Genesis-135 – Why Has This Happened?

Genesis 42:24-28

 

"Then Joseph turned away from them and wept. When he came back and spoke to them, he took Simeon from among them and bound him before their eyes. Joseph then gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to return each man’s silver to his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. And this was done for them. So they loaded their grain on their donkeys and departed. At the place where they stopped for the night, one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey and saw his silver in the mouth of his sack. He said to his brothers, 'My silver has been returned! Look, it is here in my sack.' At this their hearts failed them and, trembling, they turned to each other and asked, 'What is this that God has done to us?'" Amen.

 

The Salvation of God Continues: Joseph's Realization

The story of Joseph and his brothers is remembered as one of the most moving and widely known narratives in the Bible. Last week, we examined their repentance and hearts from the brothers' perspective, and how that relates to our understanding of the heart of God and Christ.

 

Joseph, Who Wished to Forget the Past

Today, we will shed light on this event from Joseph’s perspective. Joseph was a man who truly wanted to forget the past. He believed that the twenty years he had endured were now put to rest by God. Having become the Prime Minister, attained a high position, established a family, and fathered children, he thought God had enabled him to forget Canaan and all its agonizing memories. He may have considered that 'God had helped him this far, and now he was capable of living on his own,' believing his journey of personal salvation was complete.

 

However, the book of Genesis reveals that God’s salvation did not end there. God orchestrated the reunion of the brothers and Joseph. As soon as the brothers saw Joseph, they bowed down, and Joseph recognized them immediately. Seeing his brothers bow, what must he have thought? He must have thought of his dreams. He surely longed to exclaim, "Behold, the dream has finally come true! I am Joseph. Hasn't everything happened just as God said?" How much injustice he must have felt, and how much he must have wanted to say! But Joseph did not act on these impulses. He was suddenly confronted by Canaan and the very people he had desperately wanted to forget.

 

The Task Presented by the Encounter

This encounter meant that there was a task ahead: he had to save his brothers from the famine. Simultaneously, it must have also given Joseph a time to deeply ponder: 'Why must I meet these people again?' He had neither visited his home nor sent anyone there. During the seven years of plenty after he became Prime Minister, he had never once sent word home. He had tried so hard to completely forget, yet now, here were his brothers.

 

In Genesis 42:24-28, which we read today, the brothers are startled and fearful when they find the full payment for the grain still in their sacks on their way back. Fearing they might be mistaken for thieves, they look at each other and ask, "What is this that God has done to us?"

 

In truth, this question is much like the one Joseph might have asked first: 'God, why is this happening? You allowed me to forget everything. I don't want to think about the past. Who cared about me back then? My brothers tried to kill me and sold me into slavery. Why do I have to meet these people from the past again?' Along with these thoughts, Joseph must have also realized: 'Ah, my success is not the end of my life and my salvation. There is still a road ahead.'

 

The Prelude to Salvation

This was not necessarily a command to take revenge; Joseph had learned enough to avoid that. He could have simply given them grain and sent them back to live comfortably in Canaan. Yet, the story does not proceed that way. Knowing the conclusion of this event, we understand why Joseph met his brothers. While reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers is important, looking further, this meeting was the prelude to the history of their four hundred years in Egypt.

 

When was such a word given? In the story of Abraham. God prophesied and promised Abraham: "Your descendants will be in Egypt for four hundred years and then return to Canaan, and only then will I give Canaan to you." Although Jacob is living in Canaan now, it is not his land. The story of Joseph marks the prelude and the beginning of Israel becoming a nation over four hundred years and then entering Canaan. A story of enormous scale began with an unimaginable event. From the moment the brothers returned because of the famine, and Joseph accused them of being spies, the journey of Israel forming a nation, leaving Egypt, entering Canaan, and establishing God’s kingdom began. This marvelous plan of salvation continues.

 

God's Calling and Our Salvation

We often misunderstand salvation. Many people simply and easily conclude: 'I believe in Jesus, and God has clearly promised salvation, so I am ultimately a saved person. Therefore, I just need to live under God's care and guidance on earth, and then go to heaven when I die.'

