Part 5 - The School of Affliction
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
The life of Joseph is one of the most remarkable stories found in the Bible. His life is a mixture of sadness and glory, or pain and of success. As a result, Joseph’s life contains many lessons from which modern believers can learn.
In these verses this morning, Joseph is at one of the lowest moments of his life.
He is a young man, he’s been sold into slavery into Egypt.
There, he is purchased by a man named Potiphar, and in Potiphar’s house, Joseph quickly rises to a place of authority and prominence. But Potiphar’s wife has eyes for Joseph and attempts to get him to commit adultery with her. He refuses and actually has to run away from her, leaving his garment in her hand...
7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
8 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;
9 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?
10 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.
11 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.
12 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.
13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,
His coat had gotten him into trouble again, but he remained faithful to God - he flees temptation…Let’s read on.
14 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:
15 And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.
16 And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.
17 And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:
18 And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.
After she has been spurned by Joseph, Potiphar’s wife accuses Joseph of attempting to force himself on her.
Her husband, Potiphar, who is a high ranking Egyptian official, has Joseph thrown into the King’s prison.
Joseph is put in the School of Affliction. Let’s look at some things he learned while there.
He Learned That God’s Delays Are Not God’s Denials
He Learned That God’s Delays Are Not God’s Denials
1 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.
2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.
3 And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.
4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.
Joseph interpreted the dreams of the baker and butler, and they came to pass.
21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand:
22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.
23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.
God delays on purpose. We can’t figure this out in our finite minds.
We often wonder why others receive the blessings that we so desperately need.
Our faith is then what sustains us and gives us hope.
God knew that Joseph was still in the refiner’s fire—the school of affliction—for a purpose. God was working all things together for his good.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Joseph was learning the realities of the Psalmist’s prayer...
5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
15 For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.
The Psalmist said he hoped in God! He anticipated with certainty that God would hear him!
9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
No doubt, Satan had a field day with Joseph as he was stuck in prison…I can imagine him sitting in Joseph’s ear saying, “What about your God now?”, “What happened to those dreams?” , “What kind of God rewards purity and righteousness with prison?”
The correct answer for those questions, and the answer we must give the Devil in those times is:
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
He learned that God’s delays aren’t His denials...
He Learned That God Doesn’t Leave When You’re In The Dungeon
He Learned That God Doesn’t Leave When You’re In The Dungeon
21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
And He means it too, even in the worst of times - even in the dungeon - even in your most challenging times!
17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:
19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.
The word tried means “refined.” God had not left him alone in the dungeon. He was there with him, refining him for future service.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
What does this “school of affliction” teach us according to Romans 5:3–4?
Tribulation = patience; endurance, steadfastness, perseverance
Patience = experience; character that has been tried and proven
Experience = hope; confident expectation that God will work this for good
When we go through the prisons of life, we learn that He is with us, that He is able to sustain us, that He is greater than our problems, that He does have a plan. We learn the truth that the prisons of life are not designed to stop us, but to strengthen us!
Even in the midst of difficulty, Joseph was still being blessed and used by the Lord! God’s hand was evident in the life of this young man!
He learned that God’s delays are not His denials, He learned that God doesn’t leave when you’re in the dungeon...
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
He Learned That Because He Was Granted Mercy, He Could Be The Giver Of The Same
He Learned That Because He Was Granted Mercy, He Could Be The Giver Of The Same
Reading on through the life of Joseph, we find out that he is about to become very powerful...
21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
22 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.
23 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.
God blessed Joseph and he used him in his prison because Joseph remained faithful. If you and I will stand by the Lord and be the people he saved us to be, we can count on Him using us as well.
I have seen people in the valley us depression be used of the Lord. I have seen people held in the grip of terminal illness be used of the Lord. I have seen people who didn’t have a dime to their name and still God used them. If you will be faithful where He puts you, He will use you there for His glory!
The greatest thing that can ever be said about you and me, as far as our walk with the Lord is concerned, is that we were faithful. No matter the circumstance, no matter the place, we were faithful!
He Learned That Glory Belongs To God
He Learned That Glory Belongs To God
8 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.
Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams belonged to God, and he knew that!
He give the glory to whom glory is due, and that is God!
Joseph’s focus on God was part of the secret of his ultimate success.
15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.
16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
He Learned To Leave His Confidence in God
He Learned To Leave His Confidence in God
21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand:
22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.
23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.
Joseph has been forgotten by a man he put his hopes in, but not by God. God has His own timing for His will in our life. Joseph is going to remain in prison for two more years according to chapter 41:1.
If he is released now, he may have won his freedom and possibly returned home, but would not have a new position of second in command in Egypt or be prepared for the coming famine. God knew what He was doing and what needed to be done on His own schedule.
If we put our trust in people, it is easy to get bitter. We become this way because our expectations were in a person, instead of the Lord.
The cure for bitterness and disappointment is to totally put our trust in the Lord, not in men.
God wanted Joseph to put his confidence in God and trust Him fully. He had to have these lessons solidified in His life for what lied ahead of him.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Martin Luther said, “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my little apple tree and pay my debts.” That simple statement says a lot about Luther.
He was saying, “No matter what comes my way, I am going to do the right things and keep on serving the Lord.”
You see, those who won’t serve God in the prisons of life are not fit to serve Him the palaces of life either.
Are you going through a prison experience in your life?
If so, what are you doing in that prison? Are you rebelling against it, or submitting to it?
God has you there for one reason: He is using that prison as a tool of preparation for a future promotion.
Has He spoken to your heart through this message? If so, then come and get before Him and deal with the word He sent to your heart today.
