The Pattern of a Faithful Servant

Introduction

Well, good morning.

If you have your Bible — and I hope that you do — go ahead and open it up with me to Genesis chapter 39. We’re gonna be walking all the way through the end of chapter 40 this morning.

Now, before we jump in, let me just take a moment and remind you the journey we’ve taken so far — because what we’re about to read doesn’t stand on its own. It’s all part of a story that’s been moving somewhere very intentionally.

A couple weeks ago in Genesis 37, we were introduced to Joseph — He was the favored son of Jacob, he had dreams from God that caused his brothers to hate him. And almost immediately, those dreams collided with jealousy and betrayal. Joseph was stripped of his robe, he was thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, carried off into Egypt. And one of the most striking things about that chapter was how quiet God was. God gave dreams… but He did’t explain them and He allowed horrific things to happen. He gave a promise… but but it was on His timeline. What man intended for evil, God was already bending toward good — even though Joseph couldn’t see it yet.

And then last week, in Genesis 38, the story took a sharp and very uncomfortable detour. We stepped away from Joseph for a moment and followed Judah instead. And what we saw there was the devastating progression of sin — we saw separation, exploitation, exposure. A dark chapter. One most people would rather skip over. And yet God put it there on purpose. Because while Judah’s unraveling morally, God’s still guarding His promise. Even through scandal, God’s preserving the line that’ll one day bring the Savior.

And now, in Genesis 39 and 40, the camera swings back to Joseph. But here’s what’s interesting — Joseph’s circumstances haven’t improved at all. He’s still in Egypt. He’s still a servant. He’s still far from home. And as we’re about to see…he’s about to go down even further.

And I’ll be honest with you — I don’t naturally love sermons that feel like they’re about us. I’m always cautious of turning biblical narratives into moral self-help talks. But this text doesn’t let us avoid something important.

Because Moses wants us to see Joseph here.

He wants us to notice his faith, and his obedience. His integrity. His refusal to compromise — even when it costs him everything.

Not because Joseph’s the hero of the story — God is. But because God’s forming something in Joseph.

God’s allowing these things — the temptation, the false accusation, the prison, the waiting — not because He’s absent, but because He’s sovereign. Because He’s shaping Joseph into the kind of servant who can be trusted later on with authority, and power, and responsibility.

And guys, that’s hard for us to hear.

Because we tend to think that if we’re obeying God, life should get easier — not harder, right? We assume faithfulness should protect us from suffering. But this passage confronts that assumption head-on.

In Genesis 39 and 40, Joseph does the right thing — and he suffers for it. He resists sin — and he’s punished. He serves faithfully — and he’s forgotten.

And yet, woven all throughout these chapters is one repeated, quiet phrase: “The LORD was with Joseph.”

It’s not loud or dramatic. But it is steady and faithful.

…

This passage, it shows us the pattern of a faithful servant — and listen, it’s not very glamorous. It’s costly. It’s courageous. And most of the time, it’s unseen.

And so this morning, as we walk through this text together, we’re gonna see three movements in this story — three realities that shape the life of someone God’s forming:

We’re gonna see what it really cost to follow God — obedience doesn’t shield Joseph from loss

We’re gonna see real courage — faithfulness when no one else is watching

And we’re gonna see real comfort — God’s presence even when deliverance delays

And maybe for some of you, that’s exactly where you are right now. Doing what’s right… and it feels like it’s costing you everything. Trusting God… and it feels like nothing’s changing. Waiting… and wondering if anyone else sees.

Genesis 39 and 40 reminds us of this simple, but steady truth: God’s not wasting Joseph’s suffering — and He’s not wasting yours either.

And so, with all that in mind, let’s read together from Genesis chapter 39, beginning in verse 1, and let’s watch the pattern God uses to form a faithful servant. You can remain seated as we read.

Genesis 39–40 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. The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her. But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.” Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.” As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. 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. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed. Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody. And one night they both dreamed—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison—each his own dream, and each dream with its own interpretation. When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, “Why are your faces downcast today?” They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.” So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, “In my dream there was a vine before me, and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes. Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. 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. For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.” When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.” And Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you.” On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

[Prayer]

Our three points this morning as we walk through this passage and look at how God creates faithful servants…number 1, We see real cost…number 2, real courage…and then number 3, real comfort.

And again, as we do that, I don’t want you to get wrapped up into what you have to do…but instead, what’s God doing in you as you follow Him.