 

Salvation is a Process, Not a Finished Product

Sadly, your life is not that simple. Regardless of your age, every day you live on this earth is far from simple. This is because there is a purpose in the calling with which God has called you. And God will absolutely fulfill that purpose in every person, even in those who believe in Jesus right before they die. No one can escape the purpose for which God took hold of them with His hand and made them His children. This was true for Joseph, and it was true for his brothers.

 

This is why Joseph did not fully know, fully comprehend, or clearly understand everything that was happening. Joseph was about thirty years old, but Jacob was about seventy years old before he "gained wisdom," so to speak. He did not know why God was putting him through this hardship or why he was doing this work. When did Jacob gain wisdom? Right before he died, he met Pharaoh of Egypt and blessed him. To bless means that the person giving the blessing is superior to the person receiving it. That is, Jacob was superior to Pharaoh. It was then that he confessed, "The years of my life have been difficult." At that point, throughout Jacob's life (although God had cared for him and built him up even before then), he finally began to speak "sensible" words.

 

What about Abraham? How much unwavering faith did we truly see in him toward God until he bore a son at the age of one hundred? How often did he waver? If God were to tell you, "I have walked with you for thirty years," you might think, 'What have I really done for thirty years of going to church and believing in Jesus?' God would be truly disappointed. This is because every single day God has granted you on this earth—is being used to accomplish His marvelous work through people like us—a work that you, Joseph, his brothers, or Jacob could never have conceived.

 

God's Purpose and Our Weakness

Therefore, not a single life among you is meaningless, and no one's life is as empty or fruitless as we might think. You judge your life based on your own goals: 'If I achieve this, it's a good life; if I become a person like this, I'm decent.' However, the hand of God, guiding you with His profound wisdom, does not mold people like bricks in a factory, saying, 'A person who resembles Jesus is like this.' Some people might still make you wonder, 'When will they ever get there?' yet, in certain aspects, they might exhibit an unimaginable resemblance to the Lord.

 

You and I are called to live a life of unceasing humility on this earth. Those who think, 'Ah, I thought I was standing firm, I thought I was somewhat decent, I thought I had drawn closer to the Lord,' are precisely the ones who come to confess, "Lord, I am a sinner, and I cannot live a single day without Your grace, without Your hand." The world may not see it, but they begin to know it thoroughly: that if they let go of the Lord's hand for even a moment, they are nothing. This is what we call faith. This is the meaning of the word belief. I am nothing without depending on God.

 

If life is about learning this, then whether a person is what is called a 'matured person' does not depend on being only morally pure, or how capable and successful they are in the world. It depends on whether they have learned how to rely on the Lord, how they have realized their own weakness, and whether they are becoming a person who relies solely on the cross of Christ, throughout their life on earth, until the end, for the reason God sent them here.

 

God's Blessing in Our Frailty

This is why your bodies lose strength as you age. When we have physical strength, we tend to rely less on God. Let go of that strength. So, don't be too discouraged. You may say, "It's hard to even stand up nowadays," when your knees are weak, but at that moment you realize, 'Ah, my flesh is nothing special. I must rely on the Lord.' Which is a happy and blessed life? Is it 'I can still do everything on my own strength'? Or is it 'Yes, God has given me health, wisdom, and a good job, but if God is absent, all this is nothing'?

 

As you consider your life, remember that God's salvation is being accomplished, and you are part of that life. Instead of striving to become some 'acceptable human being' you have defined for yourself, when you look to the cross in Christ and realize beneath the cross, "Lord, I want to be a person who only understands who I am in this cross, knows myself within it, and relies solely on you," you will know that the fruits of humility, patience, love, and forgiveness will accompany and ripen in your life.

