Sermon Tone Analysis
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Governing Providence- God guides and governs all events, including the free acts of men and their external circumstances, and directs all things to their appointed ends for His glory.
What Does the Bible Say?
Genesis 39
What is comforting about these verses?
It seems like the story is finally improving for Joseph!
Just when things seem to be going well, v. 11 happens.
God in His providence, may allow us to be falsely accused and unjustly maligned
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What is the typical gut reaction when we are falsely accused or treated unjustly?
Before we respond this way (and even justify our responses) who should we remember and reflect on?
Who is a better example than Joseph?
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Someone asked this question last week- should we just roll over and let people walk all over us?
How did Jesus respond?
Sometimes, that is exactly what he did (the cross).
Other times he responded differently (Pharisees).
The most important part is what is going on in our hearts!
Are we controlled by our flesh?
Or are we walking in the Spirit?
What is the context of I Peter?
vv.
19-20 is in the context of the master and slave.
If you sin and are beaten for it what credit is it?
But if you do good and suffer for it and you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
Would the slave have had much of an option in dealing biblically with unjust treatment from his master?
Did Joseph have much recourse available to him when his master took Joseph and put him into prison?
How did Joseph respond to his treatment?
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Did Joseph get angry?
complain?
grumble?
Did he experience sorrow?
confusion?
And yet because of Joseph’s right response to the circumstances how did God treat Joseph while he was in prison?
God, in His providence, gives us favor with those of His choosing
An additional principle.
“A good man, will do good wherever he is, and will be a blessing even in bods and banishment; for the Spirit of the Lord is not bound nor banished.”
— Matthew Henry
Imagine you are reading this story for the first time, how would you respond to one injustice after another?
Genuine outrage!
What is so marvelous about what God is doing in the story through the unjust treatment of Joseph?
Providentially superintending all these events and injustices
Using them to accomplish his gracious purposes
Not only for Joseph, but also for the ones who were the cause of Joseph’s injustice (his brothers)
And for their sovereignly elected descendants
Genesis 40
What is the most striking part of this verse to you? (Some time after this!) How long did God allow Joseph to remain in prison?
And how did Joseph respond to being “forgotten”?
Enter two new characters to the story in vv.
1-4- who are they?
Baker and Cup-bearer.
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Note the contrast in the attitude between Joseph and these two men.
What was the difference in attitude?
Why was Joseph able to respond in a positive manner towards his affliction?
“The genuineness of our faith affects our attitude toward affliction, and our attitude toward affliction affects our behavior in the face of affliction.
They key to our behavior is our attitude, and the key to our attitude is our faith.”
(Talbert, 75)
God, in His providence, gifts us to minister to others
God gifted Joseph to interpret the dreams of these two men.
Just when we think things are finally looking up for Joseph… God providentially put someone in prison who could aid him, God providentially gifted Joseph to minister to this person… and then what?
How did the butler repay Joseph’s kindness?
How well do we bear it when someone is ungrateful?
How well do we bear it when someone forgets us all together?
How long did the butler forget about Joseph, just never gave him another thought?
two full years
How will we respond if no one takes notice of all our labours, our sufferings, our gifts, even our help?
For years?
Yet, God gives us some important instruction through the life of Joseph!
God, in His providence, allows our suffering to be prolonged, our gifts and abilities to go unnoticed, our deeds to be forgotten, sometimes for a long time.
Think about the importance of timing again in the life of Joseph, and you will see again the hand of providence at work!
What if Joseph had been remembered immediately by the butler?
What would have been the natural inclination for Joseph to do as soon as he was released from prison?
GO HOME!
But, where did God want Joseph?
Why?
God was preparing and preserving all things, and especially Joseph, for a coming crisis!
God was working on a much larger and greater and long-term timeline than Joseph was.
When you feel forgotten, when you feel your sufferings go unnoticed, or your labors unappreciated, or your gifts unused, you must remember that your experience in not unique.
God’s timing is perfect.
Men may forget us, but God never forgets or fails to take notice.
And God always has a purpose!
Genesis 41
After two full years God is finally ready for Joseph to be released.
God did not keep Joseph in that cell a moment longer than was necessary!
God, in His providence, causes us to be remembered and recognized in His timing, and lifts us to minister to others.
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Let’s back up for a moment and look at Joseph’s life thus far through a wide lens.
How old was Joseph when the story began in chapter 37? 17 year old.
God gave Joseph some dreams and what did God communicate in that revelation?
What was kind of life was Joseph destined for?
Was 17 year old Joseph ready to be vaulted to such a high destiny all at once?
What was God’s plan for getting Joseph ready for rule?
What it a gradual series of steps up?
God’s plan for preparing Joseph was actually a gradual series of steps down!
Hated by his brothers
Nearly murdered but cast into a pit instead
Sold into slavery in a foreign land
Falsely accused and imprisoned
Forgotten two more years in prison
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