Genesis chapter 45 verse 15 down to verse 24 the word of God says moreover he kissed all his brethren and wept upon them and after that his brethren talked with him and the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come, and it pleased Pharaoh well and his servants. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye, laid your beasts, and go, get ye into the land of Canaan. and take your father and your households, and come unto me, and I will give you the good of the land, and ye shall eat of the land. Now the Lord commanded, This do ye. Take ye wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. Also regard not your stuff, for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours. And the children of Israel did so. And Joseph gave them wagons according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment. And to his father he sent after this manor ten asses laden with good things of Egypt, and ten she-asses laden with corn, and bread, and meat, for his father by the way. So he sent his brethren away and they departed and he said unto them see that ye fall not out by the way amen we know the lord will add his blessing to the reading of his word just as we come to pray i just wonder if gert If you could open those doors on the thing please, a little bit of air circulate through. Thank you. I want to seek the Lord in prayer and we'll commit our way to the Lord just now. Father in heaven, we thank thee for thy blessing and thy hand upon us. We rejoice Lord even for the lessons that we have learned already in the life of Joseph. And Lord we pray again as we come to thy word that thou wilt even be our teacher. We pray you, God, that it is our desire, Lord, to live for thee, to honour thee. And, Father, thou dost know and remember that we are but dust. Yet, Father, we thank thee that thou wilt never leave us nor forsake us. Grant us thy help for the Saviour's sake. Amen. From Genesis chapter 44 verse 14 through Genesis chapter 45 verse 24, Joseph has met with his brothers. It was a meeting sovereignly ordered and arranged by Joseph as ruler of the land. Joseph had tested his brothers one last time with a silver cup that belonged to Joseph, a cup that symbolized his humiliation by the hands of his brothers, such as suffering, shame, and sorrow. Joseph, in challenging his brothers, then revealed himself to them for the purpose to forgive their offences against him and to reconcile them, securing peace between them. Joseph was filled with compassion towards his brothers, and he laid his hands upon each one, embracing every brother and welcoming them, his own kinsmen, into his kingdom. The brothers had a view of Joseph that they never had before. They had seen his glory in Egypt. They viewed him upon his Egyptian throne high and lifted up as ruler of the land. For 22 years, Joseph was described by his brothers as the one who is not, meaning one who is dead, the brother who is dead. but now after 22 years they now see Joseph is alive and he's ruling his kingdom by his word. There was rejoicing in the kingdom saying Joseph's brethren are come and a pleased pharaoh and his servants. And based upon Joseph's revelation of himself and their sight of Joseph ruling and reigning with power and glory, the good of the land was before them. Joseph commissioned his brothers to return home at once and give their father a message from the sun. Tell him God hath made me Lord of all Egypt. Tell him I will nourish him and the whole household. Tell father of my glory. Tell him of all ye have seen. and show him the wagons filled with provision. Tell him to come down at once onto me and tarry not, as there are five years still left of the famine, lest he and the household come to poverty and perish in the famine." In other words, tell father the son is not dead but his son is alive and life is offered unto him in the face of death therefore i tell father to choose life come into the wagons provided and go on to me joseph the ruler and provider and sustainer of all those in great need i have all the provisions needed to give life when facing death. And what a wonderful picture we have in the Gospel, as we lift our minds beyond an earthly scene, beyond an earthly Joseph, and view a heavenly Joseph, the supreme ruler of all kings, the Lord Jesus Christ, and all kingdoms. Our King's man-redeemer. He took on to himself our human nature, only without sin. and identified himself with sinners he came to save by revealing himself as Jesus, the Great I Am, to save his people from their sins, to fulfill his office, to secure everlasting peace and fellowship with the gospel. Having redeemed a people, he commissions the men and women whom he has redeemed to go and tell the message. about the Son who is alive, one who reigns upon a throne of glory and majesty. Speak of his grace, his goodness, his greatness and his glory. Go back and tell family of his mercy and his majesty. Tell that he has made provision for them of everlasting life to those who experience a famine of soul. Tell them to come at once, lest they perish due to their poverty-stricken state. Tell them that Christ is able to nourish them for the rest of their days and enjoy his kingdom. And that is all pictured from Genesis chapter 45 until verse 24. When we get to verse 24, Joseph then sends his brothers to their father with everything that we have just said. And as they leave, Joseph gives one last word of counsel. And that word is, see that