Eating with (The Enemy) Family

Genesis 43:30-34 NASB“ 30  Joseph then hurried out, for he was deeply stirred over his brother, and helooked for a place to weep; so he entered his chamber and wept there.  31  Then hewashed his face and came out; and he controlled himself and said, “Serve themeal.”  32  Then they served him by himself, and Joseph’s brothers by themselves,and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians couldnot eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to theEgyptians.  33  Now they were seated before him, from the firstborn according to hisbirthright to the youngest according to his youth, and the men looked at oneanother in astonishment.  34  Then he took portions to them from his own table, butBenjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank freely with him.”Genesis 45:1-8 NASB“Then Joseph could not control himself in front of everyone standing before him,and he shouted, “Have everyone leave me!” So there was no one with him whenJoseph made himself known to his brothers.  2  Then he wept so loudly that theEgyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard about it.  3  And Joseph saidto his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could notanswer him, for they were terrified in his presence. 4  Then Joseph said to hisbrothers, “Please come closer to me.” And they came closer. And he said, “I amyour brother Joseph, whom you sold to Egypt.  5  Now do not be grieved orangry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you tosave lives.  6  For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are stillfive years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.  7  So God sent meahead of you to ensure for you a remnant on the earth, and to keep you alive by agreat deliverance.  8  Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God;and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household, and rulerover all the land of Egypt.”Big Idea: God can help us eat with family that has hurt us.1. Only eat with family that have hurt you if:a. You can compose yourself… because it will be emotional (Gen.43:30-31)Genesis 43:30-31 NASB30  Joseph then hurried out, for he was deeply stirred over his brother, and helooked for a place to weep; so he entered his chamber and wept there.  31  Then hewashed his face and came out; and he controlled himself and said, “Serve themeal.”Genesis 45:1 NASB“Then Joseph could not control himself in front of everyone…”b. You can expose yourself… because it may be scary (Gen. 45:1-4)Genesis 45:1-4 NASB“Then Joseph could not control himself in front of everyone standing before him,and he shouted, “Have everyone leave me!” So there was no one with him whenJoseph made himself known to his brothers.  2  Then he wept so loudly that theEgyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard about it.  3  And Joseph saidto his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could notanswer him, for they were terrified in his presence. 4  Then Joseph said to hisbrothers, “Please come closer to me.” And they came closer. And he said, “I amyour brother Joseph, whom you sold to Egypt.”2. Don’t eat with family that has hurt you until:a. You can give… without expecting anything in return (Gen 43:34)Genesis 43:34 NASB34  Then he took portions to them from his own table, but Benjamin’s portion wasfive times as much as any of theirs. So they drank freely with him.Romans 12:20 NASBBUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOUWILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.Genesis 45:7 NASB“So God sent me ahead of you to ensure for you a remnant on the earth, andto keep you alive by a great deliverance.”b. You can forgive… without experiencing anger to retaliate (Gen.45:5)Genesis 45:5 NASB5 “ Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here,for God sent me ahead of you to save lives.”3. You can eat with family that hurt you when:a. God has made right what they did wrong (Gen. 41:51-52)Genesis 41:51-52 NASB51  Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh; “For,” he said, “God has made me forgetall my trouble and all of my father’s household.”  52  And he named thesecond Ephraim; “For,” he said, “God has made me fruitful in the land of myaffliction.”i. God will make you forget…ii. God will make you fruitful…b. God has brought purpose out of pain they caused (Gen. 45:5-8)Genesis 45:5-8 NASB“ 5  Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here,for God sent me ahead of you to save lives.  6  For the famine has been in theland these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neitherplowing nor harvesting.  7  So God sent me ahead of you to ensure for you aremnant on the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.  8  Now,therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made mea father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household, and ruler over all the land ofEgypt.”Big Idea: God can help us eat with family that has hurt us.Ask: Are you healed enough to eat this holiday season with family that hashurt you?Action Item: Choose to forgive whether you eat with them or not.