Joseph

INTRODUCTION.

There have been times in my life, more than I care to admit, that I have been disobedient to my parents. There have been times that I have disappointed my parents. But that did not change the fact that they still loved me. It did not change the fact that they were my parents and I was their child.

I am sure that there have been times that you disobeyed your parents. Times that you disappointed your parents. But the same for you as for me, your parents are still your parents and you are still their child.

There is nothing that can change that.

You there are times that we are disobedient to God and times that we disappoint Him.

The great hope that we have is that no matter what we do God still loves us and will always be our Father and we will always be His child.

Let me encourage you today with this idea from God’s Word.

BIG IDEA:

No matter the situation we find ourselves in, God providential hand is at work to bring us to His purpose for our lives.

God can take our mistakes and turn them into something glorious for His purpose.

No matter were we find ourselves in, no matter where you are now, God can still use you.

This is the story of Joseph’s life. He seem to be consistent in finding himself in setbacks or hard places in his life. While many of these are the direct result of his actions, God’s providential hand was at work to bring Joseph to God’s purpose for his life.

Turn in your bibles with me to Genesis 37.

There are many aspects to Joseph’s life. Today I want us to focus on his FAMILY LIFE.

Genesis 37:1–5 NASB95

1 Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had sojourned, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the records of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic. 4 His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms. 5 Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.

Then lest skip over to Genesis 50:15.

Genesis 50:15–21 NASB95

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father charged before he died, saying, 17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.” ’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? 20 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 21 “So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

MESSAGE.

I. Sins in Joseph’s Life. The problems or sin involved in Joseph’s life.

There are several problems or sins in Joseph’s life. Genesis 37 begins right off showing some of the problems in Joseph’s life.

1. Favoritism.

In Genesis 37:3 we read

Genesis 37:3 NASB95

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic.

You can probably imagine how the other brothers felt. There needs to be unity in a family. Jacob, Israel, loved Joseph more and did not not even hide it or cover it up. He made him a special tunic, an over coat so to speak. Not only that it is described as multi-colored, also can mean long sleeve. This was a status symbol of Jacob’s favoritism of Joseph over the other brothers. May be even a symbol of royalty. This tunic would have stood out and made a statement. Favoritism is not good especially when it is so open, in your face. Favoritism always leads to more.

2. Pride.

We can also see that their was some issues of pride going on. Look at the last part of Genesis 37:2

Genesis 37:2 NASB95

2 These are the records of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father.

Joseph was out pasturing the flock with his brothers. When they came in Joseph went and gave a bad report to his father about his brothers. Can one maybe say “tattletale.” We do not read here that Jacob asked for a report or even sent Joseph out there to bring a report. Joseph knew he was his father’s favorite. So he brought back a bad report on his brothers, maybe to make him look good.

Also, we see pride in Joseph’s life by him waring that coat-of-many colors as it is often called. That tunic was a symbol of the favoritism Jacob had for Joseph over his other sons. I cannot but help and wonder if Joseph wore it just to rub it in. It was apparently eye catching. Look over at Genesis 37:18

Genesis 37:18 NASB95

18 When they saw him from a distance and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death.

It says they “say him from a distance . . .” How far away did they spot him? The Bible does not tell us a distance; but we can speculate a pretty good distance away. Just think about it. The verse stated that they had time to plot together to put him to death. I do not know about you but I could not identify someone specifically that far off just by looking at them. How did they know it was Joseph? The logical conclusion would have been they could see the special multi-color tunic. I am sure every time they saw that multi-colored tunic it up set the brothers.

3. ARROGANCE.

The third problem we see in Joseph’s life is his ARROGANCE. It is already obvious that there were problems in the relationship of Joseph and his brothers. We read in verses Genesis 27:5-11 that Joseph had a dream. That dream placed Joseph, who was the 11th out of 12 children born to Jacob. So Joseph was next to the youngest brother. He had a dream which placed him as a superior or place over his brothers. Look at Genesis 37:5–8

Genesis 37:5–8 NASB95

5 Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Please listen to this dream which I have had; 7 for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 Then his brothers said to him, “Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

The ARROGANCE was not that Joseph had a dream but he felt the need to tell his brothers. I mean really Joseph you already have problems with your brothers now you want to tell this dream. Joseph’s ARROGANCE did not stop there.

Next we see where Jospeh had yet another dream in which his father, mother, and brothers all bowed down to him. Let’s look at Genesis 37:9–10

Genesis 37:9–10 NASB95

9 Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, “Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 He related it to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?”

Joseph’s ARROGANCE really shined through here. Not only did his brothers get up set and angry at the first dream; but Joseph feels the need to tell them yet about another dream. This dream was not just that his brothers would bow down to him but even his parents. I sometime have to wonder how bright Joseph was.

These problems in Joseph’s life lead to setbacks in his life. Next I want us to look at those setbacks.

II. Setbacks in Joseph’s Life.

1. Joseph was HATED by his brothers.

We can see in Genesis 37:1-28 that there were several set backs in Joseph’s life. One of those being that Joseph was hated greatly by his brothers. I mean look at verse Genesis 37:18

Genesis 37:18 NASB95

18 When they saw him from a distance and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death.

We can find in Genesis 37:4

Genesis 37:4 NASB95

4 His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms.

Genesis 37:5 “5 Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.” Then again in Genesis 37:8 “8 Then his brothers said to him, “Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.”

We begin to see a parallel to Jesus here. Jesus was hated by those whom he was sent to save. We even read that those that Jesus came to save hated Him so much that they did kill Him.

