RUSSELL SANDERS
5-2-2021
THE LIFE OF JOSEPH – LESSON 13
GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER
Picking up the story from Genesis 43:15-26 the brothers took Benjamin, the money that had been put into their sacks the first time, and the “present” (v. 11) that Jacob told them to take and returned to Egypt.
As Joseph saw Benjamin upon their arrival, he did something extraordinary. He told the ruler of his household to bring them directly to his home (castle) instead of the marketplace where business is normally done. He ordered a calf to be killed and prepared for a noon feast with them as his house guest. This was no ordinary house; it was his home from where he ruled all Egypt and had many Egyptian servants.
When the brothers were taken to his house instead of where their previous transaction was done they got scared witless. They figured they were in trouble because of the money in the grain sacks on the first trip. They supposed they would be accused of stealing it and they would be taken as slaves (bondmen) or servants, never making it back home. Their families would all die of starvation in such case.
Joseph’s steward met them, and they told him what had happened with the money. The steward told them to be at peace because he had gotten their money. He said in vs. 23, “The God of your Father hath given you treasure in your sacks.” He brought them into the house and gave them water to wash themselves from their journey. He had his servants feed their asses. Then they got dressed up and ready to meet and eat with Joseph at noon.
When Joseph returned home, they gave him the presents and (v. 26) “bowed themselves to him to the earth,” just as Joseph had dreamed more than twenty years earlier. Joseph’s prophetic dreams were being fulfilled years after they were given. God’s plan was being made manifest.
The New Testament tells us that we are to judge prophecies whether they be truly from God or not. Many will say that if they see it come to pass then it is true, but if they do not see it happen then it is false. That alone is not a good “yardstick” because many prophecies take years or even centuries to be fulfilled.
Two good yardsticks are God’s written word and your own “witness in your spirit.” A prophecy will never contradict God’s word. It might shed some new light to it, but it will not be contrary to it.
The Holy Spirit may also “bear witness” with your own spirit that it is a good word, or perhaps He will put a “check” in your spirit as a warning not to trust it.
Joseph’s brothers could not receive teenage Joseph’s dreams because they had no real relationship with God. Holy Spirit had not been given to ordinary men in the Old Testament because the Holy Spirit came only on Prophets, Priests and Kings. Yet, they would soon see and understand the fulfillment of the dreams.
We need to be careful today about our modern prophets. It seems to appear that many of our established prophets who have given a good word in years past are now operating under a different influence or agenda. God is raising up new prophets from among the unknown or lesser known who are truly hearing from Him. When you hear or read a prophetic word, take it in prayer to Holy Spirit and hear from Him in your own spirit ears.
We are warned in II Corinthians 11:13-15 of apostles (and prophets) who appear to be (v. 14) “an angel (messenger, preacher) of light (of Christ)” but actually are speaking words spoken to them by the deceiver, Satan. Many undiscerning Christians will be deceived by them.
Let us be like a Joseph or a Daniel. They knew that God alone was their source to hear from.
