The Jacob Temperament

There are times when he just overloads us with goodness.

In fact, chapter 43.

The last part of these brothers have been brought to repentance is will discover even more specifically, in the next chapter not throwing them in prison for three days, but for the rest of their lives and sending them a note that says by the way, I happen to be Joseph, your brother and as soon as you repent. I'll let you well. Like Christ, he sets the table.

He offers fellowship today on wisdom from heart life of Joseph called God meant for Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery and through a long series of offense. God raised Joseph to power now, after many years the brothers will come face-to-face with Joseph, the father of these men, a man named Jacob is also a key player in today's section of God's word. You may know how the story ends, but stay with us as we take a fresh look at it again today. If you're able, open your Bible to Genesis 42 as we get started with today's Bible message. Genesis chapter 42 cavalry left all verse 29 when they came to their father is when Joseph selects the nine brothers go and Simeon when they came to their father, Jacob, in the land of Canaan.

They told him all that it happened to them, saying the man land spoke harshly with us and took us for spies of the country, but we said to him, we are honest men.

We are not spies. We are 12 brothers sons of our father. One is no more than the youngest is with our father today in the land of Canaan and demand the Lord of the land said to us. By this I shall know that you are honest men leave one of your brothers with me and take grain for the famine of your household go but bring your youngest brother to me, that I may know that you are not spies but honest and I will give your brother to you. You may trade in the land now came about as they were emptying their sex to behold every man's bundle of money was in the sack and when they enter father all their bundles of money they were dismayed and their father Jacob said to them in the first thing that I want to relate to you. What I am calling the Jacob temperament is his old wrong conclusion he says. First of all you have read me of my children.

Joseph is bread that's the first wrong conclusion. Joseph is dead.

The second wrong conclusion. Simeon is dead always. Not he's just jumping to the conclusion that the Pharaoh has put him to death and he would take Benjamin. Benjamin well die in his last one we can rephrase everything's going wrong that is all these things are against me as I studied this passage of Scripture and read read this chapter, it was interesting how much we are seeing in the response of Jacob, how much we are like this man in the flesh whenever the spirit of God does not control us and we so often like Jacob jump to wrong conclusions based on circumstances based on the facts that we think we have we come to some conclusions and someone opened the wrong Joseph and that he doesn't know.

And of course he doesn't read with us.

Chapter 43, but he is also stating that Simeon is dead he isn't. Benjamin well die if you take him back there and then he lit up all these things are against me me is me.

You must understand by now Jacob is an old and I think bitter man. He has had flashes of faith. He has had elements of true trust in Elohim, but we see them here in this chapter, finally exercising in his flesh the statement that could characterize his entire life God has dealt me a bad hand he's fed me sour grapes this kind of attitude crops up. Perhaps in your life or in mind when we make statements like God always bless that other person.

Why is it that other family seems that their kid they just obey better than mine.

Why is it that they make better grades. Why is it that he's promoted. I'm not we go on and on and on.

Ultimately we're saying God is really messed my life at the Meyer whom I often quote from the pulpit expositor of Scripture wrote why is it that God's hand is always on the other man you know I read in its true clinically proven that the clinics are that impressive, but I think the interesting thing is that secularists now agree that one of the chief causes of depression is self-pity. It is the attitude that Jacob expresses here. Life is terrible and look at the things that are happening to me may and they put a banner out read any party here.

Anybody want to join me and you will find people collect that only helps our misery. Ladies and gentlemen, I really believe that one of the mistakes we see in Jacob we make in our lives and that is miss interpreting the events in our life apart from the grace of God I want you to notice what happens in chapter 43 and you'll see his response. Now the famine was severe in the land between verse 38, at the end you want to just put in parentheses. Of time is right in the words.

Of time because between that time and verse one of chapter 43, their food runs out. Now the famine was severe in the land so it came about when they had finished the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that the father said to them back in class and little food.

Now the first element here is initial denial. Jacob is been told that we cannot go back to Egypt. Unless we bring Benjamin with us. Jacob refuses to respond, he clams up.

He goes into hiding and finally they get hungry, the foods gone and because back in the denying what he knows to be true says go back to Egypt and bias market is sons now will counsel him. Judah spoke first three saying the man solemnly warned us, you shall not see my face unless your brother is with you if you send our brother with this week will go down and buy food. But if you do not send him we will not go down for the man said to us, you shall not see my face unless your brothers with you none is interesting how the sun is counseling that the sun is telling the patriarch aside and say that, did you forget that we can't go back until we have Benjamin with us.