 

Like a Branch Attached to the Tree

Perhaps some of you grow small trees or fruit-bearing plants at home. Have you ever seen a fruit tree standing alone, thinking daily, "Today, I need to grow one-third of an apple on my right branch"? Have you seen that apple claim it belongs to itself? Doesn't the apple bear fruit because it is meant to fall, to be eaten by animals or people, and to spread its seeds? The branch didn't bear it alone; it received nourishment from the tree and its roots. Have you seen a branch wake up every morning, open its eyes, and exercise, saying, "Today I must bear fruit"? It is simply attached to the tree.

 

Why do we keep forgetting this parable from the Lord? Your focus should be more on 'Do I know Christ? How am I attached to Christ? What is my situation with Christ? How am I relying on the cross?' and not on 'How can I become a better human being?' The only way for you to become a better human being is the cross. The only way for you to become an acceptable person is the grace of the Lord. All the acceptable people we create, and the moment we think we are acceptable, we inevitably become boastful and fall into pride.

 

Will a person who studied hard and got good grades be moved by the grace of the Lord, or will they say, "Of course, if you study, you get good scores"? It's the obvious outcome. But if a person studies hard and also realizes, 'Ah, my life is not determined by my study; my life is truly in the hands of God,' will they boast about their scores and grades, or will they confess, "This, too, is God's grace"?

 

The Confession of a True Believer

Please reconsider your faith from the beginning. On what are you stacking these stones? If you are building your own house and living to prove how acceptable you are, you are unknowingly moving away from the teachings of Jesus. However, if you daily think, "Why am I so inadequate? I am truly wretched. I am truly a sinner," yet do not dwell there but say, "That is why I will grasp Jesus. That is why I rely on the Lord. Lord, save me, revive me, hold me fast," then you are a believer. You are a child of God.

 

No one can defeat such a person. Who can defeat a humble person? Who can make a person who knows they are a sinner despair? Who can point a finger at a person who confesses that they can do nothing by their own strength in this world? It is the one with their chin up and eyes looking down who is unappealing; the person who knows "I truly am nothing" is who we call a person of character, isn't it? Where does this come from? It comes from knowing Jesus. Only when we realize that a true King is above us, that He governs our lives, and that He even gave up everything for us, can a person become truly humble. Considering how smart you are and how much hardship you overcame to get here, who would naturally become humble? This is just the way it is, isn't it?

 

Joseph's Test and God's Refining

The story of Joseph is significant in this regard. He, too, was in the narrative of God guiding and shaping us. When Joseph spoke to his brothers and they claimed they were not spies, Joseph brought up this point: "We are honest men. There were originally twelve brothers, but the youngest remains with our father in Canaan, and one is no more." So far, they were honest.

 

The True Meaning of 'Test'

'One is no more.' Joseph must have secretly yearned to say, 'You sold him!' But Joseph did not say that. Instead, he said, "Very well. Then I will test you to see if you are truly honest." This word, 'test' (nāsāh in Hebrew), is one of the key words in Genesis chapter 42. It appears only once in Genesis, within the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).

 

This word for 'test' appears in the book of Job, used when Job confesses, "When God has tested me (refined me), I will come forth as gold." This word is similar to the words meaning to refine or to purify metal. In the Psalms, it is translated differently. In Psalm 11, when it says, "The LORD tests the righteous," it means that He is not trying to destroy them, but to refine them. To give you a clearer understanding of this word, here is a verse that encapsulates all these meanings: Psalm 26:2, "Test me, O LORD, and try me; examine my heart and my mind." This is the context in which the word is used.

 

God's Word Refined Joseph

Therefore, we can see that when Joseph says he is testing his brothers, he is not intending to destroy or kill them. So, why did he suddenly use this word 'test' here? Think about Joseph's life. What kind of life had it been for twenty years? The Psalms speak of it, too. What is said about Joseph's story? It is said that "the word of the LORD refined him."

 

Because Joseph had been refined through the Word, he also told his brothers, "I will test you." He had learned this way. Through this process, God would now refine not only the brothers but Joseph as well. God had brought up the issue of Canaan again, meaning He had called forth Jacob and his descendants. Joseph must have wanted to ask, 'Then, God, what do You want me to do? Or why did You let this happen to me?' Ultimately, Joseph begins to understand this through the test.

