Joseph: God is Making Us Stronger

Genesis 41:1-57

Introduction

Begin series Adventures with God

Rehearse some of our favourite parts of Bible

Many of these we grow up on

Series is to learn lessons from familiar & to introduce these great events to those who aren’t familiar

Q—How many of you consider yourself adventurous or at least desire some kind of adventure in your life?

For some adventurous life sounds exciting, intriguing

Others it’s sounds terrifying, complicated, messy

Great thing about adventures with God is that they are for everyone

SHOW SERIES SLIDE

Some adventurous, some just living life, some thrown into it

Every life, every situation is a life of growing faith

Return to Sermon Slide

Begin Here 20/07/2025

Review Joe’s life up to point of text – not perfect

Read Genesis 41:37-57

Here’s how we want to see Joseph’s life:

We’re done wrong, endure trial

We do our best to serve God, work hard

God rewards our hard work & faithfulness by making us prosperous & lifting us up

Lesson of Joe isn’t what we often think it is

Firstly, why do we always see ourselves as Joe?

We never look at ourselves like Rueben or Levi, Potiphar or Pharaoh

Number of things suggest this isn’t pinnacle of God’s work – not pay off we think it is

Joe is still a slave – just better dressed

Marries a pagan woman

Blessings are on Egypt here not Israel

At this point nothing suggests God’s program is still on track

God is still working, not finished

Not every adventure with God is thrilling, sometimes it’s just a long, hard road

What does God want us to see?

Real glory here is much deeper than Joe ending up with a good job

Why does God lead us down hard roads?

To Strengthen our Character

Affliction Teaches us to Persevere

Trials have a purpose

Joe’s trial isn’t finished yet

God hasn’t finished his work – small or large scale

Been 2 years since butler left prison

Butler promised to remember him

By end of chapter he’s 30 – been away from family 13 years & more to come

7-14 yrs before sees family

Sometimes trials last for long time

We expect them to be short

Who thought we’d still be talking about Covid-19 in 2022

For many of you the difficulty started long before 2020

Many calling 2022, 2020 too

God designed us with sense of purpose

Want to be able to make sense out of things

Trials especially confuse us

James 1:2-4 – tells us there is a purpose

James 1:2–4 “2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Bible tells us God uses trials for a number of purposes – see these in Joe’s life

To test & strengthen our faith

To humble us

Teach us to value God’s blessings

Develop in us enduring strength for greater usefulness

Not just developing patience for a time

Developing something in us that’s lasting

Developing a character of patience – results of patience

We become people that can persevere

Strengthening our character – developing something lasting in us

Trials drive us to God

God uses trials to develop perseverance, to strengthen & deepen our character

Learn to withstand pressures of trial until God removes it

We can even learn to cherish trials – when we realise their purpose

2 Cor. 12:7-10 – Paul learned this too

As we’re driven to closer to God He is developing deeper character in us

Perseverance Comes from Faith

It grows from faith

Why did Joe keep coming through this so well? He believed God

His faith was growing through this

Trials are designed to drives us to God (Jas. 1:5)

With each step (though it seemed to get worse) Joe was getting closer to God

Not in some mystic sense/feeling but it affected way he lived & worked

It’s fed by holiness

We’re being matured, grown

Drives us closer to God & therefore to be more like God

God leads us down hard roads to strengthen our character &

To Speak for Him

Our Great Predicament

God does reveal Himself

God does reveal Himself & purpose

Pharaoh has dream like never before

Certainly not 1st dream he’s had

They placed great importance on knowing dreams

Like Nebuchadnezzar this one is very troubling & confusing

Pharaoh becoming increasingly agitated

Unlike others this one is from God

His priests etc. had no idea about it

God does reveal Himself today

Psalm 19:1 “1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.”

Psalm 19:7 “7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;”

Given us His word & Jesus

Look how confused mankind is about God

Our leaders struggle just like Pharaoh’s

How many of our leaders understand there’s a greater purpose in then events happening in this world?

Sin blinds us to the truth

Why do we struggle?

1 Corinthians 2:14 “14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

2 Corinthians 4:4 “4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”

Our Great Privilege

God can be known

Although Egyptians couldn’t understand it doesn’t mean God unknowable

You may not know God today but He is knowable

Now right time for Joe to get out of prison

Been release before wouldn’t be here for this

Not here for this then not in place to save family

God’s people declare God’s Word

Joe clear he can’t understand dream

However, he knows God does

Not about Joe but about God

We are put in this world to speak for God

2 Corinthians 4:5–6 “5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

God had a plan & revealed it & used Joe to express it

Same is true for us today

God has revealed Himself & plan & we have privilege of making Him known

God leads down hard roads to strengthen our character, to speak for Him &

To See His Sufficiency

God’s Promises Sustain

A Hebrew in Egypt

Pharaoh wasn’t obliged to exalt Joe

Joe is exalted because God is with him (Gen. 41:39)

Interesting that pagans treat Joe with more respect than own family, people of God

At this time Joe is 30, at least another 7 yrs before sees family again

All adult life been in Egypt

More Egyptian than Hebrew in many ways

Egyptian name, Egyptian job, Egyptian wife, Egyptian way of life

These are all external – at heart he is still Hebrew

Surrounded by pagans & pagan gods yet he still believes God & His promises

Hebrews 11:13 “13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

Has 2 sons in Egypt with Egyptian wife

Gives them both Hebrew names (Gen. 41:52)

We’re pilgrims in this world

We need to see ourselves like Joe & partriarchs

We live in this world but not of it

We look forward to God’s promises & cling to them in faith

Even in difficulty of this life trust God

Learn to cherish trials because God is developing endurance & with endurance lasting, Godly character

God’s Work Goes Deep

God’s grace is immense

Names of his sons tell us a lot

Shows us his humility & faith

Both names give glory to God

Now in authority Joe isn’t thinking about revenge etc.

Thinking about what God has done

Acknowledging God’s grace in his life

Even though difficult He’s sees God’s goodness

Not because he worked hard, not because he was clever

God made/caused…

God’s work is healing (forgiveness)

Look at what he names his first son

Joe had been mistreated & wronged

Yet here he is – still a slave, still away from his family – not bitter, angry, self-pity

During all this trouble God was healing his hurt

Trials driving him closer to God & in turn God was healing his pain

We forget often but clearly Joe suffered deep emotional pain

In a sense he’s learned to “Let it go”

God’s grace healed his pain

Where did this healing happen? In these very trials

God’s blessings are joyful

Name of 2nd son – He’s seeing God’s goodness

Natural progression

If we harbour resentment, etc we see pain, hurt, self – overlook God’s goodness

With forgiveness comes ability to enjoy God’s goodness

Joe still didn’t see Egypt as place of joy

This was land of his affliction

Even in affliction he knew the blessings of God

He enjoyed God’s blessings

Jesus is Sufficient

His grace is immense

Romans 5:8 “8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

His grace brings forgiveness

Ephesians 1:7 “7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”

His grace brings blessing

2 Peter 1:2–4 “2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Conclusion

Did it ever cross your mind that the pain you’re experiencing now may actually be there to heal deeper hurts

That God is developing in you strength to endure for Him

You will need that strength of character to be used of God

Payoff of God’s work is much deeper and more magnificent than a good job & house

Can God provide those? Yes

They aren’t His goal

Trials are a gift of God’s grace in your life

Drive you to Him to find He is sufficient, to find your joy in Him

Today, I proclaim this God to you

Maybe today you have seen His grace

That He offers you forgiveness for your offenses against Him

That He will bless you deeply & eternally by believing

Today I implore you, come to Jesus

Let Him take your sin, heal your life & give you joy