ye fall not out by the way. These are the last words the brothers receive as they take their leave from Joseph in Egypt to their father in Canaan. And as we consider these serious words, may we glean much and take the counsel given and look to a greater counsellor, the Lord Jesus Christ, and say as the psalmist in Psalm 16, verse 7, I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel. May these words ring in our hearts day by day, because it may just save this church. It may just save your Christian testimony. It may just save your marriage. It may just save your situation at work. See that ye fall not out by the way. And with God's help, we want to look at Joseph's counsel for his brothers. Notice first of all, the ruling not to fall out of the way. The ruling not to fall out by the way. Never forget, These words are spoken by Joseph as the sovereign ruler throughout all the land of Egypt, as verse 8 says. The brothers are to speak of Joseph as the Lord of all Egypt, according to verse 9, or as governor over all the land of Egypt, as verse 26. A sovereign ruler, he rules by his word as first 19 states. Now the Lord commanded, this do ye. And so this command included leaving Egypt with provisions and returning to Egypt with the people. Joseph's counsel demands obedience. It demands honor. the brothers are not leaving on their own accord rather they have been sent away they are his kinsmen they are his family but they are on royal business and joseph sent his brethren away and the word sent it means to send forth with a purpose and joseph sent his brethren with a purpose to tell father of my nourishment of my provision that there is bread all he needs for survival and this famine is found in me. So they were sent out with a purpose. But as he sends them out, he says, see that ye fall not out by the way. And therefore, these words come with royal authority. They are a word from the throne room of Egypt. In other words, make sure you return. Joseph is saying, go straight to Canaan, to father's house. Don't allow anything or anyone to cause you to deviate. Don't get sidetracked. Don't go off the path. See that ye fall not out by the way. Now let's break down these words. These particular words fall or fall out are one word in the Hebrew language and it simply means to quarrel. It means to be agitated, disquieted, disturbed, quiver, quake. excited nervous anxious it translates as afraid in exodus chapter 15 verse 4 or 14 or tremble in deuteronomy chapter 2 verse 25 or quaked as in the shaking of an earthquake in first samuel chapter 14 verse 15 the words by the way they mean along the path or along the journey Therefore, in taking the complete phrase, see that ye fall not out by the way, Joseph is saying, don't be afraid along the path. Don't rage on the journey. Don't quarrel along the way. If you fall out of the way or argue along the way, you will get sidetracked. you will get annoyed, you will get bitter, you will not fulfill my will. Others will not hear the message to come down to me for safety and to find nourishment for the rest of their days in the famine. Let me give you an example of this. It would be like parents giving their counsel to children as they are departing the house. Make sure you come straight back. Don't go out off the way. Maybe it's going to school, or maybe after school, maybe a bit of both. Make sure you go straight to school, and make sure you get straight back. Don't wander off. It's basically the same language. See that you fall not out of the way. So you can imagine your mum and dad shouting out in the street. Make sure that you fall not out of the way. Or in the house, make sure that you fall not out of the way. In other words, Go to school and come back from school. That's the same language. You're saying to their children, don't be doing something you shouldn't be. Don't be going somewhere you don't need to be. Don't be hanging out with a crowd that you don't need to hang about with. Don't get involved with a group that you don't need to. Make sure you don't fall out of the way. It's the same in marriage. With a husband and wife, whenever they leave the house for work or whatever it may be, see that ye fall not out of the way. Get to where you should be, and on the way home, see that ye fall not out of the way. Sadly, many have fallen out of the way, and those who have been held in high esteem. See that you don't spend your time on the journey of marriage, arguing, raging, quarreling, trembling, leaving the marriage quaking like the aftermath of an earthquake. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. And so here is a message, as Joseph's brethren are leaving, they've departed, he says to them, see that ye fall not out of the way. Young people, see that ye fall not out of the way. with the crowds, with the groups, where you're going, who you're going with, see that you fall not out of the way. You who have maybe a Christian boyfriend or girlfriend, make sure they are Christian. If not, don't fall out of the way. Dear husband, dear wife, make sure that you fall not out of the way. Be careful what you do with others, where you go with others. Don't do detours. Moses gave the counsel to God's people, having given them the law. Deuteronomy chapter five, verse 32. Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you, and ye shall not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left. In other words, see that ye fall not out of the way. Believer, God's word is our counsel. rule for every area of our lives. Seek to honour Him. Joseph is warning his brethren, say that you fall not out of thee, that you fall not out of the way, because you could be put in a situation that may cause you to be anxious, that may cause you to worry, to tremble. See that ye fall not out of the way. That is a royal ruling. Joseph is speaking to them as a word from the throne. And you have a word from the saviour, a word from the king. We are his children. And yet we are on royal business day by day. But notice secondly, the reasons not to fall out of the way. The reasons. As we think of these words, see that you fall not out of the way. Let me give some practical reasons why Joseph's brethren must not fall out of the way and make application to our life. Notice because of the promise that was given. Three simple thoughts. The promise that was given. Remember, Joseph's brethren, as they leave, they leave with a promise for others. verses 10 and 9, Thou shalt dwell in the land of Canaan. Thou shalt be near unto me, thou and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, thy herds, and all that thou hast. And there will I nourish thee for there are yet five years of the famine. And so they leave with a message for their father. They leave with a message for others back in Canaan that there is provision in Joseph and they must go immediately. They must get in the wagons. And so with such a message that others need to hear, they must not fall out of the way. And therefore, child of God, we too are sent with the Sovereign's message. We too are to give the Gospel to family, to others, mum, dad, brother, sister, children, grandchildren, neighbours and friends. Acts chapter 2 verse 21, For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 2 Corinthians 4 verse 3, If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost. You see, if you fall out of the way, then you will be sidetracked and you will be sidelined. Those who have fallen out of the way have now become cases of now being able to try and restore and to help. Make sure that you fall not out of the way, because you carry the message of God's Word. You carry the hope for sinners. You carry the message of life. Make sure you don't fall out of the way, because if you do, the message will not be delivered. but notice also because of the proof given. Verses 19 to 23, they bring down wagons of provision. There's money, there's food, there's cattle, there's good things that have been given. The promise was, I will nourish all who come, but the proof is seen in the wagons. Joseph says, I have the ability to meet the need. But when he sends the wagons, those wagons are there for proof, to show he's able to meet the need. Because the wagons are filled full of good things. Again, verses 26 to 27. Jacob, when he heard the promise, didn't believe at the start. But when he's seen the wagons, when he's seen the proof, when he's seen the one who said he can nourish has the ability to nourish, then he believed the message. And so Joseph says, they must not fall out by the way because they carry provisions. They carry the proof of what he is able to do. Believer, as you go forth with the promise of salvation, you yourself are the very proof of the promise. You are the visible demonstration of God's grace and God's power. What the Lord is able to do in a life and how the Lord has compassion. If you like, your life is a gospel wagon full of the Lord's provision. When you come to some soul in great need and tell them to come to Jesus Christ and he's able to save you and transform your life, you're able to testify. He saved my life. He saved my soul. Oh, I was a lost sinner. I was involved in sin. I understand where you're coming from and how you're thinking because that was once me. But now he's made that change in my heart. Hallelujah. He's put a new song within my heart. even praise on to God. That's why Paul said to God's people in 2 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 2, ye are our epistle written in our hearts known and read of all men. In other words, whenever the believers went round to different places, people would look at their lives and they would read the gospel in their life. Again, Matthew 5, verse 14 and 16. You are the light of the world. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Sinners remain in darkness. Therefore, you are the proof of the Lord is able to change a life. Make sure that you fall not out of the way. Thirdly, because of the people that you're with. Generally speaking, from Genesis chapter 37, the brothers have mostly been together. They've lived, they've travelled, they've acted together, apart from the time when Joseph kept Simeon. But in the past, their actions have caused heartbreak, suffering and sorrow. We know from Genesis chapter 42 verse 22, that Reuben defended himself and began to cast blame on the others of what happened to Joseph. We know from Genesis 37 that they all had their selfish motives to harm Joseph. And so though in a group they still did and do what naturally suits themselves. But Joseph had forgiven them. Joseph pardoned them of their transgressions against him. But still, they have their own characteristics, their own personalities, opinions, strengths, weaknesses, and temptations. Keep in mind, they're traveling with the wagons of provision, filled with riches, filled with cattle, the good things of Egypt, as stated