Ancient History, Part II

A Tale of Brotherly Love…NOT

Could be its own sermon: Family, Pharoah and Famine

That would be interesting…but not the point of the text

Were we to look back at the record, it was pretty ugly

Joseph was the arguably the spoiled brat—daddy always like him best..Jacob was not the greatest example of a good dad

His brothers sold him into slavery, his ability to interpret dreams was noted

He set the plan in place which save Egypt from famine

This is a short summary of the life of Joseph; many chapters of Gen. reduced to but a few verses

Stephen is using it to draw the council deeper into his thought process

Joseph’s Rejection

His brothers hated him

Took advantage of an opportunity to not just get him out of the way, but to make a profit

Joseph’s Resilience

graphic

The path is bumpy: from spoiled brat, through many indignities, to the savior of his people!

Joseph’s Response

We may wonder a bit about Joseph’s rather unorthodox revealing of himself to his brothers

…a story in itself

Despite rejection by his brothers, he was good to them—ultimately bringing his entire family to Egypt to live in relative comfort and peace…for many years

He was the savior of his family, his entire line of people

In due time the situation would change and another round of salvation would be needed

All that in response to God’s promise made to Abraham

WITFM?

God may use terrible people with horrible motives to accomplish a great work

Joseph’s brother rejected him—he was objectionable to them—and thought they had done away with the problem

Jesus was rejected by his own people—his brothers; his message was objectionable to them…they thought they had done away with the problem

Joseph, rather then being out of their lives, would save their lives

God may intervene in ways would would never understand or predict to work His will

Who of us could write the story to rival this one?

Who would think that a slave, a prisoner, would ever rise to the position he did

If we read the account closely, we’ll see that God was with him all along

Who would think a man who went through those things could be used of God in such a way?

Joseph suffered much to bring him to the place where God needed him to be

He suffered much before the great work happened

It was him God used to save the lineage of people which would bring Christ into the world

He was a major player in the salvation not just of his own people, but part of bring the blessing to all the world

Through all he faced, Joseph was faithful—not knowing, nor could he know—the impact his action would have on the eternal destination of so many

Is there a New Testament Application?

How do we draw a New Testament application from such an Old Testament account?

We can look, as we often do, to the saga of Paul

We know some of what he endured:

2 Corinthians 11:22–27 (ESV)

... far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.

Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

His suffering/labor was while doing a great work—to bring the Gentile world to the saving knowledge of Jesus

He gave the Philippians a great piece of advice in Philippians 4 12

Philippians 4:12 ESV

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

Philippians 4:13 ESV

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Maybe we won’t be used like Joseph…who plays a major part of bringing the blessing of Christ into the world

Maybe we won’t be used like Paul…to bring the message of Christ to a lost world

Maybe we WILL be used by Christ to bring that message of salvation to just ONE person!

Maybe what you’re going through right now—and I may have NO idea what that may be—is what will set you up for and prepare you for a mighty work…one soul brought to Christ, is mighty work

You cannot be used of God unless you first, know God

That comes with a relationship with Jesus Christ—only through Him

Only through Him will you ever find the peace that will allow you to go through the indignities of daily life—whatever they may be in your life

Who knows what may be done through you obedience and submission to Him