JOSEPH RESORTS TO DECEPTION

PROCLAMATION

“… Fill the men’s sacks … And put my cup, the silver one, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest one … Joseph said unto his servant, ‘Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?’ … And he overtook them, and he said unto them the same words.”  Genesis 44:1-6 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Early the following morning after the feast they had eaten, Joseph had his servants to fill his brothers’ sacks with grain and silver for their return to Canaan.  However, he had them placed a silver cup in one of Benjamin’s bags.  After his brothers had left, he sent a servant after them, and he caught up with them and as instructed he accused them of stealing the silver cup. (Genesis 44:1-6)  The brothers denied stealing the silver cup, but a search of their bags revealed that the silver cup was in one of Benjamin’s bags.  Seeing this they tore their clothes and returned to Egypt. (Genesis 44:7-13)  When they came before Joseph they fell on the ground before him.  Joseph claimed to know what they did by divination.  As punishment they agreed to be his slaves, but he only wanted to keep Benjamin with him.  Then Judah reasoned with him and told him that would kill his father if they left Benjamin behind and he offered to stay in his place. (Genesis 44:14-34)

 

APPLICATION

Most Bible scholars agree that Joseph did this to test his brothers’ affection for Benjamin since years earlier they had sold him into slavery.  In this life we will be tested.  People will test us, and the Lord God will test us.  We need to maintain our faithfulness and our resolve and recognize that most of our trials and temptations are just tests.  Our tests will help to produce patience within us. (James 1:3)  We need to be mindful of the fact that what is important is our response to the situations which we face.  Fear not, The Lord God is in control.

  

TRUE LOYALTY AND COMMITMENT

Proclamation:

" 'Look,' said Naomi, 'your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods.  Go back with her.'  But Ruth replied, 'Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you.  Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.  Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried.  May The Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.' " Ruth 1:14-17 (NIV)

Explanation:

The human author of The Bible Book of Ruth is generally agreed upon to be Samuel, although there are a number of Bible scholars who attribute authorship to a number of others.  Ruth, the Moabitess, is the principal character in The Book but she is not the author.  She provides an example of Christian character and behavior, and loyalty and commitment.  Ruth is one of the few women to be mentioned by name in the genealogy of Jesus, The Christ. (Matthew 1:5)  Orpah and Ruth had married Naomi's sons.  After the death of her husband and her two sons, Naomi urged her daughter-in-laws to return to their people and remarry.  Orpah did but Ruth refused to leave Naomi and went with her from Moab to Bethlehem.

Application:

Ruth was a virtuous woman whose loyalty and commitment to her mother-in-law are now legendary.  Her hallmark expression is often repeated in wedding vows even today. (Ruth 1:16)  This level of loyalty and commitment is rare these days but this is how Christians should feel towards Jesus Christ.  Once we come to Christ we should never leave Him, or turn our back on Him, or even look back longingly at our previous life. (Luke 9:62)  No one should ever be able to talk us into forsaking Him.  He will never leave us or forsake us and nothing should separate us from Him or come between us. (Romans 8:39)  We should go wherever He leads us and His people should be our family. (John 1:12 and Galatians 4:6)  If we truly feel that way about Jesus, then we can say that we love The Lord.  However, if we express our loyalty to The Lord, then we should expect that the devil will test our commitment.  Those of us who pass that will be blessed. (James 1:12)

BLESSED IS HE WHO PERSEVERES THROUGH THE STORMS

Proclamation:

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12 (NIV)

Explanation:

These Holy Spirit inspired words were written by James, the half brother of Jesus, to the scattered believers after the crucifixion of Jesus, The Christ, and the martyrdom of Steven, the first deacon, when the Jewish believers were being persecuted.  His plea was for them to be uncompromisingly obedient to The Word of God.  The persecution of believers was a test of their spiritual faithfulness and that they would be blessed and rewarded by God if they persevered in the face of adversity.

Application:

As long as we never let go of our belief and faith in God, and focus on our guaranteed victory at the end of our trials, we will receive eternal life as God has promised.  There is a crown awaiting those believers who faithfully endure the storms of this life.  However, there is also a blessing in store in this life for those who persevere through the trials, tribulations, and temptations.  Those of us who pass the tests of the storms of life will be given earthly blessings in addition to heavenly rewards.  Each test that we endure will strengthen our character and help to prepare us for the next test.  Therefore we should count it all as joy when we are tested. (James 1:2-4)  Just as exercise strengthens muscles, the storms of life can strengthen our faith.  By maintaining our faith in God during the bad times we will be blessed.

OUR BAD TIMES ARE JUST A TEST

Proclamation:

"... Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Job 2:10 (NIV)

Explanation:

With the aid of The Holy Spirit of God Job spoke these words to his friends and his wife after he had suffered.   Job went from being on top of the world (Job 1:1-3) to losing all of his possessions (Job 1:14-17) and then losing all of his children. (Job 1:18-19)  Then he even lost he health (Job 2:7).  "In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing." Job 1:22 (NIV) God allowed Satan to test Job. (Job 1:8 & 2:3-6)  Job passed his test; he kept the faith and did not curse God.  He did eventually question God, but he soon repented for doing that.

