Don't Be Afraid, Because God Is With Us

Joseph: The Seeds of Brokenness & Grace Genesis 37 January 7, 2017 nations. In brokenness, the opportunity is there to ask, “Where, in this, is sin? Where am I not trusting God?” In the clarity that comes when God brings His truth and grace to our broken lives, there is opportunity for genuine life change. The First Stories of the Bible in Genesis: à Tower of Babel à AbrahaM à Isaac à Jacob & Esau à Jacob’s sons – particularly, emergence of Joseph [Genesis 37-50] The Dynamics of Joseph’s Family: [Gen 37] • • So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Lessons: à Noah His family and spiritual heritage is remarkable … Abraham, Isaac, Jacob His family is complicated. His father, Jacob, has 2 wives (Leah & Rachel), 2 concubines, 10 older brothers (some by all 4 women), a sister, and 1 younger brother. Joseph’s mother, Rachel, dies giving birth to the youngest son, Benjamin. Joseph is number 11, but is his father’s favorite. The shaping sins of Joseph’s father are … o o o 7 Brokenness + Truth + Grace + Time = Life Change à Creation • • • 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 (ESV) my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more The Big Idea: Sin breaks things. Sin broke me. Sin breaks families and • • n Brokenness is used by God to expose our sin and show us our true condition before God and to make clear our need for Him. Deceit Pride Passivity Favoritism 1. Don’t listen to the people and the books who try to tell you that because of what happened to you, you will forever be destined to repeat what your family did. God is bigger than your family’s sins and shortcomings. Augustine: “Trials come to prove us and to improve us.” 2. God chose to use an imperfect dad to raise a boy who, early in his life was full of pride and naiveté, to be the human deliverer of that family. 3. The huge problems and messes and chaos we deal with in life are not a sign of having been deserted by God or that God has given up on ever doing something great in your life. 4. No matter what your mess, God is bigger than your mess. Truth: ü ü o As a young man, Joseph is full of pride and is unbelievably naïve and foolish. His 10 older brothers are full of envy, jealousy, and anger. ü Consider the Indispensable Element of Brokenness in God’s Formation of Our Character: www.crossrdschurch.com Is there a sin or destructive behavior that was present in your parents which you are now displaying and passing on to your children? In God’s grace, are you willing to say, “This stops with me!” What is the most critical place of brokenness in your life at this moment? Will you confess that and commit that to the Lord? Pray that the Lord will show you the lie that you have been believing which has led to brokenness. What is His truth which needs to be believed?