BBBI - 2019.09.25 - PM - Into the Fire (Gen. 44)

Show me the weather in Genesis chapter 44 tonight Genesis chapter 44 and I've been given brother Michael hard time all week making him hold out for a title for last week's sermon because we didn't get that and plugged into our presentation slides and so brother Mike you've been waiting all week for this. Here's the answer. The answer is if last week's Urban was entitled out of The Frying Pan then this week's sermon. I think you'll guess the rest of the story Into the Fire and so we continue through the Journey Savannah of the Book of Genesis here and where we've come all the way to the life of Joseph this fourth major patriarch of the book now, don't forget. These are the stories of the beginning of the nation of Israel the nation that got that Jehovah would use to demonstrate his power and glory to the entire world and those who would come God would do so through his oracles that you would commit to the Jewish people who didn't stay faithful. Did they but thank God he was faithful to preserve his word for us you and I today can learn at the feet of Joseph one more time. So come on with me. If you would back to the portals of time. Let's take a journey back to the land of Egypt in a land far away across the season across the Isles to a foreign people that we don't know very much about other than what we can dig up through archaeology and what we read about in the Bible always corresponds to it everything we dig out of the dirt seems to point to the historical record here that's given to us and so we can learn a lot about what we see as we look at what is happening here in chapter 44, I won't read the entire chapter, but I do want to read a significant portion of the last half of it because This is where I believe Judah has his Shining Moment and I want to take the time to read the scripture. So follow along with me. If you would have burst number 18 of Genesis and chapter number 44 Genesis 18 Genesis 44 and wears number 18 in the Bible records then Judah came near Under him under Joseph and said, oh my Lord, that's a lowercase L. Let thy servant I pray that you speak a word in my boards and let not thine anger burn against that servant for thou art even a sparrow my Lord asked to sterben saying hi to your father or brother. We said unto my Lord. We have a father an old man in a child of his old age. a little one and his brother is dead. And he alone is left of his mother and his father love with them. And they all said it's done to that servants bring him down up to me that I may set mine eyes upon him and we said unto my Lord the lad cannot leave his father. Where is he should leave his father his father when he died. And I said it sounded I servants except your youngest brother come down with you shall see my face no more. It came to pass when we came up onto they serve at my father. We told him the words of my Lord. My father said go again and buy us a little food and we said we cannot go down if I go under youngest brother be with us, then we will go down. We may not see the man's face, except our younger youngest brother be with us and I serve it my father said unto us. You know that my wife barely two suns in the one went out from me and I said surely he is torn in pieces and I saw him not since you take this also from and Mischief befall him you shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the Grave. Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father. And the lad be not with us saying that his life is bound up in the labs life note that phrase pay very close attention to that. I'll read it again seeing that his Jacobs life is bound up in the lads Benjamin's life.

It shall come to pass when you see it that the lad is not with us that he Jacob will die.

