Trusted: Lessons from the Life of Joseph
Week 4: “Trusted with a Country”
Genesis 40-41
Joseph’s life has been an interesting journey, hasn’t it? In it we have seen a living picture of the process that takes place in the life of the one who desires to be used by God in an increasingly greater fashion. Specifically in Joseph’s case, God had sovereignly ordained Joseph to be one of the “remnant rescuers.” But for that to happen, he had to prepare Joseph in the right way and place Joseph in the right place. And that’s what Genesis 37-50 is all about – the story of Joseph! From understanding the vision about his family to overseeing another’s estate to handling a prison to running a country, Joseph’s life is an example of the New Testament principle we find in Luke 16:10, where it says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.”
Of course, that journey was no walk in the park. Instead, we see that God’s providential preparation and placement of Joseph was attacked by the enemy, and the Evil One used many things to try and sidetrack Joseph. Family dysfunction, brotherly betrayal, false accusations, and unjust jail time were just a few of the landmines that exploded along Joseph’s journey. Allow me to illustrate Joseph’s journey up to this point in this simple timeline/diagram of his life:
Make no mistake, my friend – the passion to be one of the Lord’s “most trusted” will always be welcomed by God and warred against by Satan. We’ve seen it in the life of Joseph, and it is clear in other scriptural examples as well (Paul and Peter to name just two). But God is faithful! And all along the way, God “works all things together” for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28-29).
So where is he now? What will happen next? What is just around the corner in this Old Testament saga? Let’s take our Bibles and locate Genesis 39 once again and let’s discover how Joseph moved along in his journey towards greater trust in God and by God.
We find him now locked up unjustly, jailed for a crime he didn’t commit. Genesis 39:20 and 40:3-4 give us a little more color about the situation:
“Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined … Pharaoh was angry with his two officials … and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined.”
And the next part of 40:4 indicates they were all three there for a long time! Seems like an unfortunate turn of events, doesn’t it? We might look at these circumstances and consider Joseph forsaken and forgotten by his team. But not Joseph!
On the contrary! The long text in chapters 40 and 41, which covers at least a seven year period, indicates Joseph saw these obstacles as opportunities to be faithful with his talents. Let me show you what I mean by having you follow me through the verses in these chapters, noticing all the times Joseph promptly used the gift God gave him when he was a boy and how he gladly and willing served others with it – all the while being extremely quick to give God all the glory.
Notice how Genesis 40:4 -41:40 recounts Joseph being faithful with his gift/talent of interpretation:
• Genesis 40:8 “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”
• Genesis 40:12 “This is what it means,” Joseph said.
• Genesis 40:18 “This is what it means.”
• Genesis 41:12 “We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us.”
• Genesis 41:15 “But I have heard it said of you … you can interpret it.”
• Genesis 41:16 “I cannot do it … But God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”
• Genesis 41:25 “Then Joseph said to Pharaoh … God will do it soon.” (v. 32)
• Genesis 41:40 “You shall be in charge of my palace.”
Yes, this “gifting” – or talent – that Joseph was given by the Lord (i.e., to interpret dreams regarding the future) was something he did consistently regardless of locale or morale. And it was this very faithfulness to the talents that God had entrusted to him that paved the way for his rise to being Vice President in Egypt!
Furthermore, this very gift is what was used later to help an entire country, for when Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams, he was able to take the necessary measures to save the people. He administrated a rescue operation over a seven-year period, and what a successful job he did!
Look at how Genesis 41:41-57 recounts Joseph being faithful with his gift/talent of administration.
• Gen. 41:46 “Joseph traveled throughout Egypt …”
• Gen. 41:48 “Joseph collected all the food …stored it in the cities”
• Gen. 41:56 “Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians …”
Understand something – I’m not necessarily equating Joseph’s gifts here in the Old Testament with the New Testament idea of spiritual gifts; the text here in Genesis doesn’t equate them that way. So that would be an unwarranted, hermaneutical leap. I do, however, find biblical grounds for this fact: God had given Joseph a talent – call it a gift or enablement – and that was to interpret dreams. And it’s Joseph’s faithfulness to that talent – his willingness to use what God had entrusted to him – that catches my attention in these two chapters and teaches me some things about God and what he honors and expects: faithfulness.