by verse 23. I know it's all for their father, but this is the most they have ever had. And as they depart together, Joseph's counsel is, see that ye fall not out of the way. You are forgiven. Don't be discouraged. Don't quarrel. Don't argue. Don't dig up the past. Don't get bitter. Don't let others influence you. Don't get any ideas. See that ye fall not out of the way. And likewise, believer, we have been forgiven by Christ. All our sins have been forgiven by the Lord. But as we walk on the narrow way, as we are pressing toward the high calling of God and Christ, we still battle with the world, the devil and the flesh. And our past sins often haunt us. We still have our own personalities, our temptations, our weakness, and our strength. The little foxes still come to spoil the fine. The little sins still have potential to spread into greater. And we will always do what suits self. And pride will always come again to challenge. So as we travel on life's journey with other believers, we do so serve with people who have the same battles. And sometimes their influence may not be helpful. They may be over-opinionated, discouraging, off-putting. Maybe even an unbeliever may cause a snare, which means that you feel trapped, unable to go forward to serve the Lord. And yet with all that there, we still have a message from the Sovereign. Look on to me, all ye the ends of the earth, and be saved, for I am God, there is none else. See that ye fall not out of the way. The greatest reason not to fall out of the way is to look on to Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith. He is the promise of life, and he is the proof of life. Christ didn't fall out of the way. He said it is finished. He came to give his life a ransom to save people, and he is alive to guarantee their preservation and blessing. Therefore, Joseph says to his brethren as they depart, see that ye fall not out by the way. Notice, thirdly, the responsibility not to fall out by the way. The responsibility. Notice verse 24 again. He sent his brethren away, and they departed. And he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way. I stated the words, Fall not out by the way means don't be afraid on the way, don't rage on the journey, don't quarrel along the way. There's a responsibility laid on the brothers. Here is something they must do themselves. They must be alert. They must remember the council. Say that ye don't fall out of the way. The way into Egypt would be long and filled with temptations. There would be businessmen looking to make a purchase. they couldn't control who they met on the journey but they were responsible for how they would deal with any situation and who they got involved with or allowed to get involved with as Joseph himself could not control as part of his wife came on to him and yet he said how can I do this great wickedness and sin against God but he was responsible and accountable for how he dealt with that situation and what did he do he left he fled he removed himself and so young people when you are in a situation that is getting harder than you can handle. When you're in a situation that is getting out of your control, while you cannot control who maybe you meet or comes into your path, yet you are responsible for what you do. Avoid it, walk past it, don't go near it, don't try it, don't taste it, don't get involved with it, don't step towards it, don't want a closer look at it. They were responsible and accountable for their own actions. They were responsible and accountable for delivering the royal message. They were responsible and accountable for allowing themselves to be entangled with anything or anyone they allowed into their life that caused them to fall out of the way. And I will say this, young people, and I've said it a hundred times, and I will say it again because it was drilled into me. If you are dating an unsaved person, you're falling out of the way. And if you marry that unsaved person, you have fallen out of the way. Because you will not be able to do what the Lord wants you to do. You are responsible and accountable. And so when you're thinking about dating someone, here's a word for you. See that you fall not out by the way before you date that person. I said it before, he may be good looking. He may have the update hairstyle. She may be good looking as well. Whatever you want to add on to that. But unless they're saved, Don't take a closer look. Don't get more interested. See that ye fall not out by the way. As I said, getting in with wrong crowds. Maybe someone wants to hand you something. Try this. Listen, do this. Everybody's doing it. Just take one wee smoke, it's fine. One wee sip and I'll kill you. Who's gonna know? No one's here. I tell you, the Lord sees all. See that ye fall not out by the way. And listen, I could give you example after example. And what I'm saying to you is not trying to dampen anybody's spirit. It's just doing what Joseph said, trying to make sure you don't fall out by the way. Believer, we are on the Lord's royal business. See that ye fall not out by the way. Christ is building his church, and he uses us every single day for his own own glory. And every day we are in situations where these words apply, whether in home or out of home, with others or on your own. and we don't know what temptations or challenges come our way. Things may pop up just honestly and sincerely, maybe on the computer, maybe on the phone. You get these texts and