Let’s look at this first thing together.

I. Real Costs (vv. 39:1-23)

Point number 1, this story, it shows us that following God comes with real costs.

Listen, Genesis 39 makes that painfully clear.

Because if you were expecting Joseph’s life to finally start turning around here…you’re gonna be disappointed. In fact, Moses almost does the opposite of what we expect him to do. He opens this chapter up by letting us see Joseph prosper at first — not because the story’s about success, but because faithfulness, its about to be tested, and it’s gonna cost Joseph everything.

Look at verse 1 with me again:

“Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt…”

That word down is important because it’s not just physical here…I think its also symbolic. Joseph keeps going lower. Pit. Slavery. Foreign land. And now he’s purchased like property by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, a captain of the guard.

Joseph didn’t choose this. He didn’t provoke this. He didn’t deserve this. This is the aftermath of obedience and betrayal colliding together.

And yet — verse 2:

“The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man…”

Now stop there for just a second — because Moses is already challenging our categories.

Joseph’s enslaved, he’s owned, he’s powerless in this situation…and yet he’s also successful, he’s favored, he’s prospering, right?

And why’s that? Because success in Scripture’s, its never about circumstances — it’s all about God’s presence.

Four times in this chapter, Moses tells us the same thing: “The LORD was with Joseph.” Not once does he say Joseph was comfortable. Or safe. Or free…Just that God was with him.

And look at how all this plays out.

Verse 3 says Potiphar saw that the Lord was with Joseph. His faithfulness becomes visible. God’s blessing spills over into the house of an unbelieving Egyptian.

Verse 4:

“So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house…”

Can you see the pattern already forming here?

Joseph serves faithfully — and God entrusts him with more. He works diligently — and God expands his responsibility. Joseph honors God — and God blesses others through Joseph.

Potiphar literally stops paying attention to his entire estate because Joseph’s running it so well.

Verse 6 ends with this almost humorous line:

“He had no concern about anything but the food he ate.”

That’s Moses saying here, “Joseph literally handled everything.”

And at this point, if we’re honest, this feels like the version of Christianity we prefer, right?

Obey God. Work hard. Honor Him. And all things start going well.

But then Moses adds one line that changes everything.

“Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.”

That’s not a compliment — that’s a warning. Because blessing oftentimes brings new temptation. And faithfulness doesn’t remove danger — it sometimes invites it.

Verse 7:

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

Notice there’s not a buildup here. Moses isn’t subtle about it. All we see here is direct temptation.

And pay attention to this — Joseph didn’t flirt with sin. He didn’t entertain it. He didn’t try to manage it.

Verse 8:

“But he refused…”

And look at why he refuses. This is so important.

Joseph doesn’t start with consequences. He starts with stewardship.

He says, “My master trusts me. He’s withheld nothing from me except you.”

And then here’s the key phrase:

“How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”

Joseph understands something many of us so oftentimes miss: sin, it doesn’t just impact the people around us.…sin is first and foremost against God, even when no one else is watching.

Remember the law hasn’t been established yet. There’s no Torah. No Mount Sinai yet. Just a heart shaped here by the presence of God.

And guys, don’t miss this — Joseph’s obedience here isn’t passive. Verse 10 tells us this temptation was relentless.

“She spoke to Joseph day after day…”

Day after day. Pressure. Opportunity. No accountability. No witnesses. And Joseph keeps saying no. Which means this wasn’t one big heroic moment — it was daily, costly faithfulness. And eventually, that faithfulness costs him something.

Verse 11 — the trap’s been set. No one else is in the house. The situation’s engineered. She grabs his garment. And listen, Joseph has a choice in that moment.

He can keep his position…Or he can keep his integrity.

And then verse 12 says:

“He left his garment in her hand and fled…”

Joseph literally runs away half-dressed rather than stay and sin.

And listen — that moment right there is the hinge of this chapter. Because Joseph does everything right…And yet, everything falls apart for him.

She flips the story. She plays the victim. She weaponizes power. And Joseph never gets to defend himself.

Verse 20:

“Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison…”

No trial…or an investigation. He goes from overseer to inmate in a single moment.

And church — this is where the real cost of faithfulness hits us hard.

Joseph didn’t lose his position because of laziness. He didn’t lose his freedom because of compromise. He lost it because he did the right thing…He lost it because of obedience.

And if we’re honest, that’s the part we struggle with.