And a servant shall bring down the gray hairs that I serve in our father with sorrow to the great but I serve it became Surety for the ladder to my problem saying if I bring him not unto thee then I shall bear the blame to my father forever. Now therefore I pray thee let thy service abide instead of the lad abonnement to my Lord and let the lad go up with his brethren. How shall I go up to my father and the lad be not with me less for adventure? I see the evil that she'll come on my father. Lord I pray that you will help us to see Judah here and the way that the scriptures portray him, but maybe not stop merely at judah's skull ring in his a pineal in his intercession to Joseph. Maybe look and see. Search the scriptures here tonight one who would come from the loins of Judah the lion of the tribe of Judah. provide down his life for our sake and died in our place is no he were us for us a lord. May would be drawn to Christ through what we encounter and study from your work tonight, and I'll thank you for what you do in our midst and I ask your help on this message and it would Minister your grace to our hearts. Well, thank you in Jesus name. Amen. Turn the story of Joseph who began back really in chapter. Number 37 as Joseph was coming into his is a ages of being a young man and about 17 years of age is Father sent him out to go check on his brothers and his brothers had envied him and they hated Joseph and well, I heard this phrase a few times the past couple of days down in the springs. I guess they were eating up with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and then I'll steal that one brother. Mike knows what I'm talking about there. And so they were eating up with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I'll say it again and just reiterate that will move with Envy Joseph. They can recognize him before he ever even gets to where they are and he had to go out of his way to look for them. They were not where he thought they would be and someone else pointed him in the right direction to go up towards dozen and so he heads North to go look for his Brethren not very far from where all the atrocities happened. And so Joseph is is on his way to go see how they're doing and bring a report back to Dad. Wonder why dad didn't trust him. I'm not sure but I think old Jacob knew they were up to something. So they see this man come over the Ridge and they can recognize that coat of many colors moved with hatred and envy they decide that they want to kill Joseph. Let's just end it. All right. Now, let's put him to death. Well, there was one of his brothers that stood in the gap for him and said, let's not kill him. Let his blood be in our hands. Let's do this instead. Let's sell him. To the midianites you're passing through providentially by the way, it was Judah. It was Judah who gave him the idea that sell Joseph. After they throw him in a pit threatening to kill him. So from that day forward once those midianite Tradesman the lights passing through the Later Han Saint Joseph and started the Caravan with him down to Egypt from there from that day all the way up to chapter chapter 39 and 40 41 42. From that day all those decades Joseph never saw his family again until the famine had soaring Egypt now to get to where he is Joseph. He wound up with a servant and Potiphar's house and potiphar put him to work and he faced false accusations from Potiphar's wife, which eventually landed him in prison, but don't forget the fact that it was evident on Joseph's life that the Lord was with Joseph. The Lord was with Joseph and everything that Joseph the Lord was with Joseph and potiphar recognize that everyone else can see that so Potiphar's in a hard position. Now, he doesn't want to have to put Joseph to death. That would be a logical conclusion a logical punishment for what he was accused of doing in that day. Just the Hebrew slave accused of misconduct Potiphar's wife and Harper has to do something Joseph gets thrown into the the prison Ward there and the same thing happened because the Lord was with Joseph and he was innocent in that he was falsely accused. And 4 years in that prison. He had he had Authority in the prison Keeper of the prison there and thanks prospered under his care. Well during his stay a couple of pharaohs servants The Bachelor and the baker both were thrown in prison or something that had occurred in the Pharaoh had put them down there and lo and behold there's Joseph with them with the Butler and the baker. And in the same night those two men had dreamed separate dreams and they were perplexed by them and Joseph was able to help them understand what those dreams meant and that's how God was communicating to them and Joseph was used by God to bring the Fulfillment of those dreams and what God was doing. So we see the connection of the dreams Joseph had two dreams and his brothers and begin for what are we going to bow down to you? And then the the Butler and the baker has two dreams and then lo and behold after after the butler is restored to his service in the baker loses his head. according to the interpretation of the dreams thereof Joseph made a plea to that Butler and he said when your restored when everything is better when you get out of here, all I'm asking is that you let Pharaoh know I'm in here and that I'm innocent. Just help me get out. And for two more years on top of what he'd already stayed in prison. Joseph was forgotten. And then Pharaoh has to dream two more dreams connected and seen for what God's timing all together by Providence and lo and behold all of a sudden it comes back to that Bosler.

