Genesis 42:29-43:15
“Absolute Surrender”

Introduction
1. The brothers of Joseph have been driven to Egypt because of the famine. The brothers have
stood before Joseph (not knowing it was Joseph). To awaken their conscience Joseph has
spoken roughly, accused them of being spies, threw them in prison for three days. Simeon has
been put in jail and sent the others back home to get the younger brother. (Benjamin was the
only other son of Rachel).
2. In light of the present condition of the church the question was asked a great man of God.
What is the need of the hour: The great need of the church and the message that ought to be
preached is Absolute Surrender to God.
3. The blessing of God on a life hinges on this one principle…Absolute Surrender to God. So is
Joseph’s cry in a dry and thirsty land to Jacob…Bring Benjamin to me. So, my Joseph Jesus
says to each of us. It won’t be easy, because the flesh, SELF clutches on tightly.
4. Is your life a blessing? “Give Benjamin to me”
5. Genesis 42:29-43:15 the life of absolute surrender:

Is your life a blessing? “Give Benjamin to me”
I. THE DETAILS OF ABSOLUTE SURRENDER 42:29-34
A. Bring Your Brother
1. The story is related to Jacob about the ‘Lord of the land.’
2. The conditions are clear. To have Simeon released, to have trade begin, to live!
Bring your youngest brother to me.
3. Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph, was gone. Now Benjamin must go.
B. Bring Your Best
1. Benjamin is his most prized possession. It is something dear, something you love
and cannot do without.
2. Our Joseph, Jesus, says, “Give it to Me.” Are you willing to surrender yourself,
absolutely into His hands. Everything rests on this one decision. What is Jacob’s
initial response?

Is your life a blessing? “Give Benjamin to me”
II. THE DESPAIR OF ABSOLUTE SURRENDER 42:35-36
A.Blessing Bestowed 35
1.They emptied their sacks. Every man had his money returned. ‘Thank you’ ‘Thank you’ should have been the response.
2.God has given us everything.
B. Blessing Berated 36
1.All these things are against me. Caught up in the circumstances we come to the wrong conclusion.
2.You don’t know Joseph. Open your hands and give it to me. He wants to bring us to the end of ourselves. The flesh draws back. We don’t trust Him! We really don’t know Him!

Is your life a blessing? “Give Benjamin to me”
III. THE DESPERATION OF ABSOLUTE SURRENDER 42:37-38
A. His Reasoning 37
1.Reuben…slay my two sons if…I don’t see how that would comfort a grand father’s heart.
2.He realized the desperateness of the hour!
3.Absolute Surrender is a desperate hour! Now is a desperate time!
B. His Reluctance 38

Is your life a blessing? “Give Benjamin to me”
IV. THE DELAY OF ABSOLUTE SURRENDER 43:1-2
A. Desperate 1
1.The famine was severe in the land.
2.The famine is severe in our lives!
B. Destitute 2
1.What has the delay produced? Everything continues to dry up!
2.When they had eaten up the grain. Spiritually…how dry…how hungry!
3.There first must be a hungering and thirsting before God can fill us.

Is your life a blessing? “Give Benjamin to me”
V. THE DEMANDS OF ABSOLUTE SURRENDER 43:3-5
A. One Answer
1. Joseph will not accept anything less than Benjamin. He will not accept anything less
than total obedience and absolute surrender.
2. His demands are given in vss 3-5
B. One Assurance
1. When we bring beloved Benjamin and place him in the hands of our Joseph…then
we will have grain.
2. We can never know true joy and blessing until we surrender utterly to the will
of God.

Is your life a blessing? “Give Benjamin to me”
VI. THE DRUDGERY OF ABSOLUTE SURRENDER 43:6-7
A.The Struggle 6
1.The struggle in the flesh goes on. “Why?” How many times that word stops surrender. “Why did you tell this man you had a brother?”
2.We often want to blame others for our lack of surrender.
B.The Source 7
1.It’s hard. “I can’t do it” God never expects us to do what we cannot do. It’s impossible!
2.The things impossible with men are possible with God. We approach the request and we want to do it. We determine to do it. We can’t!
3.God must do the work.

Is your life a blessing? “Give Benjamin to me”
VII. THE DETERMINATION OF ABSOLUTE SURRENDER 43:8-10
A.The Surety
1.Judah says he will be a surety. This is a matter of life or death.
2. We need to see just how serious the delay has been!
B.The Severity
1.Send the lad or we will die (both we, you and our little ones.)
2.Our surrender affects so many! We play games…it affects our whole family!!!
C.The Slowness 10
1.We could have already gone again…we wasted so much time!
Could that we said of us?

Is your life a blessing? “Give Benjamin to me”
VIII. THE DEATH OF ABSOLUTE SURRENDER 43:11-15
A.Give In 11
1.If it be so…God must first have Jacob before He can have Benjamin...JACOB MUST DIE!
2.Take the best…they lack grain. Give double the money. 12
B.Give Up 13
1.Take also your brother…arise and go.
2.If I am bereaved…so be it. God is brought in…Jacob died to himself!

Let God Have His Way…He knows what is best.
Let God Have His Way…He’ll give you sweet rest.
Let God Have His Way…Then you’ll surely be blessed.