time (our most precious commodity)?

Or do we redeem the time and make the most of every opportunity? (Ephesians 5:16).

Are we preparing for His coming, as a Bride prepares to meet her Groom? (Ephesians 5:27; Revelation 19:7-8).

Do we play like the world?

Or, when we’re playing are we praying?

Are we looking across the card table praying for those lost souls?

Do we remember what we’re there for, when we swing the club and shout, “FOUR!” ?

Is our only goal to get a hole in one, or to lead them to the Holy One?   

 ³ As soon as the morning dawned, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys. 

The brothers are leaving. Smiling. Good night’s rest. Bellies full. Sacks full. Got their grain. Got their other brother Simeon. Most importantly, still got young Benjamin.

Dad will be glad.

Mission accomplished.

All is well.

Well, not so much for Joseph. From his palace window he might’ve watched them ride away. His eyes mostly on his brother Benjamin. Would the brothers pick on him, show animosity toward him, ride off and leave him to follow in their dust?

Perhaps the brothers were smiling and whistling, while Joseph was watching and weeping. Will I see them again? Will Benjamin be, okay? How will this turn out? Should I have told them who I am?  

⁴ When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward...

Did Joseph watch from his window as far as he could see? Then, did he climb to the roof balcony of his fine and fancy palace and watch them even further? Did he pace and pray as he watched them all the way out of town?

Lord, did I do the right thing? Please keep Benjamin safe. What if something happens? What if they don’t come back? What if...

They were finally out of sight, is that when he rushed to his steward...  

“Get up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? ⁵ Is not this the one from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed practices divination? You have done evil in so doing.’ ”

⁶ So he overtook them, and he spoke to them these same words.

And just like that the brothers are no longer smiling, no one is whistling.

They were minding their own business, heading home.

They did the right thing by returning the money.

Imagine, you went to the grocery store. Did the right thing by returning money they accidentally overpaid. Went back inside to rescan the thing that was accidentally overlooked.

And then, minding your own business, heading home. Sirens blare, lights flash, squad cars force you to the side of the road.  

Out of the car. On your knees. Hands on your head. You’re falsely accused of taking something you never touched. Of doing something you never did.

You’re so sure of your innocence, you say something like the brothers did...

 ⁷ And they said to him, “Why does my lord say these words? Far be it from us that your servants should do such a thing. ⁸ Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? ⁹ With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.”  

This is very telling, in a good way.

They were absolutely certain none of them stole anything. They trust the integrity and honesty of their brothers so well, that they’re willing to wager their life on it.

Also notice they maintain proper decorum. Respect. Restraint. They don’t attack the steward verbally or physically. They continue to call him lord, and themselves, servants. (That’s lord with a small “l” showing respect like “sir”).

They respectfully state the obvious. We showed our honesty by returning the money. So, why would we turn around and steal a cup?

The brothers have changed. They are not the same evil, angry, envious, boys that threw Joseph in a pit, and then sold him into slavery.

However, they might’ve been a tad bit presumptuous by saying, whoever has the cup, let him die.

¹⁰ And he said, “Now also let it be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and you shall be blameless.” 

Joseph’s steward ignores the brothers’ words about death to the one with the cup.

This test wasn’t for death, but life. Joseph wasn’t trying to condemn them, but to prove them, with a desire to redeem and reconcile their relationship.

Sound familiar?

John 3:17
 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

John 10:10
The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I’ve come that you have Life, and Life more abundantly.

¹¹ Then each man speedily let down his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack. 

So sure, and certain of their innocence, they speedily dropped and opened the sacks.

Look and see and know, we’re innocent.

¹² So he searched. He began with the oldest and left off with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 

Of course, the steward knew where the silver cup was stashed. So, he saved the best for last (and made no mention of the money in the mouth of each sack).

The day before at dinner, Joseph honored Benjamin with the royal portion of five times more than the brothers. (Gen. 43:34). Now, Benjamin is the one with the silver cup in his sack.

Remember, the goal was to expose the hearts of the older brothers.

Would the jealous rage that once burned in the brothers against Joseph flare up against Benjamin?

Would the brothers abandon Benjamin?  

Would they go, leaving Joe and Ben to live happily ever after? Well, not so happily; but at least Joseph and his younger brother gentle Ben would be together again. (By the way: Benjamin was about 29 years old, and Joseph was about 10 years older).

Would the brothers pass the test?

Or would they yield to the temptations of the past?

How will they respond?

Come back next week and see the exciting conclusion—

Just kidding 😊

¹³ Then they tore their clothes...

They tore their clothes; a sign of deep mourning, and grief. Practiced to this day among Jews; it’s called kriah.

Jacob tore his clothes, as his heart was torn, when he thought Joseph was dead. Gen. 37:34.

Kriah; Jewish sign of mourning: A tear in the outermost garment, usually at the neckline, and down about 3 inches. A tear on the left side reflects mourning for a parent; on the right side for other relatives. Instead of tearing a garment, a black ribbon may be worn. On the left, reflecting the loss of a parent, and on the right side, for other relatives.

The tear should be clearly visible during shiva (7- or 30-day period of mourning).

These brothers of Joseph’s who tore their clothing in great mourning over the fate of Benjamin, are the very same brothers who tore the garment off of Joseph, and then sat down to eat and drink while he pleaded to them from the pit they’d thrown him in. Gen. 37:23-27.