is a Hebrew LOL, but he can help you. Now. I think the butler did it personally so that he could get some gain out of it. You know, it was it wasn't for Joseph sake that he remembered. I'm sure but Pharaoh called for Joseph in so they cleaned him up and shaved him according to the Egyptian custom and brought him before pharaoh and Pharaoh holding the dreams and the complexity of it. I'll no one could figure it out under the editions of Egypt to crack that one. And Joseph said God will give the interpretation of the dream gave glory to God. And explain to Pharaoh that famine was on the doorstep of Egypt after seven years of plenty. Those fat cows eating the skinny cows. That was the first drink. And so you had the seven years of plenty followed by the seven years of famine. Joseph also, encouraged Bay Road to appoint someone over the over the Affairs of adults be able to save up during the seven years of plenty so that they would have what they need to serve everyone in the years of famine. 7 years of hard Fannett that's another interesting thing to study through the Book of Genesis. We've noted as we've gone through our journey the famines and how God where do you want them to be me times? God will do that and this famine now moves Joseph's family those others that had thrown him in the pit and left him to the ishmaelites that were Traders headed down to Egypt. Now those Brothers the tables are turned and wear one day. They sat on a Hillside and Dothan and saw a coat of many colors. Come over the Hillside and said that's Joseph now Joseph in Goshen in that eastern part of Egypt in the Memphis area in Delta Region. I believe he was he was there on purpose because it was where they have to come through if they came from Canaan and I think Joseph, I don't know maybe like that prodigal father Looking Over the Horizon. When are they coming? When will they arrive is? The famine is throughout all the land loan me hold now the tables are turned and Joseph. She's them come over the rise and he knows them but they don't recognize him and he stays Incognito and he's still in chapter 44 Incognito. They have no idea of Joseph's power. They have no idea of what God has done according to Joseph's words later to save many people alive. Not only that but to fulfill prophecy that was given to Abraham about his descendants being in a foreign land for 400 years. This would be a prominence would move them down to Egypt. So God to deliver them with a mighty arm and bring it out through the Exodus stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. And so we're looking at the beginning of what will become the nation of Israel one of their main Patriarchs being Joseph and what God did through this man down in Egypt. Hey, nothing's too big for God. Now put yourself in Josef shoes. I encourage you to do that. I should read the scriptures read it as if you're from Jacobs Vantage Point read it as if you're reading it from Josef shoes read it as if your Judah & and put yourself in those positions and see what the Holy Spirit can show you how you can grow as you just read the Bible and read the narratives of the Bible. If we were to put ourselves in Josef shoes, you like me might see those Rascals coming over the Ridge and be like, hence my turn. That's not Joseph's attitude. But at the same time Joseph is a very wise man. Keesler not only by education. He's also learned by much experience. And through his experiences in the back of his mind. Joseph is still wondering how have they changed?

Are they different?

And as we study chapter 43, we saw that Joseph began to put a little test before them now. They didn't know it was him. But he prepared a dinner for them. Now. We got to back up a little bit and connect another. In the story. They came down to Egypt to try to get food to take back home to Dad and the rest of the family and they came and Joseph dealt with them and and and accuse them of being spies and they thought they were in trouble the very first time they came down. And then they found out that they were able to return back, but they had to leave Simeon behind. And so they got to go back and get Benjamin in order to free semi because Joseph is keeping Simeon until they return. But he really wants to see Benjamin. He really wants to see Dad and he's constantly asking. How's Dad doing? Is that okay? Your brother is he? Okay, so they still didn't put it together that he knows more about them than they think cuz he's their brother and they don't even know. So they are able to leave leaving Simeon behind and I head back towards came in and they get about halfway there and start looking through their bags. Oh. Now we're in it. Because they found not only all the grain that they had gone down to purchase, but they found all their money in their bags. Which made them look out like thieves that they had stolen that grain? And so they could be arrested for that now they're they're scared and they go back home and they say how in the world. Can we go back down there? They can't go back down without Benjamin. So this is the second trip down to Egypt for the remaining 10 semi and is already down there mind you they're going to take Benjamin with them this time, but it took some coercing didn't it? Because Jacob didn't want to let him leave after what happened to Benjamin told Joseph all those years ago. He doesn't want to risk losing Benjamin now because as we read his wife was tied up with Benjamin's life friend be very careful. Where do identity is placed? because if it's in the wrong thing or the wrong person even well-meaning you will not be able to handle grief when it comes in your life like you should and this is a lesson. We learned very clearly from Jacob. Because Judith gives us the words that if something happens to Benjamin dad's going to die because all of his identity was wrapped up in Benjamin his favorite. Jacob this has been a problem for him from the beginning. I think he had a really good teacher in his dear old. Dad. We find out when Sarah died Isaac's mother. It said very clearly there that Isaac was not comforted until until Rebecca came into his mother's tent those are big shoes to fill and I think it brought a lot of problems in the family after a while because well Rebecca just can't cook those biscuits like Mama did. And there there's problems in the family and Mom had her favorite Jacob and dad had his favorite. He saw and that was passed down to Jacob because he saw how I used to replace all of his identity. Not only in Sarah at first, but when she died Isaac transferred his I didn't then to Rebecca and his whole life was wrapped up in her.

Jacob's learned how to do that from his dad and put all of his identity.

