From Famine to Flourishing: Trusting God's Plan

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Good morning everyone, it is so great to see you all here together this morning. I love nothing more than to get together on Sunday mornings and hang out with my family. I hope you all feel the same way, and if you’re new around here, then I pray you hang out long enough with us to be able to feel the same way.

Listen, we have been on a bit of a journey over the last couple of months. We’ve been talking about Joseph and his story and his journey from being a beloved son and a hated brother, to being enslaved, and imprisoned, and forgotten over and over again. We’ve seen how Joseph handled being forgotten and how the Lord kept watch over him in every scenario that he endured.

Frankly, if I’m Joseph…I don’t know what to think or feel at this point. I mean, every time things are looking up…the floor falls out from under him. I don’t know if anyone here this morning or online has every felt that way, or maybe your feeling that way today. You’re feeling like there is nothing you can do to set your circumstances back on track.

Well, if that’s you, let me tell you. You’re not entirely wrong…There’s nothing you can do to set your circumstances back on track…Well…actually, maybe that’s not totally true. The main thing that Joseph did was to put his focus on God. I mean we see that from the end of the story.

Just in case you haven’t been here or you don’t remember, let me tell you the end of the story here. this is what Joseph says later on… "As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose." —Joseph . In other words. What man means for evil…God means for good!

Now Joseph’s colorful coat was a symbol of his father’s love but also sparked jealousy and strife. When he was sold into slavery, he was stripped of that coat, symbolizing a devastating loss. He was later given the robe of a slave, and that robe was taken and he was given the robe of a prisoner. But today as we see him exalted by the Lord into power in Egypt, he is given new garments, symbolizing his new role and identity. Through this picture we see how God often permits loss to prepare us for greater purposes, wrapping us in new clothing of our destiny…ultimately, if you place your trust in Him, he will place you into the clothes of his child.

That’s where we are going today…But that’s not everything we are going to see today. Today we are going to see how Joseph is exalted and how God’s providence empowers us to face whatever future challenges we hope and wisdom, trusting that he is at work…even in our trials. Listen, if you’re not encouraged by the story of Joseph so far…you’re not paying attention.

This morning let’s check out God’s

Providential Placement

Go ahead and open up to Genesis 41 again a

Genesis 41:37–42 ESV

This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 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.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck.

So last week we saw how Joseph presented a plan to Pharaoh that would save Egypt. After he told him about Pharaoh’s dreams and the coming famine, Joseph explained that they need to basically tax 20% of the next seven years and hold all of that food back for the years of famine. That’s the proposal that pleased Pharaoh. So…Pharaoh asks this rhetorical question asking his failed wise men if there was any man like Joseph has just explained that would be needed.

Pharaoh can see that the Spirit of God is resting in Joseph because of the plan that God had given to Joseph to share with Pharaoh.

So…Pharaoh begins the process of elevating Joseph to where God has been taking Joseph his whole life. In other words, God led Pharaoh.

Now here is a point that we can see God’s sovereignty and using even those who don’t believe, and if you don’t believe me…check this out:

Proverbs 21:1 ESV

The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

God is the God who places kings and rulers in power, so any power they have comes from the Lord. That doesn’t mean God has caused all of the evil that has happened in the course of humanity…it means that God guides leaders into doing his will.

So here we have Joseph, who is now thirty years old, has been transformed by God in thirteen years from an imprisoned foreign slave to the world’s second most powerful man. Joseph had spent years in prison now goes throughout the land of Egypt overseeing a project that would save the lives of untold thousands.

God’s power is seen through Joseph’s transformation. It’s as simple as that…You see, God has prepared and equipped Joseph in ways that he never expected.

What about in your life? Are you able to see God’s power in your story…or are you to focused on yourself? Here’s the truth…trusting God, even during hard times, leads to greater faith. Focusing on God, even during hard times, leads to seeing God work in your life.

So the first thing we’ve seen is God’s Providential Placement. Now let’s look at how Joseph handled the years of abundance with our second point:

Preparation in Plenty

Yeah…in order for things to work when times are tough…there needs to be a time of preparation when things are good. Let’s go ahead and read

Genesis 41:43–49 ESV

And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt. Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured.

