Have You Ever Been Falsely Accused?
Have You Ever Suffered Unjustly For Something You Had No Control Over?
The Life Of Joseph Is A Study On Handling Extreme Situations.
From A Slave To A Powerful Ruler.
Joseph Had To Deal With A Life Of Ups And Downs.
God Taught Him How To Handle Them All.
LET'S START WITH THE DEFINITION OF THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD:
It Means That As Ruler Of The Universe, God is Free And Has The Right To Do Whatever He Wants.
He Is Not Bound Or Limited By The Dictates Of His Created Beings.
He Is In Complete Control Over Everything That Happens Here On Earth.
God's Will Is The Final Cause Of All Things.
KEY TAKEAWAY:
SINCE GOD IS SOVEREIGN, WE CAN TRUST HIM EVEN WHEN JEALOUSY APPEARS TO RUIN EVERYTHING.
FIRST: JOSEPH IS A VERY MEMORABLE CHARACTER IN BIBLE HISTORY.
As Much Scripture Is Devoted To Joseph As To Abraham.
Why?
There Are A Number Of Reasons:
1. His Story Completes Jacob's (Israel) Story;
2. He Is The Link Between Israel As A Family And Israel As A Nation;
3. He Is A Type Of Christ;
4. His Life Is An Example Of Faith From God's Point Of View.
SECOND: EACH PATRIARCH TEACHES US SOMETHING ABOUT FAITH:
Abel Exemplifies Redemption Through Faith;
By Faith Abel Believed God's Word And Become Righteous.
Enoch Exemplifies The Walk Of Faith;
By Faith Enoch Walked With God And God Took Him HOME.
Noah Exemplifies The Confession Of Faith;
By Faith Noah Confessed His Faith In God Through His Action.
Abraham Exemplifies The Obedience Of Faith;
By Faith Abraham Trusted God's Word And Was Saved By Faith.
Isaac Exemplifies The Patience Of Faith;
By Faith Isaac Trusted In The Promises Of God.
Jacob Exemplifies The Training Of Faith;
By Faith Jacob Trained Most Of His Life To Learn To Trust God.
Joseph Exemplifies The Triumph Of Faith.
By Faith Joseph Was Victorious Thru God's Authority.
OUTLINE:
JOSEPH SOLD INTO SLAVERY 37:1-36:
HOW GOD ACCOMPLISHES HIS SOVEREIGN WILL:
1. HATRED AND ENVY AMONG BROTHERS.
VS.1-11—JOSEPH’S DREAMS:
PRINCIPLE #1:
GOD IS SOVEREIGNLY ACCOMPLISHING HIS WILL:
EVEN THROUGH OUR FAILINGS AND TROUBLES.
A. Joseph's Home Life (37:1-4).
B. Joseph's Two Dreams (37:5-11).
2. EVIL PLANS AMONG BROTHERS.
VS.12-36—JOSEPH’S JOURNEYS:
PRINCIPLE #2:
GOD IS SOVEREIGNLY ACCOMPLISHING HIS WILL:
DESPITE OUR IGNORANCE OF THE DETAILS.
C. Joseph Sent To Check On His Brothers (37:12-14).
D. Joseph's Brothers Consider Murder Of Him (37:15-20).
E. Joseph Is Saved From Death By Reuben (37:21-28).
F. Joseph Sold Into Slavery (37:23-28).
3. DECEPTION AND DARKNESS AMONG BROTHERS.
G. Joseph's Brothers Lie To Jacob (37:29-36).
SO
WE BEGIN WITH:
VS.1-11—JOSEPH’S DREAMS:
PRINCIPLE #1: GOD IS SOVEREIGNLY ACCOMPLISHING HIS WILL:
EVEN THROUGH OUR FAILINGS AND TROUBLES.
A. JOSEPH'S HOME LIFE (37:1-4).
1. The Story Begins When Joseph Is Seventeen Years Old.
There Is Nothing Recorded Of His Early Life.
Here Are Some Things We Can Know:
Joseph Was Greatly Favored By His Father Jacob.
Joseph Was The First Son Of His Beloved Wife Rachel.
Joseph Came Along When Jacob Was Quite Old.
Joseph Was Given, By Jacob, A LONG TUNIC WITH COLORED THREAD.
This Had A Mark Of Distinction.
This Would Carry Its Own Meaning.
This Implied Exemption From Labor.
This Implied Privilege Of A Prince.
This Could Be Considered A Gift To A Prince From A King.
Joseph Seemed To Be Spiritually Minded At An Early Age.
Joseph Was God-Conscious About Right And Wrong.
Apparently His Brothers Had Done Something Wrong.
Joseph Felt Constrained To Tell Jacob About It.
Joseph Had A Different Relationship To Jacob Than The Brothers.
The Brothers Were Raised Under The Influence Of The Old Jacob.
Joseph Had Been The Companion Of The Changed Jacob.
2. Because Joseph Was Favored, His Brothers Hated Him.
Joseph Could Do Nothing But Argue With Him.
The Brothers Were Filled With Envy And Resentfulness.
The Root Of The Entire Problem Was Envy.
APPLICATION:
ENVY IS DISSATISFACTION WITH ONE'S OWN CIRCUMSTANCES.
It Results In Jealousy.
It Angers Others Who Are More Favored.