In a little made that he met trying to draw water from a well one day love at first sight just like Rebecca Justice history. Jacob comes up into laban's territory and right by the well there there's a beautiful young lady and falls in love at first sight and so he works for labor 20 years of his life. He's going to spend up there and all of his identity was wrapped up and Rachel and Rachel. And then Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin. He's left with Joseph and Benjamin. Rachel one of the name Benjamin son of my sorrow Bento night. Jacob changed his name to Benjamin. And so all of his identity was transferred then from Rachel to Joseph and then the brothers come back with that coat dipped in blood bad. What's this Joseph's gone, it's Joseph. It's all my fault. All of his identity wrapped up in Joseph then transferred to Benjamin. His life was tied up with a child print. I want you to have your life tied up tonight and only one and one alone. And that's in the Lord Jesus Christ if you'll find him hell or high water can't touch you. No matter what you go through with Christ in the vessel. I can smile at the storm. We sing that Sunday school, but how soon we forget? And this is easy to do as a husband. I've got to guard my heart that my identity doesn't wind up in my wife or in my children and I start living vicariously through them and through other people know as Paul said for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain now Joseph here as his brothers returning Are coming back for more drain? As they came the first time he gave them the first test out of the frying pan. That was close. I'm glad they brought their money back. To be able to not only paper that which they took the first time but also to pay for more to bring back and and then a gift to appease the wrath of possible Wrath of the ruler that they might have offended and so they bring that gifted and then that Services what are you talking about? I counted all your money. It's all here. Whatever you found in your bag, that must be God's blessing.

And so the favor that they had received on that first trip now begins to make them feel a little more easy. Oh, don't forget Joseph had also prepared a great meal for them. But through that meal he still wondering have they changed. Is there any difference now from the brothers that threw me in the pit? Are there any different fruit meet for repentance? You remember the test last time was they all got one plate while Benjamin Got 5 meses S5 message to clean up a lot of dishes. Amen. 5 plates they said it down two in front of Benjamin and he feasted in ferritin and we close Genesis 43 by and seeing how they weren't bitter about that. What is Joseph get this coat of many colors? How come we don't get coats like Joseph. That was the envy that move them to throw them in the pit. All the Envy all the hatred. Now. Let's see how it plays out with Benjamin know they just said I'm thankful for my plate and I'm thankful that he got five you see their heart had changed but Joseph still is not absolutely convinced that they've completely given up on their Envy. Will they leave Benjamin behind when it comes time to save their own neck? Will they throw him under the bus like they threw Joseph into the pit? So there comes another test frying pan that was closed Into the Fire. Now Joseph's going to turn up the heat. They might have made it through unscathed and had joined their heart as they considered all the blessing and the abundance that they're going to take back home to Dad now.

And all 11 of them get to leave. Nail start heading back home. Long behold I get a little ways down the road and over their shoulder. They hear some footsteps coming. And it's Joseph servant not what they don't know is that Joseph had already told him what he needed to do and he had told him just as before you almost title this message full me twice.

Play and Learn the first time did they I mean they gone through this before and we found all our grand and all our money in our sac. I don't know. I can't say that I would have done any better than them in this scenario. But by the time the servant catches up to them, they're going to know we don't have it. We don't have it. We are you sure? What happened last time you thought that you left without something in your sack that you had in your sack? This is round number two to full me once shame on you fool me twice. Mommy, but they're adamant. They are absolutely certain. We wouldn't steal anything right these hate don't you? Remember we even brought the money back last time? All that extra money they have no idea. What is the theme of sweating.

Benjamin

what the hell out of this because the servant had already been informed by Joseph to take my cup my silver cup the one that is most valuable to me one of the most valuable things you can find take that cup and don't hide it and Simeon II don't hide in Judah Sac. Don't hide it in. Dhansak. Don't hide it in Asher's we're going hide it in Benjamin's sack. That's where it goes. And so they'll even you know that they got their camels Laden and and all their bags of shirts overflow. They got all the blessings. They got mine. They're headed back home. There's no way they're going to find a silver cup.

It's on the servant chases him down there accused of stealing we wouldn't do that and Playing it up like like a modern-day soap opera. He starts the ducks. With Benjamin know he plays it out to the very end. I mean this guy is good good Broadway actor today wouldn't know how can you do this? I can you go through all 11 of them and keep a straight face. I wouldn't be able to do it. I'd give up on probably the second or third one in and then figure out what I was up to but this servant goes through each sack one by one down the line by the time they get past one is like see I told you so they get past the third one. Yeah, I mean keep looking. You're not going to find anything 4 5 6 7 number 11 comes along and they pop up in that sack. Can you imagine can you imagine? None of you would ever do this. I know and I'm seriously that I don't believe anybody in this room would ever have this happen to them. But let's just say that you left here tonight. I kinda almost headset fuses cuz I don't want to find out about it later, you know or something similar words, so it will just use that illustration and this is imaginative. Okay, here we imagine.

