Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide? #4 Genesis 44 The Pinch of Want The Pain of Harsh Treatment The Press of Solitude The Proof of God’s Presence The Pattern of Necessity The Power of True Affections The Purge of Self-Confidence 1

Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide? #4 Genesis 44 The Purge of Self-Confidence Self-confidence broken No one knew of the brothers’ sin, except … God knew and was working in them. These events had not yet brought the brothers to openly confess their sin. The brothers had returned to Egypt with great hesitancy. They now leave Egypt quite pleased with themselves, having exercised the wisdom of “telling the truth.” 2

Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide? #4 Genesis 44 The Purge of Self-Confidence Self-confidence broken (cont.) The brothers were confident in the fact that their word was good. They were confident in their money. They were confident in their integrity. They were confident! 3

Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide? #4 Genesis 44 The Purge of Self-Confidence Self-confidence broken (cont.) With one last blow, God would now bring about the necessary end of open confession and repentance in their lives. Suddenly, the cup is pulled from Benjamin’s sack and the horror begins. Then, a strange statement What can we say to my lord? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants’ guilt! 4

Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide? #4 Genesis 44 The Purge of Self-Confidence “All for Nothing!” We are guilty of a great sin against God. God is our Creator and His Son Jesus is our rightful Master and Lord. But we have despised their claims and have gone about our lives self-confidently. Were the brothers men of their word? Were the brothers confident of their money? Were the brothers confident of their integrity? 5

Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide? #4 Genesis 44 The Purge of Self-Confidence Defeat is Victory! The brothers’ self-confidence and self- righteousness are broken and they are healed. Their relationship to God was transformed. There is a change in the brothers’ relationships to each other. A recreated scene All the brothers return Judah pleas for Benjamin’s life by offering his. 6

Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide? #4 Genesis 44 Judah’s Plea for Benjamin Then and Now “What will we gain if we kill our brother?” – Genesis 37:26-27 Now Judah pleads for Benjamin’s life, offering his as a substitute. Sound familiar? Judah asks for a favorable hearing. Judah reminds Joseph of past dealings. Judah reports what has taken place. Judah comes to the present dilemma – Jacob. Judah’s personal plea for Benjamin 7

Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide? #4 Genesis 44 Judah’s Plea for Benjamin Other Examples The plea of Moses – Exodus 20:2-5; 32:31-32 8

Exodus 20:2-5 (NASB) 2  “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3  “You shall have no other gods before Me. 4  “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5  You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,”

Exodus 32:31-32 (NASB) 31  Then Moses returned to the Lord, and said, “Alas, this people has committed a great sin, and they have made a god of gold for themselves.  32  But now, if You will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written!”

Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide? #4 Genesis 44 Judah’s Plea for Benjamin Other Examples The plea of Moses – Exodus 20:2-5; 32:31-32 The plea of Paul – Romans 9:1-4 8

Romans 9:1-4 (NASB) 1  I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit,  2  that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.  3  For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,  4  who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises,

Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide? #4 Application “Your sin will find you out.” Do you know the only way out? Jesus is the only way! Unbeliever, have you repented unto salvation? Believer, have you repented unto restoration? 9

Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide? #4 Application God does not want our success; He wants us! It is not what you achieve in this world that matters but what God in righteousness chooses to do through you! 10