Intro. How do I close out this series? I have attempted to go different directions as we see the last thing in the life of Joseph.
We must not forget:
When Daddy Changed - Joseph- raised by a changed man, he could face the future.
Life took and Unexpected Turn - When his brothers sold him into slavery.
He faced a Battle in the Midst of His storm - tempted by Potiphar’s wife, and jailed.
He then went from Prisoner to Prince - pressures of a kingdom.
About 9 years past and:
He and His brothers had to face Yesterday - no way out of this one.
Then, the Wagons came and Provide the Thrill of a Reunion with the Son.
After the family was together, Jacob judged his sons, and Blessed Joseph , then died.
Failure embraced those where forgiveness was available, and Joseph forgave once and for all.
Now we come to the final message in this series on the life of Joseph. Not a typical series, but practical. But today, I can no longer stay in a mere practical vein. Joseph’s story began in a Coat, and will not end in a coffin - OR WILL IT?
Text Gen 50:22-28
Take me back home - Since his slavery, Joseph had only returned to Canaan once, to bury his father Jacob. Imagine, the emotions as he returned to bury his father. They then returned to Egypt. The entire time we have covered in our series was in a foreign land. Joseph was snatched from the land of promise at a young age - but He expected to return! Take me home, Don’t Leave Without Me!
I. Joseph had Accomplished God’s Plan - He used the simple words, "I die" but from them resounds the attitude of the Apostle Paul - 2Ti 4:7 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
A. The Sorrow of Life had not made him Bitter - 13 years of wrongful imprisonment
1. He had only revealed what God has shown him
2. He was obedient to his father
3. He was faithful in his task - yet he was still attacked -
He could have cried - UNFAIR - but never became bitter - bitterness will wreck your life. The only reason we remain bitter is our pride want to hold on to the pain!
Ephesians 4:31 "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
James 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work."
B. The Success of Life did not Spoil Him - the lord over all of Egypt
many seek so much for success, they become spoiled and the things of God are second to most other things in their life!
1 Timothy 6:17 "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;"
We dare not be tight fisted with God who gives us all we have! Joseph did not become spoiled by things.
C. The Sin of Life did not Ruin Him - Evil was all around in a wicked land. He was a lone believer in the true God in a land that worshiped many gods. But he had remained faithful! God had a purpose for him!
1. When Temptation abounded - He was Faithful
1 Corinthians 10:13 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
2. When Weariness attacked - He was Faithful
Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"
3. When Doubts Arose - he was Faithful - I am sure there were times in the flesh of Joseph that he questioned what was going to happen next - He was Faithful 1 Co 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."
4. Even When God seemed Absent - He was Faithful
Psalm 13:1 "How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? 3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; 4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. 5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. 6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me."
So he now faced the end of life with no regrets - because he had finished his course!
II. Joseph Announced God’s Intervention - God will surely visit you
A. He Believed the Promise of God - God would not leave them in Egypt - vs. 24
1. They were in the present land by Circumstances - Famine
2. The would remain in the land by Control - Slavery
3. But they would return the another land by Covenant! -
To Abraham - Genesis 15:7 "And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it".
To Isaac - Genesis 26:3 "Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;"
To Jacob - Genesis 35:12 "And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land."
Joseph knew God’s promise and believed it!
B. He Believed in spite of the Predicament of Israel - they would be slaved. Joseph knew what was coming, and many would ask, "how could they get out of this"
Faith does not look at the circumstance to find the way out - FAITH LOOKS TO JESUS, THE WAY OUT, regardless of how things may seem.
Things are not going to be good, things will seem impossible, but
God will surely visit you! God will keep His Word!
III. Joseph Anticipated God’s Journey - God will bring you out of this land, don’t leave me behind! He commanded - YOU CANNOT LEAVE WITHOUT ME!
And God will leave no one behind! Here is the sermon.
What a glorious picture of the Rapture of the church.
A. The Obligation of Deliverance - The Bones of Joseph did not belong in Egypt- he was a citizen of another land! He gave a command not to leave them there. He would not be left behind.
B. The Order of Departure - Moses took the bones with him, as a personal responsibility - Joseph left first, and the rest of Israel followed.
* Moses’ Obedience - Exodus 13:21 "And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you." Interesting story from the Midrash, Jewish writings of possible history. Not necessarily valid. But no matter - Moses found the bones! Because the bones had to go first!
Concl. In the Hall of Faith - Hebrews 11:22 "By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones."
In this we see - John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
Jesus made His own promise that He would come again for us! He will visit us and not leave us in this Godless world.
At any moment, as we have seemed to preach often in recent days - the Lord will visit His people - Acts 1:11 "Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."
And He will not leave anyone behind, as a matter of fact - BONES GO FIRST!!!!!
1Th 4:16 "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:"
And after the bones, the living are changed to receive their glorified state
17 "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
This is further expounded in 1 Co 15:51 "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
Disclaimer: A man once told me that if it is true, it is not new. If it is new, it is not true. We all know there is nothing new under the sun. With that said, I glean ideas for my sermons from God’s Word, my own thoughts and work, and many other sources. Any similarity to my sermons and others, where credit is not given, is either coincidental, or an unintentional mistake on my part. As none of us have a corner on the wisdom and teaching of God’s Word, it is my desire that any of my outlines be an encouragement, a help, and hopefully a motivation for others to preach God’s Word clearly. Please feel free to use any portion of my sermons if they can be of help to you and your ministry. It is all for His Glory.