 

The Test Transformed from Death to Life

The first test was, 'If your words are truly honest and sincere, you must all remain here, and I will send one person back to Canaan to bring the youngest brother. Then I will believe your words are true.' Since they claimed to be a family, only twelve brothers, and had no reason to spy on Egypt, Joseph demanded the youngest brother be brought.

 

In verse 15, he declares: "You will be proved by this: By the life of Pharaoh, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here." Two things are revealed here: one is that the youngest brother must be brought, and the other is that he swears by the life of Pharaoh. This is uncharacteristic of Joseph.

 

The content of this proposed scenario is quite negative, as you can see by a small calculation of the consequences. It takes a minimum of ten to fifteen days to travel from Canaan to Egypt to meet Joseph. It would take fifteen days for one person to return to Canaan to fetch Benjamin, the youngest, and then a month would pass until they proved their story, plus a few more days to carry the grain back. That is a total of forty-five days. What would happen in forty-five days? Jacob in Canaan would die. The entire family there would perish.

 

Joseph knew this fact; he changes the test three days later. Before that, this test was a test where they would surely die. It was a death sentence, even if the word 'death' wasn't explicitly used.

 

However, from Joseph's perspective, his initial test was quite understandable. Did Joseph have the right to kill his brothers, or should he have just given them grain and said, "Farewell"? Joseph had the full right to seek revenge. Moreover, he was the second-in-command. He could throw them in prison or send them away with grain; it was entirely up to him. But the first test he posed was one where everyone would die if they followed the instructions exactly.

 

Three days later, he presents a different test. Look at what changed in verse 18: "On the third day Joseph said to them, 'I fear God.'" It is completely different. Earlier, he swore by the life of Pharaoh, but this time he says, "I fear God," and concludes verse 18 with, "Do this and you will live." How can they live? 'Let one of your brothers be confined here, and the rest of you go and carry the grain to your starving households.' Now it makes sense. Earlier, it truly meant death. But this time, he talks about saving their lives. And finally, he says, "Bring your youngest brother to me, and your words will be verified, and you will not die." Earlier, he said they would not leave, and this time, he says they will not die.

 

What kind of test has it become now? It has become a test of life. Do you see how different it is? The former was death, and the latter is life.

 

Life After Death: The Structure of the Gospel

When we look at this structure, what is it? The structure where life follows death—this is what we call the structure of the Gospel. The most crucial element in the structure of the Gospel is how life came out of death.

 

Why the Covenant is Renewed Through Worship

When we worship, some may ask, "Why do we confess our sins during worship, and why is the assurance of pardon proclaimed through God's Word?" This is partly because they are unfamiliar with the sequence, but also because they think, 'I am clearly saved and my sins are already forgiven, so why should I pray the prayer of pardon every time we worship?'

 

This follows a fundamental principle. Worship is different from the sacrifices of the Old Testament because those sacrifices were fulfilled through Jesus Christ. The form and appearance are all different. However, Christ is the center of worship. The work Christ did and the blessings He gave us are the core of this worship. Therefore, the works Christ accomplished for us are revealed in this worship.

 

His bearing the cross for us, His making us aware that we are sinners, His granting us the forgiveness of sins, His teaching us the Word, teaching us to pray, teaching us to sing, and His blessing us and saying, "I will be with you"—these are the elements that make up worship.

 

Therefore, when we gather together publicly for worship, we repeat the work of salvation that God accomplished through Christ. Why do we repeat it? By doing so, we confirm where our salvation comes from, what our salvation is like, and that we are people living in Christ. More importantly, we renew (Renew) the covenant we made with God.

 

We publicly worship, saying, "Lord, you are my King. God started this work, and God accomplished it. Therefore, I praise God." That is why these elements—the praise, prayer, and the Word commanded by Scripture—are necessarily included in public worship.

