Hands for Serving - Joseph

Introduction: Tomorrow is memorial day and we join with people around the country and world who remember those who have given their lives to protect our nation and its freedoms. We do owe a lot to their sacrifice, and it is appropriate to remember them this weekend.

Today in our sermon, we are are talking about a “Mark” of true discipleship: Hands for Serving. And often when it comes to thinking about examples of a selfless servant who is ready to give their life for others, the American military is often the first thing we think about.

Let’s take a minute to thank God for those people who have given their lives to protect the freedom we enjoy today.

Pray.

We are continuing our sermon series on Authentic Character and today we’ll be looking at Joseph, the son of Jacob had hands for serving.

Serving is something that everyone knows they are supposed to do, but few people are willing to serve in the way that God has called them to. Serving means that we are willing to give up our own needs and wants in favor of doing what God wants us to do. It means putting the needs of others before ourselves. It means that regardless of what is going on around us, we serve well.

You might wonder what that looks like. Today we look to a man who had hands for serving.

Transition to the Text: turn with me in your Bibles to Genesis 37:1. The story of Joseph is one of the longest in all of the Bible. It encompasses 12 chapters. Because of this we can’t read all of it straight through (but it’s worth it if you want to do that this week). So we’ll give an overview of Joseph’s life hitting the high points. But all that to say, the summary of Joseph’s life was the idea that he had a strong devotion and dependence on God and no matter where he found himself, he served as though it were for God. Joseph is also one of only 2 major characters in the Bible of which no sin is mentioned (Daniel being the other). That’s not to say that he was sinless, but Moses just didn’t record any. And considering his circumstances, this is admirable.

Introduce: From Joseph we learn to:

Authentic Principle: Serve Regardless of Your Circumstances.

1. Joseph’s story shows that greatness is in service. (Genesis 37:1-11)

Explanation: Joseph was the favorite son of a man named Jacob. If you know the story, Jacob had 2 wives: Rachel and Leah, sisters. Rachel was loved but Leah was not. Leah already had many children, but Rachel was unable to have children until Joseph was born. Joseph was the child of Jacob’s old age. So he favored him Joseph’s brother’s hated him for it. He showered his favoritism on him by giving him a coat of many colors.

And then one day Joseph had a dream and then another.

Genesis 37:5–11 ESV

5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: 7 Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. 9 Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” 11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

Joseph dreamed that he would one be so great that his brothers would come and bow down to him. Now the fact that Joseph dreamed the dream twice is significant. Later in his life, when Joseph is standing before pharoah to interpret his dreams, who also dreamed a dream twice, he states

Genesis 41:32 ESV

32 And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.

It would not be quick for Joseph. It would be close to twenty years and it wasn’t going to be what many would expect. His brothers would come and bow down to him, but not so that he could rule over them, but so that he could serve them. And save them from a famine.

Joseph was always good at serving. To start, he served his father even though, in so doing, his brothers hated him for it. When they sold him into slavery, he was sold to a man named Potiphar. Joseph didn’t get lost in sorrow, but got busy serving is new master. And God blessed Joseph’s service and Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his whole household.

But then Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, but he wasn’t having it. In Genesis 39:9, Joseph acknowledges that to give in to her would be to sin against God. All that has happened so far and Joseph knows God is still in control.

But Potiphar’s wife falsely accuses Joseph and Potiphar has Joseph thrown into prison. Not that any prison is nice, but this is a prison reserved for people that Pharoah doesn’t like. How would Joseph respond?

Genesis 39:21–23 ESV

21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.

Joseph served the jailer and he served the prisoners. He had a pastoral concern for them, specifically we are told about how her served a cupbearer and a baker who had dreams.

Genesis 40:6–7 ESV

6 When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, “Why are your faces downcast today?”

The jailer gave Joseph a licence to be cruel to other prisoners. But he wasn’t. Joseph was kind. Imagine being in a situation where you might feel every right to be upset about your circumstances, yet you show concern to others.

Be like Joseph.

Illustration: I think that many of us want to be in charge and we have a certain view of what being in charge looks like. We get to tell people what to do. We get to make the decisions and we get to require that people treat us with a level of respect commensurate with our position and title. The Bible has a different picture of authority. And Joseph is an example of what Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 20:25-28

Matthew 20:25–28 ESV

25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Application: Not everyone is called to lead or be in charge and I think we see that in how some of those people use their power and authority. Do you lord it over people and make sure everyone knows who’s in charge or do you serve others?