Thats alot of food if it’s to much to measure. Joseph who started out his “professional” life as a apprentice of his older brothers as a shepherd, is not overseeing all of the food in the largest country in the world at that time. Joseph is managing the surplus that is coming from everyone’s field, and he is managing it in the cities. This may very well have been the most significant food management project in ancient history—one that saved countless lives

Before that happens though, look at what Pharaoh has done.

First, Pharaoh renames Joseph with an Egyptian name, who many scholars believe means “the god said, let him live” or “the god has said, he will live”…so pretty much the same thing. This name however, gives Joseph authority among those he lives around.

Second, Pharaoh marries Joseph.Now, of course he doesn’t marry Joseph himself…he provides a bride for Joseph. Joseph marries a very important woman named Asenath. Asenath is the son of the priest of a place called On, which is also known as Heliopolis. This was a pretty important place, and so Joseph new wife is a pretty important person.

However, even through this transformation from prison to the palace, Joseph stayed focused on God, as a result, God has given Joseph a new life…God has offered you a new life as well. The only cost is to trust the one who will never let you down.

Joseph laid aside his prison clothes and made a new beginning. Maybe there’s someone out there today that needs to “take off” the old hurts and put on a new attitude of faith and love. Of course the only way to do that is to be focused on God.

I’m gonna share something that I found while studying this week…Now this next part isn’t Scripture, but there’s a Jewish legend in a book called ‘Joseph and Asenath’ that shows how much Joseph’s faith impacted others…This is a novel was found and tells the legend of Joseph and Asenath. If this legend is true, then apparently Joseph made a pretty big impact. What is really neat is that this book tells about the conversion of Asenath from the false gods of her youth, to worship the true God of Joseph called YHWH. There’s even a painting that shows Asenath dumping the idols out of her home.

Here’s a photo of the painting…now I know thats kind of small, so here it is blown up to the area where Asenath is.

So…how do we know that Joseph stayed focused on the Lord…because his wife turned to the Lord.

Now, the fact that Joseph organizes and manages the surplus during years of plenty, shows his wisdom and forward thinking. This more than anything should encourage you to use your God-given wisdom to prepare for the future, not only relying on God’s intervention but also engaging in practical work. The story of Joseph shows us the connection between your responsibility and God’s sovereignty.

Joseph’s preparation led to incredible provision. That brings us to our final point this morning:

Provision in Famine

Let’s keep reading and finish our passage for today…

Genesis 41:50–57 ESV

Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end, and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.” So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

Ok, I’ve just got to mention here…this famine is insane. Remember this famine was so severe that they would forget the years of plenty. That’s pretty bad…Not only that, but now you have people from all over the Earth coming to Egypt to try and buy food. Egypt has become the food source for the world at this time. We’ll come back to that, for now let’s focus on Joseph’s family.

You see, over the course of the seven good years, Joseph has two sons. Manasseh’s name reflected the fact that God had helped Joseph forget his hardship both in Egypt and in his whole family, with its horrible background of rape, murder, incest, deception, and betrayal. Ephraim’s name meant that God had made Joseph fruitful in a land where he had once been treated as a dirty criminal.

How amazing is it when we can come through times of trial with the kind of attitude Joseph had, eliminating past hurts and rejoicing in present blessings, being “forgetful” and “fruitful” at the same time.

Of course the opposite is also true, it’s tragic when people remember the painful things others have done to them, and all their lives carry bitterness that robs them of peace, joy, and even relationships.

We see God providing, beginning with Josephs sons…but continuing with Egypts food.

Consider this…Famine strikes and Egypt is the source for all nations of the Earth…This all happened through the work of one faithful servant. In the same way God has made a provision for all nations of the Earth, through the work of his one faithful son Jesus Christ. Christ is our source in times of spiritual famine offering hope and provision.

In other words…

Joseph's story foreshadows Christ in his role as Savior. Just as Joseph was sent ahead to prepare for the salvation of many during a time of famine, Christ came to save the spiritually famished, offering life and sustenance through His sacrifice.