Because we assume obedience should lead to protection, right? But sometimes obedience leads straight to prison…to hardship!

And yet — look at verse 21:

“But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love…”

We see that same phrase but a different setting. The presence of God didn’t remove the suffering — instead, it met him inside that suffering.

And once again, Joseph serves faithfully.

He doesn’t withdraw. He doesn’t grow bitter. He doesn’t stop being who God’s forming him to be.

And we see again — responsibility increases for him.

Verse 22:

“The keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners…”

And so a different building but the same calling, right? Because God’s not preparing Joseph for comfort — He’s preparing him for trust.

And that’s the takeaway we need to sit with: Faithfulness doesn’t always change your circumstances — but it does always reveal your character.

Joseph pays a real cost for obeying God.

He pays with his freedom. His reputation. His future. And yet — not one ounce of the things Joseph lost was wasted. Because God’s forming a servant who can be trusted later with authority…because Jacob’s faithful when it cost him everything.

And guys, that should raise a question for us today — not what would you do in Joseph’s place…but what is God forming in you right now through the cost you’re paying?

Or better yet, maybe the question isn’t do you believe in God or do you attend church…maybe its this: Is obedience actually costing you anything?

If there’s no tension…if there’s no loss…or place where faithfulness actually feels inconvenient or costly — then it’s worth asking whether we’re following God…or if we’re simply living in places where obedience never has to be tested.

And listen, I don’t ask this to condemn anyone — I ask it because Scripture does.

Is obedience costing you anything? Is there anything in your life right now that you could lose because you’re committed to honoring God?

Listen, Joseph’s obedience didn’t cost him something — it cost him everything. And yet God was still with him.

Sometimes the most faithful thing you can do…Is keep obeying God…Even when it looks like obedience is costing you everything.

And that leads us into the second part of this story — because Joseph’s not just paying a cost…he’s also displaying real courage, even when no one else remembers him.

Which we see as we move into chapter 40.

II. Real Courage (vv. 40:1-19)

Point number 2, We see faithful servants, they display real courage.

Listen, what’s striking here, its where this courage shows up.

Not on a stage, or in front of crowds. It’s in a prison. Among forgotten people with absolutely nothing to gain.

Chapter 40, verse1:

“Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense…”

That phrase — “some time after this” — its showing us, Joseph, he’s been in prison for a while now. This isn’t just one week. This isn’t fresh pain. This is a prolonged waiting.

And into that waiting comes two men who matter — not morally, but politically…They’re close to Pharaoh. And because Potiphar’s the captain of the guard, they’re placed in the same prison where Joseph’s at. Can you see why Potiphar mattered?…why that story mattered, why God allowed Joseph to be sold into that household?

Verse 4 tells us:

“The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them.”

That word attended is also important. Joseph’s isn’t sulking here. He’s serving. Which already tells us something about courage.

Courage isn’t some kind of loud confidence — it’s faithful presence when it would be much easier to just withdraw…to just give up.

Verse 5 — both men have dreams. Disturbing dreams. Unsettling dreams.

And then verse 6 says something very powerful:

“When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled.”

Joseph notices.

Think about that.

Joseph’s the one who’s been wronged. He’s the one who’s been forgotten. The one with unanswered prayers. And yet he’s attentive to their sorrow.

Courage oftentimes begins not with speaking — but with seeing.

And so Joseph asks a simple question in verse 7:

“Why are your faces downcast today?”

That’s compassion. Awareness. That’s strength that hasn’t curdled into bitterness.

They tell him they’ve had dreams…And listen, here’s the key line:

“There’s no one to interpret them.”

Now pay attention here — this is Joseph’s moment.

This is the space where courage is required. Because Joseph, he’s been here before. Back in Genesis 37, dreams got him hated. Dreams got him sold. Dreams got him enslaved. And now, here he is again — dreams…in a prison…with powerful men. And guys, Joseph could’ve played it safe here. He could’ve shrugged it off or stayed silent. He could’ve said, “That’s above my pay grade.”

But instead, verse 8:

“Don’t interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.”

Listen, you have to see this here, that’s courage.

Joseph doesn’t say, “I have a gift.” or “I’m special.” He says, “God’s sovereign.”

That’s Reformed theology before there was even a category for it.

Joseph believes God rules dreams…which means God rules prisons…which means God rules outcomes. And because of that, Joseph’s willing to speak up.

