Life in 2015 is full of stress. We are stressed by family tensions, marriage struggles, work deadlines, school assignments, traffic jams, employer expectations, rising prices, sickness, hot weather, overdue bills, and aging parents. To deal with stress, people over eat, take medication, drink alcohol, smoke, and go to counsellors. Stress is a real problem.

Transition

This morning we are going to look at three sources of stress found in Genesis 43 and find some biblical ways to deal with stress.

Family Stress (v.1-14)

  1. The famine stressed Jacob’s family (v.1-10)
    1. The famine was sore. That means it was very severe.
      1. They had eaten up all the grain they bought in Egypt.
      2. Jacob told his sons to go buy a “little food” in Egypt. What they could carry home would not truly meet their entire need.
    2. Judah told his father that the Prime Minister strongly warned them that they would get no more grain if Benjamin was not with them (v.3-5).
      1. Jacob was stressed at the thought of sending Benjamin.
      2. He asked his sons again why they told the man they had a brother (v. 6-10).
  2. Plans to return for food stressed Jacob’s family (v.11-14)
    1. Jacob finally agreed to let Benjamin go (v.11).
    2. They must also take the man a present (v.12-13).
      1. Notice the speciality items of their present.
        1. Best fruits in the land
        2. A little balm (medicine)
        3. A little honey
        4. Spices
        5. Myrrh (an aromatic gum from the leaves of the rock rose)
        6. Nuts (pistachios) and almonds
      2. They took double money to replace the money that had been returned to them.
    3. Jacob asked the Lord to give them mercy (v.14).
    4. The decision to let Benjamin go was stressful. The parting with precious presents during a famine was stressful. Jacob’s family was going through a time of great stress!
      ☆ Jacob wisely relieved his stress by giving it to the Lord (v.14). Why is it that we often find it so difficult to give our stress to the Lord? We may lack faith. We may be too proud. We may be not walking close to the Lord. Oh, how we need to learn to trust the Lord and give him our burdens! If we know the Lord as our Saviour, he has said, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” (Heb 13:5)
      ☆ (Psalm 27:14) “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

Business Stress (v.15-25)

  1. The brothers had to face the Prime Minister
    1. Remember, they were not travelling by car. They may have rode their donkeys or walked. After days of dusty travel, they arrived and stood before Joseph (v.15).
    2. When Joseph saw Benjamin, note what he told his servant: “Take these men home, slaughter an animal, make ready a meal, these men will eat with me at noon” (v.16).
    3. The steward did not tell the men of Joseph’s invitation. He only told them they were to come into Joseph’s house. Do you suppose this order caused the brothers any stress? Look at v.18.
      ☆ Being brought into Joseph’s house greatly increased their stress.
  2. The brothers tried to return the money (v.19-25)
    1. They offered to repay the money, but the steward of Joseph’s house refused to take it. Read v.23.
    2. Simeon was set free from prison and joined them.
    3. The steward allowed them to wash up and then he fed their donkeys (v.24).
    4. They also prepared their present for Joseph when they heard they would eat lunch there (v.25).
      ☆ Their stress kept increasing. Not only were they in the Prime Minister’s house, but now they heard they had a lunch appointment with him. This was the most stressful business trip they had ever taken.
      ☆ The brothers tried to relieve their stress by returning the money they found in their sacks. That was a wise move. The words of the steward probably calmed their nerves a bit. However, they still had no peace with God so they had no true help for their stress.
      ☆ (Proverbs 28:13) “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

Internal Stress (v.26-34)

  1. The brothers were stressed by the meal with the Prime Minister
    1. The brothers all bowed themselves before Joseph when he came in, and gave him their gift (v.26).
    2. Joseph again began questioning them (v.27-28).
  2. Joseph was stressed by seeing his brother
    1. He greeted Benjamin (v.29)
    2. Then Joseph hurried to his room where he wept (v.30-31). God does not tell us that Joseph prayed while he cried, but because he was a godly man; my guess is that he did. This stressful time for Joseph was a time of excitement and uncertainty. He still did not know for sure his brothers had changed. He needed God’s wisdom and direction.
  3. The brother’s stress increased to a higher level.
    1. Joseph told his steward how to seat the brothers according to their ages. The men marvelled. In other words, they were stunned or shocked. This troubled their guilty souls. They still did not have a clue that Joseph was the Prime Minister.
    2. When the food was served, Joseph gave five times as much food to Benjamin as to the others.
      ☆ Joseph relieved his stress by crying before the Lord (v.29-31). Joseph’s stress was of a different nature. No doubt, he was happy, sad, and uncertain what to think or do all at the same time. He was beginning to see what God was doing in his life and the lives of his family members.

Conclusion

How do you handle family stress, business stress, and internal stress? The common answers of our day are not the solution. Over eating, taking medication or drugs, drinking alcohol, and smoking only add to the problem. The psalmist knew the true solution to stress when he said, (Psalms 18:2) “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” He turned to the Lord in time of stress. Jacob and Joseph did this as well. If you are a true Christian, you need to draw near to God during times of stress.

Joseph’s brothers were not right with God. They could not turn to the Lord for comfort during their stress. They first needed to confess their sin and get right with God. (Proverbs 28:13) “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” If things in your life are not right with God, get right with God and then you can enjoy his comfort.

If you died today are you positive you would go to heaven? If not, humble yourself before him, admit your sin, believe that Jesus died to pay for your judgment in hell, and ask Him to save you. Knowing the Lord as your personal Saviour is the best thing you can do to relieve the stress of life.

Song: Cleanse Me – 166
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Dealing with Stress
15 February 2015 am – Genesis 43:1-34 – Gen 14 – Scott Childs