## Lessons from the Life of Joseph: Doubting Forgiveness

## Genesis 45:1-15

One of the successful tools of our enemy, Satan, is to cause the believer to doubt God's Word. This is true, especially in the area of salvation. If I am not confident of where I am going, it affects me tremendously. If we are not sure of our eternal destiny, how can we lead someone else to the Lord? How can we serve Him with confidence? This problem of doubt plagues many Christians today, but let's learn another lesson from the life of Joseph. Tonight let's learn how to dispel the doubts about forgiveness.

At seventeen, his brothers sold Joseph into slavery. God used this awful act to prepare Joseph for a great work. God elevated Joseph to a high position in Egypt in order to fulfill His purpose. He then used Joseph to be the deliverer and protector of the nation of Israel.

Read: Genesis 45:1-15

I. The Doubt.

A. The death of Jacob.

1. For nearly twenty years, all seemed to be well with the brothers and their father.

2. But, the inevitable took place.

3. Their father gathered them all together to give them his final blessing before death.

(Gen 49:33) And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

B. The preparation and burial of Jacob.

1. Joseph had his father embalmed, a process which required 40 days.

2. Following this process they mourned over him for an additional 70 days.

3. Then Joseph and his brothers took Jacob's body back to Canaan to be buried.

4. After an additional 7 days of mourning, Jacob was laid to rest in the cave of Machpelah in accordance with his request. (49:29-30)

5. Can you imagine the emotional stress of this event? 117 days from death to burial!

C. To the brothers, it seemed that their father's death would change things.

1. Following their return to Egypt, the brothers began to doubt the forgiveness that Joseph had given previously.

2. Initially they didn't personally discuss this with Joseph.

3. Instead they resorted to scheming and deception once again.

4. Finally they came before him begging for his forgiveness.

5. Note: Genesis 50:15-18

II. Reasons for Their Doubt.

A. They Had Insufficient Knowledge.

1. The brothers had sold Joseph when he was around 17 years old.

2. They never saw him again until he was around 39.

3. A young man changes considerably in 22 years…especially when he grows up in a completely different culture.

4. Following their reunion, they probably didn't see Joseph a lot.

5. Again, they had little in common.

a. They were shepherds.

b. He was prime minister of Egypt.

6. They came to know a lot about his responsibility and authority, but they didn't know much of his character.

7. They thought he had treated them kindly because of respect for their father, they just didn't know him well enough to understand that his love for them was true and genuine.

8. Often believers struggle with God's forgiveness for the same reason.

a. They know a little bit about Him and His authority…

b. But they do not understand His character.

c. The more we know about Him, the better we will come to know Him!

d. God has revealed Himself to us through His Word.

e. As we study it more and more, we gain a deeper and clearer understanding of the One who loves us with an everlasting love.

B. They relied upon circumstances and feelings.

1. The brothers thought Joseph's conduct was governed by the circumstances of their father's presence.

2. As soon as the circumstances changed, they expected him to change as well.

3. How often do Christians look to circumstances for assurance of forgiveness?

a. If things are going well, then God must be pleased and all is well.

b. But if things begin to deteriorate they begin to question God's goodness toward them.

c. Feelings change, but God never changes.

d. His forgiveness is based upon our acceptance of the finished work of Christ on Calvary…nothing else!

C. They never fully believed Joseph.

1. God said it…I believe it…and that settles it for me!

2. Certainly it is settled the moment God said it, but not for me until I personally appropriated it.

3. It seems that even though Joseph had said he forgave them, and for 17 years proved it to them by his behavior, they never fully believed him.

4. That is true for some believers today…they have heard, but that haven't fully believed.

III. How The Doubts Were Dispelled.

A. Joseph grieved over their doubts.

(Gen 50:17) So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.

1. He was hurt by their doubt of him.

2. Everything he had done in the past 17 years demonstrated his forgiveness to them.

3. Their doubt was to say that Joseph had lied before.

4. That is exactly what it means to doubt God's salvation through Christ.

5. Note: 1 John 5:10-12

B. Joseph spoke words of comfort to them.

1. He made it clear that he was not their judge. "Am I in the place of God"

2. He repeated the same thing he had told them before…

3. He told them they had nothing to fear from him. v19 & v21

4. He reassured them of his love and care for them and their families.

5. Oh God reassures us of His love and forgiveness in His Word.

(Titus 1:2) In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

(John 5:24) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Are their doubts tonight that need to be dispelled? Why not come and be assured of His love and forgiveness. What about our forgiveness toward others?

(Eph 4:32) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.