How Jesus Wins Us
It's not bad to have God defeat your self-righteousness. In fact, it's the only way to truly come to know who Him.
Joseph's brothers have returned to Egypt with the extra monies they owed from their first trip for grain. They have received their brother Simeon back. They have dined at Joseph's table and enjoyed the most powerful man's company in the most powerful nation on Earth. Now they set out to return home with more grain they were certain to pay for. No doubt they carried with them a sense of self-righteousness about how well they handled this tense situation.
But that was all about to change.
The night before, Joseph sets up a ruse. He has their money replaced in their sacks along with the new grain AND he has his silver cup placed in Benjamin's sack. The brothers leave the next morning and are instantly hunted down to determine who stole the cup.
Listen to their self-righteous plea:
Genesis 44:7–9 (ESV) They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing! 8 Behold, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? 9 Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die, and we also will be my lord’s servants.”
Genesis 44:11–12 (ESV) Then each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack. 12 And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.
I love that phrase, "beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest" to help us feel the growing self-righteousness as 10 sacks are opened then the sudden reversal as Benjamin's sake holds the cup. They go from self-justification to self-destruction instantly.
Genesis 44:16 (ESV) And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found.”
This is the second time the brothers talk about God. Both times have been in regard to their guilt. They DID NOT EVEN TAKE THE CUP... but their long abiding guilt reduces them to ashes before righteous Joseph. They literally have no strength left to defend themselves.
What is important to remember. This was all set up by Joseph. He was working behind the scenes to help these brothers come to the end of themselves and face their sins (not taking the cup, but mistreating their brother from years ago).
Then the climactic moment as Judah steps forward to sacrifice himself for Benjamin. This was the same Judah who initiated the plan to sell Joseph years before. Now he's willing to take his place (no wonder Jesus will come from the line of Judah). When Judah intervenes Joseph's heart is overwhelmed and the reunion and embrace is set to happen.
Powerful.
What I love about this story is how it reveals Jesus. If Jesus is our true and better Joseph then we have to realize that this is how He deals with us. He works behind the scenes to destroy our self-righteousness so that we come to know Him and His forgiveness. The brothers in this story are demoralized by guilt. Yet their confession turns their fear and desperation into unbelievable relief and joy when Joseph reveals himself to them.
Isn't that just how it works for us! We don't see it until after we are saved. Jesus was working to bring us to the end of ourselves so that we could truly see Him for the beautiful treasure He always is!
If you're not there yet, it's simply because you're living in verses 7-9. You truly think you're not that guilty. But because Jesus loves you, He's going to knock that attitude out of you... and then He's going to reveal how He took the place for you. He bore God's wrath for you. He did this because He loves you.
Now you can stop pretending you're alright and "good enough" and find yourself embraced by the One who sits at the right hand side of the Father and declares to you, "I am Your brother, welcome home!"
Joseph's brothers have returned to Egypt with the extra monies they owed from their first trip for grain. They have received their brother Simeon back. They have dined at Joseph's table and enjoyed the most powerful man's company in the most powerful nation on Earth. Now they set out to return home with more grain they were certain to pay for. No doubt they carried with them a sense of self-righteousness about how well they handled this tense situation.
But that was all about to change.
The night before, Joseph sets up a ruse. He has their money replaced in their sacks along with the new grain AND he has his silver cup placed in Benjamin's sack. The brothers leave the next morning and are instantly hunted down to determine who stole the cup.
Listen to their self-righteous plea:
Genesis 44:7–9 (ESV) They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing! 8 Behold, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? 9 Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die, and we also will be my lord’s servants.”
These are the same brothers who sold Joseph into slavery. Yet one small successful mission has them feeling as if they'd never do anything evil.
Notice the way the Author sets up the search for us:
Genesis 44:11–12 (ESV) Then each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack. 12 And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.
I love that phrase, "beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest" to help us feel the growing self-righteousness as 10 sacks are opened then the sudden reversal as Benjamin's sake holds the cup. They go from self-justification to self-destruction instantly.
Genesis 44:16 (ESV) And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found.”
This is the second time the brothers talk about God. Both times have been in regard to their guilt. They DID NOT EVEN TAKE THE CUP... but their long abiding guilt reduces them to ashes before righteous Joseph. They literally have no strength left to defend themselves.
What is important to remember. This was all set up by Joseph. He was working behind the scenes to help these brothers come to the end of themselves and face their sins (not taking the cup, but mistreating their brother from years ago).
Then the climactic moment as Judah steps forward to sacrifice himself for Benjamin. This was the same Judah who initiated the plan to sell Joseph years before. Now he's willing to take his place (no wonder Jesus will come from the line of Judah). When Judah intervenes Joseph's heart is overwhelmed and the reunion and embrace is set to happen.
Powerful.
What I love about this story is how it reveals Jesus. If Jesus is our true and better Joseph then we have to realize that this is how He deals with us. He works behind the scenes to destroy our self-righteousness so that we come to know Him and His forgiveness. The brothers in this story are demoralized by guilt. Yet their confession turns their fear and desperation into unbelievable relief and joy when Joseph reveals himself to them.
Isn't that just how it works for us! We don't see it until after we are saved. Jesus was working to bring us to the end of ourselves so that we could truly see Him for the beautiful treasure He always is!
If you're not there yet, it's simply because you're living in verses 7-9. You truly think you're not that guilty. But because Jesus loves you, He's going to knock that attitude out of you... and then He's going to reveal how He took the place for you. He bore God's wrath for you. He did this because He loves you.
Now you can stop pretending you're alright and "good enough" and find yourself embraced by the One who sits at the right hand side of the Father and declares to you, "I am Your brother, welcome home!"
Comments
Post a Comment