From the Pit to the Palace

Have you ever fallen into the pits of despair and felt there was no way out for you? Oh yes, you could say, well, I believe in God and I'm aware of his promises, but the pit is just too deep, and the way out for me just seems impossible. You might think that even God cannot fix what has happened to you. There is a story, a true story, obviously, it's in the Bible, of a young man who was literally thrown into a pit and eventually winds up in the palace of the most powerful ruler on earth at that time. Of course, the story of this young man could parallel the story of many people through the centuries. It's a good story. It's not just a story. It's not fairyland. It's a true story. The principles contained herein are applicable for those of you who will be entering the public schools of the state of Texas tomorrow—not tomorrow, but Monday morning. The young man is Joseph. The title of the sermon is From the Pit to the Palace.

Joseph was Jacob's 11th son, the firstborn of his favorite wife, Rachel. Let's turn to Genesis 13, verse 22. You know the story how Jacob fled from the face of Esau after Esau had given him the birthright. Actually, Jacob and his mother cooked up a scheme. They deceitfully deceived Isaac into giving the birthright to Jacob. And Jacob fled to his uncle's house, Uncle Laban, Rebecca's brother. He was promised a wife. He thought he was getting Rachel. He worked for seven years, and the wedding took place. And it wasn't Rachel, it was Leah. So he worked another seven years, and eventually he was given Rachel as his wife. In Genesis 30, verse 22, God remembered Rachel and God hearkened to her and opened her womb. And she conceived and bare a son and said, God has taken away my reproach. And she called his name Joseph and said, The Lord shall add to me another son. And it came to pass when Rachel had born Joseph that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go into my own place into my country and give me my wives and my children. Jacob had two wives, Leah and Rachel, and then he had two. He calls him wives, so he concubines by the handmaidens of Leah and Rachel. Then we see that one more son was born. Jacob had, of course, twelve sons, which became the twelve tribes of Israel. He had sons by Leah, then he had sons by two of those concubines, and then Rachel had two sons, verse 30, the youngest of which was Benjamin. And for a little while, which he had before I come, it is now increased into a multitude, and the Lord blessed that since my coming, and now when shall I provide for mine own house also. And he said, What shall I give you? And Jacob said, You shall not give me anything if you will do this thing for me. I will again feed and keep my flock. So Jacob was just basically saying, Give me what is mine, and I will go my way.

Here's an overview of Joseph's life, an overview of Joseph's life, and then we will come back and fill in the details. Joseph's life, he was hated by his brothers, betrayed by his brothers, stripped of every vestige of what he was and what he dreamed of being.

He lost his identity in the clothes on his back. He was cast into the pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused by his master's wife, cast into prison for his faithfulness to the law of God, became a prison guard, exalted in due season, and becomes the ruler of the land. His brothers bowed down to him. He rules over them. He forgives them, and there is restoration. There are 14 points there that I just read. So what sustained Joseph in all of this? I would call it, once again, the three C's.

Conviction, he believed with all his heart and being in God and was faithful to God. He was committed to carrying out what God had revealed to him in a dream, as we shall see. He acted courageously in the face of great trial and difficulty. Another way of expressing this is to say that Joseph lived by faith. He believed God, and regardless of the circumstances, he was committed to doing that which was right.

So the simplest definition, once again, of faith is to believe God and do what he says. Joseph planned ahead. He kept his eye on the big picture. His attitude and motivation were more dedicated to doing the right thing than in advancing himself. He understood Romans 8.28, which we quote here, "...all things work together for good to those who love God and called according to his purpose." He understood the providence of God. Do you know what providence means? Of course, there is a college in Rhode Island named Providence. Providence means that God is looking out for your best interests years in advance. Who knows what God has planned for you?

As you sit there as a young person this afternoon, you may be eight years old, 10, 12, 15, 20, or whatever your age. Who knows what you'll be doing a year from now or 20 years from now? But I believe God knows a great deal about our lives years in advance. The life story of so many people in the Bible is one of ups and downs. It is as if they're on a yo-yo string, but all the while God is working his great purpose in and through them.

