1 THE MOMENT OF TRUTH Genesis 45:1-15 August 14, 2016 Dr. Danny Forshee - Date: 6/1998.2005 (Taken from Parson s Technology CD ROM) Title: Gettysburg Reconciliation In 1913, the Federal Government held a fiftieth anniversary reunion at Gettysburg. It lasted three days. Thousands of survivors bivouacked in the old battlefield, swapping stories, looking up comrades. For the most part the old men got along well enough, but over dinner at a restaurant one evening harsh words were passed between a Yankee and a rebel and they went at one another with forks: Unscathed in the melee of 1863, Myers wrote, one of them and I never learned which was almost fatally wounded in 1913 with table hardware! The climax of the gathering was a reenactment of Pickett s Charge. Thousands of spectators gathered to watch as the Union veterans took their positions on Cemetery Ridge, and waited as their old adversaries emerged from the woods on Seminary Ridge and started forward toward them again, across the long, flat fields. We could see, Myers wrote, not rifles and bayonets but canes and crutches. We soon could distinguish the more agile ones aiding those less able to maintain their places in the ranks. As they neared the northern line, they broke into one final, defiant rebel yell. At the sound, after half a century of silence, a moan, a sigh, a gigantic gasp of unbelief: rose from the Union men on Cemetery Ridge. It was then, wrote Myers, that the Yankees, unable to restrain themselves longer, burst from behind the stone wall, and flung themselves upon their former enemies... not in mortal combat, but re-united in brother love and affection. -- The Civil War, p. 412. From the files of Leadership. - There is a similar scene to this one found in the 45 th chapter of the book of Genesis. Instead of fighting, revenge, anger, retaliation, there is brotherly love and affection. - Today, we continue our series of messages on the life of Joseph entitled, Joseph: A Portrait of Grace and Forgiveness. Today s message is entitled, The Moment of Truth. - It is difficult to remain neutral after encountering this most inspiring and riveting story. For those who are familiar with the story, I hope your familiarity does not diminish your ability to learn and apply what God desires for you to learn and apply. - Grace and forgiveness drip from these pages of Holy Scripture like honey drips from the comb. Grace and forgiveness are two vital spiritual realities
2 that we must experience personally then dispense to others, and Joseph will show us how. - Over 20 years ago Joseph s brothers had bitterly betrayed him, thrown him in a dirty pit, and sold him into slavery. God was with Joseph and greatly blessed and promoted him as prime minister in all of Egypt. A severe famine comes over the land and Joseph s brothers are forced to go to Egypt and encounter the prime minister of Egypt. They have no idea that this powerful ruler in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh, is Joseph their brother. But Joseph clearly recognizes them, submits them to a series of tests to ascertain family knowledge and to lead them to repentance for the crime they had committed against him over two decades prior. - But as we noticed in Genesis 44 the ten brothers passed the tests with flying colors. They did repent of their sin of betrayal. And Joseph could control his emotions no longer, and so he disclosed his true identity. I. THE DISCLOSURE (VS. 1-4) - Verse 3 for the first time since he was 17 years, Joseph speaks to his brothers in their Hebrew language. After revealing his true identity he immediately asks about his father, Jacob. He wants more than the cursory comments his brothers had given. - In this snapshot of Joseph, we see again the kind of man he is. He is a deeply spiritual, emotional, and compassionate man. He is not a proud, pompous, powerful tyrant repaying his brothers with evil. Rather, he is a gentle, strong, spiritual individual who repays evil with good. - Can you picture in your mind s eye the brother s response? Surely their mouths dropped and their eyeballs protruded from their sockets. They were speechless, unable to speak. Verse 3 dismayed is the Hebrew word bahal amazed, frightened, terrified. - It is truly difficult if not impossible to explain the events of verse 3. Henry Morris gives the following insightful comments: No longer speaking through an interpreter, he announced to them, in their own language: I am Joseph! It was like a lightning bolt! Words not only failed the brothers, they fail expositors who would try to describe this indescribable scene. Perhaps the most dramatic confrontation and reunion in all literature, it is far more than literature. This was the event which established the miracle nation of the children of Israel. This was the founding of that unique people through whom would be given to the world the Scriptures and of whom one day the Savior would come. (p. 620) II. THE DEMONSTRATION (VS. 5-8) - In these verses we see a clear demonstration of God s sovereignty, grace and forgiveness.