As Joseph was faithful with his talents, God entrusted him with more opportunities to use those very talents. This principle is proven true over and over again in Joseph’s life – being trustworthy in the little things open the door of responsibility and opportunity for the larger things.
So here is our chart again, and today I want to draw your attention to the last part as a way to understand an important application for today: Faithfulness leads to fruitfulness.
Believe it or not, this is the very same concept explained in the New Testament – how we faithfully use what we have been given is what God looks at when determining if he is going to trust us with greater things. Notice Matthew 25:14-30, especially verse 23:
“His master replied, ’Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”
Understand something about this corollary passage in Matthew. The primary interpretation is about the kingdom of God, and what Christ is teaching is that where there is no growth, there has been no seed; if there is no return, there has been investment.
But because this parable tells us some important things about God and his character, as well as some things about the nature of God’s kingdom, we can make a secondary application as well: God expects us to use what he has invested in us, being faithful to make the most of it. And this holds true when it comes to the talents and gifts God has given us – he fully expects us to use them faithfully and consistent, regardless of our situation, location, or association.
It is becoming clear that God really thinks highly of faithfulness, doesn’t he? No doubt! Let me drive the priority of this trait home even more with what Paul said was a non-negotiable quality for a steward or manager – faithfulness. Check this verse out with me:
“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2).
And when he recounted his call to ministry, Paul said it was God who counted him faithful – or dependable – and put him into the ministry. Look at this verse:
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service” (1 Timothy 1:12).
Truly, God highly esteems faithfulness! As Charles Spurgeon so aptly said, “The repetition of small efforts will accomplish more than the occasional use of great talents.”
APPLICATION: Joseph’s story has some practical applications I’d like to make, and they all start with the phrase “Be willing to be …” Here’s the first application.
1. Be willing to be UNCOMFORTABLE with your talents!
God needed Joseph in the prison, and the road there was unpleasant. But it was still a place of opportunity, even amidst the discomfort. In fact, discomfort may be an understatement.
Here’s why. The word “confined” in Genesis 40:3 means “to tie, harness, or bind with cords.” It’s not speaking of just a crowded or claustrophobic place. Joseph was actually in chains! In fact, Psalm 105:16-19 really spells out in rather good detail Joseph’s prison condition:
“He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food; and he sent a man before them—Joseph, sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons . . .”
Yet, when it came time to serve others by using his God-given gifts, he didn’t let his environment stop him. He was faithful with his talents even when it was uncomfortable.
I imagine some of you are thinking you served in this way – while you were “confined” – when you filled in for the Jr. High Boys small group last month. Or that you can relate to Joseph because you were helping with the four-year olds last week – all 17 of them! While none of us have probably ever had to serve in conditions like Joseph was enduring, you do know what it is like to suddenly find yourself serving in places that are uncomfortable.
A few weeks ago my wife knew exactly what this felt like! She was asked to help fill a slot on the tech team by running the computer during the 8:30 service, and, well, things just weren’t going well. [explain] She no doubt felt like she was in prison with the whole world gawking at her. You seem, the limelight and center stage is a place of major discomfort for my wife. But guess what? She was needed, and she served.
I think about other places of “discomfort” in our church, places where it just isn’t as glamorous to serve: Sunny View Nursing Home, our Set Up and Tear Down team, our Clean Up team, and so forth. Truth is, any of the teams on here (show yellow card with list of ministry teams printed) could be your “prison” if all you are looking to do is sit in your comfort zone and really not serve anyone. But no one grows until they are stretched. And that usually happens in places of discomfort. A challenging place. A place that pulls us towards dependence upon God. You see, God will put you where he needs you the most! Where does he need you and your gifts/talents? My strong suggestion? Pick a team and get on it – start serving! After all, serving is like going to the dentist – It’s only uncomfortable at the beginning!
