Increasing Faith

Introduction

Interesting what the writer of Hebrews did NOT highlight:

Joseph’s dreams of greatness – Genesis 37

Joseph’s endurance through slavery, (God was with him) – Gen. 39:2-3

Joseph’s fear of God and fleeing temptation – Gen. 39:7-12

Joseph’s interpretation of dreams and rise to power.

Faith Enables Reconciliation and Forgiveness (Genesis 45:4-5)

Faith in God allows us to trust that He works all things together, Romans 8:28

“for God sent me before you to preserve life.”

After praying, “Not my will, but thine be done,” Jesus prayed, “Father forgive them…”

Corrie Ten Boom forgave the prison guard from Ravensbruck

1947 - “But forgiveness is not an emotion–I knew that too. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.”

Faith Believes God’s Promises (Genesis 50:24)

By faith Joseph, “made mention of the departing of the children of Israel…”

Joseph believed that God would give the Israelites the land.

“God will surely visit you…”

Joseph believed that the Lord would meet with His people.

“God will surely … bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

Genesis 15:13-14 - “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.”

Jacob, Genesis 45:3-4 - He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. 4 I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again;and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.”

Jacob to Joseph, Genesis 48:21, “Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers.”

Faith Pursues God’s Presence (Genesis 50:25)

By faith Joseph … “gave commandments concerning his bones.

“God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.”

Joseph wanted to be where God had promised to be, points to the resurrection.

Exodus 13:19 “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.””

Years later, Joseph is buried in Shechem (Josh 24:32). It was there that Jesus later came and visited with a woman at the well.

Headstone quotes:

“Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake, stepped on the gas instead of the brake.”

“Here lies Lester Moore, 4 slugs from a .44, No Les no more.”

Mel Blanc - voice of Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig. “Man of a thousand voices.” - “That’s all folks”

“Under the sod and under the trees, Lies the body of Jonathan Pease. He is not here, there's only the pod: Pease shelled out and went to God”

Christian quotes:

J. Paul Harwood – “For God so loved the world…” John 3:16

Joseph – “God will surely visit.”