Note: Andy Stanley's talk on Joesph at Catalyst Conferee 2004 had a big impact on this message. I had to share.
Title: Joseph and the Process
Theme: To show that many times our relationship with God is about a process and if we don’t give up on the process God will show us great and mighty things ahead
Text: Genesis 37 – 41
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Introduction
Last week I talked with you about the importance of “redeeming the time”. Also the importance of being “sensitive to the spirit of God” We looked over the power characteristics of a person who lives the “spirit filled life” (singing spiritual songs, giving thanks, being submissive.
It is so easy for us to fall into the mundane and routine of life. If we were to be honest it becomes so frustrating to get routine.
I mean all the movies we enjoy are about the shining night the hero’s rescue. The one that stood up and lead. It is amazing how these become so popular.
Yet we are not like that. We don’t live the life of adventure. We don’t have the excitement we see. For some our biggest adventure is to get our bills met or to avoid going to the doctor.
This morning I want to retell a story that almost everyone of you know. The problem is because we are so familiar with it we want to rush to the end. But in this very familiar OT story is one simple truth that has revolutionized the routine boring of the day.
In it contains one simple truth that when we look at our mundane life and tempted to lose tack of the bigger picture we can be aware of the fact that there is a bigger story and I have been invited into it.
It is the story of Joseph. Not Mary and Joseph but Joseph of the OT. You know Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. Jacob had 12 sons. Joseph was the favorite son.
His brothers did not like him for several reasons.
He was set up for failure by God, his father and himself.
One day they see him coming and say let us sell him but instead they through him in a pit.
Suddenly there is a 17 year old boy shackled to shackled to other boys. He had no idea in history what was going on.
Joseph’s Pit
Genesis 37: (23) So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. (24) Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it.
(28) Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelite’s for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.
There is a story.
How do you keep that it in mind when you
• Joseph was only 17 years old when he was sold to who knows who for who knows
what.
• No assurances of what lies ahead
By the time we get to the end of Genesis 38 we see Joseph shackled to many slaves leaving his home land to who knows where to be sold to who knows who.
From the vantage point of history God was up to something huge and Joseph did not know the first thing about it.
Could that be true in your life, could that be true in my life. Isn’t that exactly where we live ankle to ankle, wrist to wrist marching thorugh life. Not a very long life.
Unless you see it thought the lens of eternity.
• God was up to something huge and Joseph did not know the first things about it.
• Through the Lens of eternity, God was positioning a person who would raise up a
nation with a nation from whom the Messiah would ultimately come as the savior to
the world.
The epic had started and Joesph was the center character.
To Potiphar’s House
Gen 39:1-23
(1) Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelite’s who had taken him down there.
Here is this strange verse.
(2) The Lord was with Joseph,
This seems to be strange. If this was true what was Joseph doing here. Now don’t rush to the end yet. Because you can’t do that in your own life. How could he be sold by his brothers and now in slavery. Shouldn’t this be where his brothers are. They should be here. They committed the crime.
Today this is how we judge. We look at how big and how successful and how full and how productive and how fruitful and we say, “Oh God is with him or her”
and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
Genesis 39:3-5 And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. (4) So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.
(5) So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field.
The Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. Do you think we would stop here and say, Hey God instead of blessing Potiphar why not bless me.
I mean could there be a bigger picture? Is it possible?
Nugget: “Do you know what Joseph was doing while he was in Potiphar’s house hold? The son of a rich man, a spoiled brat who got everything he wanted. He is suddenly the slave in a foreign land. He could barley speak the language if he could speak it at all. Do you know what he did in Potiphar’s household? He did exactly what any 17 year old would do, who had been sold into slavery, and ripped away from his family. He did what any 17 year old would do who was in those particular circumstances who was confident that God was with him. That is all he did.” – Andy Stanley
Potiphar’s Wife -
The story goes on and things go from bad to worse. God put him into a place where he has his first battle.
Genesis 39:6 Thus he left all that he had in Joseph's hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7 And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me."
God puts him in a battle that he cannot win. Is it possible that God would put you into this position.
IF I offend the mistress of the home he can have me hung if I sleep with the mistress Potiphar will have him hung.
He is in a no win situation. This is his first battle.
Is it possible that God would put us in a no win situation.
Joseph’s answer.
Genesis 39:8-9 But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. 9 "There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"
The God who seems to have done so little for you lately?
You know what Joseph did in this situation. He did exactly what any young man would do who had been ripped from his family, put into a no win situation who was confident that was with him.
Some how, some how Joseph knew and we don’t know how but even though God was extraordinary silent he was not absent.
Just because God dose not reveal to us the whole plan does not mean God does not have a plan.
Isaiah 55:8-9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. (9) "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
There was not bible or prophecy. We never get the hint that Joseph knows what is going on. We need to remember as we walk through the rest of this story that there is no Bible for him to read, there is no revelation that says what happened at the end. There is no messiah, yet. Maybe some stories passed down but not.
So how is he rewarded?
Joseph’s Prison
Genesis 39:20 Then Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison.
There he is once again. Just a kid. Alone in the land where he could barely speak the language.
When you do the right thing, and it goes unrewarded, don’t you start
to wonder? Life doesn’t feel like a story—just a bad dream.
So here he is in the dungeon. What did he do? He did what any man would do who had been ripped from his family, sold into slavery, false accused of rape and put in a dungeon would do who was confident that God was with them.
Kindness and favor
But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. (Genesis 39:21)
If the Lord is with you, you don’t even know the prison warden. If you are on a first-name basis with the warden, things are not going well for you.
