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So, 

Have you ever taken a crazy risk? Done something that just scared you to death! Waterskied? Entered a triathlon or marathon?

Tried out for the show Jeopardy or joined a debate club? Gone on a job interview that if you got the job would really stretch your abilities to the limit?

Gotten up and moved half way around the country to work at a company that you really weren’t sure would be a good fit or to be with a girlfriend or boyfriend?

Taken your child to a new school not sure how they would fit in, and in fact not sure how you and your family would fit in?

We all at times take risks; I mean have you ever eaten sushi? There are, or course big risks, buying a house, and small risks, learning Spanish.

We take the risk because we believe the benefit outweighs the risk, sometimes because it all sounds thrilling, and sometimes because not taking the risk is not an option.

And sometimes we take a risk because we are condiment God’s got us. 

But risk it is! And things could go wrong.

Of course, for most of us the risks are nothing like the risks Joseph’s brothers were about to undertake
They were going to journey back to Egypt again from Canaan. 

And if you perhaps haven’t kept up with this story, you can watch our past services on our website and app, or listen to just the sermon or read them at www.otisvillepres.org/worship

It turns out that after all the trouble they had when they first went to Egypt and encountered their brother Joseph - well disguised as an Egyptian leader who accused them of being spies - they had to go again!

They were out of food. Seven years of drought had completely destroyed crops not only in Egypt, but also in Canaan 200 miles away.

And, because they had found money in the sacks of grain they had brought back from Egypt, they were now going to take twice as much money to pay for what they had been given the first time and what they needed to buy.

And, they had to take Benjamin, their youngest brother.

This was terrifying and without a doubt was nuts. It made no sense. This was a journey destined to not only end with Simeon still in prison, but all of them as well. Even Benjamin!

There was only one thing they had not considered. 
And it was what the patriarch Jacob, said before they left: 
“When you go in to see the governor, I pray that God All-Powerful will be good to you and that the governor will let your other brother and Benjamin come back home with you. But if I must lose my children, I suppose I must.”
Not exactly a great statement of faith. Not a clear affirmation that Jacob knew that God’s had him. That God had planned out his future.
But if we have learned anything from the story of Joseph it is that God has got us. That El-Shaddai, the Almighty God is not far away and not uninterested in us and our circumstances, but is with us always, in all circumstances, all the time.
And while Joseph’s brothers might not be sure of that, nor Jacob it seems, Joseph was sure. He had experience after experience to prove that God was with him always and everywhere.
And God is with us too!
Which is why we in faith can follow as God leads. 
Which is why we can put our trust in the one God sent, Jesus, who reminds us that he will be with us until the end of time, and who, knowing us so well, sent the Holy Spirit to bolster our feeble faith.
Which is why we really hope to hear Ruben or Judah say in faith, “Get those donkeys and let’s go. God has made a way where there is no way.”
“We will see that Egyptian ruler and we will pay for the grain we have now and the grain we want to buy and he will see Benjamin and know we are no spies and Simeon will be safe and somehow it will all work!”
“Because God has got us!”
We want them to have that kind of faith, because it is the kind of faith we would love to have!
But instead, they, like us most of the time, take risks with trepidation because our faith is, well, perhaps in need of some bolstering. A shot of faith in the arm is needed. 
We need to do risky things, stepping out in faith, because we figured out  that you can’t learn to walk in faith if you won’t put one foot in front of the other, open the door and get going!
And look at what happened! The strangest feast ever!
First off, when they arrived at Joseph's house, they said to the servant in charge, 20 “Sir, we came to Egypt once before to buy grain. 21 But when we stopped for the night, we each found in our grain sacks the exact amount we had paid. We have brought that money back, 22 together with enough money to buy more grain. We don't know who put the money in our sacks.”
To which the servant replies 23 “It's all right, don't worry. The God you and your father worship must have put the money there, because I received your payment in full.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.
What?
God has got you! Even Joseph’s servant knows!
And then while Joseph’s brothers offer gifts, Joseph treats them as honored guests, all while the Egyptians want nothing to do with them.
You know, God has promised a feast at the Father’s table at the end of time for us, the brothers and sisters of Jesus. There will be there all those who have lived this life in faith, including you and I.
A day of great celebration. And all because he’s got us.
So live life to the fullest as the children of the most high God. 
Take risks. Live life to the fullest. Because a feast awaits!
Amen.