God’s Presence In Strange Places

Gen.39

God's Presence in Strange Places

1 Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.

2 The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.

3 His master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.

4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.

5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field.

6 So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.

7 And after a time his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, "Lie with me."

8 But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge.

9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?"

10 And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.

11 But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house,

12 she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house.

13 And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house,

14 she called to the men of her household and said to them, "See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice.

15 And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house."

16 Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home,

17 and she told him the same story, saying, "The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me.

18 But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house."

19 As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, "This is the way your servant treated me," his anger was kindled.

20 And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.

21 But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

22 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it.

23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed.

Intro:

One of the attributes of God particularly non-communicable or indescribable attribute is his omnipresence it is a theological term that means that god's presence is everywhere at the same time. There is nowhere God is not, and if there is anywhere where God is not, that somewhere does not exist. He's everywhere at the same time therefore since he's everywhere at the same time there's never a time when God is not with you. as a matter of fact, since God is omnipresent, he can never not be with you.

He's everywhere at the same time, all the time, there is nowhere for God to go, where he goes he already there. Nowhere for God to move because wherever he's moving to he'll bump into himself. There's nowhere for God to be on his way to, he can never be on his way. God actually cannot show up because you can't show up somewhere that you already are.

We use a lot of language to refer to God and it's actually erroneous (incorrect) we're just doing the best we can with our limited knowledge but God can't be on his way he can't Show up / he can't move / there's nowhere for him to go / there is no going with god God / God is where he is going to be / and God still is where you thought he was / and he will always be where you think he is not / God is omnipresent he can't go anywhere / he can't move / and he can't show up /and since that is the case we are starving / to try to process this term / the theology that is introduced to us in Genesis chapter 39 / and the lord was with joseph that's the theology of the text. There will be some difficulty in explaining Ininfity with Finite language. That's why whatever we say about God will never capture ALL of God. This is one of the reasons you can hear the same text from different preachers and get something different that will help you see God clearer. We just trying to help you comprehend enough of Him to get to heaven.

So if we focus on this statement “The Lord was with Joseph or that The Lord is with you… can not be targeted to God’s presence. Because that would be a unnecessary statement. Because God cant not be with you. So this statement doesn't point to Gods presence, it points to God's Preference. Here it is… Its saying out of everybody he could have been with, others He could have chosen, but for some reason or another He prefers YOU!

Because some of us in here know there have been some natural evidence that you were God's preference if you are not too arrogant, boozy, self-centered, or selfish you realize God could have done in your life to somebody else, but you are God's preference to say that God is with you is not to point to God's presence it points to God's preference, and along with God's preference comes God's provision whoever God prefers he's got to provide for. I'm talking good but you don't want to get happy i said whoever God prefers he's got to provide for.

If you are Gods preference you have seen God's provision. God single you out and gave you a purpose and its will be God that will provide till that purpose is reached.

Here's the issue.... That just because Im Gods preference that my life don't always look preferable. Can we talk about it.... Gen 39 teaches us to find some balance between your theology and your reality.

Just because God preferred you doesn't mean your life is preferable.

(Job) was preferred by God. Prayed Upright man. Job knew God. God brought up Job in a meeting with Satan. Lost it all.

Im just saying sometimes Gods preference isn't always preferrable.

God will prefer you to teach others how to struggle and be faithful.

Sometimes God's preference he doesn't call you to a crown but to a cross. (help me preach)

That God preference will lead you to some strange places, some poor predicaments, That God will pick you out just to get picked on. Its not always preferable.

Thats whats going on in the text.

Genesis 39:7 “And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.””

It came to pass. After what....

verse seven says after these things what things he got presence prosperity promotion and a pleasurable personality and after that potiphar's wife propositions him to sleep with her.

People want you now but when you were?

After God has blessed me, etc. NOW here come trouble, now here come haters, now here come opposition.

Joseph the dreamer, the favorite, the future, the chosen one, the one who was chosen to lead. Has been bullied, betrayed, stripped of his coat(promise), sold by his own to be a slave in Eygpt, tempted, and convicted. Had to be a hard turn of events. Joseph is the poster boy for the lyrics of a famous hymn… “time is filled with swift transition”. It don't take long.

Ive learned God will often take you on a path that doesn’t make sense because only he knows the surest way to your destiny.

Joy can turn to Sorrow / Victory to defeat / dancing to mourning / one day planning your future, next you are headed towards unplanned, and undesired destinations. Joseph had to feel betrayed, when he heard the deal made, and a loud SOLD. Sold from his brothers hurt more, then the sold from the slave selling business men. Hurt must have sunk, while thinking the dream he had would not be a reality. Tears welled up thinking he would never see the father who loved him, the mother who birth him, or the brothers who would serve him. I can only imagine the day he arrived in Egypt. A strange country, a place he has never seen, a city so massive. Serving strange Gods, eating different meals. Had to be scary. Now sold in Egypt, then tempted by the thirsty, racially profiled, faced injustice, and wrongfully convicted. These swift transitions had to be scary, lonely, and confusing.