 

The Daily Life is the Life of Worship

However, this worship does not end in the public gathering; it must also live and breathe in your daily life. How should we live? Every day you realize who you are before the Lord and repent. Every day you enjoy the joy of the assurance of pardon given by the Lord. Why? Because of Jesus Christ.

 

Every day, you must draw near to the Word of the Lord. If you spend the day without the Word, you are neglecting your life of worship. If you say, 'I will live the life of worship as if every day were worship,' you are living that very life of worship. We must never neglect the Lord's Word and prayer with the Lord, and we live that day in the blessing the Lord provides. "I will be with you. The grace and blessing of My triune God will keep you today as well." We live that day in this blessing. We live by that worship. Your everyday life is the life of worship; it is the life of Christ.

 

Joseph's Tears and the Brothers' Realization

We are about to discuss what was needed for the work of salvation to happen—the forgiveness of sins granted by God after we confess our sins through worship.

 

The Brothers' Repentance Through the Test

When Joseph proposed the test of life, the brothers began talking to each other. As Genesis 42:20 says, "You will not die," the text clearly says, "They did so." This means the brothers agreed to follow Joseph's proposal: 'Take the grain and save your families, but one of you must remain here.'

 

After that discussion, the brothers began talking about Joseph, as we examined last week. Why did Joseph's story suddenly come up? We simply think, 'They must have felt sorry for Joseph,' but the story came up as a reaction to their earlier agreement, "They did so." It meant that one of the ten remaining brothers must remain, and that one person, though they did not yet know who it would be, was as good as dead.

 

They began to realize the immense agony of their situation. They understood how much Joseph must have suffered, abandoned, left alone in the pit, in prison, and finally sold into slavery, and how much he must have pleaded for his life. They did not want to remain there. Thus, they began to repent, saying, 'Ah, now we understand Joseph's agony.'

 

This realization is further highlighted by Reuben's subsequent words. Reuben answered them: "Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy?... But you would not listen! That is why we are now held accountable for his blood." Bloodguilt means death. They regarded Joseph as dead, and being held accountable for his blood means blood for blood, death for death. Reuben was also thinking that one person remaining meant regarding that one as dead; one person had to die for the others to live.

 

The Core of Salvation: The One Person, Jesus Christ

You are now witnessing the process through which Joseph came to understand the words he would later speak: "God sent me ahead of you to preserve life." Through the test he proposed, Joseph began to realize why he was there and why he was doing this work. What was needed? One person was needed. One person had to die so that all the others could live.

 

In our case, how do we, all of us in sin, receive forgiveness? One person must be present. Who was it? Jesus Christ! Without Christ, worship and our lives could not be realized, and these brothers could not have lived. Ultimately, as Joseph carried out this task, he began to realize why he was in that place.

 

Therefore, when the brothers confessed their sin, Joseph wept, not his brothers. Did Joseph weep out of self-pity for his own circumstances? No. Why did Joseph weep? He might have thought, 'My brothers finally understand my heart.' But he didn't tell them. He finally began to realize why this was happening, why his brothers were finally distressed and suffering with a heart of repentance, and why he himself had endured such unimaginable pain until now. That is why he wept. He wept for himself and he wept for his brothers. And we can also see that repentance took place in his own life.

 

After transforming the problem of death into the problem of life, he began to give everything to his brothers. He put the money they had paid back into their sacks and gave them provisions for the journey. This was tremendous kindness, an act of great generosity and compassion—it was love. Why did he do that? Joseph had absolutely no reason to go to such lengths for his brothers, but think about why he wept. He had finally begun to forgive his brothers.

 

"What Is This That God Has Done to Us?"

I hope that as you witness Joseph’s transformation, your lives will also change. Through the countless events God allows in our lives, He helps us understand why we are living on this earth, how precious we are, and how valuable we are as a brick in God's kingdom. Although we may see ourselves as insignificant, there is no insignificant person from God's perspective. No one is a lightweight, and God clearly says in the book of Zephaniah, "He will rejoice over you with gladness."

