Text: Genesis 50:15-21

Date: 01-31-2021

Speaker(s): Pastor Will Robinson

Genesis 50:15 – 21 (NASB)

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father charged before he died, saying, 17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? 20 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 21 “So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

MMM: “Real forgiveness relieves and releases you and others!”

Jude 1:24 – 25 (KJV) 24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.

Real recognition

• Joseph didn’t minimize their sins, for he said, “You intended to harm me” (Gen. 50:20). He knew that there had been evil in their hearts, but he also knew that God had overruled their evil deeds to accomplish His good purposes. (Rom. 8:28-30)

Psalms 55:11 – 14 (NLT) 11 Everything is falling apart; threats and cheating are rampant in the streets. 12 It is not an enemy who taunts me— I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me— I could have hidden from them. 13 Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend. 14 What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.

Real reconciliation

• Joseph not only forgave his brothers, but he also assured them of his constant care. “I will nourish you, and your little ones”. He gave them homes to live in, work to do, food to eat, and provision for their needs.

Matthew 5:23 – 24 (NASB) 23 “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.

1 Corinthians 13:5 (NASB) 5does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,

Real results

• Once again, we see here a picture of Jesus, who promises never to leave us or forsake us and to meet our every need.

Luke 19:7 – 10 7When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.” 9And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. 10“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Real rejoicing

• For seventeen years Joseph’s brothers lived under a cloud of fear all because they didn’t really trust him. As long as their father was alive, they trusted in human ties to protect them, but when Jacob died, their only defense was gone. Had they believed Joseph, they could have enjoyed those years with him and their father, and there wouldn’t have been clouds of fear to rob them of joy.

Micah 7:18 – 20 (NLT) 18 Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant….? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. 19 Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! 20 You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago.

Colossians 2:13 – 14 (NLT) 13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away.Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.

Psalms 32:1 – 3; 5 (NLT)

1 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!
2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
3 When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.

5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

Be a Berean

“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” Acts 17:11