Throwing Shade:Joseph

Throwing Shade

Genesis 50:20 ESV

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.

Pray/Be Still

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So what do we do when we are being put down and people plot against us?

It’s hard for us to know how to handle it or how we are suppose to respond. Being human, we have a sense of vengeance and wanting to “get even”. Its the nature of us as human beings. But we as followers of Christ have been commanded to respond in a different way than the world responds.

John 15:19 ESV

If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

JOSEPH

The story of Joseph is probably one of the best stories about what happens when you have people that hate you and do everything in their power to put you down and to make you feel like you are nothing.

Genesis 37:2 ESV

Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father.

So here we begin with being introduced to the main character. Joseph has already kinda not made a great impression.

Genesis 37:3 ESV

Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors.

Genesis 37:4 ESV

But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.

I don’t know about you, but if I saw my sibling getting something super fancy and I didn’t, I probably wouldn’t like them either.

Genesis 37:5–7 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.”

Genesis 37:8 ESV

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.

Genesis 37:9 ESV

Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

Genesis 37:10–11 ESV

But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

One thing about haters, when you have been given a promise or a calling, their jealousy will come to the surface.

PROTECT YOUR DREAMS FROM DOUBTERS

Genesis 37:27 ESV

Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him.

Genesis 37:28 ESV

Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.

Genesis 39:1 ESV

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.

Genesis 39:2 ESV

The Lord was with Joseph,

WHEN YOU FEEL BETRAYED, GOD IS WITH YOU

Genesis 39:7 ESV

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

Genesis 39:20 ESV

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.

Genesis 39:21 ESV

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

WHEN YOU FEEL ALONE, GOD IS WITH YOU

Genesis 40:14 ESV

Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house.

Genesis 40:23 ESV

Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Genesis 41:1 ESV

After two whole years,

WHEN YOU FEEL FORGOTTEN, GOD IS WITH YOU

Genesis 41:40 ESV

You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.”

Genesis 50:20 ESV

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.