Introduction

Good morning, everyone! This chapter we are reading is truly amazing, and I've decided to title it Shepherding Without Indulging the Flesh. Joseph's wisdom surpasses that of ordinary people. His greatness lies in inventing a shepherding approach that does not cater to the flesh. Joseph's ambition to be the most esteemed in his family wasn't about lording it over them, constantly ordering people to do chores for him and expecting to be served, but rather to shepherd his family. So, please don't think that God elevating your status in the family means you get a grand office setup with a large desk, chairs, and a sofa, only to sit inside it like a monkey.

What I want to say is that becoming a blessing to your family means building them up, shepherding them, and blessing them. The best blessing is to build people's faith. Joseph went to great lengths, creating a whole series of events. Some might say that brothers recognizing each other is a simple matter. They could just introduce themselves, exchange pleasantries, inquire about their father Jacob's well-being, and then quickly arrange to bring him over. But Joseph didn't do that. Joseph wanted them to experience a lesson in faith, and his greatness lies in the difficulty of this task.

How does one control one's emotions in such a situation? If it were me, after not seeing my family for over twenty years, I would have rushed home to alleviate the pain of longing. But I must tell you that I've learned a little from Joseph. I use Joseph's methods in my shepherding, and it's actually quite challenging. Let me explain it to you in detail. In the previous chapter, Joseph presented his family with a difficult problem.

Joseph Challenges Them and Exercises Their Faith

The first challenge Joseph presented to his family was keeping Simeon in prison in Egypt, and the second was bringing Benjamin. Joseph certainly knew that bringing Benjamin would devastate his father, Jacob. He presented this challenge to rebuild their faith. The faith of Joseph's family had not been trained for a long time. This time, God, through Joseph, presented them with a challenge to exercise their faith again.

Now the famine was severe in the land. And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’” (Genesis 43:1-3)

Day after day passed, and soon the grain was almost gone. Jacob's entire family, plus the servants, numbered nearly a thousand people, all of whom needed to eat. But even with Jacob facing famine, God would certainly not relent. It would not be a big deal for God to let them go through a few years of famine, nor would it be a big deal for Simeon to stay in prison for a year or so. This Joseph could really be ruthless. He certainly knew his father was in pain, but he calculated that the family had discussed it several times and the grain was almost gone. This time, let Jacob see how to make this difficult decision.

“If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food, but if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’” Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” They replied, “The man asked us directly about ourselves and our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ And we told him what he asked. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you may require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.” (Genesis 43:4-10)

The whole family regretted why they had mentioned that they had a younger brother. Jacob refused to let Benjamin go. If it were possible, they would have already bought the grain. Abraham's family had more than two thousand people, so there must have been at least eight hundred to a thousand people in Jacob's family. To run a cafeteria for a thousand people, a large amount of food had to be consumed every day. Seeing the family's grain decreasing day by day, and the whole family was about to starve to death. In the famine years, even tree bark was a scarce product. Because people had nothing to eat, they went to gnaw on the tree bark, and the tree bark had to be stripped bare. The family had countless meetings for this decision, Jacob was very distressed, and they were all competing there. What could they rely on at this time?

Brothers and sisters, you must know that if you are struggling and still think you are talented and capable, then when the tide goes out and the famine comes, there will be nothing to hide. So I often advise brothers and sisters to develop skills, and not wait until the tide goes out to realize that they are naked. I have seen many foolish people, but some people get upset when I say this. Let me tell you why people are not capable. When they encounter difficulties, they pass the buck, get confused, have headaches, and are dazed. Others have dreams, but those are small dazed dreams.

Joseph presented this difficult problem for his family. At this time, whether they had faith or not, they had to have it, because either way, it was death. If Simeon and Benjamin were sacrificed, the others could survive. In the face of life's choices, we must develop the faith to die if we die. A few days ago, a brother said that he knew what I was going to say next as soon as I said the previous sentence. He guessed very accurately. Don't think this is great. The most skilled liars are those who can read minds.

I am not competing with my mouth, but with the choices we make in our hearts when facing life's decisions. I often face tests of faith myself. In my bones, I have the character of Joseph and Jacob. The best faith is the faith of die if we die. Die if we die is nothing great. The world lacks people with this kind of faith. No one can decide when we are born and when we die. I truly have the faith of die if we die, and I am not that interested in living.

