Grace

Gen 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, and he made a richly ornamented robe for him.

Joseph multiplied the hatred by telling his dreams and in those dreams he shared that his parents and his brothers would bow to him.(Gen 37:5-11).

Out of jealously and hatred the brothers plotted to kill him

Joseph is thrown into a pit and eventually he is sold as a slave to the Ishmaelites who take Joseph to Egypt.(Gen. 37:19-28).

Midianites sell him to Potiphar one of Pharaoh's officials.(Gen 37:36)

Potiphar put him in charge of his household. (Gen. 39:4).

Potiphars wife desires to go to bed with Joseph, but Joseph refuses. She is angered over the rejection and claims

Joseph tried to rape her, once Potiphar is told Joseph is cast into prison. (Gen. 39:7-20)

While Joseph is in prison he revealed the interpretation of the two dreams of the two prisoners. One would be restored to cup-bearer the other head removed. (Gen 40:5-23)

The Pharoah had dreams and no one could interpret Joseph is able to interpret the dreams. (Gen 41:1-37).

Joseph is promoted to authority next to Pharaoh at 30 years old. (Gen 41:37-46).

The dream Joseph interpreted for Pharaoh was there would be seven years of abundance followed by seven years

of drought. (Gen 41:9-31).

The Famine not only affected Egypt, but the surrounding regions as well. In Canaan, Where Jacob and his clan struggled to stay alive because of the famine.

The only place there is food is in Egypt if the clan is to survive they must go to Egypt to get grain. (Gen. 42:1-5).

The brothers come before Joseph, but they do not recognize him

.Genesis 42: 6 So when Joseph's brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground...

8Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.

Once the brothers have recognized who Joseph is, they are in fear that he might take revenge on them for what they did to him.

Genesis 45:3 Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.

1. What is it that Joseph allows to rule his life? I think it is Grace.

Joseph could have said "take that".

Joseph could have brought revenge because of the multiple hurts his brothers put in his life.

Remember they hated him

They were jealous of him because of the coat of many colors. Jacob loved Joseph more that his other sons.

They really wanted to kill him

They sold him into slavery

2. Joseph allows Grace to rule his life he allows God to be the Divine Influence.

Gen 50:19But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

A. Grace is lived out by offering compassion to the ruthless

Gen 45:4Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.

B. Grace is lived out by having pity on those who have or had no pity.

Gen 45: 2And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh's household heard about it.

3Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?"

C. Grace is lived out by choosing to offer forgiveness over retribution

Gen. 45:5And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.

D. Grace is lived out by refusing to let anger dictate ones actions

Joseph said, "God has made me forget all my trouble"... God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering." (Gen 41:51-52).

4. Let grace be the rule of your life as it was Jesus’.

John 3:16 16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

5. Let grace be lived out: By Doing Good

Matthew 4:23Jesus went throughout Galilee, preaching the good news

Matt 6:22 Jesus said, If your eyes be good your whole body is full of life

Matt 12:35The Good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him

, "He is a good man."

Acts 9:36 DorcasB), who was always doing good and helping the poor.