Whatever circumstances you find yourself in, serve others. Have concern for their needs.

The greatness you seek comes not from position or title, but from serving others.

2. Joseph’s story shows that God’s plan for us may involve suffering. (Genesis 37:12-40:23)

Explanation: As we have gone through Joseph’s story, it started with God revealing to Joseph from an early age His plan for his life. At some point in Joseph’s life, his brothers would come and bow down before him.

Even when we look at those dreams, the details are ambiguous. What would the circumstances be? Would they bow down in homage? Or in fear? Would this be retribution for the way in which they had treated Joseph? How would Joseph respond? Would he welcome them and treat them kindly? Or would he punish them. Or perhaps most importantly to Joseph how soon would this be fulfilled?

Many of us believe or hope that God has a bigger plan for our lives. Joseph knew that God had a bigger plan for his life.

But what many of us (Joseph included) may not realize is that the plan almost always includes suffering.

Illustration: Around this time of year, graduations are taking place. And in Christian circles we will hear Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Now some of you know that I have long said that this passage should not be used to talk about graduations, because it’s not referring to God’s plans for individuals, but for the nation of Israel as a whole as it related to the coming Messiah. When Jeremiah wrote, the fall of Jerusalem was imminent…suffering was imminent. 70 years were promised as judgement on the people of Israel. All of those who were taken into captivity would die there and would never see their homeland again. But in spite of the judgement, God will preserve the nation by bringing some of their children back to the land, and continue the plans which move towards the coming of the Messiah.

But earlier before Jeremiah 29:11 is the command of what the people are to do in the midst of their circumstances.

Jeremiah 29:4–7 ESV

4 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

Do you see it? In the midst of your circumstances, serve even your enemies well.

Application: I’m not as averse to using Jeremiah 29:11 to give encouragement to recent graduates so long as we tell the whole story. God has plans, but those plans may include accounting for the suffering, disappointment, discouragement, abuse, lies, and even violence that is thrown at you by the world. That’s not to say that God is to blame. But God can and will use our circumstances to mold us into people useful for his purpose. So in every circumstance, ask how might God be using this circumstance to build me up for later usefulness?

3. Joseph’s story shows that serving well, regardless of circumstances, leads more usefulness to God (Genesis 41:1-50:21)

Explanation: Everything that Joseph went through in his life prepared him for what God was planning to do through him.

Not just in his leadership. Sure, serving his father and being hated by his brothers could certainly have prepared him for the struggle of leading a nation’s famine preparation response. Certainly his demonstrated ability to administrate the affairs of a slave master and a jailer uniquely prepared him for bigger and bigger roles.

As Jesus told said in the parable of the talents: Luke 16:10. If you are faithful with a little responsibility, you will be given more.

But Joseph’s circumstances prepared him for something more, perhaps even greater than his administrative gifting. Joseph was preparing to be compassionate.

For one Joseph learned to see that everything happening in his life was happening for a reason. And knowing that changed everything.

Never once did Joseph ask, “Why God? Why me?” He just got busy serving as though everything he did was for God (because it was). And through that Joseph could identify with people even less fortunate than him, even if it didn’t seem like it.

Personally, I think it took years to prepare Joseph for the moment that His dreams came true, and his brothers came and bowed down before him.

Could you imagine if that had happened only a few years after Joseph’s brother had sold him as a slave? Would he have had the same perspective? I’m going to go out on a limb and say not a chance.

Joseph’s circumstances humbled him enough to show that God was in control of it all. And when finally, Joseph looked out and saw that his brother were in fact bowing down before him, he knew that it wasn’t God making this happen in spite of his circumstances, but it was God making this happen through his circumstances.

And Joseph saved his family, even those who sold him as a slave.

Now, Joseph does teach his brothers a lesson that you can read about in the whole story leading up to Genesis 45. But when Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers, look at the perspective that he has:

Genesis 45:8–11 ESV

8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. 10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’

Even now, Joseph knows that his role is to serve and provide for his family.

A few years later, after Jacob dies in the land of Egypt, Joseph’s brothers fearing that perhaps Joseph was waiting until after his father died to enact his vengeance come to him and again bow down before him saying

Genesis 50:18 ESV

18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.”