The hatred toward Joseph from his brothers left unchecked grew and festered to the point that they wanted to kill him. We read that in Genesis 37:18 “18 When they saw him from a distance and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death.” But instead they sold Joseph into slavery. Genesis 37:28 “28 Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt.”

2. Joseph was SOLD by his brothers.

In the middle of Joseph’s normal life his brothers hated him so much that they sold him into slavery.

Genesis 37:25–28 NASB95

25 Then they sat down to eat a meal. And as they raised their eyes and looked, behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing aromatic gum and balm and myrrh, on their way to bring them down to Egypt. 26 Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 “Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. 28 Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Can you imagine the feelings Joseph must have had. Feelings of isolation, loneliness, sadness. You have just been sold a permanent transaction by your own brothers. Joseph would not only not have his family around he was being taken by strangers to a place he did not know. Joseph even did not know where they were going to go or what they would do with him.

The betrayal. Not only the betrayal, but you would never see your family again. The betrayal of your our family for a few pieces of silver. Here we again see the parallel to Jesus. Jesus was betrayed by His own disciple for a few pieces of silver.

III. Sparing of Joseph’s life.

While reading and studying this story it is easy to see the setbacks in Joseph’s life. It might not be as easy for us to see the sins, maybe because we do not want to admit them as sins. One must stop and look at the mighty had of God at work through this whole story. Looking at it from the human eye we can, if we are willing, to acknowledge that there were sins in Joseph’s life. Those sins lead to the setbacks in Joseph’s life. That is it what is amazing about God. God is able to take even a bad situation and use it for His good. There are times in our life that God allows us to go through difficulty and setbacks to get out attention. Also, at times God places us where we need to be to be use by Him for His greater purpose. That is exactly what was happening to Joseph.

God had a grand purpose for Joseph’s life. God’s providential hand was upon the life of Joseph. While Joseph was not always living the perfect life, God was still at work in his life. God was taking the time to groom, prepare, and place Joseph exactly where He needed him to be in our to accomplish God’s plan for people.

1. God spared Joseph from death.

God was at work in the life of Joseph. While Joseph’s brothers had a plan for him God had another plan. God had a plan to use Joseph to save many people. We read in Genesis 37:18 that Joseph’s brothers wanted to kill him. Look at Genesis 37:18-20

Genesis 37:18–20 NASB95

18 When they saw him from a distance and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer! 20 “Now then, come and let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; and we will say, ‘A wild beast devoured him.’ Then let us see what will become of his dreams!”

The brothers had their plan all, well mostly, thought out. Kill their brother then take THAT multi-colored tunic covered in blood back to their father and tell him Joseph was kill by wild animals. While the brothers had their plan, God had different plan and that did not involve Joseph dying here. We see in two different place where God intervened. The first being in Genesis 37:21-22

Genesis 37:21–22 NASB95

21 But Reuben heard this and rescued him out of their hands and said, “Let us not take his life.” 22 Reuben further said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but do not lay hands on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hands, to restore him to his father.

Ruben the brother talked the other brothers into not killing Joseph. Thank goodness because that would have been devastating to the brothers after the initial act of spontaneity of their hatred wore off. We must be careful to not act out in hast.

2. God place Joseph where he need to be.

Second we see where God intervened in plans to accomplish His plan. While the brothers thought about killing Joseph and God spared him, but there was still something that needed to be done with Joseph the dreamer. God then sent along a group of traders on their way to Egypt. Judah another brother came up with the idea to sell Joseph. Look at Genesis 37:25-28

Genesis 37:25–28 NASB95

25 Then they sat down to eat a meal. And as they raised their eyes and looked, behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing aromatic gum and balm and myrrh, on their way to bring them down to Egypt. 26 Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 “Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. 28 Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt.

By selling Joseph to the Midianite traders that allowed Joseph to get a free ride to Egypt. Thus putting Joseph right where God needed him to accomplish His plan.

Some might say this was just a coincidence. I do not believe that at all. I believe that God had those Midianites coming that way for a purpose. I believe that Holy Spirit put that thought into Judah’s mind. You see God’s plan was to have Joseph in Egypt. That is exactly where these Midianites where headed. To much of the right thing to just be a coincidence for me.

3. God placed people in Joseph’s life.

Then bringing this section to end third we see God’s providential had at work again in Joseph’s life by placing people in his life. The Midianites took Joseph to Egypt and sold him. God’s hand at work had a gentleman by the name of Potiphar at the auction. Who was Potiphar. Potiphar was a high ranking official to Pharaoh’s Genesis 37:36

Genesis 37:36 NASB95

36 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s officer, the captain of the bodyguard.

Joseph will find himself right where God needed him to be. God has worked through this whole situation to bring about His plan. God has worked through the difficulties, heartache and setbacks in Joseph’s life. Some being of his own making and some not. But God never left Joseph and work through his life to accomplish what God wanted to do.

CONCLUSION.

Remember we began with the idea that we have disobeyed and disappointed our parents and they are still our parents and we are still their children.

We have seen how Joseph disobeyed and disappointed God, yet God’s providential hand was still upon Joseph to bring about God’s plan.

Listen real close this morning. God loves you and God has his providential hand upon you.

So if you find yourself in a setback right now seek God to see what it is He is doing in your life.

Is God trying to get your attention?

Is there unconfessed sin in your life?

Is there a lifestyle that needs changing?

Is there something He is asking you todo?

Also remember that not all setbacks and difficulties are caused by use.

But God can work through all situations to bring about His good and plan.

As a child of God we have God’s promise to protect us and provide for us.

As a child of God we have His promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

BIG IDEA:

No matter the situation we find ourselves in, God providential hand is at work in us to bring us to His purpose for our lives .