It Is A Failure To Accept One's Lot Under God's Sovereignty.
ENVY CAN RESULT IN MURDER IF NOT RESTRAINED.
Have You Learned The Secret Of Contentment.
To Delight Ourselves In The Lord.
The Most Effective Way To Avoid Envy Is:
To Trust In The Lord And Delight In Him:
And He Will Give You The Desires Of Your Heart.
B. JOSEPH'S TWO DREAMS (37:5-11).
Jacob Had Several Dreams.
The Dreams Show Rule Over His Other Brothers.
The Dreams Show That Even The Sun And Moon Obeyed Him.
WHY WOULD JOSEPH SHARE THESE DREAMS WITH HIS BROTHERS?:
Would Not These Dreams Increase The Hatred Of His Brothers?
Would Not The Hatred Build In Intensity?
NOW, LET'S LOOK AT:
VS.12-36—JOSEPH’S JOURNEYS:
PRINCIPLE #2: GOD IS SOVEREIGNLY ACCOMPLISHING HIS WILL:
DESPITE OUR IGNORANCE OF THE DETAILS.
C. JOSEPH SENT TO CHECK ON HIS BROTHERS (37:12-14).
Jacob Was Concerned About His Older Boys.
The 11 Other Boys Were In Shechem.
This Is The Same Place That Jacob Had Battled.
He Sent Joseph To Check On Them.
D. JOSEPH'S BROTHERS CONSIDER MURDER (37:15-20).
The 11 Other Brothers Were Resentful Of Joseph.
They Wanted To Murder Him And Lie About How He Died.
E. JOSEPH IS SAVED FROM DEATH BY REUBEN (37:21-28).
Reuben Did Not Go Along With The Evil Plan.
He Suggested That Joseph Be Thrown In A Pit.
Reuben Would Come Back And Rescue Joseph.
Reuben Just Wanted To Frighten Joseph.
Reuben Had Good Intentions.
Reuben Was Overruled By The Other Brothers.
F. JOSEPH SOLD INTO SLAVERY (37:23-28).
The Brothers Stole Joseph's Coat.
Threw Joseph Into A Pit.
Intended To Kill Joseph.
Fortunately, Some Merchants Came Along The Path.
These Merchants Were Headed To Egypt.
These Merchants Offered To Buy Joseph For Slavery.
The Brothers Sold Joseph For 20 Pieces Of Silver.
The Price Of A Common Slave At That Time.
The Merchants Sold Him To Potiphar, An Officer Of Pharaoh.
IT SEEMED JOSEPH WOULD NEVER BE FREE AGAIN.
God Loved Joseph And Had A Wonderful Plan For His Life.
All Of The Scheming By His Brothers Was Part Of That Plan.
G. JOSEPH'S BROTHERS LIE TO JACOB (37:29-36).
The Brothers Explained To Jacob A FALSE DISAPPEARANCE.
They Gave Jacob The Impression That Joseph Had Been Killed By A Wild Beast.
HOW GOD IS WORKING.
I CAN’T TELL YOU ALL THE WORKINGS OF GOD IN EVERY MOMENT.
BUT I KNOW GOD IS WORKING THROUGH IT ALL.
Through It All God Was Accomplishing His Perfect Will.
To Bring About Salvation For Many People Through Joseph.
GOD IS SOVEREIGNLY ACCOMPLISHING HIS WILL:
EVEN THROUGH OUR FAILINGS AND TROUBLES.
DESPITE OUR IGNORANCE OF THE DETAILS.
“As For You, You Meant Evil Against Me, But God Meant It For Good,
To Bring It About That Many People Should Be Kept Alive, As They Are Today.
SO, HOW WAS JOSEPH LIKE CHRIST?
Joseph, The “Prince Among His Brothers”.
The History Of His Conflict With His Brothers,
His Captivity, And The Victory.
God Brought These About Through His Trials.
JACOB BEGINS HIS PROPHECY:
Comparing Joseph To A Fruitful Vine, Or Young Tree.
God Had Made Him Fruitful In The Land Of His Affliction.
Joseph Has Two Sons That Were As Branches Of A Vine.
Joseph Reminds The 11 Brothers Of Their Evil Treatment Of Him.
Joseph Has Strength Like A Bow That Remains Steady.
His Faith Did Not Fail, He Stood His Ground, Emerged A Conqueror.
His Arms Remained Strong And Limber.
A Metaphor For His Wisdom, Courage, And Patience.
Joseph Maintained His Integrity Through The Trials.
He Did Not Sink Under The Weight Of Them.
The Source Of This Strength: The Hands Of The Mighty One Of Jacob.
His Grace Is Sufficient And His Strength Is Perfected In Our Weakness.
FROM HIS AFFLICTIONS, And By The Power Of God:
Joseph Fed And Supported God’s People—The Nation Of Israel.
Jacob And His Family Were Fed During The Famine.
Joseph Could Be Seen As An Illustration Of Christ.
Who Was Also Scorned And Hated,
Who Bore Up Under His Sufferings.
The Good Shepherd And The Rock And Redeemer Of His People.
FOR HIS SUFFERINGS: Symbolize And Foreshadow The Church.
The True Church Persecuted By Satan.
But God Protects And Strengthens Us.
And God Will Bring Us Safely Home By His Power.
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