Sortino why we pulled you and I don't know officer has been speed limit. You know, why did you stop me step out of the car? So I can I see your license written test all of that answer sat down on the curb over there a couple of other cars pull up with a blues on I just came from a prayer meeting. They start rummaging through everywhere. They start under the hood. They start checking your oil. What's the viscosity? Is it really oil in there? I want to go to the glove compartment. See there's nothing in there.

You didn't know it, but somebody already stashed couple kilos back there and now you're in cuffs and has the big house.

Now that breaks down because the silver cuff is not keeping. Okay. I'm trying to give you an illustration of today. So you can feel in your gut what they be feeling standing by those camels sitting on that occur in the world. That's your vehicle. All right. And that's the goods in your car and you're the one responsible for it. You talk about gut-wrenching. Now they put Benjamin's life on the line. And that is going to be taking back. There's one more test. There's one more test have they really changed or they going to leave Benjamin behind in Egypt just like they sold Joseph all those years before one more test. Joseph had to see are they going to abandon Rachel's other son the one that's the favored son. The one that got the 5:00 masses. Are they going to leave him behind like they left me with the coat of many colors to Baton deceived old dad now Joseph is the one deceiving them. But it's more tests. Stayed about this everything fall short of thorough repentance, which does not prevent us from committing the sin. I knew I had to read that twice before it sunk in so let me say it again everything falls short of thorough repentance that is a changing of the mind that weeks to change live. In other words. You're not reformed you're not going to truly repent fairly all the way through. He says everything fell short of Thor repentance, which does not prevent us from committing the sand a new So what are you saying is that there have been no real genuine repentance. They would have done the same thing. They would have treated Benjamin just like they treated Joseph before and so this is the test so much desire to be accurately informed about our past sins and we get right views of our past selves. We wish to be no longer Sinners, we wish to pass through some process by which we may be separated from that and us which has led us into that sin. That's a lot to take in. He says such a process. there is for this man passed through it. easement how many decades of their life did it take? And a guilt-ridden conscience. One thing we didn't mention is that when Benjamin gets caught with the cup.

I come to the conclusion. God found out

body found out what we found out our sin against Benjamin against Joseph. Jeers riddled with guilt clicking their heels every time they turned around no rest for the weary. The way of the transgressor is hard and hear these men have passed through such a process. It has exposed their troop intense. I believe that somewhere along the line. There was a genuine change that happened in this family and it took a hard row to hoe to get there. And many years but they're not the same and this episode proves that because here Judith begins to shine. I want you to know just quickly and I'm done when the heat reveals the dross Joseph turns up the flame and as as that metal begin to cook in that dress, he's looking is the draw still there. You know how silversmithing works you probably read the realest ratios or at least seeing somebody blacksmithing they cook that silver and they took it so that that draws comes to the top and then I'll scrape the dross off and cook it some more and scrape the drops off and cook it some more and the key is how do you know when it's done when the silversmith look in the pot and see himself in it? That's when The Sylvers done Joseph turns out that he is there going to be dross that comes to the top or is there genuine repentance had they truly changed are they better today or steal the dirty rotten brothers that threw me in the pit? What's their heart the cut was planted? You see that the silver sack in the cup of the favored son in verses 1 through 6 in and so the cop is planted. It's interesting to me that the silver referred to hear you'll see the word silver over and over and over it was silver. It was 20 pieces of silver mind you that the brothers sold Joseph into slavery for 20 pieces of silver and here it's a silver cup that now Joseph uses to bring Benjamin back to the prison. Silver object to test them to drive them into a state of panic. So the cup has been planted. The plan has been executed. Flawlessly and a servant did exactly what Joseph told him to do right down the line all the way to Benjamin Benjamin in prison and Daryl headed back to Egypt as themes.