And I think the most beautiful part of this story is how Joseph responds:

Genesis 50:19–21 ESV

19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

His brothers are willing to be his servants, but Joseph says, no, I will serve you.

Illustration: They say that hindsight is 20/20 and that we can’t often see what God is doing in our circumstances until after we have gone through it. And once we do, we look back over the near misses, almost was-es, the broken roads, the mountains and the valleys. Sometimes we are kicking and screaming. Other times we are along for the ride. But in every circumstance, God is at work. But what is our attitude?

Application: In whatever circumstances you find yourself, you should be using those circumstances to serve others…even your enemies. Any influence you gain should never be used to get even or seek revenge.

Stay humble, Love God, serve others.

Response: Are you serving well regardless of your circumstances?

Summation:

Authentic Principle: SERVE Regardless of Your CIRCUMSTANCES.

1. Joseph’s story shows that there is GREATNESS in SERVICE. (Genesis 37:1-11)

2. Joseph’s story shows that God’s PLAN for us may involve SUFFERING. (Genesis 37:12-40:23)

3. Joseph’s story shows that SERVING well, regardless of circumstances, prepares us for USEFULNESS. (Genesis 41:1-50:21)

Closing Illustration: Throughout the OT, God was also using the stories of his people to prepare the world for the coming of the Messiah. How can you describe Jesus? How can you possibly even give justice to who Jesus would be?

God gave little pieces of the character of Jesus, in the lives of others. The word for this is “types.” Each person is a type of the messiah who is to come.

Abraham gave us the picture of the father of many nations, not just the Jewish people. Moses gave us the picture of national teacher and law giver. Samuel gave the picture of a true prophet. David gave us the picture of a righteous king. Solomon a wise king. Notice that none of these people are perfect as only Jesus would be perfect.

But perhaps no one’s life is more closely connected to Jesus than Joseph.

A man who loses his position as the esteemed son of his loving father. He is humbled to the point of taking the position and image of a slave. And against all odds and circumstances, he is elevated to a position of such great authority that he is able to save his whole family. And in the midst of all his circumstances, he always keeps the humility of a servant who serves no matter the circumstances.

Likewise Jesus, being one with the Father and Spirit gives up his position to come to the earth, being born of a virgin, lived a perfect life. And in the midst of persecution, derision, slander, threats of violence, and ultimately the cross, Jesus never lost sight of his assignment:

Mark 10:45 ESV

45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Joseph was used by God to rescue, from the famine, the nation that would ultimately lead to the coming of Jesus.

Jesus was used by God to his people from their greatest need, their own sin and give them a future and hope in heaven.

And in the same way that Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him, we must submit ourselves to Jesus and what he did for us.

May we acknowledge that our sins will destroy us and may we repent and turn to Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins at the cross and may we learn from his example that no matter our circumstances we must have hands for serving.

Let’s pray.

Week 40 of 2021-2022 Sermon Series: Authentic Character: Hands for Serving - Joseph

Authentic Principle: SERVE Regardless of Your CIRCUMSTANCES.

1. Joseph’s story shows that there is GREATNESS in SERVICE. (Genesis 37:1-11)

2. Joseph’s story shows that God’s PLAN for us may involve SUFFERING. (Genesis 37:12-40:23)

3. Joseph’s story shows that SERVING well, regardless of circumstances, prepares us for USEFULNESS. (Genesis 41:1-50:21)

Response: Are you SERVING well regardless of your circumstances?

Opening Discussion: How does it feel that God’s plan for your life may involve suffering? How do you respond to suffering in your life?

Sermon:

What caused the animosity that Joseph’s brothers had towards him?

How would you describe Joseph’s behavior towards his brothers?

How does Joseph respond to being sold into slavery? How does Josephy respond to being falsely accused and thrown into prison?

Why do you think Joseph decides to serve well in the midst of bad circumstances?

Why is Joseph’s continued devotion to God significant in light of his ongoing circumstances?

After all is said and done, how does Joseph interpret the suffering that has taken place in his life to that point?

Why do Joseph’s brothers continue to fear his retaliation even after he claims to have forgiven them?

Application:

How do you typically respond to suffering in your life?

Why is it so important that rather than asking, “why me?” we ask “how is God at work?” How might this change our perspective on suffering?

What can we learn from Joseph’s to serve as though he’s serving God?

Are you going through anything that might benefit from a shift in perspective?

How can you cultivate hands for serving in the midst of any circumstances?