WHAT DOES GOD HAVE IN STORE FOR YOU (PART 2)
Genesis 37:1-33(for sake of time 23-33)
Intro: If you were within the hearing of part 1 of this message I told you I felt that the more I read the Bible the more I feel like God has got something good in store for those who would be saved, stay saved and walk in the faith. I read the same scriptures that I read tonight and gave you 5 points on the life of Joseph and the direction God had chosen for him.
1. Despised from the beginning (The Person)
2. Divine Dreamer (The Persuasion)
3. Deemed Dead (The Pit)
4. Divine Favor (The Palace)
5. Divine Interpreter (The Prison)
6. Desired Interpreter ( The Prophecy)
7. Destined Deliverer (The Provision)
That is where I want to pick up on the continuation of this message. If you are following along we will take back up in Chapter 39. Here we find Joseph, on the road to fulfilling the Will of God, is met with some trouble. Let’s take a look and see how he deals with it and the repercussions it caused.
I. JOSEPH PROTECTED HIS PURITY (THE PALACE)
A. Remember Joseph was 17 years old when he was sold by his brothers so at this time it is reasonable to believe he is still a teenager.
B. He is in Potiphar’s house and he is made overseer over all that Potiphar had because of his trustworthiness
C. But as the devil usually does he reared his head in the form of Potiphar’s wife
D. (Genesis 39:7) And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me
E. (Genesis 39:8) But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand
F. (Genesis 39:10) And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day; that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her
G. Not only was Joseph protecting his sexual purity he was protecting the purity of his master’s house
H. But the devil is relentless and takes advantage of our mistakes
I. (Genesis 39:11) And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house within
J. (Genesis 39:12) And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out
K. Of course you know the rest of the story of how Potiphar’s wife lied on Joseph causing him to be thrown into prison
L. But it doesn’t end there
M. (Genesis 39:21) But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison
N. Joseph may not have been living anymore in the upscale servants quarters he was use to
O. But he kept his purity, his integrity and most of all the Lord was still with him and even in his worst estate Joseph still found favor with the his master.
II. JOSEPH WAS A DIVINE INTERPRETER (THE PRISON)
A. Not only was Joseph a divine dreamer but God had blessed him with the ability to interpret dreams
B. In Part 1 of this message I spoke on God giving people revelation or premonitions through dreams
C. Here is evidence of that
D. (Genesis 40:1) And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and the baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt
E. Baker and butler are in prison and they were under the charge of Joseph and both of them had dreams that disturbed them enough their entire countenance was sad
F. All this time God was preparing Joseph for something that he had in store for him
G. This would be a test and display of wisdom on Joseph’s part.
H. Butlers Dream: A vine with three branches. It budded and the blossoms shot forth and the clusters brought forth ripe grapes. Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup and gave the cup to Pharaoh.
I. Joseph interpreted the dream telling the butler that pharaoh would restore him to his position as butler.
J. Joseph had only one request of the butler when he got out that he would remember him and make mention of him to the Pharaoh
K. Bakers Dream: Three white baskets on my head. The uppermost basket was all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head
L. Joseph interpreted the dream telling him the three baskets are three days
M. In three days Pharaoh will lift up his head and shall hang thee on a tree and the birds shall eat thy flesh off thee
N. And these things came to pass but the butler forgot Joseph (Genesis 40:23)
O. Have you ever helped someone or comforted someone only for it to be forgotten
III. JOSEPH WAS A DESIRED INTERPRETER (THE PROPHECY)
A. As we begin to look at Genesis Chapter 41 you can begin to see the prophecy that God had given Joseph and that Joseph had tried to give his brothers and father begin to unfold
B. The butler had been restored and the baker had been hanged but Joseph was still down in the prison
C. But there came a time when God began to work his will for Joseph through the dreams of another man
D. (Genesis 41:1-4) Pharaoh’s First Dream: Pharaoh had a dream of seven well favored, fat fleshed kine and fed in a meadow. Behind them were seven ill favored kind and lean fleshed and stood by the other at the brink of the river. The seven ill favored kind eat up the seven fat fleshed kind and Pharaoh woke up
E. (Genesis 41:5-7) Pharaoh’s Second Dream: Seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. Seven thin ears came up. The seven thin ears devoured the seven full and rank ears
F. Pharaoh was troubled about this and was wroth with his servants but the butler remembered Joseph.
G. I am glad for the days that even when it may seem that you have been forgotten there is someone, somewhere you have made an impact on and they will remember it.
H. (Genesis 41:14) The Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon, and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.
I. Pharaoh told Joseph about the dreams and Joseph interpreted them
J. Joseph replied to Pharaoh saying, God has showed you what he is about to do.”
K. (Genesis 41:26-31) Joseph interpreted the dream of Pharaoh warning him of the famine to come.
L. Not only that he also gave him the solution to avoid catastrophe
M. I am glad when God sends a warning there will he also makes a way of escape
N. Preachers for hundreds of years have told of the second coming of Christ, the judgment and hell but people still refuse to listen
IV. JOSEPH WAS A DESTINED DELIVERER (THE PROVISION)
A. God had already determined in Chapter 37 what His will for Joseph was and Joseph tried to reveal what God was showing to him to his family
B. They wouldn’t have it
C. (Genesis 41:39) Pharaoh appoints Joseph as second in charge over all Egypt
D. By this time Joseph was 30 years old. It took 13 years for Joseph to get from the pit to the palace to the prison back to the palace.
E. Famine arrived as Joseph declared and Joseph opened all the storehouses for the people and sold them corn. People from other countries came to buy as well. Even Joseph’s brothers who sold him
F. God will vindicate his people
G. You know the story of how Joseph’s brothers came and he restored their money and how they returned with Benjamin and the silver cup found in his bag and how Joseph wept because he loved his brethren
H. But God had more than a family reunion in store for them
I. Joseph revealed the plan God had for him by saying
J. (Genesis 45:6) Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life
K. At this point in the life of Joseph I see one of the greatest types of Jesus Christ I have ever seen in the Old Testament
L. Jesus came before us to preserve our life through His salvation.
M. Joseph’s revelation to his brothers was not all that was in store for them
Close: In closing we look at Chapter 46. Jacob had made his way from Canaan to Egypt with the blessing on the Lord. They arrive in Goshen. Amazingly, enough even during this sore famine they are enduring. Goshen was still the most fertile and section of the Nile and it provided the best pastures for the herd. But Jacob and his sons did not go there alone. At least sixty six people went with them (Genesis 46:26). God had something good in store for all of Jacob’s family but it all started with Joseph. As Jacob is soon to die Joseph took his to sons Ephraim and Manasseh to visit him. While they were there Jacob blessed both of them. From Jacob came the lineage of Jesus through his son Judah. What does God have in store for you?
Perhaps there are those you have tried to persuade those closest to you of God’s plan. Maybe there have been some dry pits in your life and it could be that you have even been bound in a spiritual prison. But if you will remember Joseph went through all of this as well but it was all part of a bigger plan that God had for his people. It could just be that God has got something good in store for you!