There’s a second application I want to make:
2. Be willing to be UNPOPULAR with your talents!
It’s quite humorous that when the baker heard the favorable interpretation Joseph gave the cupbearer, Scripture says he wanted to know what his dream meant (40:16). No doubt thinking he was in line for some good news as well, he was probably all smiles as he relayed his dream to Joseph (40:16-17). But guess what? The baker’s dream didn’t have the fairy-tale ending that the cupbearer’s dream had. Uh-oh! Would Joseph soften the blow? Change the story? What would he do now that his gift was not going to be as popular?
Good news – the forecast didn’t shape Joseph’s faithfulness. Joseph was still committed to the truth and committed to using his talents and gifts, even when what he said probably wasn’t well received.
Let’s be honest – it’s easy to serve when everyone’s your friend. When what you have to say is easy to speak, well, everyone wants to talk. But I’ve noticed that there is often a strange quiet when what has to be voiced isn’t in line with the mob! That’s unfortunate, to say the least.
Paul knew how this felt, and that’s why he asked the Galatians in his letter to them (4:16), “Have I now become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” Paul was asking them rhetorically, “Am I suddenly unfriendly and unwanted just because what I say is unpopular?” The obvious should be “No!” But the practical truth was, at least in the province of Galatia, apparently so!
I think these kinds of experiences are what led Paul to write, in his very personal letter to Timothy, (2 Timothy 4:2-3), “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season. For the time will come…” Do you see that? He instructed Timothy to remain consistent and faithful in his preaching of the Word, for a time would come when they would not want to hear what he had to say. But keep on preaching it, bro! That’s what the true and faithful heralders do!
Those who really understand true faithfulness know that we can’t just put our talents “on hold” when the crowd suddenly turns cold. Or when the favor of the culture isn’t in our corner. Or when the applause stops. Not at all! It is often during times of unpopularity that our voices and actions are needed the most.
Which is exactly why we are engaging in a very unpopular series this summer through Galatians on the exclusivity of the Gospel – because it is exactly what our community needs to hear right now!
[EXPLAIN UPCOMING SUMMER SERIES ON THE GOSPEL AND
WARREN SMITH’S WEEKEND WITH US…TESTIMONY, Q & A]
And we won’t stop there! Next fall (2008) we have booked Ergun Caner, a former Muslim but now freed believer, trusted apologist, and President of Liberty Seminary, to kick off our series in Hebrews with his testimony and a logical, reasonable explanation of why Christianity is far better than every other religion or belief system on the planet.
Will the Mormons in town like it? I doubt it. Will the Roman Catholics down the street applaud us? I don’t think so. Will the liberal mainlines enjoy it? Probably not. But it doesn’t matter, because the truth of the Gospel demands that we boldly proclaim God’s perspective. Yes, we’ll do it kindly and courteously; it is not our desire to be offensive. But if it happens, we’re not planning on cancelling church on unplugging the sound system. We’ll continue to speak and serve, even when it is unpopular.
And so should you! Don’t quit just because someone disagreed. Don’t stop simply because someone was upset. Don’t run just because another person got their feathers ruffled. Hang in there and keep serving! True faithfulness means using our talents even when it is unpopular.
In fact, I have discovered that in all relationships and environments, ridicule precedes respect. Too many of us want the glory of respect, but we don’t want to pay the price of ridicule. Guess what? You can’t have glory road without ridicule swamp.
Just as Joseph endured the ridicule and mockery even while he continued to serve faithfully with his gift, only to find later that he was well-respected by his peers, so we too should continue to be faithful with our talents and gifts, knowing that God honors those who hear Him above all others. His approval matters most, and when he smiles, the crowd fades, doesn’t it?
Let me draw your attention to one last application:
3. Be willing to be UNSELFISH with your talents!
Initially, God used Joseph to help two people in chapters 39 and 40 (the cupbearer and Pharaoh). But eventually, God used Joseph to help literally millions of people – an entire nation – in chapter 41. After that, he used Joseph to save about 66 Hebrews! Think about it – because Joseph was faithful with a simple gift – interpreting dreams – God used him to save the lives of many!