 

The Regret of Not Enjoying the Blessing

It is a loss for you not to know and not to enjoy this truth. To that extent, you suffer and are wounded. A life that knows how much God delights in them, that seeks to enjoy that freedom and joy in the Lord, and that can still be thankful, saying, "God, thank you," precisely because they are forgiven, is naturally a blessed life. It's a pity we don't enjoy what we have. How regretful it would be to go to heaven without ever having used the gift we possess? The blessing God has given you is so great and beautiful that it will not vanish, even if you spend it, use it, give it, and bestow it upon others for your whole life. What an amazing grace this is!

 

Brothers Fearing a Gesture of Goodwill

But what did the brothers do when they discovered the warm love and favor Joseph had shown? They had paid for the grain, but when they opened their sacks on the way, the money was still there. Honestly, most of us would think, 'What a windfall! They must have forgotten and put it back. We got it for free!' But the brothers did not think that way; instead, fear arose: 'Are we going to be caught and arrested again because of this?'

 

Even in their eyes, Joseph's favor was clearly a good deed. Providing provisions for the journey was a gesture of goodwill and love. If he intended to set a trap, he wouldn't have done that. But do you know the question they asked? They were looking at their own lives through their own eyes when they asked it. That question is the title of today's sermon: "God, why have You done this thing to us?"

 

Why did Joseph put the money back? Because he loved them, he had begun to forgive them, and he regarded them as his brothers. But in the brothers' eyes, it was a troublesome burden. They had no reason to be happy about it. They were distressed and began to complain to God. 'Why me?' They reacted this way even to a good thing they received.

 

God's Answer Amidst the Suffering

Does this sound like someone else's story? How is your life? If things go your way, even a little, you devote all your love to God. You seem to give Him everything, willing to do anything for the Lord. But what happens when just one thing goes wrong? You question if God is alive. 'Is He really alive? How could this happen? Why me?' Or, as in this story, "What is this that God has done to us?"—you keep asking.

 

Do you know God's magnificent answer to your same question?

"It is because I love you. It is because I forgive you. It is because I delight in you. It is because I am your Father. It is because I hold you fast and love you to the end. It is because nothing can snatch you away from Me. It is because I keep you through everything. It is because I love you that this event is in your life."

 

Even in the suffering you experience because of the sin you committed, God is not abandoning you. Christ is speaking: "I died for that. Therefore, don't stay there; rise up, repent, and return. I am waiting for you." This is God's love, but when your bank account is a little low, you are a little sicker than usual, you are upset due to a problem with someone, or something you desire isn't going well, and you ask, "God, what is this that God has done to us?" What is God's answer? "It is because I love you."

 

"God, That Is Why You Are God"

That is why gratitude should flow from us. Fortunately, the brothers are in an ongoing process, and Joseph is still in an ongoing process. Joseph doesn't know everything yet, and the brothers don't know everything yet. We don't know everything yet, either. But my beloved, every time we learn the story of Joseph, learn about your life, and realize God's love, I urge you to confess, not "What is this that God has done to us," but "God, that is why You are God."

 

Pray that you will receive the wisdom, realization, and gratitude from the Lord to enjoy the life of walking with the Lord who loves you. Pray that you will be able to look upon all the things you have experienced in the Lord, and not be among those who were distressed, trembling, and fearful upon seeing the money in the sack, but among those who confess, "Lord, thank you. I will diligently carry this. Thank you for putting the money back so I can walk with strong legs," even with the money in the sack. Do not say, "What is this that God has done to us," even when money is put in, and remember to go to the Lord.

 

Let us pray.

Like the hand of Joseph, who gave them grain, put their money back into their sacks, and gave them provisions for the journey, the Lord loves us so much that He ultimately gave Himself to us. Yet, we have denied, scorned, and ultimately refused that love. Now, Lord, help us to realize who we are—the recipients of such love. Help us to know and realize why God has granted us this life, that we are not ordinary but truly special people, that the Lord is not only the owner of our lives but that we are children of God, loved by the Lord who created this entire universe. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.