PEACE BE UNTO YOU!
Genesis 43: 18-26
God has predestinated the time when every sinner for whom Christ died shall be called to faith in Christ. In our text, we have a picture of the effectual, irresistible call of God’s grace. When Joseph saw Benjamin with his brethren, Joseph commanded the ruler of his house to bring his brethren home—Genesis 43: 17: And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house.
The Holy Spirit always accomplishes God’s bidding—the man did as Joseph bade. The sinner cannot resist the call of the Holy Spirit—the man brought the men into Joseph’s house. The Lord Jesus said a sinner must be born again and he said the Holy Spirit is irresistible like the wind.
John 3: 7: Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8: The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
But due to our sin and guilt, when the sinner is being called, this is a fearful work—Genesis 43: 18: And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, [margin—“roll onto us” our guilt for our sins] and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.
These men were afraid to come into Joseph’s presence because they thought he would charge them with sin and fall on them and take them as bondmen. The same is true of sinners. Christ said,
John 3: 19: And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20: For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Guilty sinners never think they are guilty and will not confess their sins if left to themselves—Genesis 43: 19: And they came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they communed with him at the door of the house, 20: And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food: 21: And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand. 22: And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.
So how will our mouths be shut? How will be made to cease defending our so-called righteousness?—Genesis 43: 23: And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure [hidden riches] in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.
Here is the main point of the message. Christ effectually speaks peace into the heart of those he has redeemed when God gives his child the hidden treasure of Christ in the heart.
SALVATION BEGINS
In our experience of God’s grace, salvation begins when Christ speaks effectually into our heart—Genesis 42: 23: Peace be to you, fear not:…
These men did nothing. And you and I can do nothing. They were afraid and defending themselves until the ruler of the house said—“Peace be to you, fear not:…” Christ is the Ruler of his house and Christ is the Peace of his people.
Christ made peace with God for his sinful people.
Romans 4: 25: Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. 5:1 Therefore being justified [having been justified by Christ], by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Colossians 1:20: And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Psalm 85:10: Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other
God our Savior is the Giver of Peace to his people.
Psalm 85:8: I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
Isaiah 54:13: And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
God the LORD who teaches us and speaks peace unto God’s children is Jesus Christ the Peacemaker.
John 14: 27: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 16: 33: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Ephesians 2: 14: For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Christ has made peace unto God for each one of the sheep for whom he died. So “peace in believing” begins in our hearts when Christ comes and preaches peace to us, saying, “Peace be to you, fear not:…”
HIDDEN TREASURE
God gives his regenerated child the hidden treasure—Genesis 43: 23:…your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks:
When God reveals Christ in our hearts, he reveals God is--“Your God.” God said, “I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.” (Heb 8: 10) Can you say, “God is MY God!” Can you say my God chose me. My God redeemed me. My God regenerated me. My God made me willing in the day of his power. My God preserves me. My God shall come again and take me home to glory! If you can say, in spirit and in truth, that your salvation is entirely of the Lord then God is your God!
If God has made himself your God then you are a true son of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for God is—“the God of your father.” What is significant about that for us? The Holy Spirit said through Paul, “If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal 3: 29) It means God chose us and saved us by his everlasting covenant promise between God the Father and his Son, Christ Jesus.
If God has done all this for you it is because God “hath given you treasure [hidden riches] in your sacks.”
What is the hidden treasure? What are the hidden riches? The apostle Paul said,
Ephesians 3:8: Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Colossians 2:3: In [Christ] are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
What are these sacks? They are “earthen vessels.” So how does God put the unsearchable riches of Christ in my sack?
2 Corinthians 4: 6: For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
COMPLETE IN CHRIST
When Christ speaks peace in our hearts revealing Christ in you then Christ reveals that there is nothing to paid by us, the transaction is already complete—Genesis 43: 23:..I had your money.
He said, “I am the steward—the ruler of the house—the cash for the corn comes through me. So keep the money as a present from "your God” from my hand and know that you have no reason to fear any evil, the whole transaction is complete between myself and you.” That is what Christ has done for his people and what he reveals in our hearts!
Colossians 2: 10: And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Romans 8: 1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,
From then on, by God’s grace, we behold Christ who was bound that we might go free, the Spirit cleanses us, and we come to God with spiritual gifts of thanksgiving, bowing before him with a broken and contrite heart of faith—Genesis 43: 23:…And he brought Simeon out unto them. 24: And the man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender. 25: And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there. 26: And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.
Amen!