Many years ago, I had all the symptoms of a certain type of cancer. I didn't go to the doctor, and I didn't want to get checked. Die if we die anyway. If it were you, you might not have the courage, and you might go to the doctor right away. Some people buy Huawei or Apple watches to check their heart rate, blood oxygen, oxygen saturation, sleep, and steps. I don't look at these, and I don't want to know. It's not that I'm afraid to know. Even if I knew, I wouldn't care. In the end, I didn't die.

Some time ago, I went to see a friend who died from an Omicron infection. He contracted Omicron at a gathering of hundreds of thousands of Christians, and he was unconscious, lying in the hospital with tubes for several months. Seeing him lying in the coffin, I was filled with emotion. I contracted the more deadly Delta variant of COVID-19 a year earlier than him, and I am still alive, because I had the faith of die if we die. If the hospital could cure it, it would not be called an epidemic.

Joseph cultivated his family's faith by having an attitude of die if we die. Those who are not afraid of death will not die. I really want to train everyone to have this fearless attitude when facing life and death choices. Indulging the flesh is death, and not indulging the flesh is what is amazing. Joseph put his brother Simeon in prison to eat prison food. The jailers could beat him if they wanted to, and the bullies in the prison could beat him if they wanted to. He would not have a good time.

Whether Simeon had the faith to die if we die or not, it didn't matter. Everything he encountered was because he had no faith. If a person has faith, it will bring God's presence. With God's presence, there is no need to worry. Joseph also knew that he was presenting his family with a difficult problem, but the purpose was not to harm them. I learned a set of shepherding principles from Joseph, which is that I don't care if anyone dies, not even if I die myself, let alone if others die. Even if they die, I want to cultivate the die if we die faith in you.

Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and carry down to the man a present, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. Take double the money with you that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man. May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. As for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” (Genesis 43:11-14)

In this generation, there are not many who have my shepherding methods. There are many churches that cater to the flesh, but not many churches that deal with the flesh. Do you want to try dealing with your flesh? Actually, after saying this, I also feel a little nervous for you, worried that you will not overcome it, but you have to deal with it this way.

God Often Forces Us to Make Painful Choices

Joseph deeply understood God's will and was very aware of basic spiritual principles. He had been a slave, been in prison, and had been a prime minister. He saw clearly the reality of human life and walked the path of faith all the way. If a person has not experienced anything, it is difficult to practice faith. Faith is opposed to our flesh, just like two sides of a coin.

That is to say, if you are a person of faith, you will certainly not follow the flesh. If you are a person who follows the flesh, you are certainly a person without faith. Previously, a sister said that a person without faith is an animal, and I agree with this statement. A person who gratifies the flesh is an animal. Although this is a curse, it is a spiritual principle. Someone asked him why he had such and such problems, and I immediately told him that it was because he had not rectified himself. This statement sounds unpleasant. God often forces us to make painful choices to let us give up relying on our own hearts. Indulging the flesh is useless.

I don't care who loves death. I don't care if I die, and I don't care if you die. But my heart is soft, because what a person sows, he will reap. I really cannot eat what you have sown for you. So God often forces us to practice faith to prove one thing: people cannot do without God. When the famine came, God did not say that Jacob had God's presence, so the famine could not come upon Jacob. If it did come, it would be normal. Do not think that a person who is blessed by God will not encounter famine.

But one thing is different. When famine comes, we have the faith to overcome it, because we rely on God. Famine is nothing. We are unworthy people in this world. God often lets us live in the land of death, but the power of Jesus Christ's resurrection covers us.

Thank God, I have experienced the valley of the shadow of death again and again, but I tell you, I will not die. Even if I die, I will persist in walking this path of faith, trusting in my God! Yesterday, when I led the prayer, I cried, and sang My God, I Love Thee while shedding tears. I really love my God, and nothing can separate us from God's love.

Famine cannot separate us from God's love, this is called a declaration of faith! It's not smooth sailing, a stable life, and peace, but full of challenges. But may God have mercy on every challenge. I don't want to experience these things either, but when these things come upon us, through the God who loves us, nothing is insurmountable. Joseph was cultivating his family's trust in God.