And the same it is. That's the way that we should view our lives, that God is working out a great purpose in our lives. Yes, you! You may say, little old me, yes, you! Hopefully that's one of the reasons why you're sitting here this afternoon. Apparently Joseph believed his dreams were from God. There is no record of Joseph ever feeling sorry for himself, bemoaning his fate, or even asking God, Why is this happening to me?

Joseph did not fall prey to what Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote in 1847. In this poem, I quote, Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean, Tears from the depths of some divine despair, rise in the heart and gather to the eyes, In looking on the happy autumn fields, and thinking of the days that are no more.

In other words, looking to the past, living in the past, saying the past was better than what lies ahead. And the saying that I have quoted from time to time, I don't know who said it, I pity the man who is prouder of his past than his future. The Word of God admonishes us to ever push forward, to press forward, not to be ruled by the past.

The Bible is called the Book of Life. It is the source of true education. That our educational system is not designed to teach us the secrets of life, to answer the great questions of life. I don't think it's any secret to any of us. We know that. In school, basically, they teach everything except how to live. But if you learn and apply all the principles in this sermon, you will know a great deal about life and about living life the way it should be lived.

So let's look at Joseph's background. As you recall, Jacob, Joseph's father, was given the blessing, the promise, and the birthright from his father, Isaac. Jacob, the man whose name was changed to Israel, meaning Prince of or ruling with God. He struggled and wrestled with God, literally, one night, and said, I will not let you go until you bless me. And he struggled mightily all the days of his life in order to fulfill his mission in life. Jacob had many admirable qualities, but he lived a problem-plagued life.

Jacob and his mother deceived Isaac into giving the blessings, the promises associated with the birthright, to Jacob instead of to the firstborn twin he saw. In turn, Jacob was deceived by his uncle, Laban, who gave him Leah as his wife and son of Rachel.

After Jacob was finally married to Rachel, he favored her over Leah. And after Rachel finally had a son, as we have read, he favored Joseph over the other sons. Let's look at Genesis 37. Genesis 37 and verse 1. Genesis 37, and Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger in the land of Canaan. Remember, Abraham had come out of over the Chaldees into that land. These are the generations of Jacob, Joseph being 17 years old. 17.

Sort of mid-teens to late teens. He was feeding the flock with his brethren, and the lad was with the sons of Bilhye and the sons of Zilphai, his father's wives. So Jacob had four wives, Leah, these two, and Rachel. And Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a coat of many colors. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all the other brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably unto him. Such friction in the family! How uncomfortable it must have been for all of them! When we read this, questions immediately come to mind. What does it do to a family when parents show a preference for one child over the other? What do you think it did to this family to have the father love one wife more than the others? Was it a blessing to Joseph to be preferred by his father over his brothers? As we've just read here, his brothers hated him and refused to speak a kind word to him. Jacob's favoritism toward Joseph couple with the fact that Joseph openly boasted of his dreams, and his apparent destiny made his brothers even more jealous, as we continue to read here in verse 5.

Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers. They hated him yet the more. Why? And he said unto them, Here I pray you this dream, which I have dreamed. For behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaves arose, and also stood upright. And behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance for my sheaves. In other words, your sheaves bowed down to my sheaves. He bowed down, and his brothers said to him, Shall you indeed reign over us, or shall you indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams and for his words. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brothers and said, It's like Joseph had a little bit of a means to his streak, and he wanted to rub it in, probably not wise. Behold, I have dreamed a dream more. And behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. And he said it to his father and to his brothers, and his father rebuked him and said unto him, What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to you, to the earth? And his brethren envied him, but his father observed the same. So you know here again the brothers were jealous. Why were they jealous as opposed to just thinking Joseph was a nut? Well, perhaps something made them worry that he might just be right. And you'll note here that it says that Jacob kept these sayings stored away in his mind.

Remember, as we've already noted, that Jacob had a personal encounter with God himself and wrestled with him and wouldn't let him go until he blessed him. At a later time, the older brothers were sent out to graze the flocks. And after some time passes, Jacob sends Joseph out to check on them. And when they see him coming, they begin to devise a plot to kill him. So we pick it up again here in verse 18.