Open your ears listen to me. The second phase of his response.

We could call suggested the seat.

Look at verse six and Israel said here's his response. Why did you treat me so badly.

By telling the man, whether you still had another brother and I don't hear that great man of God, the patriarch, the man of faith, saying to his boy would've been lied by what you tell your brother and he said in answering the question. Verse seven the man question. Particularly, or literally specifically about us and our relatives saying is your father still alive. Have you another brother so we answered truthfully.

Could we possibly know that he would say bring your brother down. Judah said to his father send the lab with me and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die. We as well as you in our little ones. I myself only security for Benjamin. In other words, of Joseph does something to Benjamin. It will be guilt on my life all take the responsibility really negative focus too much on this but don't overlook as we go through this chapter, the development of the lives of the brothers. They have already admitted guilt and that's most of the QR's confession.

Now you see Judah taking responsibility. Where earlier 25 years ago they would've thrown their brother away. Now the different story. Verse 10 for if we had not delayed surely by now we could return twice. Jacob still is not broken. Notice the next phrase we could call this attempted manipulation. This is classic Jacob stuff here and their father Israel said that it must be so, then here's the plan. Take some of the best products of the land in your bags and carried out in this manner, the present, you know, just like I did to Esau but her mom let's get on his good side bring with him things that they don't have much in Egypt such as Paul Connie aromatic gum and murder pistachio nuts and almonds. Take the money in your hand and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake.

In other words, let's not trust God. Get let's come up with our own plan. I got a good one because as far as I can remember half a century ago. I think it worked on my brother Esau, because a member of the study with the use and the rams in the camels and he sent them ahead to meet Esau before Esau would come to him, hoping the bladder amok and get them all melted down. Here's old Jacob old manipulating deceptive Jacob taking the place of God, imagine his sons right now and what they see in him still not much of a change but I think there is, in fact, I really believe that in the process of these verses.

There is really time involved because the great change and I think the change occurs in verse 14, which we could call final trust. Verse 14 and May God Almighty L. Shaddai, the great provider. May God Almighty grant you compassion. In other words, it is intimately up to God. Compassion in the sight of the man that he may release to your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, that this phrase if I am bereaved of my children. I am bereaved. In other words, when all of the smoke settled and I think Jacob perhaps was reminded of the sovereign God fact, been part of his life. He finally came to the conclusion where he said if my children die then they die.

In other words L.

Shaddai is one I will trust we really can't understand his heart as we probably never been but some of you perhaps have faced great trial. Perhaps some of you have lost loved ones in death you can understand better than we. The anguish of his heart, thinking that when he said goodbye to his sons saying goodbye forever, but it difficult place to trust God. One of the men that I respect Kylie is the pastor 100 or so years ago. As George Matheson is him is a rather antiquated and we don't sing them much anymore but George Matheson was a blind man. He lived with his two sisters. His two sisters learned Latin and Greek and Hebrew, and they would study for him and they would give him the results they would look up words and they would read the text and George Matheson would in his blind state formulate all of the fact that he would come up with the sermon and he would preach he was known as the beloved pastor and pastor. Interestingly enough, in that day, a rather large church of 2000 people one by one, his two sisters eventually married and with their marriage came great loss because when they married. They moved away, George Matheson was finally alone, completely along able to care for himself but yet now struggling with money and learn.

He was older. In fact his sisters Mary didn't older age and there in the struggle of trusting in God, who seemingly no longer would provide George Matheson wrote this is not even in our hymnal.

I had to go back to find it. He wrote these words only love that will not let me go.

He writes this after his second sister left. I rest my weary soul in the I give feedback. The life I owe that in thine ocean depths flow may richer and fuller. The downhill refer to his eyesight in reference to light.

He says own light that followed was all my way, I yield my recurring torch to the my heart restores its borrowed Ray in the high sun shines blazing today may brighter fair. Oh joy that sequenced me through pain. I cannot close my heart today. I traced the rainbow through the rain and feel the promise is not saying that morning shall carelessly I cannot understand what he went through, but I stand at all and I stand in all for what God is doing in your life.

Through difficulty. He is making. And through this he is making Jake so verse 15. The men took this presently to double the money and Benjamin and then they arose and went down to Egypt stood before Joseph.

