You Can Make It If You Want To

Introduction

Lord willing, I’m going to kick off a series of messages this morning on the life of Joseph. The text verse this morning is from the end of the story, Joseph had finished the work God sent him to do. All Israel had been saved from death and dwelt in peace. Jacob is now dead. Nothing was left but for Joseph’s brothers to dwell in the land in peace, pursuing work as shepherds with thankfulness to Joseph for being so good to them.

All was well.

But things hadn’t always been that way.

We will go into the detail of everything that went on over the next several weeks, but I want you to know something about the importance of studying Joseph’s life.

If you study over in Genesis 1-2 we all know that’s the record of creation. God created everything period…Genesis 1:16 says something very interesting…it says:

“he made the stars also.” That’s referring to this universe that mankind has studied and studied and tried to figure out. God simply tells us “…he made the stars also.” That’s all that is said, but listen, God give us a huge portion of the book of Genesis on Joseph’s life - Wonder which one God wants us to study more?

The thought today comes from when you look over Joseph’s life, a phrase comes to mind that I want to preach on this morning and that is, “You Can Make It If You Want To”...

You ever heard someone say, “I would like to do more for God, but...” or maybe even, “I’d do more for God if it wasn’t for…my job, or my family, or my past...”

The bottom line is we do what we want to, when we want to. Like Bro. Chris said Friday, you are as close to God right now as you want to be...

One thing we never heard people say is “I’d do more for God, but I’m too lazy” or “I’m too complacent to do more than I’m doing right now.”

One thing about people is that we are the masters of excuses aren’t we?

The truth is that no matter what comes our way, we can make it if we want to…As we will see, Joseph had every reason to quit, but he didn’t.

Today, we will begin with looking at the family into which Joseph was born and other relationships he had. It certainly becomes obvious that nobody consulted with Joseph about what kind of life he wanted to live.

Joseph’s life was defined by four significant groups of relationships. The first one was...

Paternal Relationships - A Look at His Family

Joseph had no Godly encouragement or good examples in his life.

His Daddy, Jacob

Jacob’s name means “supplanter.” The literal meaning is “to trip up.” Some have rightly defined this as “trickster.”

Genesis 25:26 AV

And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

He really did “trip up” his brother in the matter of his birthright and stole the blessing from his father that was to be given to Esau.

Jacob went on the run after this because Esau wanted to kill him.

Jacob did know God, however. He met God at Beth-el, “the house of God.” For years he lived a carnal, worldly life. However, the Bible records that when Joseph was born, God did stir up his heart again to return to his home land—the land of God’s promise.

His Mother, Rachel

She was favored in a home that had many wives. Her own sister, Leah, was first given to Jacob, but he tolerated her only because she provided him with children.

Genesis 30:2 AV

And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

Genesis 30:8 AV

And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

Rachel was full of envy over Leah—in an attempt to provide additional children to her husband and in an attempt to bring favor to herself and to bring favor away from Leah—gave to Jacob her own handmaid, Bilhah. Leah, later, did the same thing with her handmaid, Zilpah.

We find a record of who’s child was born by who in Genesis 35...

His Stepmother Leah

We’ve already seen this, but she was always arguing with Rachel.

Genesis 30:15 AV

And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son’s mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son’s mandrakes.

His Uncle Esau

I preached an entire message a few weeks back about Esau…He hated his father and wanted to get even with Jacob because he had sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of pottage, or porridge.

Esau was a carnal, godless man.

His Grandaddy Laban

Laban had deceived his daddy...For the most part, Laban was a scoundrel and there was not much he wouldn’t do for money and gain.

Laban was also a committed pagan.

His Grandaddy Isaac

Lied about his grandmother being his wife over in Genesis 26 and favored his uncle over his dad. Ya’ll remember me mentioning that in that message on Esau about parents showing favoritism?

Genesis 25:28 AV

And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

His Grandmother Rebecca

She favored Joseph’s daddy over his uncle and taught his daddy how to lie and get what he wanted...

His Brothers

All of his brothers envied and hated him because Joseph had a special gift from God that he could interpret dreams, and he had told them about a dream that showed that he would be ruler over them. This caused them to be jealous, and angry and they eventually conjured up a plan to get rid of Joseph...

As you can see, Joseph’s home life was full of deception, envy, hatred, lies, and anger.

But in the midst of all of it, he Joseph dared to be different and decided to make it for God!

Potiphar Relationships - A Look at His Foe

His boss’ wife lied on him...

Genesis 39:7–9 AV

And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Genesis 39:10–14 AV

And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:

She was filled with the lust of her eyes, and wanted Joseph to commit an act of immorality with her, and when he wouldn’t she decided she was going to destroy him...

Prison Relationships - A Look at His Friends

Genesis 39:19–23 AV

And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled. And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

After Joseph was put in prison because his boss’ wife lied on him, we find that the baker died on him, and the butler forgot about him...

Joseph had become friends with Pharaoh’s baker and butler who had been thrown into prison, he had interpreted dreams for them…He told the butler:

Genesis 40:13–15 AV

Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.

He interpreted the dream of the baker, but it wasn’t as good, the baker would be hanged, and that’s exactly what happened...

Genesis 40:21–23 AV

And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand: But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

Pharoah Relationships - A Look at His Future

Geneis 41:40-46

Though Joseph’s life was full of one letdown after another, though he had no encouragement from family and friends, he made it for God because he wanted to!

Joseph had every reason you could think of to quit, but he didn’t!

You know why he didn’t? Because he settled it that he wanted to be different and live for God!

If you really want to live for God today, you can, even when all the odds are stacked against you!

In these verses of chapter 41, we find that because Joseph continued, he stayed in the fight no matter what, God blessed him!

Joseph was blessed as a governor.

Genesis 41:40–41 AV

Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

Joseph was blessed with garments and gold.

Genesis 41:42 AV

And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;

Joseph was blessed with glory.

Genesis 41:43 AV

And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.

Joseph was blessed with grace.

Genesis 41:44 AV

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.

Joseph was blessed with a girl.

Genesis 41:45 AV

And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

Joseph had a brighter and better future than he could have ever imagined.

The real blessing was that he didn’t compromise his convictions to get the blessing!

Conclusion

Circumstances are God’s means of conforming us, and Satan’s means of destroying us. The result of your circumstance depends on who you are allowing to use them!

Who is using the circumstances in your life today? God or Satan? It’s up to you.

Trusting God with our circumstances means that there are no “Yeah, buts...”

A “yeah, but” is like saying, “I know God is in control, but...”

Think about it, it’s as if, we put more power in our circumstances than we do in God! God is in control…no buts about it!

Trusting in God with our circumstances removes us from God’s throne.

Going back to chapter 50, verse 19 where we began, there’s something really interesting that Joseph says to his brothers:

Genesis 50:19 AV

And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?

Joseph knew there were things that he was not to be consulted on, all the things I showed you today, his family, his circumstances, his injustices, they were all used by God.

Are you putting yourself in the place of God today?

If you’re continually frustrated with your circumstances, if you are continually referring to your past, if you are constantly focused on that which is beyond your control, you are putting yourself in the place of God.

Let’s begin by understanding what Joseph knew, and that was that God, not Joseph, is in control.

Job 23:10 AV

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Joseph was had went through the refiner’s fire, but through it all, he came forth as pure gold.

You know what made Joseph different? His relationship with God...

Do you have a relationship with God today?

Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior?

Christian, are you allowing God to use your circumstances for His glory, or are you allowing Satan to use them to discourage you, defeat you?