See, from pit to palace, And we will say some evil beast has devoured him, and we shall see what becomes of this dreamer and of his dreams. And Reuben heard it. Now, Reuben is the firstborn, and being the firstborn, he was, in essence, responsible for the brothers. And so he knew that Jacob would be greatly grieved if Joseph were killed. So Reuben tries to intervene, and Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands and said, Let us not kill him. And Reuben said unto them, She had no blood but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him. I mean, that would be a worse death than killing him. A pit that has no water, no food, no way out, dying of thirst and starvation. But anyhow, we wouldn't say that we put our hands on him, that he might rid him out of their hands to deliver him to his father again. So he had a plan. Well, we'll cast him into the pit, then I'll come back later and rescue him and get him out, and bring him to Father Jacob. And it came to pass when Joseph was come unto his brothers, that they stripped Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him. And they took him and cast him into a pit, and the pit was empty. There was no water in it.

No water in it.

But Reuben, remember, had he thought, well, we'll cast him into this pit, and I'll come back later and I'll get him.

And they sat down to eat bread, and they lifted up their eyes, and looked behold, a company of Ishmaelites, and of course Ishmaelites are descendants of Esau, because Esau and the Ishmaelites go together. The Ishmaelites came from Gilead with their camels, bearing Spicerie and Balm and Mer, going to carry it down to Egypt. And Judah said unto his brothers, What profit is if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? I mean, let's make some money off of this after all. And of course, people make jokes about Jews and Judah. Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hands be upon him, for he is our brother, and our flesh, and his brothers were content. Okay, let's do that. They switched from overnight, overnight, in space of a short time, from let's kill him to let's sell him. Then they're passed by the many nights, merchantmen, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver, and they brought Joseph into Egypt. You know, what do you think the brothers were thinking? Especially when they sat down to eat, and here was Joseph in the pit. I wonder what Joseph was saying. It doesn't say what Joseph was saying. It doesn't say, well, Joseph was begging for his life. He was scratching and clawing and yelling. But the brothers, as they sat there eating with their brother in the pit, and before they saw the Ishmaelites, their intent was to kill him. What were they thinking? Were they reminded of his dreams as they bid him farewell? What about Joseph? He was there in the pit. Do you think he reflected back on his dreams? Do you think he was ready to give up? Do you think that Joseph might have thought that God had forsaken him, and that all was lost? His coat of many colors was gone, and all of his worldly anchors were gone as well. The horrible hands of the devil may push you into the pit of suffering, sadness, and shame, but only the power and grace of God will lift you and place you in your Father's house. The trials that could destroy you can become building blocks on your journey of faith as you look for the hand of God in all circumstances. I would think that Joseph was praying fervently while he was in the pit, that God would deliver him, and I would believe that he would reflect back on the dreams that he had. The trials can destroy you, and it will if you do not respond correctly. When God is going to do something wonderful, he may often begin with a difficulty with a trial to test you to see. Can he commit to you? Can he place in sacred trust whatever great responsibility he has? Here's what Samuel Rutherford wrote, "'Praise God for the hammer, the file, and the furnace. The hammer molds us, the file sharpens us, and fire tempers us.' And Joseph experienced it all, but he was ready to be used of God." So Joseph is now in the pit, and every vestige is gone, the many nights come along, and they lift him out of the pit. Now, Reuben comes back to the pit, and he sees that Joseph is gone, and he is beside himself, apparently realizing that his father is going to hold him responsible. He is the firstborn, that is Reuben. So we look at verse 29, "'And Reuben returned unto the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit. And he rent his clothes, mourning. And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not, and I don't. And where shall I go? I mean, how can I go back and tell my father Jacob this, the son he loves so dearly, and I'm the one he holds responsible for his life?' And it just sort of leaves that off there. In verse 31, "'And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood.

