TRUSTING GOD … WHEN THINGS GO YOUR WAY!
“Two full years later, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing on the bank of the Nile River.
Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once, and he was quickly brought from the prison. After he shaved and changed his clothes, he went in and stood before Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.” “It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.” So Pharaoh told Joseph his dream. “In my dream,” he said, “I was standing on the bank of the Nile River, and I saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass. But then I saw seven sick-looking cows, scrawny and thin, come up after them. I’ve never seen such sorry-looking animals in all the land of Egypt. These thin, scrawny cows ate the seven fat cows. But afterward you wouldn’t have known it, for they were still as thin and scrawny as before! Then I woke up. “Then I fell asleep again, and I had another dream. This time I saw seven heads of grain, full and beautiful, growing on a single stalk. Then seven more heads of grain appeared, but these were blighted, shriveled, and withered by the east wind. And the shriveled heads swallowed the seven healthy heads. I told these dreams to the magicians, but no one could tell me what they mean.” Joseph responded, “Both of Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God is telling Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do. The seven healthy cows and the seven healthy heads of grain both represent seven years of prosperity. The seven thin, scrawny cows that came up later and the seven thin heads of grain, withered by the east wind, represent seven years of famine. “This will happen just as I have described it, for God has revealed to Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do.
Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.” Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck. Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, “Kneel down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. And Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.” Then Pharaoh gave Joseph a new Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah. He also gave him a wife, whose name was Asenath. She was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. So Joseph took charge of the entire land of Egypt. He was thirty years old when he began serving in the court of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. And when Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence, he inspected the entire land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:1, 14-28, 37–46, NLT)
(SLIDE 2)
INTRODUCTION
A police officer in a small town stopped a motorist who was speeding down Main Street. "But officer," the man began, "I can explain..." "Just be quiet," snapped the officer. "I'm going to let you cool your heels in jail until the chief gets back." "But, officer, I just wanted to say..." "And I said to keep quiet! You're going to jail!"
A few hours later the officer looked in on his prisoner and said, "Lucky for you the Chief's at his daughter's wedding. He'll be in a good mood when he gets back." "I wouldn’t count on that," answered the man in the cell. "I'm the groom!"
Talk about being released from prison in a hurry! After over two years stuck in prison, having endured thirteen years of ups and down in his life, Joseph suddenly found himself released from prison, made CEO of all Egypt with all the perks and privileges of his new office including a brand new company chariot and being married into one of the leading families of Egypt. As Joseph rubbed his eyes he could scarcely believe what had happened to him. After years of setbacks and struggles, at last things were going his way. Success, Power, Privilege, Perks, Possessions and Position all come tumbling into Joseph’s lap. But despite all of this we see Joseph continuing to trust God just as he had …
1. TRUSTING GOD … IN ALL HIS LIFE’S EVENTS…
2. TRUSTING GOD … WHEN HIS DREAMS WENT DOWN THE DRAIN …
3. TRUSTING GOD WHEN TEMPTATION CREPT IN…
4. TRUSTING GOD WHEN HE HAD BEEN WRONGED…
5. TRUSTING GOD WHEN GOD PUT HIS LIFE ON HOLD!
Over the last number of weeks we have been looking at these various events of Joseph’s life learning how in all these situations Joseph learnt to trust God. Today we turn our focus onto how Joseph continued to trust God when after all the years of difficulty and adversity suddenly Joseph is confronted with success.
J. Oswald Sanders once wrote, “Not every man can carry a full cup. Sudden elevation frequently leads to pride and a fall. The most exacting test of all to survive… is prosperity.” (J Oswald Saunders)
How did Joseph cope with this ‘most exacting test of all’? As we read through the story of Joseph recorded in chapter 41 we see that …
TO LEARN TO TRUST GOD WHEN THINGS WENT HIS WAY, JOSEPH HAD TO …
• REMEMBER HOW HE GOT THERE
• REMEMBER WHO GOT HIM THERE
• REMEMBER WHY HE GOT THERE
We will consider each of these in turn!
