Doing The Right Thing Series

DOING THE RIGHT THING

Genesis 39:1-23

S: Courage

Th: Profiles in Courage

Pr: WE MUST HAVE THE COURAGE TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

?: Inductive

KW: Segments

TS: We will breakdown the story of Joseph in Genesis 39 into six sections that will show how he handled adversity.

The _____ section is…

I. PROMOTION (1-6)

II. PROPOSITION (7-10)

III. PURITY (11-12)

IV. PERJURY (13-18)

V. PUNISHMENT (19-20)

VI. PROSPERITY (21-23)

Version: ESV

RMBC 06 July 03 AM

INTRODUCTION:

1. Have you ever had a really, really bad day?

Have you had a day when nothing seemed to go right?

If you think you have had a bad day, consider the testimony of this person as he attempts to explain his accident to the insurance company…

ILL Notebook: Accident (And You Think You Had A Bad Day!)

I am writing in response to your request for additional information. In block number three of the accident reporting form, I put "poor planning" as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should explain more and I trust that the following details are sufficient:

I am a bricklayer by trade. On the day of the accident, I was working alone on the roof of a new six-story building. When I completed my work, I discovered that I had about 500 pounds of bricks left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley, which fortunately was attached to the side of the building at the sixth floor.

Securing the rope at the ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the barrel out and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly to insure a slow descent of the 500 pounds of bricks. You will note in block number 11 of the accident reporting form that I weigh 175 pounds. Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate up the side of the building.

In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming down. This explains the fractured skull and broken collarbone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately, by this time I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope in spite of my pain.

At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground - and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel now weighed approximately 50 pounds. I refer you again to my weight in block number 11. As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the building.

In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles and lacerations of my legs and lower body. The encounter with the barrel, slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell onto the pile of bricks and fortunately, only three vertebrae were cracked. I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the bricks in pain, unable to move, and watching the barrel six stories above - I again lost my presence of mind.

I let go of the rope!

Today, we are going to give consideration to someone that kept having bad days.

What makes this person so interesting is that in the midst of these difficult situations, he shows tremendous courage.

His name is Joseph.

When we first come across Joseph, we note that he is the favorite son of Jacob.

He is such a favorite that Jacob buys him a very expensive colored coat that makes the other brothers crazy.

You see…

2. Joseph had a sibling problem.

They were all very jealous that Joseph had received such a beautiful coat.

But perhaps what made it worse were the dreams that Joseph kept having.

These dreams were prophecies of greatness and places of leadership, even over his brothers.

Needless to say, the brothers did not receive the reports about these dreams so well.

Day by day, this favored-son status gnawed at them and their jealousy turned into hatred.

One day, Joseph was sent by his father on a mission to his brothers.

Seeing an opportunity to be rid of this annoyance, they took Joseph prisoner.

They had had enough, and they cast him into a pit to die.

Reuben, the eldest, interceded for a change of plans.

Instead of leaving Joseph to die, they agree to sell him to some Ishmaelites, who then will take him to Egypt.