Friends, we cannot judge who men are, by who they’ve been. Or what they’ll do, by what they’ve done.

One touch from God, makes all things new. His amazing grace, saved a wretch, like me.

Those who despised, rejected, abused and sold Joseph, now rend their hearts and their garments and will not abandon their brother Benjamin.

¹³...and each man loaded his donkey and returned to the city.

Meanwhile back at the governor’s mansion, Joseph doesn’t know what’s happening. No cell phones to livestream. No camera crews.

What’s Joseph doing?

Is he still on the roof. Pacing, praying. Eyes glued to the last spot he saw them.

God, I pray this goes good. What’s taking so long? Will they come back? Did they recognize me, but don’t want to have anything to do with me? Except for what I can give them? Could they hate me that much? Should I have told them who I am? Should I go after them? What’s taking so long? Did they resist? Was there a fight? Did Benny get hurt? What if they don’t come back? What if I never see them again? What if—

Then sunlight glimmers off a horse’s bridle.

The steward leading, smiling.

The brothers following, clothing torn. Fight? No, kriah. Eyes leaking. Benjamin riding, safely surrounded by, brothers.

¹⁴ So Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there; and they fell before him on the ground.

Notice Judah is mentioned by name. This man is rising to the top.

Notice Joseph was still there at his house. See, maybe he was watching and pacing and praying from his rooftop.

Notice they fell before him, just like in Joseph’s dreams; the ones they once had mocked.

 ¹⁵ And Joseph said to them, “What deed is this you have done? Did you not know that such a man as I can certainly practice divination?”

Not that he did practice divination, that is forbidden by God. But, “such a man as I can certainly practice divination.”

The intention wasn’t to deceive them, but to test them.

¹⁶ Then Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; here we are, my lord’s slaves, both we and he also with whom the cup was found.”

Both we and he. Judah’s first appeal is to tether them together as one with Benjamin. We are all guilty before God, here we are, all your slaves.

All for one. One for all.

Oh Lord, we this people, this Ekklésia, this body of Christ, we ask You to give us the heart of Judah. When one grieves, is burdened, hurting, all grieve, are burdened, and hurting. Let there be no schism, make us one, as You prayed in John 17, that we’d be one, as You are one. One body with You as Head. Thank You, Lord, amen.

Additionally, Judah recognizes the principle of sowing and reaping. It’s a law that works in the natural and spiritual realm.

It’d been 22 years, but they still remembered, all too well, the evil seeds they sowed, with what they did to Joseph.

We might not have stolen the silver cup, but before God we’re all guilty.

If they had not treated Joseph so poorly, they would not be reaping the severity of Joseph’s testing.

Galatians 6:7-9
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

When we’re slandered unjustly, falsely accused, before screaming I’m innocent! I did nothing wrong! Why me!!! Pause, and ask God, “Lord, did I sow this seed?”

Speaking of sowing and reaping.

California fires are top of the news. We want to pray for a great big rain.

But like this famine, in our text, God didn’t send rain, to stop the famine. At least not for seven years.

However, He did send warnings and wisdom way ahead of time (by way of dreams to Pharaoh, and wisdom to Joseph).

Pharaoh listened.

So, God used Joseph to save many people alive. Gen. 50:20.

Likewise, God sent warnings and wisdom way ahead of time, to California Pharaoh, Gavin Newsom, and those like him.

They did not listen.

So, because the Bible is True, and they refused to retain God in their thinking, God turned them over to a corrupt, reprobate, debased mind; just as He said He’d do in Romans 1:28.

So, with their corrupt, reprobate, debased minds, they foolishly, stupidly, wickedly, saved many smelt alive, instead of people.

Now they are complicit in many people burning alive, in this life, and eternity.

Only the Bible tells us what happened, while simultaneously telling us what will happen. It’s all at once history, and HIStory.

¹⁷ But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so; the man in whose hand the cup was found, he shall be my slave. And as for you, go up in peace to your father.”

Joseph denies Judah’s request that they all stay to be his slaves.

He calls Benjamin, “the man.” The man, will stay, the rest of you go in peace back to your father.  

This is Joseph’s Final Exam.

Okay boys, now’s your chance to cut and run. Leave Benny and go free. This time you don’t have to lie like you did with Joe. This time you can tell dad exactly what happened. The Pharaoh’s right-hand man wouldn’t let him go. Who are we to resist the power of Egypt?

But Judah, once again, steps up to the plate. Stands in the gap. Intercedes for his brothers.

Then, Judah, rises to the top and makes a powerful speech, the longest speech in all of Genesis. It changes the course of Israel and reveals why God chose the line of Judah, to birth the Messiah.

Lord willing, we’ll hear all about it in a week.

For now, let’s pray.

Lord, what shall we say? What shall we speak? How shall we clear our name? You see the iniquity of us all. Only by Your grace, Your blood, are we able to stand before you offering ourselves to You, Your servants, Your sons and daughters, ever in Your debt and in Your care.

We pray, You make us one.

Your will be done, in our lives, as it is, in heaven.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

Facebook: Church at WPV

Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

Watch online:

Facebook: Joseph’s Final Exam, Genesis 44:1-17  

You Tube: Joseph’s Final Exam, Genesis 44:1-17

This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.