And aren’t you thankful Joseph didn’t try and get back at the Egyptians? If it were me, I may have tried to even the score with Potpihar, or make sure the cupbearer didn’t get his allotment for a few months. But not Joseph! He was unselfish in his actions and saw this opportunity as his doorway of sacrifice – to do what he could for others! Essentially, his reliability was the Egyptian’s rescue!
Did you know that’s why God gives gifts to us – to help others? Notice how Peter put this in his first epistle:
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10).
Being faithful with our talents and gifts means we are willing to see beyond ourselves in their execution; it means we know that the effect of our serving is always outward. It is living out Philippians 2:3-4 and seeing “other’s needs as more important than our own.”
This is what Matt Cierzan will do this summer here at FFC as our Summer Intern. Matt, would you stand? Matt has been at Moody, and he is now home for the summer, where he will spend a couple days each week at the office working with our staff, especially in the areas of youth and music. Sure, he could take a break from school, work his job and stash some cash, then head on back to Chicago in the fall with a pocketful of pennies and a very well rested body. But instead he’s going to invest in us – many of you – and serve the Lord and FFC in a selfless way.
Truth is, we can all serve this way without being a summer intern. How? By giving up our time, resources, ideas, possessions, and rights. For instance …
• Why not buy an extra unit of food for a needy family through Angel Food?
• Why not sponsor a teen to go to camp?
• Why not give an hour a week/month to help welcome newcomers as a greeter?
• Why not deliver a newborn basket to a family in our community?
• Why not work with a small group of kids for an hour a week in Kid Central?
And so on!
Some say, “But it cuts into my schedule and finances!” Of course it does! And that’s why an unselfish spirit is so critical for those who serve. Because our target is external, we need to motivated by God internally. When that is the mode of operation, using our talents faithfully and unselfishly becomes our lifestyle, not just our “lipstyle.”
When I think about Joseph’s tireless faithfulness to use his talents and gifts regardless of locale and morale, I’m reminded of England’s coal workers during World War II, men who were the real guts behind the glory of Churchill’s campaign. In Waking from the American Dream, Don McCullough describes the scene this way:
“During World War II, England needed to increase its production of coal. Winston Churchill called together labor leaders to enlist their support. At the end of his presentation he asked them to picture in their minds a parade which he knew would be held in Piccadilly Circus after the war. First, he said, would come the sailors who had kept the vital sea lanes open. Then would come the soldiers who had come home from Dunkirk and then gone on to defeat Rommel in Africa. Then would come the pilots who had driven the Luftwaffe from the sky.
"Last of all, he said, would come a long line of sweat-stained, soot-streaked men in miner’s caps. Someone would cry from the crowd, ‘And where were you during the critical days of our struggle?’ And from ten thousand throats would come the answer, ‘We were deep in the earth with our faces to the coal.’"
You know what makes a church an army? When its enlistees serve like those coal miners – with a willingness to be uncomfortable, unpopular, and unselfish. When it’s soldiers have the faithful spirit of Joseph, as well as the meek spirit of Jesus! That’s right – Jesus lived out all three of these elements as well. And we shouldn’t be surprised, for Joseph is the Old Testament type of Jesus. Yes, our Savior was faithful with his talents and gifts, willing to be uncomfortable, unpopular, and unselfish. And His greatest gift? Himself as the atonement for our sins! And his death for us on the cross was all three of these, wasn’t it? Uncomfortable for sure! Unpopular no doubt! And unselfish without question!
My exhortation to you this morning is to serve faithfully this week, just like Joseph and just like Jesus. May our Old Testament example and our New Testament Savior be the lifestyles we emulate as we continue to move towards a greater trust in and by God. For if we ever desire to move from the prison to the palace – from handling the jail to running the country – God wants to know first and foremost if we are faithful. And as he sees our faithfulness, he’ll increase our fruitfulness.