Now it swings back to Egypt, and Joseph will now bring his brothers. I think finally to the end of their test and I think it gives them a threefold test. You'll notice that the first one is a test of honor and I was really studied work.

He is wondering in his mind, to my brothers really care about one another. Will they let Simeon rot in this prison and never come back. And I imagine he had his doubts and I wonder if they had not gotten hungry. If they would've come back, but they did.

I imagine Joseph is watching how they treat one another they speak. He's constantly asking about their father. How is your father wondering if they would respond all the man why we leave him alone. He so wrapped up in Benjamin we never see him is he that would've been the response. 25 years ago but now every time they respond they respond with politeness and respect. I think that was the test of honor in the past.

It it was a test of family identity.

That second test you should jot in is the test of honesty and I think this had to do with the money these men were very dishonest. At least Joseph remembered living with them. So the man did as Joseph set back to verse 16. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them. He said to his house steward, bring the men into the house and slammed animal to make ready for the men to dine with me at noon doubt Hebrew people didn't dine with Egyptian later on. It even makes that almost comical statement and you'll note the never changed. Still, Egyptians don't eat meals of peace with the Jews, and even back then it was a lonesome thing and so this probably scratched his head and he said wonder why the Prime Minister's having dinner with 10 Jews, but he obeyed. And so the men when they got the invitation were not overjoyed they were afraid because they were brought to Joseph's house and they said it's because of the money that was returned in our sacks.

The first time that we were being brought in that he may seek location against us and fall upon us and take us for slaves with our donkeys so they came near to Joseph's house steward.

This is hilarious. Here they are talking to the slave first 20 oh my Lord note on my Lord. We indeed came down the first time to buy food and it came about when we came in the lodging place that we open our sacks of each man's money was in them out of the sack. Our money in full so we brought it back now. Note the walking to Joseph's house and give it to this poor slave. They said we indeed intended to buy food. Let's look at the last part of verse 21 so we brought it back in her hand. We've also brought down other money and ran to buy food. We all know our money in the sacks they are really nervous thinking Joseph called into the house to call them into account in their explaining to the steward who has nothing to do with a solution for the problem but he evidently had been instructed by Joseph and all of his response is an unbelieving Egyptian has been trained how to respond to that by the way, this is but do you notice what he says. Verse 23, God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sex.

In other words, I've been told that your God is Elohim. That's the word used here, done this for you and I can have of myself in the place of those brothers have you ever been taken into account by an unbeliever. Have you ever been told in on the carpet and somebody says something about trusting God. What would you have to trust God and even biting your nails they come before slave who doesn't care about their God and their frantic and their explaining dishonest and here's the plan. This is what we did and the steward says God you must be in control of what happens next.

Verse 24 then the man brought the men of the Joseph Townsend gave him water.

They wash their feet and you gave your donkey's food or father so they prepared to present for Joseph's coming to get the pistachio nuts already to go for Joseph's coming at noon Friday and heard that they were to eat a meal there. When Joseph came home they brought into the house to present which was in their hand and they bowed to the ground before him and then he asked him again about their welfare which is really interesting because here they think he's the Prime Minister. But he says I was your trip men are you feeling and they probably wondered is he setting us up for the acts he has how they doing this will work fine, and he said it is your old father.

Well, with whom you spoke and they said yes, we'd love to see him again. Is he still alive and clear, probably so confused that what he's doing and then they said that you're serving our fathers well is alive and they bowed down and how is he bowing down to the carpet and he lifted his eyes. Joseph saw his brother his kid brother. His brother and seen for 25 years as he got acted. He said, is this your youngest brother whom you spoke to me. I probably said yeah I just imagine Joseph going over to him may Elohim be gracious to you about that time I think I would've lost it if I'd been above the wall watching this whole thing was it did exactly that. The next phrase and Joseph hurried out he literally he said all God bless you, my son, bless you and his brothers are really looking now when he takes off and runs out with you looking for first 30.

He's looking for a place to weep and he entered his bedchamber, he threw himself across the bed and he wet.

Why was he weeping it doesn't tell us why, but I would assume that when he saw his brother. He was overwhelmed with 25 years of loss.

Verse 31 that he washed his face.

