Genesis 43:30-34 NASB
“ 30 Joseph then hurried out, for he was deeply stirred over his brother, and he
looked for a place to weep; so he entered his chamber and wept there. 31 Then he
washed his face and came out; and he controlled himself and said, “Serve the
meal.” 32 Then they served him by himself, and Joseph’s brothers by themselves,
and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could
not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the
Egyptians. 33 Now they were seated before him, from the firstborn according to his
birthright to the youngest according to his youth, and the men looked at one
another in astonishment. 34 Then he took portions to them from his own table, but
Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank freely with him.”
Genesis 45:1-8 NASB
“Then Joseph could not control himself in front of everyone standing before him,
and he shouted, “Have everyone leave me!” So there was no one with him when
Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 Then he wept so loudly that the
Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard about it. 3 And Joseph said
to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not
answer him, for they were terrified in his presence. 4 Then Joseph said to his
brothers, “Please come closer to me.” And they came closer. And he said, “I am
your brother Joseph, whom you sold to Egypt. 5 Now do not be grieved or
angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to
save lives. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still
five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 So God sent me
ahead of you to ensure for you a remnant on the earth, and to keep you alive by a
great deliverance. 8 Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God;
and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household, and ruler
over all the land of Egypt.”
Big Idea: God can help us eat with family that has hurt us.
1. Only eat with family that have hurt you if:
a. You can compose yourself… because it will be emotional (Gen.
43:30-31)
Genesis 43:30-31 NASB
30 Joseph then hurried out, for he was deeply stirred over his brother, and he
looked for a place to weep; so he entered his chamber and wept there. 31 Then he
washed his face and came out; and he controlled himself and said, “Serve the
meal.”
Genesis 45:1 NASB
“Then Joseph could not control himself in front of everyone…”
b. You can expose yourself… because it may be scary (Gen. 45:1-4)
Genesis 45:1-4 NASB
“Then Joseph could not control himself in front of everyone standing before him,
and he shouted, “Have everyone leave me!” So there was no one with him when
Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 Then he wept so loudly that the
Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard about it. 3 And Joseph said
to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not
answer him, for they were terrified in his presence. 4 Then Joseph said to his
brothers, “Please come closer to me.” And they came closer. And he said, “I am
your brother Joseph, whom you sold to Egypt.”
2. Don’t eat with family that has hurt you until:
a. You can give… without expecting anything in return (Gen 43:34)
Genesis 43:34 NASB
34 Then he took portions to them from his own table, but Benjamin’s portion was
five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank freely with him.
Romans 12:20 NASB
BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU
WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.
Genesis 45:7 NASB
“So God sent me ahead of you to ensure for you a remnant on the earth, and
to keep you alive by a great deliverance.”
b. You can forgive… without experiencing anger to retaliate (Gen.
45:5)
Genesis 45:5 NASB
5 “ Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here,
for God sent me ahead of you to save lives.”
3. You can eat with family that hurt you when:
a. God has made right what they did wrong (Gen. 41:51-52)
Genesis 41:51-52 NASB
51 Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh; “For,” he said, “God has made me forget
all my trouble and all of my father’s household.” 52 And he named the
second Ephraim; “For,” he said, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my
affliction.”
i. God will make you forget…
ii. God will make you fruitful…
b. God has brought purpose out of pain they caused (Gen. 45:5-8)
Genesis 45:5-8 NASB
“ 5 Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here,
for God sent me ahead of you to save lives. 6 For the famine has been in the
land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither
plowing nor harvesting. 7 So God sent me ahead of you to ensure for you a
remnant on the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. 8 Now,
therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me
a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household, and ruler over all the land of
Egypt.”
Big Idea: God can help us eat with family that has hurt us.
Ask: Are you healed enough to eat this holiday season with family that has
hurt you?
Action Item: Choose to forgive whether you eat with them or not.