And they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father, and said, This how we found, know now whether it be your son's coat or not.' We just don't know, you know, but we found it. What hypocrites! And he knew it and said, It is my son's coat. An evil beast has devoured him, and Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him. And the Midianites sold him into Egypt, unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaohs, and a captain of the guard." You know, in all of this, once again, you don't find anything about Joseph being filled with envy, jealousy, strife. And God, of course, tests to see whether or not we will be faithful in the face of trials. The providence of God was at work throughout all of this. Once again, what is the providence of God? In simple language. God always has our best interest in heart, and he is looking out for us years in advance. Several laws of family relationships have been broken on the way to the pit. Jacob's favoritism of one wife over another, Jacob's favoritism of Joseph, perhaps Joseph also is responsible in the way he shared his dreams, seemingly in an arrogant way. That's one of the few things maybe we could fault Joseph for. However, we must not forget that God gave Joseph his dreams. God was with Joseph, and what God had revealed to Joseph through those dreams was going to come to pass. So did God know that Joseph was going to become a slave? I think he probably did, because he knew how Joseph's brothers felt about him. The Ishmaelites brought Joseph down to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, an officer in Pharaoh's court. So we pick it up again in Genesis 39, verse 1. And Joseph was brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard in Egyptian, bought him off the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down there. And the Eternal was with Joseph, and the Eternal was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man, and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Eternal was with him, and that the Eternal made all that he did to prosper in his hand. So even this, I would assume, the official religion of Egypt, it's the worship of the Son, that even this man, this idol worshiper, recognized that there was something very special about Joseph. That Joseph was a man of an excellent spirit. That Joseph was a man that could be trusted. He could be trusted with everything, including his wife. So he saw that the Eternal was with him, and the Eternal made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found favor in his sight, and he served him. And he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. So that's the kind of man that Joseph was, and Potiphar recognized it. And it came to pass from time to time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Eternal blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake. And the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house and in the field. And he, Potiphar, left all that he had in Joseph's hand. And he knew not aught he had saved the bread which he did eat.

So Joseph was totally submissive. He was totally loyal. And then what happens? Potiphar's wife tries to seduce Joseph. Remember now that Joseph is quite a young man. The first time we pick up the story there, 17 years of age.

So verse 7, And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph, and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and he said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master knows not what it is with me in this house, and he has committed all things he has to my hand. In other words, he entrusted me with everything. There's nothing held back. That's the kind of trust that he has in me. There is none greater in this house than I, neither has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? And it came to pass as she spoke to Joseph day by day. It wasn't a one-time thing. She kept on. That he hearkened not unto her to lie by her or to be with her. And it came to pass about this time that Joseph went into the house to do his business, or as he was going to the bathroom. And there was none of the men of the house there within. And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me! And he left his garment in her hand and fled and got him out. And it came to pass when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and was fled forth. Then she called unto the men of her house and spoke unto them, saying, See, he has brought in and Hebrew unto us to mock us. He came unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a lyrep voice. And it came to pass when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried that he left the garment with me and fled and got him out. And she laid up his garment by her until his Lord came home. Why would she do this? Why would she do this? By refusing her, it placed Joseph in a superior moral position to her. So she says, I'll show you, Mr. High and Mighty, you cannot refuse me. I will bring you down. I will put you in your place. Her motives are similar to those of Joseph's brothers.

So you think you're superior to me? I'll put you where you need to be. And from Cain and Abel to the present day, this is one of the sad themes of human history. Envy. Jealousy. But God is with Joseph, and he continues to work out his plan. So, verse 20, While Joseph is in prison, he interprets the dreams of two former members of Pharaoh's court who have been thrown into jail with him. One of these former court members, Pharaoh's chief cupbearer, is restored to his position according to Joseph's interpretation of his dream that this person had.

So in Genesis 40, verse 9, The chief butler told his dream to Joseph and said, In my dream behold a vine was before me, and in the vine were three branches, and it was as though it butted, and the blossoms shot forth, and the clushers thereof brought forth ripe grapes. And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup unto Pharaoh.

And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it. The three branches are three days. Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up your hand, restore you into your place, and you shall deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand after the former manor when you were his butler. But think on me when it shall be well with you, and show kindness I pray you unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house. For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and there also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.

So based on this, it was fulfilled what he had said. You look at verse 20. And it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all the servants, and lifted up the head of his chief butler, and of the chief baker among his servants. And he restored the chief butler unto his butler ship again. He gave the cup unto Pharaoh's hand, but he hanged the chief butler as Joseph had interpreted to them.

Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him. But time rocks on, as we shall see here. So Pharaoh has a dream about cows and grain, which bothers him, and the wise men cannot interpret the dream. So we pick it up again in chapter 41, verse 1. It came to pass at the end of two full years that Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he stood by the river.

