INTRO: A middle-aged business executive approached the front entrance of the office building in which he worked. A young feminist came up at the same moment, so he stepped back and held the door open for her to pass through. She looked at him and said with annoyance, “Don’t hold the door for me just because I’m a lady.”
To her surprise, he looked right back at her and replied, “I’m not, I’m holding the door because I’m a gentleman.”
Likewise, we as Christians must always act toward others on the basis of what we are in Christ Jesus, and not on the basis of what they may or my not be.
Today we’re going to look at an OT character who had sterling character (Joseph).
TEXT: Gen. 37:1 NIV
I. Joseph was of a different spirit
II. Joseph was marked out for great destiny
III. Joseph was an object of envy and hatred.
Pray
I. Joseph was of a different spirit – v. 2-4 READ
A. Joseph’s love of the truth and what was right made him different from his half brothers. Joseph saw things that disturbed him terribly and Joseph felt it was his obligation to tell his father.
1. Gave a bad report to his father about his brothers not doing the job the father had assigned.
a. Brothers were away from the paternal eye of the father and gave way to temptation. (cat away, the mice will play).
1. Like Felicia with the cat.
b. But they could not be hidden from the eyes of our Heavenly Father. Hebrews 4:13 – “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account.”
1. Laid bare – GK mindset is of a wrestler grabbing throat and winning or of a priest laying the victim so the throat is exposed for the sacrifice. Check for the defects.
a. Cannot overcome. He is powerful.
b. Checking for defects and blemishes
c. Must give an accounting to him personally.
2. Joseph understood this. (He was a man with a different spirit. He loved what was true and right.)
a. I remember listening on the news – little girl, her parents in because they were drug addicts and she loved them enough to get them help. (That’s the only way they could get help).
Note: Joseph taking care of sheep, train him to take care of needs of Eqyptians.
B. Joseph showed an unwillingness to get involved in other’s sins.
1. Joseph did not fall into the brother’s ways that got them into trouble. Brothers were neglecting the needs of the sheep. Probably worrying about their own needs over the flock’s needs.
-Even though he was away from his father’s eye (who might have never known what
was going on).
-Even though he might have felt the peer pressure from his brothers to do wrong.
2. Perfect example: Police brutality in LA where several policemen were beating this individual after a high speed chase. They continued to beat him after he was on the ground. Almost unconscious. Others were standing around watching and not intervening.
Thoughts could have had:
-unsure what to do. Didn’t want to get involved because were afraid what the other officers would think.
-Nobody would see this. Our word against theirs, and after all they will believe the police.
-wonder what Joseph would have done in that situation?
-I wonder what we would have done?
C. Joseph also had a spirit of ready obedience.
1. A faithful report he owed his father no matter how much he loved his half-brothers.
a. I believe Joseph cared enough to help bring some correction into their lives.
1. Mike being held accountable.
2. Paul confronting Peter in Galations, chapter 2, Peter is being swayed by some high standing religious men who have come to visit him from Jerusalem. Saying must be circumcised also besides the gospel (even though God showed Peter he accepted the Gentiles).
a. Paul rebukes Peter in front of them all (Paul held Peter accountable, Peter was wrong and later changed his stance.)
1. One reason why God brings us together to help us hold each other accountable.
-Like Joseph caring enough for his brothers to hold them accountable.
TS – Made him of different spirit.
II. Joseph was marked out for a great destiny, 5-11, READ
A. Two dreams.
1. Out in field binding sheaves of grain.
a. Harvest time – wheat, barley.
-Men’s job, use sickle and cut it down.
-Women’s job, gather together and tie in sheaves. (Gather a bunch of wheat stocks, barley and tie together and stand up so don’t rot and it is easy to transport).
2. Joseph’s dream tells brothers about his sheaves and yours were gathered around mine and bowing down.
- Basically means to them that he is going to rule over us.
a. Brother’s anger – doing women’s job, worse than that, we’re bowing down to Joseph, younger brother. Old individual has more rights and respect.
1. Brothers were angry (we all can understand).
-See Joseph as dad’s favorite.
-Spouting off about these dreams where we bow down to him.
