Your future is in His hands

Genesis 37:1-

Genesis 37:1–11 ESV

1 Jacob lived in the land of his father’s sojournings, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the generations of Jacob. 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: 7 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.” 8 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. 9 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.” 10 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?” 11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

September 11, 2001

Attacks killed nearly 3,000 people and injured over 6,000!

Why/How can good things happen to good people?

I’m here to share with you that even though these things happen...

God is good.

God loves you.

God knows what He’s doing.

Intro

- Discuss what a stronghold is.

The stronghold we’re discussing tonight deals with the unknown and fear of our future. It can be difficult to believe we are safe after an attack like 9/11.

The Story

Tonight, we’re discussing the life of Joseph.

Joseph was a character in the Bible and he’s found in the Old Testament.

Joseph came from a very large family and everybody knew Joseph’s family. They knew Joseph’s family because #1 it was huge, he had 12 brothers! #2 They knew his great grandfather Abraham.

His great grandfather, Abraham, was a hero in his day and did great things for God. Everybody knew Abraham, or knew of him, and had heard of how God used him to do great things. 1 of those things was leaving his hometown to follow God where he told him to go. #2 he had a son when he was like 90 something years old. Kind of crazy.

God told Abraham, that his son Isaac would be the one whom all the families of the Earth would be blessed! Kind of a big deal there… So.... Isaac has two sons… Jacob and Esau

Jacob and Esau are very interesting characters in the Bible who end up getting into a huge fight, like brothers do.

Well, sometime during or after, this huge fight, Jacob marries 2 wives, and has 12 kids! Joseph being one of them...

Question...

Question…did Joseph come from a perfect family?

No! And the Bible talks to us about this…and how God desires to use imperfect people and families for changing the world.

However,

Joseph came from a family that was known for being used by God and doing great things for God.

We are going to see God show Himself off in this young man’s life and learn about the Stronghold that God was for him and his future was always looked after.

In , Joseph is introduced as a dreamer. He has this dream and in that dream his family is bowing down to him. So… like any young, proud boy, he tells his brothers and family about it.

How do you think they responded?

The brothers don’t like it all and they don’t like the cool jacket that their dad personally gave to him, because remember, he’s the favorite.

So what do the brothers do?

- they sell Joseph into slavery and tell dad that he was taken by an animal given the blood they wiped on the jacket dad gave Joseph. They lie to dad about what’s happened to their brother.

What happens to Joseph?

ALOT!

Joseph brought to Egypt to work for Potiphar, a wealthy Egyptian, and the LORD was with him and caused all that he did to succeed.

However, Potiphar’s wife wrongfully accuses Joseph’s wife of taking advantage of her!

Joseph is now thrown into prison.

While in prison, Joseph given opportunity to interpret dreams for Pharaoh’s officials. He interprets correctly and asks them to remember him after the interpretation.

They forget about him!

TWO YEARS LATER! Pharaoh has a dream and Joseph is remembered and brought from the prison to interpret.

He interprets an upcoming famine correctly and rises to power to be used for Pharaoh.

Joseph encounters his family.

Encounters his family

Doesn’t seek revenge.

Instead, restores his family back to original order.

Purchases land for his father to be buried and provides for his entire family after the crazy story of his life.

How did Joseph do it?

Joseph tells his brothers and family...

Genesis 50:20 ESV

20 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.

Remember...

God is good.

God loves you.

God knows what He is doing.

Genesis 37:1–11 ESV

1 Jacob lived in the land of his father’s sojournings, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the generations of Jacob. 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: 7 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.” 8 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. 9 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.” 10 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?” 11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

Joseph brought a bad report to father.

Father loved Joseph more than others.

Made him the robe.

Joseph given a dream.

Brothers were jealous.

Summary of Joseph

Something bad happens to a “good” person. (Joseph not necessarily a good person, but, you could see that someone else’s sin affects the trajectory of this young man’s life.) Joseph sold into slavery/bondage/taken advantage of.

Somebody else’s behavior puts this man into bondage. Somebody’s “action” put you into “chains.”

Taken to “unknown” territory. Brought “down” to Egypt.

*What was going on in Egypt during this time*

1-2 minutes of who Joseph was.