And I'm not going to read the dream. I think we know about the fat cows and the lean cows and the dream that Pharaoh had. In verse 7, Theaneers devoured the seven rank and full ears, and Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. He came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled. And he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all the wise men thereof.

And Pharaoh told the wise men thereof, and Pharaoh told them the dream. But none of them could interpret the dream. Then, then, then spoke the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day. Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me inward in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief of Baker. And we dreamed a dream in the night. I and he, and we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream. And there was this young man, Hebrew, the servant of the captain of the guard, and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams.

To each man, according to his dream, he did interpret. And it came to pass as he interpreted to us, so it was. Me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged. Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon, say, two years. And he shaved himself, changed his clothing, and came unto Pharaoh, and Pharaoh told him the dream.

And Joseph interpreted the dream of seven years of plenty and seven years of drought and going without. So why do you think the chief cupbearer tells Pharaoh about Joseph now?

Did he just now remember him? Perhaps this triggered something in his mind. Or was it just to benefit himself to tell Pharaoh about the prisoner, Joseph? Joseph immediately gives credit to God for this. Verse 16, and Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me, God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. And Pharaoh said unto judgment, In my dream, behold, and then he repeated the dream, and Joseph interpreted and told him what to do.

Now we read in verse 39, verse 39. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God has shewed you all of this, There is none so discreet and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and according unto your word shall all my people be ruled. Only in the throne will I be greater than you. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him investors of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck.

And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had, and they cried before him, Bow the knee! And he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without you shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.

And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-Punea, and he gave him a wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potipharah, priest of on, and Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. And Joseph was 30 years old when he stood before Pharaoh.

Now, I don't want to get too much sidetracked on this part about Joseph's wife, Asenath, A-S-E-N-A-T-H. It's an Egyptian name meaning gift of the sun god, daughter of Potipharah, and Potipharah means he whom the Ra, that is the sun god, gave.

The priest of on, or in the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament into Greek, they translate on as Heliopolis. Heliopolis means the city of the sun.

And here's what it says about the priest of on, an Egyptian priest of on, father of Asenath, the wife and Pharaoh gave to Joseph. The ballgate and the Septuagint versions have Heliopolis, city of the sun, instead of on in Genesis.

The city was known as the city of the sun god, shall become the city of destruction of the sun god, when idolatry shall cease, and the worship of the true god be established. In ancient times, this city was full of obelisks dedicated to the sun. Of these, only one now remained standing. Listen to this.

Only one now remained standing. Cleopatra's needle was one of those which stood in this city in front of the temple of Tom, T-U-M, which means the sun. It is now erected on the Thames Embankment in London. It was at on that Joseph wooed and won Asenath, the daughter of the high priest of its great temple.

This city was a noted university town, and this is probably one of the places where Moses was instructed, where he says he learned all of the wisdom of the Egyptians, being trained as an Egyptian prince. But through all of these horrible trials, Joseph recognizes the providence of God in his life, and even though he was the victim of hatred and betrayal, the worst of trials, Joseph remained faithful to God.

I think it is so amazing that through all of this, from being in accused falsely, to being in prison, to being cast in the dungeon, and all of the things that go with it, he never fell prey to the things that so often plagues so many of us when we are the victims of tragedy.

Things that keep people in the pit.

Blaming others for your situation. Others may be responsible for placing you in the pit, but blaming them and becoming bitter will not lift you out of the pit.

Becoming the victim provides some with status in their minds. Oh, I'm a victim. I'm innocent.

Refusing to let go of the bitterness.

Living for revenge. I'm going to get you back.

Withdrawing into a shell to insulate themselves from future hurts.

Living the life of martyrdom, that is, becoming sorry for self, and wallowing in the pits of self-pity.

So when you consider sinning, do you think about the life-altering consequences that could follow?

Now notice in chapter 42.

When Jacob saw that there was no corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do you look one upon another? And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt.

So go down there and buy for us corn, that we may live and not die.

And Joseph's ten brethren, not Benjamin, went down to buy the corn, but Benjamin was kept back.

And the sons of Israel came to buy corn.

Verse 6, And Joseph was a governor over the land, and it was sold to all the people of the land.