(SLIDE 3)
JOSEPH HAD TO REMEMBER HOW HE GOT THERE
Joseph surely must have wanted to pinch himself, to see if it was all a dream. Could it really be true? Things were happening so fast that one could scarcely keep pace with what was happening. One moment in the pit, the next in the palace and then the parade! This was heady stuff! Thirteen years of turbulence, disaster, disappointment, delays were finally over. At last something was going his way, there was light at the end of a long tunnel and it wasn’t the express train of disaster bearing down on him. Could it, would it last? Would it be like the success in Potiphar’s house only to be destroyed by an amorous women, or success in the prison only to be forgotten by the very person he had hoped would help to get him out. Was he once again being set up only to be let down?
The ups and downs, the knocks of life can make us cynical and let us lose faith that things can get better. It could have made Joseph cynical, waiting for the next blindside. But because Joseph trusted God, he saw God’s Hand at work in all that had happened. As Joseph looked back on what had happened to him, he recognised that in all that had happened …
• HE WAS BEING TRAINED
As Joseph looked back over the turbulent events of the last thirteen years he had to remember that in all that had happened to him God was shaping him, training him, and preparing him for what lay ahead of him. The events that could have left him bitter and disillusioned, he needed to see as God’s moulding him, preparing him for what was in store for him.
Booker T. Washington once said, “I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life, as by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed.” (Booker T. Washington)
We seldom see the benefits in the times of pain, failure and disappointment. Only as we look back do we see the hand of God preparing us for what He had in store for us. As we look back over our lives so we can see that in those very experiences that we never could understand why, God was in fact preparing us for what lay ahead.
• HE WAS BEING TESTED
Joseph also needed to recognise that in all that had happened God was testing him. James understood this when he said …
“My brothers and sisters, be very happy when you are tested in different ways. You know that such testing of your faith produces endurance. Endure until your testing is over. Then you will be mature and complete, and you won’t need anything.” (James 1:2–4, GW)
God needs to test us to build a godly Character. God is in the process of character building, making us more and more like Jesus. Only as we are tested and tried in the fires of affliction and temptation are we ready for the Master use.
Iron that is not tempered in fire remains brittle and unable to withstand the pressure exerted on it, just as an untested life is brittle and weak, unable to withstand the pressures that come along with success. God wants to build resilience, strength and purity into us so that we are able to withstand all the fiery darts and wiles of Satan that will come our way when God begins to use us for His glory and the fulfillment of His purpose for our lives.
Peter reminds us …“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” (1 Peter 1:7, NLT)
• HE WAS BEING TRANSFERRED
Joseph also needed to recognise that in all that had happened God had perfectly positioned him for the transfer from the pit to the palace! It was probably a day like any other day in the prison. The routine began just the same as it had for over two years. Nothing changed … or so Joseph thought! Before he could blink his eye, he was whisked out of the pit, shaved, clothed and standing before one of the most influential people in the entire world! Talk about a quick makeover!
• Did Joseph know that Pharaoh had a dream?
• Did he know that all the wise men of Egypt couldn’t interpret Pharaoh’s dream?
• Did he know that the chief butler would finally remember him?
• Did he know that Pharaoh would immediately send for him?
No he did not! For Joseph it was just another day at the office! But God knew! He had perfectly placed Joseph in the right place at the right time! Only God can take a foreign 30 year old slave languishing in prison and in less than sixty minutes make him ride in the deputy president’s smart limousine (alright chariot!)
God is in the business of perfectly positioning people, putting them in the right place at the right time to accomplish His glorious purposes. He did that for a beautiful young Jewish girl who following the challenge of her uncle “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”” (Esther 4:14b, NLT) became the means of delivering her nation.
God is still doing it. When an 18 year old vivacious teenager had a diving accident and landed up a quadriplegic it was a tragedy; but God could take Joni Eareckson Tada’s wheelchair and in her own words use her to reach and help far more people from her wheelchair than even if she had been miraculously healed and able to walk again.