The famine came upon Jacob to fulfill Joseph, this man with dreams. God wants to prove one thing: you who have less faith than Joseph must come to Joseph and bow down. From now on, you will be Joseph, you will become a person with dreams, your position will be great in the family, and you will become a person who shepherds the family. To deal with the flesh of your family members, they must all come to you and bow down. The effect of doing this is very good, which also made Jacob try every possible method.

**Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and

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## Simeon Also Experienced the Test of Faith in Prison

Our Apostle Paul often went to jail and often experienced the death of Jesus Christ. Simeon also went through the test of faith in prison. He must have wondered why no one had come to rescue him, why no one had brought Benjamin, and when he could get out. Was that Egyptian prime minister trying to kill him? Thinking about these things every day was excruciating. In such a difficult environment, Simeon had no one to rely on but God.

Sometimes we think we are great, always trying to create our own destiny and live by the sword. But that doesn't work. If there is still a bit of reliance on yourself among us, may God give you a good opportunity. Simeon was dealing with his flesh in prison. He used to seem quite powerful, but now he was not in a Canaanite prison, but in an Egyptian prison. If he wanted to appeal, he could only appeal to Joseph. This kind of environment can train people, and people will find that their abilities are not enough.

One must always feel that one's abilities are not enough. If you don't believe it, try it. When things come upon you, you will know the immensity of the world. Reflect well, and don't think you are good or powerful. There are many people more powerful than us. There are mountains beyond mountains, and people beyond people. Brothers and sisters, know that many of the things one encounters in life are uncontrollable突发事件, and it is these突发事件 that determine your destiny.

We must become people who practice faith, have dreams, and have visions, and start not relying on ourselves, but relying on the God who loves us. Don't not love God now, and then force yourself to love God when things come upon you, that is meaningless. People like Simeon suffered in prison, while God caused Joseph to forget his pain and prosper in the place of suffering. There are also many people who spend their entire lives in prison, so relying on oneself is unreliable. The 突发事件 one encounters in life determine one's destiny. Some people go out and never come back, because of 突发事件.

Simeon did many bad things, which the Bible does not record in detail because they are of little value. But these few things show that Simeon's heart was very bad, without compassion. Such a carnal person in prison should repent of the indecent things he had done one by one. Simeon used to be arrogant, thinking that trusting God was useless, but now he must earnestly pray and trust God.

So I want to tell you, many people are like this. Remember not to forget as soon as you are released from prison, and start arguing with God again. As soon as you go in, you become discouraged again. I told you long ago that you can't rely on yourself, but why do you always rely on yourself? You only think about three meals a day and a comfortable life. You go to school to pass the civil service exam and get a degree, but those things cannot determine your destiny. What really determines your destiny are those 突发事件. Everything is in God's hands.

## Those with Little Faith Bow Down to Those with Great Faith

God has arranged a position in eternity. Those with great faith have a higher position. This is an eternal and irrefutable truth. If you want to be a person, you must be a person with faith. A person with faith will have character, because the core of character is faith.

**And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight. Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man: And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.(Genesis 43:11-14)**

Some of us feel that we are not chosen by God. In fact, what God chooses is believing, and the core of character is faith. If you lack this kind of character, you must start practicing faith. Don't try to learn my ways without that character, it's useless. Someone said that if the teacher is sick and doesn't go to the hospital, then he won't go either. Learning this is useless, and it won't work even after you learn it. You don't have that faith, you can't play that game. So I often advise people to go to the hospital. I am different from you, I have faith and I am not afraid of death. Unlike some people who are afraid of everything. Not letting you go to the hospital is not mistreating you?

Brothers and sisters, know that those with great faith have a higher position. If you want to have great faith, practice hard. Some time ago, I met a brother who had a fish bone stuck in his throat. While I was leading him in prayer, he said to go to the hospital and take it out. In the past, people with fish bones stuck in their throats would usually get better in ten minutes. But it took him more than an hour, and it was useless In the end, he told me to go to the hospital. Who knew that after taking an X-ray at the hospital, the doctor said it couldn't be taken out. When he came back to me, there was no way out. The hospital had cut off his thoughts, and he finally chose to pray. However, the fish bone disappeared in ten minutes. I said, why did you do that earlier? It sounds like a complaint, but the fact is that he was just messing around because he had no faith.