And Joseph's brothers came and bowed down themselves before him with their faces, to the earth. So there his dream is fulfilled, You shall bow down before me.

And Joseph saw his brothers, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, did not reveal his identity, and spoke roughly unto them, and he said unto them, Where do you come from? They said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. And Joseph knew his brothers, but they did not know him.

And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Your spies, to see the nakedness of the land, you are come.

And they said, No, my Lord, we just came to buy grain, we are your servants.

We are all one man's sons. We are true men. Your servants are no spies.

And he said unto them, No, but to see the nakedness of the land, you are come.

And they said, Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan.

And behold, the youngest is there with our Father, and one is not.

And Joseph said unto them, That is that I spoke unto you, saying, Your spies.

Hereby you shall be proved by the life of Pharaoh. You shall not go forth from here, except your youngest brother come here.

Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and you shall be kept from prison, that your words may be proved whether there be any truth in you, or else by the life of Pharaoh surely you are spies, and you'll be put together in the ward three days. And so, Joseph locked them up, in essence, for three days, and bring your youngest brother back with you.

So, Joseph tested them several times before he revealed himself to them.

Of course, your brothers are very afraid. Why do you think they are so afraid? Because they feel so guilty.

So, the brothers are given another test, and put a silver cup in Benjamin's sack. They brought Benjamin down. The cup is found in Benjamin's sack. He is arrested, and they all return to Joseph. Joseph tells them that they are free to go except for Benjamin.

And Judah offers Joseph a deal. How ironic!

So, look at chapter 44, verse 32.

In chapter 44, verse 32.

For your servant became surety for the lad unto my father. This is Judah speaking. If I bring him not unto you, then I shall bear the blame to my father forever.

Therefore, I pray you let your servant abide instead of the lad. A bond unto you, my Lord, and let the lad go up with his brethren.

For how shall I go to my father, and the lad be not with me? Lest per adventure I see evil, that shall come upon my father.

Then Joseph could not refrain himself. Here's one of the most emotional, gripping encounters in the whole Bible, where Joseph reveals himself to his brothers.

Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all of them that stood by him. And he cried, Cause every man to go out from me.

There stood no man without him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.

And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians in the house of Pharaoh heard.

And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph. Does my father yet live?

And his brothers could not answer him, for they were troubled at his presence.

And Joseph said unto his brothers, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near, and he said, I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

Now therefore be not grieved nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here.

For God did send me before you to preserve life. In other words, you were not big enough to do this, brothers. God allowed you to do it.

And because I am here, and because of the circumstances that have followed, that have ensued, your life and the life of Israel is going to be spared.

For these two years hath the famine been into the land, and yet there are five years in which there shall need to be earring or harvest.

And God sent me before you to preserve you of prostarity into earth, and to save your lives by great deliverance.

You talk about the providence of God.

Never sell yourself short of what God may be working out in your life, but you have to set goals. You may not have a dream, as Joseph had the dreams, but you can set goals, and you can rest assured that God is working in your life.

Joseph knew that.

Verse 8, So it was not you that sent me here, but God.

And he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and the Lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt, haste you, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith your son Joseph, God hath made me, Lord of Egypt, come down unto me, and don't mess around. And so Jacob and his household, some seventy people, came down into the land of Egypt, where they were spared, where there was plenty, because of the faithfulness of their brother, whom they had sold into slavery.

Of course, the brothers were concerned that Joseph would seek revenge, while Joseph believed that God had ordained this for good and not evil.

And Joseph forgave his brothers.

Why didn't he say, I told you so?

It was in the heart of Joseph to forgive. Joseph wept openly, and so deeply that it was heard all over the house.

The only mention of any of the brothers weeping is Benjamin.

Look at verse 14, chapter 45.

And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck.

More he kissed all his brothers, and wept upon them, and after that his brethren talked with him.

It only says that Benjamin wept.

It seems, based on the events that transpired after the death of their father Jacob, that the brothers acted more out of fear of the judgment of God, not wanting to cause their father any more grief than really believing that Joseph had forgiven them.

After the death of Jacob, 17 years later, note what happens after Jacob is buried.

Genesis 49.

Of course, Genesis 49 is where Jacob gives a prophecy for each of the sons.