And notice this as well — Joseph doesn’t soften truth…The cupbearer’s dream, that dream was good news — restoration in three days…But the baker’s dream? That dream was death.

Listen, we can’t rush past this…Joseph doesn’t twist the message to spare feelings or blur the interpretation to avoid conflict. He doesn’t preach optimism.

Verse 19:

“In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree.”

Guys, I don’t know about you, but that’s not very inspirational, right? That’s not seeker-sensitive at all. Or safe. But it is faithful.

And this is where we need to talk honestly about courage — especially in our culture today.

Biblical courage, its not being aggressive. Or obnoxious. Or political. Biblical courage is telling the truth because God is God, even when the truth may cost you something.

Joseph fears God more than man.

And that’s what we’re increasingly lacking today. Evil doesn’t persist in our culture because Christians don’t know truth. It persists because we’re so oftentimes too afraid to speak truth.

Afraid of losing influence. Afraid of being misunderstood. Afraid of being labeled. Afraid of being rejected.

And so we soften sin. We avoid hard biblical texts. We trade conviction for comfort.

Calvin said it this way: “The pastor must have two voices — one to gather the sheep, and another to drive away the wolves.”

And that’s not just true of pastors…it’s true of believers. But many of us only want one voice — the one that keeps everyone comfortable.

Joseph doesn’t have that luxury. And neither do we. Because silence in the face of evil, its not neutrality — it’s permission.

When truth’s withheld, lies flourish. When courage disappears, corruption multiplies.

And listen — this isn’t just about preaching.

This is about parents who won’t disciple their kids because it’s uncomfortable. Believers who won’t confront sin because it might cost a relationship. Churches that won’t speak clearly because they’re too afraid attendance might drop.

Courage isn’t loud — it’s costly.

Joseph told the truth knowing full well it might never help him. In fact — it doesn’t.

The cupbearer’s restored. The baker’s executed. And Joseph? Joseph’s just forgotten.

Which brings us to the final movement of the story — because courage doesn’t always bring immediate deliverance…but God’s presence still brings real comfort, even in the waiting.

And that’s what we see in this last point together.

III. Real Comfort (vv. 40:20-23)

The pattern of a faithful servant, is God’s presence…which provides real comfort… Not the kind of comfort we usually want. It’s not relief, or rescue, or immediate answers. Genesis 40, it ends in a way that almost feels cruel.

Look at verse 20 with me again:

“On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday…”

Everything Joseph said comes true.

The cupbearer’s restored. The baker’s executed. God’s word is proven faithful — again. And if you were Joseph, this feels like the moment. Right? This is the opening. The connection. The door that God has to be using.

Joseph even asked for it back in verse 14:

“Only remember me…”, he said.

And then verse 23:

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

That’s how the chapter ends.

There’s no rescue. No explanation. No resolution.

Just…forgotten.

And church, that might be the hardest part of this entire story.

Joseph obeyed. He suffered. He served. He spoke truth. And yet he still waits.

This is where our definition of comfort gets exposed. Because most of us think comfort means change. Change in our circumstances. Or pain…or maybe in our outcomes.

But Scripture defines comfort differently.

Comfort’s not the absence of suffering — Comfort, its the assurance of God’s presence in it.

And Moses, he’s been preparing us for that all along.

“The LORD was with Joseph.”

Not when he got out. Not when things improved. But while he was forgotten.

That’s real comfort.

Isaiah 43 says: “When you pass through the waters, I’ll be with you.”

Not if you pass through…or if you pass around it. Through it!

Paul says in 2 Corinthians that God’s: “The Father of mercies and God of all comfort.” And listen — Paul writes that from affliction, not ease.

Joseph’s not comforted by outcomes — he’s comforted by presence. And that’s important, because waiting has a way of distorting our view of God.

Waiting makes us think we’ve been overlooked. Waiting whispers to us that maybe we misunderstood God. Waiting tempts us to believe that faithfulness doesn’t matter anymore.

But silence isn’t absence. Delay isn’t denial. And guys, being forgotten by man, it doesn’t mean neglect by God. In fact, the very delay here is what positions Joseph for what comes next.

If the cupbearer had remembered Joseph immediately, Joseph would’ve been released quietly.

There would’ve been no platform… or authority… or influence. But God isn’t in the business of small rescues when He’s planning redemption on a national scale, right?

Psalm 105 says about Joseph: “Until what he had said came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him.”