all the rest and you don't even know where it's from or who it's from. And it says click. Don't click. Because if you do, you will fall out by the way. you will go down a path that you didn't intend to go down. It will bring you into a world that you didn't even expect or didn't even realize even existed. As Paul said to Timothy, keep thyself pure. Make sure ye fall not out by the way. You are responsible. You can't control who comes into your path. but you control how you deal with that situation. And if someone begins to flirt with you, married or not married, and begins to, I don't know whatever phrase you want to use, but the point is, don't start to get interested. Don't start to be curious. Don't start to love it, rather avoid it. Move yourself from it. Walk on by. If it's a bad crowd, a crowd on the street, in a big group, whatever it is, don't get involved. People, what I used to do in my school, by the way, I know schools have maybe changed this day. People will come out to you. Now, I was in a school, you had to fight to survive, in a sense, like that. Maybe it's like that today, I don't know. But you would get people who would come up to you, and they would try and get a reaction. You know, see him over there? Who do you think would win the fight? You're him. Now, maybe years of experience after you knew what to say, back then, you know, I think I could take him on. Right, right, right. He thinks he can take you on. What? And then they come over. What are you saying about me? What have you got a problem? And then, and all the rest. Now, those things all happen. And that's what I'm saying. That could have been avoided. Do you know what? I don't want to fight. I don't think it's right and all the rest. Or he would just beat me and go on and all the rest and all the rest and stuff. But as soon as you start to get an interest, as soon as you start to get a response, then it starts a whole big thing. Because there's some people who just want a response. They don't want to be the first to do something to you, in a sense, but they want you to come back to them. And that's where it starts. See that you fall not out by the way. Don't get involved. And I trust when I do some marriages in this congregation with all these young people here, it'll be in the Lord. And I look forward to that. We must do this ourself. You're a responsible young person, or men and women, for reading your Bible, standing firm in God's word, praying. Paul said in Romans 13, verse four, put ye on the Lord Jesus and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lust thereof. The illustration of that is when you are going on holiday. Now, I don't know if you've gone on holiday recently or you've packed a suitcase recently, or let's just use your school bag or a work bag or maybe a bag going to church. When you're getting a bag ready You're getting prepared what you need. So maybe you're getting the bag that says, I need my computer for work, or I need my school book for work. You're getting everything organized, what you need. You're putting in the bag what you need. You're making preparation, making provision for what you need in school, what you need in work. You're doing that on purpose. And so Paul says, put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Make not provision for the flesh. In other words, don't put yourself in a position where you're putting yourself in a position to be a target, to be tempted. Don't put yourself in a position that you're making yourself vulnerable. getting in with the wrong crowd, doing the different things to fulfill the lusts thereof. And we could use more illustrations from that. Point is, the responsibility. See that ye fall not out by the way. Notice finally, and very, very briefly, the result. not to fall out by the way. Verse 25. And they went up out of Egypt and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father. They reached their father and they were able to tell him everything that Joseph said. Verses 26 to 28, they didn't fall out of the way. Chapter 46, verse six, we will get there one time. They came into Egypt, Jacob and all his seed with him. That was the result. They delivered the message where it needed to be and they seen their family brought into Egypt to enjoy the good of the land and to partake of the promise of nourishment. And the reward for you, believer, the result for you not to fall out of the way is to have the blessing of the Lord. It's to have the well done of God in your life. It is to see others one for the Lord Jesus Christ. As I said, Christ, he didn't fall out of the way, though he was tempted to even on the cross when they said, come down. He was tempted to fall out of the way. But he stayed on the cross for the purpose to save your soul in order that you would be redeemed. He run his race. He finished his course. And as the result, he purchased eternal life for every sinner given to him by the Father to save. And so that is the message of Joseph to his brethren as they're about to leave. See that ye fall not out by the way. Parents, keep telling your children. Children, keep listening. Husbands and wives. See that ye fall not out by the way and by God's grace to this minister, this pastor of this church as I preach the word, I must make sure that I fall not out by the way. Keep myself safe and keep myself preaching Christ as the only savior of sinners. May the Lord write his word upon our heart for his name's sake. Amen.