2. Joseph’s second dream.
a. “Sun, moon and stars are going to come down and bow to me.”
1. Representing mother and father and sons are going to pay homage or respect.
b. I believe Joseph was not bragging but was young and was naïve and had a transparent character. (Told things that excited him when maybe he should not.)
-He did not mean any harm by it.
1. My example scaring pastor.
-like Joseph (naïve).
c. Father rebuked him.
1. Notice v. 11 – “But his father kept the matter in mind.” KJ observed the saying. He placed treasure up in his mind.
a. Father had an inkling that it was from God and great things were going to happen to Joseph. (God had big plans.)
B. God’s plans for Joseph.
1. Greatness – it took 23 years for it to come about, but it happened.
Note: Jump ahead to the end of Joseph’s life.
a. Joseph, after going through prison and false accusations, became second in command in Egypt, the most powerful nation at that time. Only one greater was Pharaoh.
- Imagine going from a convict to Vice President of the United States.
- Think that could happen today (possible).
- It happened because Joseph was faithful to God.
2. God’s ways are not man’s ways.
-Sold off into slavery. Servant in house, one of Pharaoh’s officers falsely accused, thrown into prison (no MBA program).
a. God’s training for him, help him rely on God.
-God’s more worried about our character than he is our position we hold in life.
-God’s purpose was to save his people (knew there was a famine and death). God saw the big picture and Joseph was the chosen instrument to save his people.
TS – As God’s chosen instrument, Joseph endured a lot of hardship.
III. Joseph was an object of envy and hatred. 12-26 (12-14 READ)
A. Because of his faithfulness, father trusted him.
1. Father told Joseph to “go and see if everything is OK and bring word to me.”
a. Joseph goes to Shechem to find brothers, but not there. And he asks someone if they know where they are. Told they traveled to Dothan.
1. Schechem to Dothan – 15 miles
-Joseph faithfulness, could turn around and said could not find them. (After all, he had already traveled – 40 miles [Hebron to Shechem], and maybe this individual was mistaken).
B. Brother’s plot 19-22
1. Let’s kill and throw him into a cistern and say ferocious animals devoured him.
*Anger and hate inside of them has taken over.
Thoughts they might have had:
-They see how the father loves him more.
-Gives him a special coat.
-Tells father “we weren’t being good shepherds” (father gets angry with us).
-Top it all off, he has these stupid dreams where he thinks he is royalty.
2. Anger has spilled over to other areas of their lives and helps them from thinking clearly.
All they see is themselves, self-pity, “look how bad I have had it”. All the negativeness.
C. Crime 23-33
1. Joseph arrives and gets beaten and thrown into a cistern.
2. Brothers sit down and eat (laughing and joking). Shows how hard they have become (exception: Reuben and Judah try to save him).
3. Sold into Midianite merchants for 20 shekels of silver.
4. The lie to father (robe covered with goat’s blood).
D. Effect 34-35 (READ)
1. Sin drags down (when you sin, you usually sin again trying to cover it up). Sold to slave traders, lie, and come up with scheme and probably had to continue the lie for 23 years.
2. Sin (usually hurt the ones you don’t mean to). The brothers were trying to get even at Joseph, but they hurt the one they loved most, their father.
*Just like when we sin, we hurt the one who loves us more than anyone on this earth (Jesus Christ).
-Just like it broke their father’s heart, it breaks the heart of our Father in heaven.
3. Their anger was OK (emotions we all have). [Jesus Christ got angry]. But it’s what they did with their anger that caused them to sin, and I’m sure they paid a heavy price for their moment of satisfaction (carrying the guilt around for 23 years).
IN CONCLUSION:
Joseph was a man of a different spirit with high moral character. He was obedient in the things he did.
1. Faced persecution, still faithful.
2. God used him to save a nation.
3. Joseph had sterling character (cream floats to the top).
-Maybe some of us would like to have some of Joseph’s character qualities or the close relationship he had with God?
1. Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior (hands up).
2. Accepted Jesus, but are having trouble walking close with god or don’t feel His presence much anymore. God home and read about Joseph’s life and pray to God to help open your eyes to help in your walk with God.
