Understanding Our Salvation through Genesis 43:23

For the past 2 weeks, we have delved deeply into the topic of tithing, exploring its historical context and its irrelevance to the New Covenant established by Christ. It is essential to understand that our salvation and acceptance before God have been fully paid for by Christ on the cross. This truth is foundational to our faith and must be clearly understood by every believer.

Background to Genesis 43:23

The verse in question is part of the larger narrative of Joseph and his brothers. Joseph, sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, rises to a position of power in Egypt, becoming the governor responsible for managing the grain during a severe famine. His brothers, unaware of his true identity, come to Egypt seeking food, and Joseph tests their integrity and repentance by placing their money back in their sacks. Upon their return to Egypt, the brothers, fearful of the consequences, attempt to return the money to Joseph’s steward. The steward responds with the reassuring words found in Genesis 43:23: “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.”

Joseph as a Type of Christ

Theologically, Joseph is a typology, a “type of Christ,” a foreshadowing of the Messiah to come. Just as Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and later exalted to a position of authority, so too was Christ betrayed, crucified, and ultimately exalted to the right hand of God. Joseph’s brothers, who sinned against him, are symbolic of humanity, who have sinned against Jesus. This typology draws a clear parallel between Joseph’s forgiveness of his brothers and Christ’s forgiveness of our sins.

Christ’s Provision of Righteousness

Just as Joseph provided grain to his brothers to sustain them during the famine, so Christ provides us with the righteousness that sustains us in our moral famine. The famine in Joseph’s time was severe, threatening the survival of many, just as our moral inadequacy before God is dire. Isaiah 64:6 reminds us, “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” We are utterly incapable of achieving righteousness on our own; it is only through Christ that we are sustained.

The Futility of Human Efforts to Pay for Righteousness

In their ignorance of Joseph’s grace, his brothers tried to gather money to pay for the grain they had received. This mirrors the misunderstanding many Christians have today, thinking they must gather their own acts of righteousness to pay for the grace and righteousness they receive from Christ. Common acts that are often seen as “payment” include participation in church activities, charitable giving, personal devotions, and tithing. Scripture is clear that these acts, while good in themselves, are insufficient to pay off our moral debt to God. Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We are incapable of earning our way to righteousness; it is a gift from God, not a debt we can repay.

The Reassurance of Genesis 43:23

The response Joseph’s brothers received from his steward in Genesis 43:23 holds weighty spiritual truth for us today.

1. Peace about Our Moral Debt: Just as the steward told Joseph’s brothers to be at peace and not to be afraid, we too are called to be at peace concerning our moral debt before God. Romans 5:1 assures us, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” If we have truly repented of our sins and placed our trust in Christ, we can rest in the knowledge that He has paid our debt.
2. Confidence in the Full Payment: The brothers feared that their debt had not been fully settled, but they were reassured. Similarly, we can be confident that Jesus has fully paid our debt. Colossians 2:14 declares, “He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” Our debt has been paid in full by Christ’s sacrifice.
3. Righteousness Credited to Us: It was Joseph who had placed the money into the brothers’ sacks through his steward, just as it is God who credits Christ’s righteousness to our account. 2 Corinthians 5:21 proclaims, “For our sake, He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” This righteousness is not earned; it is a divine credit given to us through faith in Christ.

Conclusion

Genesis 43:23 serves as a powerful reminder that our salvation is a work of God’s grace, fully paid for by Christ on the cross. Just as Joseph’s brothers were reassured of their peace and provision, we too can rest in the assurance that our moral debt has been fully paid, our righteousness is a gift, and we are called to live in the peace that comes from knowing Christ has done it all.