Passing The Test

(Read Gen 44)  

This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing with our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”, by continuing in the story of Joseph.  In this message I will attempt to summarize the entire 44th chapter.  The chapter opens with the men having enjoyed their meal and Joseph sending them away with plenty of food.  It seemed like the brothers might be getting away without Joseph revealing himself, but this would be Joseph’s final test of his brothers.  God used Joseph to reveal whether or not the brothers had changed.

Joseph ordered his brother’s sacks be filled with as much food as they could carry, but he also told his servant to put his personal silver cup in the sack of the youngest brother.  Joseph sent brothers on their way and then sent his men after them.  Joseph’s men accused the brothers of stealing their master’s cup.  The brothers were so sure that it was a mistake that they said, “If you find that one of us has the cup, then kill him, and the rest of us will become your slaves.”  The servant replied, “Good!  I’ll do what you have said.  But only the one who has the cup will become my slave.  The rest of you can go free.”  All the sacks were searched and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.  The brothers were bitterly upset.  They loaded their donkeys and returned to the city.

When they arrived at Joseph’s palace Judah said, “Sir, what can we say?  How can we prove we are innocent?  God has shown that we are guilty.  And now all of us are your slaves, especially the one who had the cup.”  Joseph told them, “I would never punish all of you.  Only the one who was caught with the cup will become my slave.  The rest of you are free to go home to your father.”  Wow!  This was the exact same situation they were in 20 years earlier.  The 10 older brothers now had the opportunity to leave their younger brother as a slave.  The Prime Minister did not want them, he only wanted Benjamin.  What would they do?  Would they do to Benjamin what they had done to Joseph?  Would they leave their brother and disregard the pain it would cause their father?  Would they operate in selfishness or love?

Judah spoke up for the brothers and explained how much grief it would cause their father is Benjamin were not able to come home.  Jacob had already said that if something happened to Benjamin that he might die of a broken heart.  Judah put his father and Benjamin before himself.  Judah also had his word on the line – he had promised his father that Benjamin would come home safely.  Finally, he said, “Sir, I am your slave.  Please let me stay here in place of Benjamin and let him return home with his brothers.  How can I face my father if Benjamin isn’t with me?  I couldn’t bear to see my father in such sorrow.”  With that they passed the test.  Next week we will see what happened next.  It had been 22 years and it was evident to Joseph that the brothers were changed men.  They were no longer the angry, hateful, and jealous boys with no regard for family.  They were now loving, caring, and compassionate men who had developed character.

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things:

1.  God had already made plans for Joseph’s older brothers.  He made plans for them to become 10 great tribes and He made those plans before the world began.  But they needed to get to the point where they could DIE TO SELF enough to become whom they were destined to be.

2.  God was using Joseph to test/prove his older brothers.  This is important to understand, because you may not like the treatment you get from others, but sometimes God is using those people to prove the condition of your heart, and to develop your character.

3.  You must be tested.  You must be proven.  You must DIE TO SELF to the point where you are ready to become the person God called you to be.

4.  God will allow you to experience whatever you need to experience in order to develop Godly character.

5.  When you get to the point where you are broken, when you have DIED TO SELF, when you have decreased and you are ready for God to flow through you, then and only then will you experience the life you were born to live.

6.  God is not going to compete with you, His strength will only flow through your weakness.

7.  God is not looking for the ability of your mind or the strength of your back, He is only looking for the condition of your heart.  When the condition of your heart is right, and your heart is aligned with His heart, there is no limit to what God will do through you.

8.  The Bible says, “The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right” (Ps 84:11).

Closing Confession:   Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith.  By faith I accept the plans You made for me before the world began.  By faith I develop into the person You called me to be.  By faith I mature and my character is developed as I DIE TO SELF and I allow You to freely flow through me.  By faith I get to the point where I know my life is about You, Your plans for me, Your grace, and Your power.  By faith I decrease, that You may increase in and through me.  So here I am Father — all that I am, and all that I am not, is all yours.  I give myself over to You, and I ask You to develop me into the person You birthed me to be.  My success will not come with more trying.  My success will come with more dying.  Like Joseph’s brothers, I am called for greatness, but I must DIE TO SELF in order for the greatness that You placed IN me to come out.  And finally Father, by faith I declare that as I DIE TO SELF You flow through me, You use me for Your glory, You accomplish Your Kingdom plans and purposes for my life, and You change the world through me.  Not because I am so good, but only because You are… only because of Your amazing GRACE!  I declare this by faith.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper.