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Fear of God: Freedom from Guilt and Circumstances 0:10 Good morning, and welcome to Stand on the Word. Well, the sun is not yet up over our nation's capital, but I know that it will be. Our journey today takes us to Genesis chapters 42 through0:21 44 verse 18 of chapter 42. Then Joseph said to them the third day, do this and live for I fear God. Do you know what what we fear or revere defines0:33 and directs us? I'm gonna explain that in a moment. Now, in these 3 chapters, we see Joseph's encounter with his, brothers as they go to Egypt in search of grain during this severe famine. Alright.0:45 It just really started, but they were already feeling the effects. Verse 1 chapter 42. When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, why do you look at 10:57 another? Now, did you catch that? These now these guys are not boys. Alright? They're grown men ranging in age from their forties to their early sixties. They have wives. They have children. You would think that1:08 they have a plan, but we read that they're standing around looking at each other as they are about to starve. You know, I think there appears to be a severe lack of insight and initiative1:20 that rivals the severity of this famine. Now, they lacked the wisdom and understanding of what to do. Now, compare their disposition to what we read last time about the wisdom1:32 of their brother, Joseph, who not only interpreted Pharaoh's dream, but immediately laid out a plan to save the nation. You know, aren't 10 heads better than1:44 1? Not if those 10 heads sit upon hearts that are closed to God and have no fear or reverence for God. Look at what God's word has to1:56 say about this. Proverbs 1 7, the fear or reverence of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 2 5, then you will understand the fear of the2:07 lord and find knowledge of god. Proverbs 10 9 10, the fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the holy 1 is understanding. When a person closes their heart to god, he closes his2:19 mind to understanding. That is why we need leaders. Leaders in our homes, in our churches, in our communities, yes, and in our country who fear and revere the Lord.2:32 Look again at, verse 18 in chapter 42. Then Joseph said to them the third day I think it's interesting. It's the third day. Do this and live for I fear God. Joseph speaks a very subtle2:44 word to them that you would think they would pick up on. A very subtle word that has the assurance of justice that should have pierced their hearts, the hearts of these unjust men. I2:55 fear God, Elohim, the 1 who will give to whom we will all give an account. Now let's continue reading verse 19 if you are honest men let 1 if you are honest3:08 again probing poking let 1 of your brothers be confined to your prison house but you go and carry grain for the famine of your houses. And bring your youngest brother to3:20 me so your words will be verified and you shall not die. And they did so. Then they said to 1 another, we are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw3:32 the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear. Therefore, this distress has come upon us. Now, follow this follow this closely because this is very important. The brothers were living in3:43 fear of their circumstances because of the guilt of their unconfessed sin. Why was it unconfessed? The same reason they committed the act of selling their brother to slavery. They3:55 didn't fear or reverence God. So when a person doesn't fear God, they live in fear of life circumstances. You know, when we we're we're burdened with guilt until we come to that place of confession and4:07 accepting the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. And still then, we live with a sense of guilt. And as a result, we live in fear of the circumstances surrounding us. Drop down to verse 28. So4:19 he said to his brothers, my money has been restored. Right? They're out of town. They open up the sacks to, to feed the animals. He finds the money in there. And there it is in my sack. Then their hearts4:31 failed them, and they were afraid saying to 1 another, what is this that God has done to us? You see, fear of man, fear of events, fear of life, fear. Sin and4:42 guilt turn a blessing of God into a curse that comes from guilt. Look, let's let's go to chapter 43. We'll see more of this. So, their food runs out. Jacob agrees to4:54 send them again to Egypt with Benjamin, and they are directed to Joseph's house to have lunch with him. Look at verse 18. Now, the men were afraid. There it is, fear again. Because they5:06 were brought into Joseph's house, and they said it is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time that we are brought in so that they may make a case against us and seize us to take us5:18 as slaves with our donkeys. Fear. Watch how they're they're stumbling over themselves to try and explain the money that was in their grain sex. Verse 19, when they drew near to the5:29 steward of Joseph's of Joseph's house, they talked with him at the door of the