Now I do need to deal with something here in these verses that you'll see over and over maybe two or three times. I did Cover a little bit of this when we talked about Laban and the terrifying that he was looking for Joseph talks about the silver cup is being a cup of that. He could Divine by and that he could use his divination. And so you got to answer what this is going what's going on with this because if you cross up your theology you're going to do a disservice to the text number one and you can be really confused about who Joseph is number two. Talking about Espionage Warfare in a sense. I think and I do take the side of Jamieson fausset Brown. I think that the cut can be used to to to figure something out. Okay, but also keep in mind in this day and time you can read in the law of Moses that in order to discern certain things. They were allowed to cast lots and so they're interpreting God's Will by Dreams. They're finding out. It's real by casting lots because they don't have Genesis to Revelation to close Canon. Like they don't have the word of God to go by God is still in the process of revealing himself, and he uses various means that And so don't let that throw you off track. Now, I will point this out the text and the Bible and the narrative about the life of Joseph never one time shows us any instance where he ever used divination or sorcery or magic or witchcraft or any of that nature has his servants say this is a cup by which he could Divine by nothing is interesting play on words there because instead of divining what might be the will of God. He's divining the test for his brother. So he is using the cup to discern he's using the cup to lead him to certain judgment about his brothers. So it is in every sense is the translators have rented it Customs divination. But don't think that for a minute Joseph is engaged in and some kind of demonic activity from the pits of Hell or something like that is under Pharaoh. I think what he's doing is just maintaining the disguise. Is Incognito and this is just another way that he can keep that mask on because they're never going to suspect one of their brothers for sure being involved in anything like that down in Egypt. And so it just helps keep the keep the character and I do believe that that's really the intent of it but it is of Interest one writer said that Joseph requires information by means of the cut not by pouring liquid into it, but by using it to test his brothers bus using observation at a different level.

They were certain of their innocence where Nazis were not things verses 7 & 8 verses 9 through 11.

Boston take them back to jail versus 12 to 13. Hey, I want to tell you these sure your sin will find you out. Work with me here. If you would ever summer 14. We began reading a little bit after this looking for some for 14 Judah and his Brethren came to Joseph house. For he was yet there and they fell before him on the ground and Joseph said unto them. What deed is this that you have done? I was so good to you. And this is what you do to me. I treated you with nothing but Grace and kindness and I I had a wonderful meal with you and I sent you away with blessing after blessing and this is how you return you render me evil for good.

Who do you think you are? What is this that you even would not what you not that such a man as I can. Certainly Divine. Did you really think you could get away with this? You don't think I'd find out you didn't think I figured this song. The police like that at first grader. I had absolutely. You know mom's got that to don't you and I always make my mom not get anything by Joseph what you didn't think I'd find out.

in Judah said but nothing to say, there's no excuse I can give you.

The cut was in the bag. And I don't know how it got there. Maybe they're wondering Benjamin that how can you do that? And we just had lunch with the guy yesterday. What's up with that Benjamin?

I don't have anything to say to you. What shall we speak or how shall we clear ourselves? We're guilty but notice this underlined this in your Bible. God has found out. What's the one that brought this up? So Judah is spend some things together. Remember Ruben had already kind of brought this up. I warned you guys you're talking about what you're doing to Joseph. I warned you I said this was going to have I did I told you so that was Reuben and now Judas going look what God's done to us. Now. He's brought it out. Pretty sure your sin will find you out. You might get it by dad. You might get it by Mom. You won't get it by God. He already sees he already knows. The right way is the way of confession and repentance Lord. I'm before you poured out like water. I'm open before you nothing is hidden from your sight. What the word of God is quick and Powerful sharper than any two-edged sword. It'll pierce it will divide us under but it's with him with whom we have to do and he is gracious and loving but he is also one who will hold us to accountability and when it's time to come clean and so God has found out he also with whom the cup is Spam verse 17, and he said God forbid that I should do. So, but the man whose hand a cup is found. He shall be my servant as for you get you up in peace and your father. I just want you guys go back home. Benjamin's going to serve me he's going to be my slave. I know you're Killin. I'm going to pick up your dad like you told me to I'm going to keep the message.

Now Jade is in a pickle because the whole reason Benjamin was able to leave in the first place was because Judah put his neck on the line for him and said that I promise I'll bring it back. If I don't then it's my neck. And I was chapter 43. and now Judah has to think about going back to Dad if you hand it with no bench.

