Faith in a Foreign Land

Introduction

As we conclude our study on the life of Joseph from the book of Genesis this morning, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the title of this series and why I named it “Living By Faith in a Foreign Land”.

Joseph is truly the very picture of a man of great faith. As we’ve seen, his circumstances were often painful, overwhelming, and unfair. But yet, over and over again we see Joseph coming out of those circumstances with a deeper faith in the God of his forefathers. This morning, we are going to see what Joseph believed about God that allowed him to endure and strive despite the difficult experiences in his life. In truth, he lived by faith in a foreign land.

While we don’t face the same circumstances today that Joseph experienced, we share some commonalities with Joseph, nonetheless.

For instance, according to Scripture, as Christians we too live in a foreign land:

1 Peter 1:17 ESV

And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,

1 Peter 2:11 ESV

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

Philippians 3:20 ESV

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Hebrews 13:14 ESV

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

We too have been called to live by faith, despite our circumstances:

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Romans 5:3–5 ESV

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Galatians 2:20 ESV

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

James 1:12 ESV

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Thus, like Joseph, we too have been called to live by faith in a foreign land.

Former football player and current Christian influencer, Tim Hiller is correct when he said, “External actions are evidence of internal beliefs. Our deeds are what show our creeds.”

Put simply, our faith is shown more by what we do and how face difficult circumstances than what we say.

But, what was it that Joseph believed about God that helped him to be the man of faith we celebrate in Scripture and what do we need to do to have a similar belief in God that will led to faithful living in a foreign land? That’s our focus this morning.

Body

Verses 15-18

The fear of Joseph’s brothers...

Forgiveness is a difficult thing. Sometimes we have a hard time giving it. But, we also sometimes have a hard time receiving it as well. That’s the case with Joseph’s brothers.

I believe this is, in part, because they wouldn’t have forgiven Joseph if he would have mistreated them instead of them mistreating him.

Our ability to truly receive forgiveness is usually linked to our ability to extend it.

“Your father gave this command...”

We don’t know if this is true or not.

What we do know is that Joseph’s brother’s invoke the name of their father in order to appeal to Joseph’s devotion to his father.

Additionally, Joseph doesn’t dispute their claims.

Finally, they appeal not just to the words of Jacob, but more importantly, to their father’s God.

Joseph’s brother bow to him.

Go back to the beginning of Joseph’s story:

Genesis 37:5–8 ESV

Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

This dream has now become a reality!

Verses 19-21

This is one of the most incredible passages dealing with God’s sovereignty over circumstances in Scripture and gives a clear picture of what Joseph believed that allowed him to endure through incredibly difficult circumstances.

“Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?”

Joseph realized that it wasn’t his place to question why God had allowed such evil to come upon him. He is simply secure knowing that ultimately God had a wonderful plan, even though Joseph suffered while it was coming about.

“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.”

Notice that Joseph isn’t excusing their behavior, he just recognizes that God can bring about His will in spite of man’s evil nature.

Notice too that we see God’s passion for the salvation of people here.

It’s vital to remember that God has gracious purposes in all things, whether good times or suffering.

In fact, the book of Genesis is a great illustration of this. Two chapters are devoted to the Creation of the world, and forty-eight are devoted to God’s working in the life of people.

God cares about people!

“So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.”

So Joseph not only has already forgiven them, but he will continue to provide for them.

Think about this: Joseph was likely about fifty-six at this time. He dies at one hundred and ten years old. Thus, Joseph has nearly half of his life to still live.

He likely had more important experiences in his life, but throughout it all, Joseph took care of his family.

Thus, they truly had nothing to fear.

What did Joseph believe about God?

Joseph believed that God was at work in all of life’s circumstances, even the worst that he faced.

Clearly, Joseph believed that God was sovereign in all circumstances; good, bad or indifferent. God could be trusted to bring about His will for His glory and our good.

For us: God is still at work in our circumstances, for our good and His glory; even when it’s hard to see.

Do we really see that God allows things to come into our lives, not because they are good or comfortable, but because ultimately He has a purpose for our life?

Are we really willing to endure personal hardship or injustice if God’s will is going to ultimately be done?

We live in a world that is obsessed with fairness and justice…

The trouble is, there is no such thing as fair…fair is a subjective term...

And justice apart from God is opinion, nothing more...

Sometimes we are going to feel like our circumstances are neither fair nor just. But, the important part is, “How is God going to use this for my blessing, and more important, so I can be a conduit of blessing to others?”

Joseph believed that what God was doing to benefit others mattered more than what God was doing for him.

Notice what Joseph says in verse 20: “…but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

No mention of Joseph’s own blessings from God. Just that God meant this for good for many people.

For us: It would benefit us greatly to start asking, “How will you use my circumstances to bless others?” instead of just focusing on ourselves.

It’s funny that we as Christian carry the banner of Christ in the name “Christian” and yet we love to make excuses when we fail to love others sacrificially.

The term “Christian” was originally a derogatory comment...

And yet, too often, our eyes are firmly fixed on ourselves and not on others.

That’s not the example that Christ Jesus gave us.

Christmas is my favorite season, in part because it is the season of giving. But, this isn’t simply because I love giving and receiving gifts (though I do!), but because it reminds us of the greatest gift of love ever given:

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

If we want to follow the example of Christ Jesus, we need to focus more on blessing others than on our own blessings!

Joseph believed that God had an important role for him to fulfill, and didn’t allow bitterness to get in the way of fulfilling that role.

It would have been so easy for Joseph to be bitter against his brothers for all he’s experienced. For Joseph to wait patiently for his father to die, then drop the hammer on her brothers.

And most people wouldn’t have blamed him for it!

But, what most people don’t realize is that Joseph would have likely died a bitter, angry man. In an attempt to avenge himself, he would have overlooked that role that God has called him to and lost the opportunity to be a conduit of blessing.

For us: God has roles for all believers to fulfill, regardless of the circumstances we might be facing or the excuses we’d like to make.

Throughout our lives, God has various roles we fulfill as believers. But, unfortunately, some never get to experience the blessing of those roles because they get too hung up on past hurts, feelings of frustration, the Goldilocks mentality (i.e. a feeling that what God wants us to do is too small or too big), or any other number of hang-ups.

Oh, the blessings we miss out on when we get like this!

Verses 22-26

((Machir = Ma keer))

Joseph’s epilogue...

This final section could be interpreted like this: Joseph was greatly blessed by God.

Joseph’s life was not always easy, but ultimately he remained faithful and God faithfully blessed him.

“...God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

Joseph prophesies that they will someday be brought back to the land that God had promised their family. And when they do, he makes them swear that they will take his bones with them.

Joseph is looking forward to a holy visitation by God for the people.

The Hebrew term “visit” carries with it the idea of a divine encounter that will change one’s fortunes for good or ill.

According to the writer of Hebrews, this act is a great picture of Joseph faith.

Hebrews 11:22 ESV

By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

What did Joseph believe about God?

Joseph believed that God’s promises to his forefathers was just as true into the future as they were when the promises were first made.

We don’t often think of Joseph as a prophet, but in many ways he was. And, this prophecy is based, now doubt on revelation from God, but also the knowledge that God had made a promise to his forefathers and God always kept His promises, even if he would not see those promises fulfilled in His lifetime.

For us: God’s promises to believers have not changed. The challenge is, are we going to live by faith, or shrink into a mindset of defeat and frustration?

In short, are we too going to live by faith in a foreign land?