Joseph’s being tested here — not punished. Waiting, its one of God’s most effective tools.

It reveals what we trust. It exposes what we expect. It shows us whether or not our obedience is transactional or relational. And guys, that’s where a lot of us struggle.

We obey — and we expect immediate results. Or we pray — and we expect clarity. We suffer — and expect explanation.

But God, He oftentimes gives us comfort before He gives us clarity. And that comfort is Himself.

Hebrews tells us: “God’ll never leave us or forsake us.”

That promise wasn’t given to people who escaped suffering — it was given to people walking straight through it.

Listen — Joseph’s story doesn’t end in chapter 40. His delay doesn’t mean defeat. The forgetting doesn’t mean failure. It means God’s still writing. Still positioning.

And guys, if you’re really paying attention here, Joseph’s story, it points us forward. Because there would come another faithful servant…who was obedient…who told the truth…who was falsely accused…who was handed over by injustice…who was forgotten by the very people He saved.

And unlike Joseph — He didn’t get out.

Jesus Christ bore the full weight of abandonment so that we never would.

On the cross, He cried: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

This story, it points us to Jesus.

And so in our waiting…in our suffering…in our silence…Remember there’s real comfort there because of what Jesus did. It’s not that God fixes everything immediately — its that He’s with us eternally.

And so if you’re here this morning and you’re waiting…If you’re doing the right thing and nothing’s changing…If you’re faithful and yet you still feel forgotten…Genesis 40 reminds us of this: God’s not late. He’s not absent. He’s not finished. He’s with you. And guys, that IS enough — even when it doesn’t feel like it yet.

Amen?

Closing

Listen, as we close this morning, I just want us to step back for just a moment — because it would be very easy to walk away from Genesis 39 and 40 thinking, “Okay… I just need to be more like Joseph.” Right?

More disciplined. More courageous. More faithful under pressure.

But if that’s where we land, we’ve missed the point. Because this passage, its not about what you have do — it’s about what God’s doing in you.

Joseph’s faithfulness, it wasn’t the product of willpower — it was the fruit of God’s presence in his life. His courage wasn’t just his personality — it was confidence in God’s sovereignty. And listen, Joseph’s endurance through all these horrible things, it wasn’t grit — it was grace at work.

That’s sanctification. That’s God doing what He promised He would…shaping a servant slowly, painfully, intentionally — not by removing hardship, but by meeting him in it.

Philippians 1:6 tells us: “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

That doesn’t mean the process is comfortable. It means it’s certain.

Listen — sanctification, it always costs us something, because God’s loosening our grip on the things we trust more than Him.

He costs Joseph comfort so that He can give him character. He costs him control so that He can form trust. He costs him freedom so He can prepare him for faithfulness.

And church, that same God, He’s at work in each of us as believers. Not because you’re impressive — but because He’s faithful.

But I also need to remind us again: Joseph’s not the hero of this story. Joseph points us to the true and better Servant.

Because there came another Son — beloved by His Father — rejected by His brothers. Another righteous man — falsely accused. Another faithful servant — who suffered though He was innocent.

But again unlike Joseph, Jesus wasn’t just forgotten in a prison — He was abandoned on a cross. And listen, He did that so that sinners like you and I — people who lack courage, who compromise constantly, who fail under pressure — He did it so that we could be forgiven, and redeemed, and transformed.

The gospel’s not: Try harder and be more faithful. The gospel’s is this: Christ has been faithful for you. And from that grace — sanctification flows.

And so the call this morning its not to muster up more courage. It’s to submit. To surrender to what God’s doing in you — even when it feels slow, even when it’s costly, even when it’s unseen.

Some of you are resisting that work right now…trying to escape it. Some of you are trying to numb it. But God’s not wasting your suffering.

And for some of you — the first response isn’t obedience, it’s repentance. Turning from self-trust… from compromise. Turning from a version of Christianity that costs you nothing.

And for others — the response is endurance. Stay faithful. Keep obeying. Keep trusting. Because the same God who was with Joseph in the pit… and in the house… and in the prison…He’s the same God who’s with you right now. And He will finish what He started.

Would you bow your head and close your eyes with me?

Listen, I’ll be in the back. We’ll have some elders up front.

If you need prayer… If you have questions… If God’s stirring something in your heart right now…

Don’t rush pass this moment.

Respond.

…

You do that, take this time — and I’ll close us in prayer in just a moment.

[Prayer]