Our ministry in the church is often a ministry that deals with the flesh. I am never soft-hearted when dealing with people's flesh. If you have not been ministered to by me, it is actually your blessing. As soon as I deal with you, you collapse and leave. As soon as you leave, I open champagne here. It is useless to come here without faith. Don't think I care about one more person in the church. In fact, I only care about one more or one less Joseph, and I don't care about one more or one less Simeon.

## The Emotions of Spiritual People Are Alive

**And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there. 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. And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive? And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.(Genesis 43:25-30)**

Don't think that I am heartless when I deal with your flesh and torture you to death. The more pleasing to God and the more spiritual a person is, the richer their emotions are. In fact, I often shed tears. Sometimes when I think about my own experiences, I envy everyone. Everyone has someone to minister to them well, but I have never met a good pastor in my life. If I had met a good pastor to minister to me, many things could have been avoided. In the process of ministering, I often experience spiritual valleys with you, and I often worry about you in my heart. Sometimes I feel very uncomfortable after dealing with your flesh, because I don't know if you will collapse. This is what the Apostle Paul said, this is his life, and it is also my life.

**Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?(2 Corinthians 11:29)**

Brothers and sisters, be strong. Although Joseph treated his brothers like this, his emotions were very free. He cried when he wanted to cry. What's the big deal about a man not shedding tears easily? I thank God that God has always been gracious to me and allowed all the things I have experienced to achieve a beautiful goal, which is to completely shatter my worldly dreams. I no longer seek anything in the world. The only thing I seek is to be able to see God's face. God is a God with emotions. God loves us, and this is the strongest emotion. Like our love for God, we put our strongest emotions on God. Everyone must not be a person with a heart of stone, but must be soft-hearted, weep with those who weep, and rejoice with those who rejoice.

**And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread. And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians. And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another. And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.(Genesis 43:31-34)**

Joseph was the eleventh child in the family, with ten older brothers in front of him, but his dream came true. His brothers all came to bow down before him, and even his father Jacob had to look up to him. So how wonderful it is to have great faith. Joseph's way of doing things was very peculiar. Even though he was the prime minister, he didn't rush to tell his family. Although Joseph's emotions were alive, he still had to keep them in his heart. It would be good if the brothers and sisters could understand the pastor's heart.

Now that I have finished this chapter, do you think the theme I summarized is consistent? Joseph was really amazing. In that era, he invented dealing with the flesh. Using the method of dealing with the flesh to build people up is the best way to build people up.

## Summary

Whether you are ministering to people or being ministered to, do not be considerate of the flesh. When your pastor deals with you, do not discern good and evil, because your pastor is experiencing these hardships with you. He doesn't want to see you fall, he wants to see you built up, and of course that's what I want to see too.

I wonder if the pastors among us can inherit more of the ministry of dealing with the flesh. Although it is very troublesome, sometimes it seems inhumane and is misunderstood and hated. Simeon may have cursed Joseph countless times in prison, and may even have gnashed his teeth thinking about how to retaliate against him after he got out. Do you show your teeth when your pastor deals with you? If you often show your teeth, that is the beast in you.

I want everyone to remember deeply that there are too many things to learn to be a pastor. May God have mercy on us, encourage us, and let us continue to practice faith in our respective positions and different environments, and deal with our carnal bad habits.

May God bless everyone!

## Genesis Chapter 43 Scripture

43:1 And the famine was sore in the land.
43:2 And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.
43:3 And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
43:4 If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:
43:5 But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
43:6 And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?
43:7 And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?
43:8 And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.
43:9 I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:
43:10 For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.
43:11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:
43:12 And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight:
43:13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:
43:14 And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
43:15 And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.
43:16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.
43:17 And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.
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, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.
43:19 And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,
43:20 And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:
43:21 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.
43:22 And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.
43:23 And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.
43:24 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.
43:25 And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.
43:26 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.
43:27 And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?
43:28 And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.
43:29 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.
43:30 And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.
43:31 And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.
43:32 And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.
43:33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another.
43:34 And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.