He came out and he controlled himself and he said serve the meal so they started by himself and this is kind of funny that there by themselves and others. They got a little table over here and he's got a little table over here any Egyptians who ate with him by themselves because the Egyptians could not even read with the Hebrews for that's a little something to the Egyptians felt that this they were seated before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his you. In other words they didn't say anything, but Joseph comes along anything okay you sit right here, Simeon. You sit right here and Judy. You sit right here and he seats them all. According to their age, and Benjamin, you're right here at the head and these brothers now have lost.

I'm sure there nudging each other, thinking how he figured this out is not finished. They were seated before him.

The youngest according to his youth and the men looked at one another in astonishment and I think this is the third test. If you're taking notes it's the test of humility and he took portions to them from his own table. Benjamin's portion was five times as much, as any of theirs that you come to my house became last night you would've literally gotten your Benjamin five portions. You know what I had for supper. I was a great cook, you would've had five plates of tuna casserole you would've had five roles would've had five glasses of sweetened iced tea in our house at sweet will put sweetener in it. It's already sweet. It wouldn't be for you to lead this is what they would give the Pharaoh.

Every time he said to me, it was a symbol of honor. It was a symbol of great respect not catch this before Joseph was the favored son.

He was the one who wrote the tunic to his wrists into his ankles and the brothers do hated him and now he puts before Benjamin is only real blooded brother, and he puts before him five portions and he probably watches not only favored by colonies going to get the best deal here. I think that there wasn't even a sliver of jealousy because it says they feasted and they drank freely with him. Let me try to tie this up here for you by applications by giving you a couple of thoughts because were really dealing with two different people.

So if you're taking us. Get your pen ready. Let me give a couple.

The first thing deals with Jacob and that is what we're calling tonight the Jacob temperament let me characterize that for you with two thoughts and I want us to look in the mirror of Scripture tonight. All right, first of all, the Jacob temperament is seen in a person who constantly reiterates wife's disappointments. Now don't get me wrong is wrong to share with your brothers and sisters in Christ, pain and trials. That's what we're here for. But I'm talking about an individual who is like a broken record them and they spell it all, and they constantly do it. They're not looking for solution.

They're not asking for prayer not even seeking encouragement, they just want to know. I think we all do that from time to time. Next time your wife or husband or child does that this week: Jacob K.

Little exercise. It'll be convicted second. Jacob temperament is seen in the person who stubbornly refuses divine perspective.

Chuck Swindoll preaches a message from this text.

And he basically preaches it around that fought and I like that thought. He talked about an individual who refuses until the last moment to finally looked up and that's where Jacob was because he tried everything possible. He never caught on, until the very end like you and me struggling. We don't think that God is involved God's putting this together.

Jacob says these things are against me, and only had chapter 40 30 God was designing it have to be this way to get them all back to Egypt. I think of the brothers and how God works in their life and I want to give you two ways to recognize the hand of God upon you. First, repentance is often brought about by God's goodness.

The goodness of God leads to repentance. There are times when he just overlooks us with goodness. In fact, chapter 43.

The last part, these brothers had been brought to repentance is will discover even more specifically, in the next chapter, not by Joseph throwing them in prison for three days, but for the rest of their lives, and then sending them a note they get in prison. It says by the way, I happened to be Joseph, your brother and his soon as you repent all let you well. Like Christ, he sets the table. He offers fellowship.does the same in our lives. Second, behind the harshness of discipline is God's heart of love. They didn't know that Joseph was running to his bedroom to weep. They didn't know. In the earlier chapter that he couldn't control himself that he had to turn away and we I think he wanted to embrace them. That is the way God so often deals with us fact, I think obviously we could say you always does. Even though discipline may be harsh behind it is a heart of incredible love.

The question is will we throw in the towel. Will we say I'm starving in Canaan in All-Star die or do we process and ultimately trust George Mathison who referred to earlier wrote these words with these excellence. My God, I have never thanked the for my thorn.

I think the thousand times for my roses but not once for my thorns. I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get compensation for my CrossFit.

I never thought of my cross is itself a present glory teach me the glory of Mycroft teach me the value of my thorn show me that I have climbed the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made a rate that we bring today's lesson to your listening to wisdom for the heart. The Bible teaching ministry of Stephen Davey Stevens called today's lesson the Jacob temperament and it comes from the series God meant it for good series in the life of Joseph Stephen often reminds us that our ministry is empowered by your prayer and enabled your support, your partnership is vital to us and were thankful for. And thanks for joining us today for so glad you were with us and I hope you'll be with us for our next Bible lesson tomorrow right here on wisdom for the hearts