God can use your jail, your wheelchair, your difficult circumstances, your handicaps and your hardships whatever they be, to use you to accomplish what He has planned for you to do. Nothing you may currently be facing is too much of a problem for God in the plans He has for your life.
Joseph had to remember how he got there.
(SLIDE 4)
JOSEPH HAD TO REMEMBER WHO GOT HIM THERE!
Put yourself in Joseph’s boots for a moment. For thirteen years he had experienced nothing but problems, he had never been free, for over two years he had been confined to a dungeon prison and now suddenly he is standing in the surroundings so far removed from where he had come from, standing before the most powerful man in the most powerful nation of the world. What is more incredible this man is seeking his help …
“Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.”” (Genesis 41:15, NLT)
In effect what Pharaoh is saying is “Tell me what my dream means, and I’ll make it worth your while!” Wow! Here is what Joseph has been dreaming of for two long years ever since he told the chief butler to put in a good word for him with Pharaoh in order to get him out of prison. What a chance! Would any of us have blamed Joseph if he said, “That’s right… I’m your man, if you want an interpretation to your dream, I’ll give it to you but first you let’s work out a little deal”
But Joseph responds …“It is beyond my power to do this. But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.” (Genesis 41:16, NLT)
Talk about blowing his chances … “Pharaoh, God’s the one you need to talk to not me!” No! Joseph is not going to take the credit, He knows who has brought him to this point; he knows who alone can interpret dreams; he knows he is just an instrument in God’s hands and without God he can do nothing.
When Pharaoh tells Joseph his dreams, notice what Joseph says … “Joseph responded, “Both of Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God is telling Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do.” (Genesis 41:25, NLT)
““This will happen just as I have described it, for God has revealed to Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do.” (Genesis 41:28, NLT)
Notice the difference between Joseph and Moses. When Moses is confronted by the rebellious Israelites baying for water and God instructs Moses to speak to the rock and promises that water will pour forth, the Bible says … “Then he [Moses] and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?” Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill.” (Numbers 20:10–11, NLT)
Since when could Moses produce water out of a barren rock? His pride and arrogance cost him the right to lead the Children of Israel into the Promised Land. God will not share His Glory with anyone, Joseph knew that the God who had brought him to this point, was the God who would enable him to unravel the mystery of Pharaoh’s dreams.
Notice what Peter says … “And all of you, serve each other in humility, for “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.” (1 Peter 5:5b–6, NLT)
Notice also what Jesus concludes having told a story of a Pharisee and a tax collector who go to the Temple to pray …
“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”” (Luke 18:14b, NLT)
This is not groveling before God like some Eastern court official prostrated before a tyrant emperor; but it is a sincere desire to credit God for all that we are able to do in the exercise of our gifts and talents in His service. This is born out of recognition that all that we are and are able to do is a trust from God and enabled by His power at work within us.
One of the greatest dangers that any would be servant of God faces is the temptation when things go our way to forget that the credit is God’s not ours. So often our success can trip us up because we shift our trust and dependence from God to our own accomplishments.
Warren Wiersbe said “If God puts something in my hand without first doing something in my heart, my character will lag behind my achievements and that is the way to ruin” (Warren Wiersbe)
Before Joseph was elevated by God to a Power, Privilege, Possessions and Position, God had to work on him for thirteen years lest he forget who got him there. Moses had to remind the Israelites not to forget and turn away from God when things went their way… “He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.” (Deuteronomy 8:17–18, NLT)
One of the saddest stories of Scripture is that of Uzziah. His resume (found in 2Chronicles 26) is impressive to say the least. What he accomplished, by God’s grace, as king of Judah is remarkable. The Bible says “His fame spread far and wide, for the LORD gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful.” (2 Chronicles 26:15, NLT). But then came the downfall … “But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall.” (2 Chronicles 26:16a, NLT)
When God answers prayers in our lives, when things start to go our way, when successes beyond our wildest dreams fall into our laps …do we draw closer to God or do we draw away from Him! Do we give Him the credit or do we give Him the cold shoulder, keeping the accolades for ourselves. Then we wonder why the blessings stop! Beloved remember …
• When God works in your life, pause and thank Him for blessing you.