In the last verse of Genesis 49, verse 33, And when Jacob had made end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into his bed, somewhat in a fetal position, and yielded up the spirit. He died, and was gathered unto his people, and Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him and kissed him.

And Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm his father, and the physicians embalmed Israel, or Jacob.

And forty days were fulfilled for him, for so were fulfilled the days of which are embalmed, and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

And when the days of mourning were passed, Joseph spoke unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, I pray you in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, My father made me swear, saying, I die in my grave, which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan.

Now therefore let me, I pray you, be buried near my father.

And so it was.

So they took him back to the place where Abraham and Isaac were buried, apparently.

Now, the interesting part about this now is in verse 15.

We'll read it 14. And Joseph returned into Egypt after the burial, he and his brothers, and all that went up with him to bury his father, and he had buried his father after he had buried his father.

And when Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us and will certainly requite us all the evil.

He will get his revenge upon us.

And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Your father did command before he died, saying, So shall you say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray you now, the trespass of your brethren and their sin, for they did you evil.

Now we pray you, forgive the trespass of the servants of this, the God of your father. And Joseph wept, and Joseph wept when they spoke unto him.

You see, apparently they had never asked Joseph to forgive them.

It was apparent that Joseph had forgiven them.

He wept, and he did all that he did for them. But now Jacob is dead after 17 years.

And so they bury him, they come back.

Well, now he's really going to get us.

They come to Joseph with this story, and Jacob, it just crushes him to the bone. Don't you know, can't you see?

I have forgiven you. And his brethren also went and fell down upon his face, and they said, Behold, we be your servants. Verse 19, and Joseph said unto them, Fear not, for I am in the place of God, but as for you, but as for you, you thought evil against me. But God meant it unto good to bring to pass, as it is this day to save much people alive.

Now therefore, fear you not, I will nourish you and your little ones, and be comforted and comfort them, and speak kindly unto them. And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father's house, and Joseph lived a hundred and ten years.

And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation.

You see, forgiveness.

Let's talk about forgiveness here for a few minutes.

We should have a forgiving attitude, of course, as Jesus did when he prayed on the stake after they had beaten him, driven the nails in his hands and his feet.

He was about to die, and he looked up and said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

The Lord's Prayer includes the words, and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.

But in carrying out our duty of forgiving, we should not overlook the cost of forgiveness, and regard it as an unthinking, knee-jerk reaction. It is obvious that Jacob's brothers, saved perhaps for Benjamin, did not understand forgiveness, did not understand that a person could have a pure heart, as Joseph did.

Yes, Joseph went from pit to palace.

God's forgiveness is contingent on the sinner repenting, and it can be given only by the one sinned against. And if your brother sins against you, review him.

And if he repents, forgive him. That's Luke 17, verses 3-4.

And if seven times of the day he sins against you, and seven times of the day turns to you saying, I repent, you shall forgive him.

So we should offer forgiveness the way God does, as a deliberate, conscious, meaningful choice, whether or not the person who has committed the wrong repents and accepts the forgiveness, or even asks for it. Forgiveness is not only something that is offered, it is a transaction between two parties.

See, in the initial meeting, and Joseph revealing himself to his brothers, it was obvious he forgave them.

They did not even ask, at least it's not recorded, Joseph, forgive us. We are so sorry for what we have done.

But acting out of some kind of fear with regard to what the Father might do and what maybe they had thought about what God would do.

Forgiveness is not only something that is offered, it is a transaction between two parties, the one wrong and the one who has committed the wrong. Until the one who has committed the wrong repents and accepts forgiveness, forgiveness is not complete, as in the case of Joseph and his brothers.

In the sense that the offender does not receive the benefit of forgiveness.

They didn't even really believe that Joseph had forgiven them after 17 years and all that he had done.

God continually makes forgiveness available.

But a sinner is only forgiven when he or she accepts God's forgiveness by coming before God and saying, as the publican, have mercy on me as sinner.

Before he forgave his brothers, he tested them in all kinds of ways to find out whether they were the same sort of individuals who had stripped him, and they somehow, out of duty and concern for the Father, did, you know, according to the book kind of thing, not from the heart what they should have done.

