Changed From the Inside Out
Moms frequently express their concern to me about their children’s behavior. I can’t help but smile as I remember my own fears and trepidations about raising a family. The longing of my heart was to see my children walk with God. It was quite a challenge as I felt inadequate and unprepared, but I discovered that God filled in the gaps where I failed. And what the Lord impressed on me was simple. Look at the heart. As I prayed earnestly for my sons, God helped me look within them. Was the behavior a heart issue? Did I see tenderness? Compassion? I tried not to make a big deal out of outward actions unless I saw a deeper root of concern. The Bible tells us: God looks at the heart. Out of the heart the mouth speaks. Above all else, guard your heart for out of it are all the issues of life. Let’s review the next part of Joseph’s story to see how God was working in the hearts of Joseph’s brothers.
Read Genesis 44:1-9
1. Note how Joseph tested his brothers once again. What is significant about the cup?
2. How did the brothers declare their innocence? What did they promise?
Read Genesis 44:10-12
3. How did Joseph’s servant soften the penalty proposed by the brothers in declaring their innocence?
4. What is interesting about how the steward searched the brothers’ sacks? What is significant about Joseph putting the cup in Benjamin’s sack?
Read Genesis 44:13-16
5. Why did the brothers tear their clothes? What actions further fulfilled Joseph’s dreams?
6. Compare verse 16 with Genesis 42:21. What is interesting about Judah’s reply in verse 16?
Joseph noticed that his brothers truly had changed from the inside out. Their behavior proved their hearts had been transformed. He sensed their devotion to their father and strong family spirit. As he continued to test them, he recognized there was a difference in their actions. A real heart transformation had taken place. What a beautiful story of redemption!
Joseph tested his brother once again – the cup was put into the youngest brother’s bag along with the money for his corn also. It was Josephs drinking cup of gold / silver cup – he portrayed they were stealing it from him. The brothers reminded that they had returned the money and why would they steal again. They promised the one who had done this would die. Where the cup was found that brother would be his servant and the rest would be blameless. The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack – the men searched from the oldest to the youngest. The brothers were very upset as to where the cup was found – the brothers returned to Joseph’s house and fell before him on the ground. The brothers had really made a great change in their hearts this time and Joseph could see the difference. When GOD makes a change in our lives it really shows to the world of sinners that we have truly changed our lives. Sometimes we are the only Bible that people read – our lives must be fashioned after the LORD.
I love the title of this lesson – Changed from the Inside out – that is such a way of changing our lives in this world – it always begins on the inside and whatever we have on the inside will really come out in the end of our lives. GOD is so good to us – A wonderful lesson for us to think on the rest of the week. Thanks – Karen – it is wonderful.
Great lesson Karen. I love how you tied it with the hearts of our children in the beginning. I had not put that together before. I once heard Beth Moore speak on the same topic…”is it a heart issue?” I had forgotten that…wonderful reminder!