• When accolades come your way, give Him the credit for the ability that He has given you to achieve what you have.
• When you are honored in any way, be sure to honour Him for blessing you.
Success is heady stuff! If we are not careful, the success will be the reason for our fall. Remember the wise words of Solomon … “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18, NLT) Pride and arrogance are ALWAYS warning signs of an inevitable fall!
Joseph was wise enough to …
• know how he came to be where he was
• know who enabled him to be where he was
• know why he had been placed where he was
(SLIDE 5)
JOSEPH HAD TO REMEMBER WHY HE GOT THERE!
In time, everything that God had given to Joseph to predict came true. Seven years of abundance. Under the wise leadership of Joseph, huge granaries were built to store-up the excess harvest. Then, just as God had warned, came the seven years of famine.
This was an extensive famine affecting all the surrounding nations. They came begging Joseph for food. Joseph did not hoard it for Egypt. He did not attempt to use it as political leverage. Instead he opened the granaries and provided food for all who needed it.
Despite being in a position of power, he used his position to help all people make it through one of the most devastating famines in recorded history. Joseph knew that he had been placed where he was by God for a purpose. Hear what Joseph says to his brothers when eventually he reveals who he is …“But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors.” (Genesis 45:5–7, NLT)
It was great preacher Spurgeon who said “Earn all you can, save all you can, and then give all you can. Never try to save out of God’s cause; such money will canker the rest. Giving to God is no loss; it is putting your substance into the best bank. Giving is true having, as the old gravestone said of the dead man, “What I spent I had, what I saved I lost, what I gave I have.”
Joseph as he trusted the God who had blessed him by placing him where he was, employed this principle. A sentiment advocated by Paul …
“Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.” (2 Corinthians 9:6–11, NLT)
If we are truly going to be successful in life, we have to recognise that the only way to gain is through giving. Being blessed we are to be a blessing.
Comedian and entertainer Danny Thomas , also a generous philanthropist who founded the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital once said, “… all of us are born for a reason, but all of us don’t discover why. Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It’s what you do for others.” (Danny Thomas)
A study was conducted to determine what was unique about the ‘unsung heroes’ who during the reign of Nazi Germany despite danger to themselves rescued people from the horrors of the death camps. The investigators in interviewing
several of the surviving heroes, their friends and families found a common thread that characterized most if not all of these individuals. They found that these extra-ordinary heroes were very ordinary people, much like their neighbors in most ways. What seemed to make them unique was that they were people who seemed to always be giving to others, helping others. If students needed books, they bought them. If someone was hungry, they fed them. If someone was homeless, they arranged to find them someplace to stay. They put others above themselves and thereby changed the course of the lives of hundreds who otherwise would have faced certain torture and death.
Is this not the principle that Paul gives as He points to the supreme example of self-giving, our Lord Jesus Christ who gave his all to rescue and restore us … “Don’t be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4, GW)
It is such a person that God can use: the person who makes the most of every opportunity to ““Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:10, GW)
(SLIDE 6)
CONCLUSION
WHEN JOSEPH ROSE FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE HE TRUSTED GOD AND …
• HE NEVER FORGOT WHERE HE CAME FROM
• HE NEVER FORGOT WHO GOT HIM THERE
• HE NEVER FORGOT WHY HE GOT THERE
AS A RESULT GOD USED HIM TO HIS GLORY AND AS A BLESSING TO MANY!
Beloved God wants to do the same for you, won’t you turn over the reins of your life to Jesus, Listen to what God says …
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” (Jeremiah 29:11–13, NLT)
Won’t you wholeheartedly commit yourself to His Lordship, His Leadership and as you entrust it to Him, He will give you hope and a future!
(Next time … TRUSTING GOD … WHEN THE FIG TREE DOES NOT BUD)