Forgiveness was tough for Joseph. He wanted to make sure that they had a change of heart and that they were sorry for what they had done. Their compliance, as we have seen, was motivated more by fear than godly sorrow.

Forgiveness includes justice as well as mercy.

To give mercy at the expense of justice would make Christ the minister of sin.

Heartfelt and true repentance, coupled with Christ's sacrifice, makes it possible for us to remain in a reconciled position with God and with one another.

Thus, mercy glories against judgment.

Look at James 2.

I'll make this point again.

I wonder how many people really understand it.

In James 2, verse 8, If you fulfill the royal law according to Scripture, you shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well. This is James 2.9 now. But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin and are convicted of the law as transgressors.

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not kill. Now if you commit no adultery, yet you kill, you are a transgressor of the law. So speak you, so do you, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

For he shall have judgment without mercy that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment. How does mercy rejoice against judgment? The law judges. You shall not whatever it is that you heard in the sermon at.

But it is God's glory to pass over a transgression to administer mercy and forgiveness. But that only comes with repentance.

And see, true forgiveness, then, is a transaction between two parties. Now, if you never have a chance to forgive the person who committed whatever the action is against you, of course you can forgive in that sense, and you never are able to face the other party. And that oftentimes happens in life.

God's justice is maintained when repentance and faith in Christ's sacrifice are coupled together resulting in the extension of mercy, and so God's justice is served. God maintains his justice when he gives us mercy by forgiving us or breaking God's law. Justice demands that we die. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. So he died in our place. And so faith in that. Thus, justice is served. The wages of sin is death, and Christ died for our sins.

So when you forgive one another, to whom do you give? Are you giving to the other? Perhaps sometimes, in some cases, people don't want you to forgive them because they will no longer have an excuse to harbor the hatred they have for you.

Are you giving to yourself when you forgive? Yes, always and forever. So to forgive another is being in the favor of giving to yourself. In other words, you're doing yourself a favor to forgive. To forgive another is to give yourself freedom from the potential of becoming the victim of bitterness.

In addition, most of us judge ourselves more harshly and more often than we judge others. It's important to forgive ourselves for all things we hold against ourselves. And a lot of people never do that.

We are where we are in life. You cannot change the past. But the past can change you into a bitter, cynical, self-absorbed, anger-laden person.

Joseph did not let that happen.

You can't blame the past or anyone in it for what you do today. Even if you can formulate a convincing argument to the contrary, it does no good.

The past is the past, and you are where you are. You are what you are, and you have to deal with it.

Blaming the past is like blaming gravity for breaking the glass. Yes, without gravity, the glass would not have fallen. But you know about gravity, and you know about glasses, and you know what happens when you combine gravity and a falling glass on a hard surface. So our life is to some degree like gravity. It is what it is. Your life today is like glass. Handle it with care. If it breaks, clean up the mess and get another glass. Your life tomorrow from the cupboard of life. Joseph was in the pit. He wound up in the palace by doing all the things we listed at the beginning of the sermon. Hated by his brothers, betrayed by his brothers, stripped of every vestige of what he was and what he dreamed of being. Lost his identity, the clothes on his back. Cast into the pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused by his master's wife. Cast into prison and the dungeon. Becomes a prison guard, exalted in due season. Becomes a ruler of the land. His brothers bow down to him. He rules over them. He forgives them. There is restoration. What sustained Joseph in all this? Once again, conviction, commitment, courage. Another way of expressing this is he lived by faith. He believed that God was with him, and regardless of the consequences, he was committed to doing the right thing. Joseph kept his eyes on the big picture. His attitude and motivation were more dedicated to doing the right thing than in advancing and serving self. He understood the providence of God. What God has promised, he's able to perform. So our challenge is to go from the sin pits of this world into the glorious future that God has prepared for all that love him.

So let's all determine in our hearts that by the grace and spirit of God, we will be able to say with the Apostle Paul, I fought a good fight. I finished my course. I've kept the faith. And forth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, with the Lord the righteous judge who gave me that day, and not only to me, but also unto them that love has appeared.

One final scripture, Revelation 3.12. We heard about the Holy City and the special music. From Pit to Palace. From Pit to Palace, Revelation 3.12. Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out. And I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God. And I will write upon him my new name.