house and said, oh, sir, we indeed came down the first time to buy food, but it happened when we came to the encampment that we5:41 opened our sacks, and there each man's money was in the mouth of his sack and our money in full weight. So we have brought it back in our hand, and we have brought down other money in our hands to buy5:53 food. We do not know who put the money in our sacks. Now look at this. Okay? Look at this. Verse 23. But he said, this is the steward, peace be upon you. Do not be afraid. Your God,6:05 the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money, then he brought Simeon out to them. You see, when the fear of god is6:16 absent, the fear of man replaces it in our hearts and minds that could and and should have seen what took place as the favor of god. Alright? Instead of a6:28 judgment of god coming upon him. This was the the steward here defines this. No. That was god's favor upon your god. The God of your father put the treasure in your sack. It was a blessing. It wasn't a curse.6:40 But you see, when guilt when we're burdened with guilt because we haven't confessed our sins, what should have been a blessing appears to be a a curse causing us to6:52 live in fear of God's judgment. I mean, look, God's word in first John 1 says, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.7:05 Our fear defines and directs our lives. If we fear or reverence God, we can be free of the fear of man, and we're able to enjoy the favor of7:16 God. Too many, even Christians, They're carrying the guilt of things in the past. Look, when we confess our sins and we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior, then we're free of7:28 that. If we confess our sins, he is faithful just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteous. Now, if we've not confessed our sins, we need to confess them. If we have stumbled and fall fallen, we need to7:39 confess those sins and get back up and walk in the favor as we walk in the forgiveness of God. Alright. Go back to, to verse 8. I wanna point something out here, but I didn't wanna interrupt this7:51 thread of, fear that is woven, in these chapters, in between these chapters. Verse 8, chapter 43. Then Judah said to to Israel, his father, send the lad with me, and we will8:03 arise and go that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. I myself will be surety for him. From my hand, you shall require him. If I do8:15 not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. Now, Judah was not the oldest. He was the fourth in the the lineup. He was probably around 50 years old. Now,8:27 remember, he was the 1 connected to the scandalous incident in chapter 38 with Tamar, his daughter-in-law. But but what what did we note about him in in that discussion? Alright? What8:38 what did we what do we highlight? He, Jesus comes from the lineage of Judah. And I find it interesting here that Judah offers himself as a ransom for his younger brother8:50 and in the the next chapter we find that this was not just words that he actually put that commitment into action. Verse 16, then Judah said, what go go to verse chapter 44, and we see this chapter9:02 44 verse 16. Then Judah said, what shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants. Here we are, my lord's slaves, both we9:14 and he also whom the cup was found. Verse 33. Now, therefore, please let your servants remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his9:26 brothers. For how shall I go to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would come upon my father? Now, this this is exactly what Joseph was looking for.9:38 Judah, who was a part of selling Joseph into slavery 2 decades before, was now ready to become a slave on behalf of his brother. You see, you you can only9:50 miss the plan of god's grace and his mercy and redemption that is seen throughout scripture if your heart and mind is closed to god. It's it's right there. It's an10:02 amazing story of redemption, of grace, and of God restoring. Father, thank you for your word. Lord, what what a just an inspiring10:14 word today from the life of Joseph and his brothers. Lord of redemption, of grace, of mercy, Lord of the fallen nature of man. But, Lord, you don't give up on us. And I and I pray that we10:26 would walk in the freedom that comes from confessing our sins, and and Lord being guilt free and that, lord, that we can walk in your favor if we just confess our sins.10:38 And, lord, help us to see your favor upon our lives this day. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Alright. Thanks for joining me this morning. We're almost finished with the book of Genesis. Great10:50 time to be thinking about who you can invite to join us as we turn next to the book of Job. Alright. Until next time, keep standing on the word.11:02 Today's study comes from the stand on the word Bible reading plan available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you11:14 can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 Fear of God: Freedom from Guilt and Circumstances
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