You really think you'd get away with it got found out. Now Benjamin is bound and he is Joseph slave. I want you to notice not only. When the heat reveals the drops or the lack thereof. When that fires turned up, I want you to notice that when the dross is finally gone. That's when the silver shines. Now Judah has his Moment by the best moment moment. You ever read about him in the entire Bible? And he stands up and is a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ in his substitutionary death for us and he puts himself in Benjamin's place. He makes his plea with Joseph and an intercessor arrives and Judah begins to stand on the carpet before Joseph and pour his heart out and intercede on top of Benjamin not just for Benjamin but for Jacob

For Jacob it was for the better of the entire family because of what would happen to Dad. If anything happened to Benjamin Judah is selfless and interceding for his brother or his father for his family for Leah the rest of them all of them. He's interceding. It takes sacrifice to do that. Did you do anything wrong? Didn't you to do the answer is yes, because of course you did plenty wrong. But did he do anything wrong in this instance? No, he didn't he didn't steal the car. He's innocent. But he is taking the guilt he is taking the blame and when we intercede on the behalf of others, we need to remember like Ezra like me and Maya a when we pray for America just because you might not have committed. The sense that our nation is guilty of doesn't mean that you can't intercede for our nation and say Lord. We are guilty Lord we had to send.

Are churches need this kind of repentance? It's high time that judgement begin at the house of God. And if it begins there it must begin with me. Judith arises as an interceder and he makes intercession for Benjamin on behalf of his father while death looms at the very doorstep because Dad is going to die. If Benjamin doesn't make it back home. That's how serious the situation has become and then notice there's a sacrifice of substitution if we're truly going to intercede in mind mean that we have to give something up. And we might need to make a sacrifice. So that others can see Christ in us just as we can see a picture of Christ and Judith notice verse 3234. You see here as it closes. I'll just read verse 34. Actually got a backup reverse 33 now therefore I pray thee please Joseph please Joseph. Let me stay and let him go. Let me stay and let him go. There was a time where our savior hung suspended Between Heaven and Earth and said father forgive them for they know not what they do, and he stay so that we could go. He died so that we could live took our punishment so that we could be free in at Liberty was stored under the father. Let me stay in Judah says and let Benjamin Go free and enjoy the bounty in the blessing with the family. Let me stay and bear the punishment a sacrifice of substitution. I'll leave you with this statement and we close. The work of genuine repentance is seen in the fruit of Godly sorrow. the work of genuine repentance as seen in the fruit of Godly sorrow which pray with me Lord I ask that you would help us tonight to go Forest. At Your Service what a story what a time what an event we know Lord this isn't the end of it as a story continues to unfold we find this is breaking moment for Joseph, this is the moment he's been looking for when Judith puts his neck on the line and says, let me stay and let him go as Christ died for us and said let me take their sins so that they can go in righteousness. He knew no sin became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Amsterdam I believe on him received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name. Thank you Lord for the life. We have through your death for our sins your burial according to the scriptures and your Resurrection according to the scriptures. Lord may we Allow you to work in a heart in life. To bring us to a place where the dross is finally gone. purifying process of purging and cleansing So then when you as the master would look into the vessel filled with that molten metal. You wouldn't see the dross any more Lord, but more and more of your image would shine through.

That's when the change will occur. when we're truly sorry when the sorrow has come not the sorrow of the world that work is death, but Godly sorrow that worketh repentance under which is not to be repented of And once were steadfast unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord, then we'll know we're ready to intercede like Judah interceded. We're ready to pray for others the way that we've been praying for. We're ready to lay down. Whatever it takes Lord to see others find life. the stand in their place And it take what would come to them so that they can go free as Paul said he would that. He could suffer hell that his Kinsmen would be saved. I remember a time when I prayed a similar prayer for a family member of mine Lord and some possible. I can't go to hell for them. But my heart was such that I would if I could. As a father pitieth his children Lord. Is it father or mother looks Upon A sick child and wishes that that disease could be theirs instead so that their child can go free Lord. I pray that you help us to see the sense in which Souls around us. The big move to intercession to pray for souls and then show them Christ. Because you've done so much in our life Lord. I pray that others would find Jesus.

To our testimony when the drops is gone, May the silver shine.