I think the author of this story knew how readers would have felt. Knowing what happened in Genesis 37. He was to be served but now serving, supposed to rule but being ruled. Readers would ask questions, to be in this situation something must have happened. What did Joseph say? What did he do? Did he tease the brothers with the dream? Rub it in their face? What's going on? Did he misunderstand the dream? Is God punishing him? Where did things Go wrong when it was going so right?

The writer knew how we would have reacted. Because surely God is not in it. Surely God wouldn't let something like this happen to the one he chose. God gave the dream to Joseph in Canaan surely he wouldn't allow him it to die in Egypt.

The writer put one line to change the whole narrative. This v 2, 21, 23 is there to answer every question we have. “THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH '' ( say the story again and say but the lord was with Joseph) He was sold by his brothers. Went down to Egypt and was sold to Potiphar. But the Lord was with Joseph.

Why the writer made sure to put this here. What can be taught from it. Can i share my thoughts?

Presence - The Lord was with Joseph

(We see Promotion in Demotion) - some see a demotion others see a promotion… Only God can use both.

We see Joseph going higher in places where he should have been taken out.

Down with Jesus hits different than Down without him.

How do you see promotion in demotion?

V3,6,8,22,23, he came in crawling left in Charge. Power was placed in his Hands. He was blessed and the house was blessed.Blessed where there seemed to be blockage.

Plan - The Lord was with Joseph

(We know the Dream now we see the Details)

The face that God is there its enough proof that this is part of the plan. The writer is letting us know this is Gods plan.

We know the dream but now we see the details.

Sometimes God show us what we are going to be, but not the path it will take to get us there. They will bow, but it will take place in Egypt. They will bow but i have to make sure you are in the right place when a famine comes.

So ill have to use your brother Potifer's wife and Prison before the dream comes to pass.

Why do God leave out the details?

If you knew the details you would appreciate the dream

If you knew the details you would try your best to change it and debate other ways. I would have stopped.

Here it is… the details are meant to be lived. Details are meant to be experienced.

Before Jospeh can be served he must first serve. To lead must first be lead.

Testimony is in the details / Ministry is in the details /

The Lord is with you and nothing bad will ever happen to you.(this is the biggest lie ever told)

That you are immune to trouble.

the lord is with you and no scandal is going to break out on you no injustice is going to happen to you the lord is with you and you are immune from the challenges of life the devil is lie / can i tell you what it looks like the presence of the lord being with you is not a prevention from trouble it's preservation in trouble/ it's being in a lions den without being eaten / it's being in a fiery furnace without getting burned / it's being on a cross and dying three days later but getting up three days later

ladies and gentlemen when the lord is with you it's not what he prevents it's what he preserves you from when the lord is with you he, is with you to preserve you in some things and not just prevent certain things from happening.

He had to experience a thirst trap / had to experience a racist oppressor/ innocent had to be locked up. / cause there were more details about himself he had to learn. In prison he became a dream interpreter for others. Eventually the dream had come to pass but he had to go through the plan of God.

Prevail - The Lord was with Joseph

( We see overwhelming odds, but he will overcome.)

Odds stacked against this young man is an understatement. He wasn't setup for success, no family, no friends, nothing. Sold never to be seen, never to be heard from again. Left for DEAD. I love where the writer placed this statement.

Odds in v 1

V.2 Prevailed

Odds in prison v 20

V 21 Prevailed

Then ended in v 23

Gives us hope that he will continue to prevail.

That God is more powerful than any opposing force. That if the lord is with you

Victory is there. What you need is there, Gods power is there.

I don't know where you are in the details of your life, I dont know what you are experiencing in your life right now. I can rest assure you are going through something.

Like God told Johsua:

No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

But Just like David told his son:

David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.

Just like Jesus told his Disciples and those who walk with Him:

and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Thats what I want to leave you with…

He was there the whole time..

The details didnt destroy you

Because he was there the whole time..

The storm didnt stop you

Because he was there

The floods didnt drown you

The only reason what overwhelmed you didnt overtake you is because the Lord was with you.

The psalmist said

If it had not been for the lord who was on my side

When my enemy wanted to destroy, and overthrow me

If it had not been for the lord who was on my side

Where would I be

For he kept my enemies away and he let the sun shine through a cloudy day

And he rocked me in the cradle of his arms

Because he knew i have been battered and scorn.

Im so glad he was there the whole time.

But I must leave ya. Bid you farewell

But Gods presence showed up in strange place.

Gods presence in strange places

Showed at the club

Showed up in the red light district

Showed up in dark alleys

Showed up in behind prison bars

Presence showed up on earth

Showed up in a barn

Showed up through a virgin

God's presence in strange places

Showed up in a tax collector

Showed up with sinners

I don't know why But i thank god he showed up.

I got one more place.

HE showed up on a hill called Calvary

Strange place for the innocent

Strange place for the righteous

Strange place for a King

But it was the right person in the strange place because….

It was there at the cross

Where i first

Saw the light

And the burdens of my heart rolled away.

He died but early

And now Gods presence showed up in me

Gods presence in strange places

Showed up in my heart.

Wasnt fit to live, or ready to die… But He showed up. Showed up in me.

Living, He loved me

Dying, He saved me

Buried, He carried my sins far away

Rising, He justified freely forever

One day He's coming

Oh glorious day, oh glorious day