His sacrifice is the ultimate importance.

Closing:

Just as Joseph provided physical sustenance to a world in famine, Christ provides spiritual sustenance to a world in sin. His sacrifice is not just important—it is everything. Because of His sacrifice, we have life. And that is exactly what we remember as we come to the communion today.

This morning we have seen the promises begin to be fulfilled in Joseph’s life. What about your life? Do you see how God is fulfilling his promises in your life, or are you struggling to recognize God’s promises fulfilled?

Today if you are struggling with that, I want to encourage you to rest in his glory and grace until you experience the freedom that is provided. There is one thing that will make things tremendously easier for you. That is to trust in God’s Sovereignty and provisions during this hardship that you are experiencing. I know some of you here today and joining us online are at a point in life where you don’t believe things will ever get better. I’m going to tell you why you feel that way…You’re focused on yourself and not on Christ.

I don’t mean that you are living some big worldly life, but I am saying that your focus in more on you than it is on God. I know that because I’ve been there. I’ve also experienced freedom from that pain and frustration and the only way that happened is because I took my eyes off of myself.

Listen, maybe some of you here today or online have experienced the freedom of trusting in Christ, and you know the joy of seeing His faithfulness in your life. But maybe others of you are still struggling, still waiting for that breakthrough, still wondering if God is really at work in your situation.

If that’s you, I want to challenge you today: will you trust Him? Will you take your eyes off your circumstances, off your fears, off your frustrations, and put them on Christ? Because the same God who was faithful to Joseph is the same God who is faithful to you. The same God who provided for Egypt through Joseph is the same God who provides for you—physically, emotionally, and most importantly, spiritually

And nowhere is that provision more evident than at the cross. Just as Joseph was sent ahead to save many, Jesus was sent to save all who would believe in Him. His body was broken, His blood was poured out, so that you and I might have life. And today, we have the privilege of remembering that sacrifice as we take communion together.

The last few months we have had the communication cards available on your chairs and they are available again. I want to encourage you this morning to write some very specific things down on this cards, and then bring them up to the alter, and give them to God this morning. So here are the things that I am going to have you write down on your card this morning.

Where is your focus? Be honest here…are you focused more on yourself or are you focused more on the Lord. It’s only when you are honest that you can truly repent and refocus on the Lord. Let me press you a little here this morning…where is your focus

What is it you’re scared of? What fears are currently holding your focus? Are you scared of the upcoming famine, or are you basking in today’s plenty? Have financial pressures gotten to great for you to handle? I can tell you that one hits me from time to time…

Repent of anything that’s taken your focus off Jesus. Do that right now…do not wait another second. You don’t have to make a big scene if you don’t want to, but be willing to bring your focus back to Christ.

What is one step of faith God is calling you to take, even if it scares you? How will you obey? Just write down the step of faith that God is calling you to this morning.

In a moment I am going to pray and at that time we will all take a moment to write on our cards, and then as you are ready you will bring your card up and drop it in a basket and receive your elements of communion. Then you will take your elements back to your chair and consider the sacrifice Jesus made for you. Then take a moment and repent of the times you are focused on yourself, and commitment to living your life for the Lord…and take these elements as a moment of worship together with your church family here in front of everyone.

Remember, Communion is not snack time before lunch, this is not something to take for granted…this is something that is reserved for those who have made a willing and knowing commitment to Christ. Take this seriously, and if you cannot, let me encourage you to withhold for the moment until you are serious about the sacrifice that was made for you.

So as we prepare our hearts in prayer, I want you to continue to reflect: Where is your trust today? Is it in yourself, your circumstances, or in the sovereign God who never fails? Let’s take this time to surrender, to refocus, and to remember the One who gave everything for us.

Lastly the Elders will be up here this morning available to pray with you. Come forward to take the Communion elements and if you would like to pray at the alter of the Lord, come up and kneel and pray. If you would like someone to pray with you, come forward to myself or one of the other elders and we would be happy to pray with you. You don’t even have to tell us whats going on, we will just pray with you.

Let’s pray.