01(Gen 37,12-36) Reading Between the Setbacks
Read Genesis 37:12-36
A. Joseph sent by his father to his jealous brothers.
B. Joseph leaves the security of his father’s house to face those who hate him. (12-17)
C. Acting on impulse, in a matter of moments the brothers hatch a scheme against Joseph (18-27)
D. Joseph’s world turned upside down in a single day (28, 36).
E. Any hope that his father would rescue and restore him is erased by his brothers’ lies (29-35).
F. Illustration: Reminds me of a boy who at 7 was thrown out with his family from his home on a legal technicality. Forced to go to work at 7. Mother died at 9. At 22, lost job as store clerk. Could not get accepted to law school. Went back into business, partner died when he was 29. the girl he courted for four years said no. Wanted to get into politics. Failed to get elected. Tried again and failed. Won election to congress on third try only to be defeated in reelection. His son died when he was 41. He then ran for the senate and lost. He next ran as a candidate for VP and lost. Then he ran for the senate again and lost. At 61 elected president of US. Abe Lincoln. “Some people have all the luck”.
I. Life is Hard
A. As much as we joke about that, it is a shocking reality that is learned at some point in life.
B. Discouragement is Satan’s best and most used tool, especially among Christians.
C. We may never face the same experience as Joseph, but we face the same reality of life’s shock and turns.
§ He had no rights, no protection against the evils of other people.
§ Later he would be falsely accused and thrown into prison.
D. God brought Joseph to a place that was uncomfortable – called growing pains.
§ He could not be the leader of his people under the shadow of his brothers.
§ He would not be the savior for his people under the protection of his father.
§ God’s plan was to first take Joseph out of his comfort in order to mold him into a leader.
§ David was not a leader until after he learned to lead from a cave.
§ Moses fled to a wilderness for 40 years before God made the next move.
§ Paul was stripped of everything he had built his life upon before the Lord used him.
E. Too many never pursue the dream, plan God has because they remain in a comfortable area.
§ Like a bird that is pushed out of the nest, or a child who is left in bed to fall asleep.
§ To become what we are meant to be involves leaving our zones of comfort.
F. The irony of God’s plan for our lives is that it is both exciting and revolting at the same time.
§ There is a desire for it. It is woven into our fabric. We yearn for it in our thoughts, daydreams.
§ We may not have our finger on it yet, but we know we were meant for His Kingdom’s service.
§ Yet, we too quickly rationalize it away – too foolish, no money in it, embarrassing.
§ So, life happens to us in ways that are not part of our plan. And God is in it.
§ Joseph goes to his brothers, not pursuing the dream God had given him. Yet God was in it.
§ His humiliation and capture and camel ride to Egypt would erase any further dreams.
§ Yet, God was in it. He never left Joseph.
G. We all face setbacks.
§ If you have not had a setback, praise the Lord. But realize that you will.
§ This room is full of people who have faced and may be facing now setbacks, discouragements.
II. Three Ways to Respond to Setbacks
A. Give in to the setback.
§ Elijah – 1 Kings 19
§ Fear following a great day of victory, “mountain top experience” – shows how fickle faith can be.
§ Often a person’s sense of God’s direction comes from great moments of faith.
§ We are reminded that the evil one is quick to drown our flames of faith with fear.
§ Two voices whispering in Elijah’s ear and ours. “give up” and “I am the Lord your God”.
§ For some, suicide seems to be the answer. “Take me home, Lord”.
§ Giving up is not acceptable to God and should not be acceptable to us either.
B. Deny the setback really exists.
§ “This sickness is not really serious”. “My husband doesn’t really have a drinking problem”.
§ Peter denied what the Lord must go through, and that he would do so alone.
§ Peter – “I will never leave you”.
§ Not acceptable either.
C. Face the setback with faith.
§ Joseph’s option. He faced life’s hard knocks realistically and faithfully.
III. How Joseph handled setbacks in his life.
A. Maintained his relationship with the Lord despite circumstances.
§
B. Refused to give in to temptation.
§ There is almost always a way to deal with difficulties in a way that is displeasing to God.
C. Refused to focus on himself.
§ He always gave himself to any work to be done.
§ Dr. Meninger’s cure for nervous breakdown – get involved in helping other people.
D. Took what steps he could to deal with problem. (begged cupbearer to put in good word).
E. Joseph did not lose sight of the fact that God was in control.
§ God is sovereign.
§ “It was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you”.
§ “What you meant for evil, God intended for good”.
Life is hard. God has not fallen off his throne. We need to be reminded that God has a dream for us, a plan for us. We must not lose sight of that because of setbacks.
Read between the lines. What appears to be a setback is part of the plan of a sovereign God. Take courage in KNOWING that His hand is upon your life, even now. Do what you can, seek God’s leadership and direction, but don’t lose sight of God.
Refuse to focus on your problems. That only leads to depression, even suicide. Focus on other people. Help them. That is where God’s plan for you lies.
If you think you are following God’s plan for your life and you are not having a positive impact on the lives of others, you are mistaken.
I think of Ms. Jaunita Parton. Retired. Older woman. What does she do? She goes daily to the senior adult center, not to help herself but to volunteer her time to help others.
It doesn’t matter your age. God has plans for you now. Look at the setbacks of your life. Line them up and you will see where God is leading you. Submit to that, and follow.