- 1. God s Sovereignty Joseph clearly recognizes God s hand of providence and guidance leading the events of his life. He has an eternal perspective. - Notice three distinct times he refers to God in these texts for God verse 5, and God verse 7; and but God in verse 8. (Genesis 50:20) - With his eternal perspective, Joseph was able to overcome the harsh realities of the present because he knew that in the end God would prevail. - 2. Grace notice what Joseph did not do chide, rebuke, retaliate. Romans 5:20 states,... but where sin abounded, grace abounded much more. - In verse 5 Joseph is concerned with how they feel! He knew that they would feel miserable so he told them to not do that. - Verse 6 Joseph reminds them that there are still five years of famine remaining, a gracious gesture as he is concerned for their physical well being. - Verse 7 Joseph tells them that God is using him to preserve and save them. - Verse 8 Joseph reveals how God has blessed him. But notice he interprets his blessings as a means to a greater end. He has experienced God s favor and grace and so now he dispenses favor and grace to his brothers. - 3. Forgiveness Joseph simply cannot do what he is doing unless he has totally, unequivocally forgiven his brothers of their awful crime against him. - Forgiveness is a kind word that is easily spoken, but, at times, difficult to practice. But we have a choice in every matter. We can remember, retaliate, grab the fork, or we can let it go, forgive, and view matters from God s eternal perspective. - Chuck Swindoll writes: I don t know what goes on inside your skin, the memories that haunt you, or the pain you live with because of someone s wrongdoing, but I know humanity well enough to know that most of you, at one time or another, have been treated badly by someone. When that happens, your perspective becomes cloudy. You remember the manipulation. You remember torturous trauma, the rejection. Evil was done to you. It was meant to be evil? This is no time to deny it the person deliberately hurt you. (p. 145) But what will you do? - What would Joseph do? More importantly, what would Jesus do? What did Joseph and Jesus do when falsely accused, mistreated by their own people? They chose the high road of forgiveness! And so should we and so can we by the empowering of the Holy Spirit! - Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross, was reminded one day of a vicious deed that someone had done to her years before. But she acted as if she had never heard of the incident. Don t you remember it? her friend asked. No, came Barton s reply. I distinctly remember forgetting it. 3
4 -- Luis Palau, Experiencing God s Forgiveness. Christianity Today, Vol. 34, no. 1. (From Parson s Technology CD ROM) III. THE DELIVERANCE (VS. 9-15) - In verse 9-13 Joseph describes his intent to deliver his family from hardship, famine, and possibly death. - Verse 10 he tells them he will send them to Goshen. Morris points out that Goshen was a fertile region in northeastern Egypt. The district was about nine hundred square miles in area, and would be ideal for their needs. - But Joseph s deliverance was not merely physical. Through God s guidance his deliverance was also spiritual, social, and emotional. Could the events described in verses 14 and 15 have transpired had Joseph lived in the past, and refused to forgive or move on with life? Absolutely not. - Joseph was the human key to unlocking God s treasury of blessing for his family. - It is amazing how much one individual can accomplish either for good or for evil. Today, right here and right now, there are those of you when you forgive and get right with God and others, you will be a Joseph for your families, churches, and communities. What great things God can and will do with a vessel that is in proper relationship with God and others, yes, even those who have betrayed or hurt you. - Dad, mom, teenager, grandparent are you a blessing or a bane? Are you the one that is holding everyone else back from experiencing happiness and joy? You are bitter and miserable; therefore, you feel it is your mission to make others bitter and miserable. Repent, surrender your life to Jesus and watch Him work a miracle in your heart and in your family. IV. PRACTICAL TRUTHS - 1. Forgive Others. Forgive those who have hurt you. I can t, you reply. Ask God to help you to do what Joseph did; forgive even the cruelest crimes committed against you. Keep short memory accounts of wrong done to you. While Jesus was being murdered, executed for doing no wrong, He cried out, Father forgive them for they do not know what they do. (Luke 23:34) Remember Clara Barton s statement, I distinctly remember forgetting it. - 2. Keep an eternal perspective. Don t panic. God is in control. Joseph said, for God, and God, but God. Your location and situation may look depressing while viewing it from one angle, but hold your head up. God has not forgotten you. He will prevail for you and deliver you. I heard it
5 put this way last week, You would do what God did if you knew what God knows. - 3. Get your heart right. Some need a major attitude adjustment. Some have simply been mean to your spouse, to your child, to your parent, or to someone in church. You need to ask God to forgive you then ask him or her to forgive you as well. Read Ephesians 4:31-32. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. - John Newton who wrote Amazing Grace also wrote the sublime, penetrating words from the song Happy in Him. INVITATION How tedious and tasteless the hours when Jesus I no longer see! Sweet prospects, sweet birds, and sweet flowers, Have all lost their sweetness to me: The midsummer sun shines but dim, The fields strive in vain to look gay; But when I am happy in Him, December s as pleasant as May. (p. 149, Swindoll) - Some need to turn to Jesus by faith and ask Him to forgive you of your sins and be saved. - Others have accepted Jesus and you need to make it public. Come forward and let us encourage you. - If you have not undergone believer s baptism then you need to follow the LORD in biblical believer s baptism. - If you need to talk to someone about a spiritual matter like forgiveness, come forward, let one of our people encourage and talk to you.