QT 12/23/2025 Gen 42:17-28, The need for a savior

Genesis 42:18–28 (ESV) —

18 On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: 19 if you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined where you are in custody, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households, 20 and bring your youngest brother to me. So your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so. 21 Then they said to one another, “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.” 22 And Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.” 23 They did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them. 24 Then he turned away from them and wept. And he returned to them and spoke to them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes. 25 And Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, and to replace every man’s money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. This was done for them.

26 Then they loaded their donkeys with their grain and departed. 27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his money in the mouth of his sack. 28 He said to his brothers, “My money has been put back; here it is in the mouth of my sack!” At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”

 

NOTE: Guilt can be hidden, but it is always there, just under the surface. When bad things happen, the first place we often go to is the guilt we are harboring in our soul. People nowadays, talk about karma, but there is no such thing. We will all be judged someday for our sins and it won't be karma. It will be God who will be our judge unless we have trusted in Jesus' death and burial for the payment of all our sins and guilt. If not, we will be judged, and the penalty for all and every sin is eternal separation from God. If you are not perfect and no one is, you will face this punishment.

 

Romans 3:23 (ESV) — for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Hebrews 9:27 (ESV) — And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Romans 3:9–12 (ESV) — What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written:

“None is righteous, no, not one;

no one understands;

no one seeks for God.

All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;

no one does good,

not even one.”

Romans 6:23 (ESV) — For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:20–21 (ESV) — Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

John 14:6 (ESV) — Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

 

The verses above represent the gospel message in the bible's own words. They are only a few. A better, more in-depth presentation is found in the Gospel of John and the Epistle to the Romans.

 

2 Thessalonians 1:7b–10 (ESV) — … when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

 

Joseph's brothers cry out after finding their money returned, "What is this that God has done to us?"

 

PONDER:

1. Where are you in relationship to God?
2. What is God doing in your life to get your attention?
3. When are you going to believe and live for God?

 

PRAYER: Father, during this Christmas season, when the year is dying off, and we give gifts to each other, remind us of the greatest gift of all, the gift of your son who came into this world for the main reason of saving us from our sins which are slowing killing us.