Application:

No matter how bad things are going with us, none of us have it as bad as Job had it.  Bad things happen to good people.  Some times we are reaping the results of our own bad choices and some times we are just being tested.  Regardless of why we go through bad times, we are to continue to praise God. (James 1:2)  Satan can only do to us what The Lord God permits.  He knows just how much we can bear.  Remember, after Job passed his tests, God blessed him with twice as much as he had before the bad times began. (Job 42:10)  I am sure that there is a blessing in store for each of us if we keep the faith and endure until the end. (James 1:12)  When bad things happen to us, we should pray and continue to have faith in God.  He can bring us through it, whatever it is.  We can’t have a testimony until we first go through a test.  Bad times are only a test. 

We Will Be Tested

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith; of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire; may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)

After the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Peter told the scattered Christians who were being persecuted by the Romans and the Jewish religious leaders, that for a little while they would have to suffer. However, the suffering, trials, and tribulations were part of a process that would test their faith and make them stronger, better Christians, just as gold is refined and purified by fire.

Today we can be assured that we will have troubles and that they will come in many forms, family, relationships, employment, finances, sickness, and the death of loved ones. We need to know that our troubles are temporary, they will only last for a season. We need to understand that our troubles, trials, and tribulations are only tests of our faith to see if we will persevere or give up. Finally, we need to remember that we will triumph over our troubles if we keep the faith. Jesus has already overcome the world and if we believe we will also overcome. (1 John 5:4) If we keep the faith, we are on our way to hearing, "Well done, good and faithful servant ..." (Matthew 25:23) "We've come this far by faith..." don't give up now.

It Is All Good Because It Is All For Our Good

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4 (NIV)

Here James basically repeats the lesson taught in Romans chapter 8, verse 28, that all things work together for the good of those who love The Lord. James uses different words saying count it all as joy when you go through trials. Dealing with trials is what matures and completes us.

Like it or not, storms, trials, and bad times are necessary for our growth and development. Just as plants do not develop a strong root foundation when the water and nutrients that they need are readily available on the surface. The roots of plants grow deeper into the earth during dry and hard times. Persevering during the trials and storms of life cause us to strengthen our foundation by testing our faith. Although the bad times are not fun or easy to deal with, we are better off for having gone through them. We should consider the trials that we endure training and preparation for future rewards. They are the precursors to good things. So, trials and tests are, in fact, good things themselves. So, as we go through life, we should count it all as joy.

Blessed Is He Who Perseveres Through The Storms

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12 (NIV)

While discussing the benefits of Christian living, James said that the believer who maintains his faith even while being severely tested, will be blessed to receive the gift from God of eternal life.

As long as we never let go of our belief and faith in God, and focus on our guaranteed victory at the end of our trials, we will receive eternal life as God has promised. There is a crown awaiting those believers who faithfully endure the storms of this life.

God Has A Plan For Each Of Us

"After Job had prayed for his friends, The Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before ... The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first. " Job 42:10-12 (NIV)

Through all of his suffering, Job did not take his wife's advice to curse God and die. He also would not agree with his three friends who said that he was being punished for his sins. Job remained faithful and he passed his test. After he prayed for his friends, God healed his body and restored his prosperity, giving him twice as much as he had beforehand.

Only God knows why we go through the situations that we go through. There is a purpose for everything, even if we do not understand it while we are enduring it. Our future holds something much better for us that anything we enjoyed in the past. So don't be discouraged, this is only a test and a temporary situation. God is sovereign and is in control of all things. We just need to trust Him and keep the faith. He will work everything out in our best interest, as only He can. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Yield Not To Temptation

" Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." James 1:12-15 (NIV)

James, the half brother of Jesus, offers statements on wise living, on practical examples of Godly behavior. Christians are blessed when they exercise Godly behavior when they are tempted. They are blessed when they persevere under trials and withstand the test. James makes it clear that God is not testing them by tempting them. Temptation comes from their own sinful nature and desires which lead to sin.

The temptation to sin is a trial, a test that we endure. God is not tempting us, but through His permissive will, He is allowing the temptation to occur. Our sinful nature causes us to desire to commit sin. The temptation is not sin, the yielding to the temptation is the sin. We are blessed when we do not give in to the temptation to sin. We need to pray for God's help to withstand, and not yield to the temptation to sin.

Bad Times Are Only A Test

"... The Lord gave and The Lord has taken away; may the name of The Lord be praised." "... Shall we accept good from and not trouble?" Job 1:21 & 2:10 (NIV)

No matter how bad things are going with us, none of us have it as bad as Job had it. Job went from being on top of the world (Job 1:1-3) to losing all of his possessions (Job 1:14-17) and losing all of his children (Job 1:18-19). Then he even lost he health (Job 2:7).

"In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing." Job 1:22 (NIV) God allowed Satan to test Job (Job 1:8 & 2:3-6). Job passed his test, he kept the faith and did not curse God. He did eventually question God, but he soon repented for that.

Bad things happen to good people. Some times we are reaping the results of our own bad choices and some times we are just being tested. Regardless of why we go through bad times, we are to continue to praise God. After Job passed his tests, God blessed him with twice as much as he had before the bad times began (Job 42:10).

When bad things happen to us, we should pray and continue to have faith in God. It' only a test.