Just because you don’t see it happen doesn’t mean it is not happening does not mean it is not happening.
What would somebody do in my circumstances do if they knew that they were absolutely sure that God was with them.
The Butler and the Baker – Glimer of Hope
Genesis 40:1-8 It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. (2) And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker. (3) So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. (4) And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while. (5) Then the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, had a dream, both of them, each man's dream in one night and each man's dream with its own interpretation. (6) And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad. (7) So he asked Pharaoh's officers who were with him in the custody of his lord's house, saying, "Why do you look so sad today?" (8) And they said to him, "We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it." So Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please."
Joseph’s Request
Genesis 40:14-15 But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. (15) For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews; and also I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon."
Joseph wasn’t enjoying this. He was not just nonchalantly going through life, don’t worry be happy. Stoic lifestyle.
How easy would it have been for the Butler to have mentioned him. This could be his big break. That which he had been waiting on. His ticket home.
How easy it is for us. Just that one thing. That one break. That one interview.
Genesis 40:23 Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
God was silent but he was not absent.
Just cause you don’t see it happening. Just because you don’t understand it does not mean God does not understand it.
Yet we must know there is a bigger story. Our job is not to understand it but to wake up every day and say what would someone do who is in my circumstances but is confident that God is with them.
Joseph’s Palace 2 Years later
Although the butler forgot him God did not forget him.
Genesis 41:8-13 Now it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh. (9) Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: "I remember my faults this day. (10) "When Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker, (11) "we each had a dream in one night, he and I. Each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. (12) "Now there was a young Hebrew man with us there, a servant of the captain of the guard. And we told him, and he interpreted our dreams for us; to each man he interpreted according to his own dream. (13) "And it came to pass, just as he interpreted for us, so it happened. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him."
Genesis 41:14-16 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh
Joseph’s answer to Pharaoh
(15) And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it."
Don’t miss this. IF you are on the edge of your big opportunity and things are looking up.
This is the moment of truth. This is the big deal if you are in a business. This is your shot. This is the raise. This the contract. This is the ultimate . . whater ever that may be. You play the game.
(16) So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace."
I cannot do it.
But God can.
To the very man who thought he was God. I mean he could have kept this to himself and thank God later. You know what I mean.
But what did he do? The same thing that any man who had been sold by his brothers into slavery, framed for rape, spent 10 years in the dungeon, standing before Pharaoh but are confident that God is with you., It never changes.
Matthew 12:34 For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Confident
Romans 8:27-30 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (28) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (29) For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Joseph’s Advice
Genesis 41:33-42 Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. (34) Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. (35) And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. (36) Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine." (37) So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. (38) And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?" (39) Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. (40) You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you." (41) And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." (42) Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph's hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.
That is the confidence you find in intimating circumstances with intimidating people but are confident that God is with you.
You know what he did? He did exactly what you would do if you had been stolen from your home, thrown in cisterns, sold into slavery, framed for rape, spent 10 years in prison, stood before the most powerful man in the world, gave great advice put in charge of the whole country if you are confident that God is with you.
That is all he did, nothing changes. Although he didn’t know the story, even there was a story. The grand scheme.
Joseph’s Lessons Kept a right attitude
Made the best of where he was at – he was not working for man he was working for God
Have every reason to quit, and excuse but did not
He went to the process and after close to 20 years he arrived in the palace
Conclusion
A. Leaders
1. Do you know what God wants to do through you in this act? Not exactly.
2. Do you know how many people God wants to use you to influence? No.
3. Do you know what hangs in the balance of your willingness to surrender
your leadership gift to Him? No.
You don’t know what God wants to do with you or what God is doing with you. But we know is that there is a bigger picture. When we look back we can go whoa.
B. With all that as a backdrop, think of the significance of these words spoken by
Jesus. Not to any one class of people—fishermen, tax collectors, carpenters,
priests, men, and women.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to
me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew
28:18-20)
C. The story is not yet complete.
1. Each of us has been invited to participate, with this promise: “I am with
you . . . I am in you.”
2. Now—live, love, and lead as anyone who is you would if you were
absolutely confident that God is with you . . . when you are in the cistern,
dungeon, or palace—because He is.
3. He may be SILENT; He is not ABSENT.
Conclusion:
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.
(After all, I am king. After all, I slew a giant. After all, I am a man of wealth.)
For thou art with me . . . again . . . for thou art with me . . . for thou art with me.
Prayer
Single mom – stresses
Pastors, leaders
Families who struggle
Business People
What would somebody in your circumstances do if he were confident that there is a
grander story—that you have been invited to play a part in—and that God is with you?
This is for that single mother who seems to be going through the mundane . Fighting every battle and wondering if there is a bigger picture. This is for that one working your job, being unsatisfied. Trusting God yet it
Study of Philippians 1:6 from Esword - Utley Commentary
Philippians_1:6 "I am confident" This is a perfect active participle from the root "to persuade," meaning "I have been and continue to be certain."
▣ "He who began a good work in you" This is an aorist middle (deponent) participle. God (Theos) is not in the text but He is assumed (cf. Rom_8:11; Gal_1:6; Gal_1:15 and 1Th_5:24). The middle voice emphasizes the subject's participation in the action of the verb. However, the form is deponent, which means that this term did not have an active form in Paul's day, therefore, the middle may function as an active voice. There must be a theological balance between God's initiating love and mankind's initial and continuing faith response. It could refer to
1. the beginning of the church
2. the beginning of their participation in the gospel
3. the beginning of their personal salvation
NASB "will perfect it"
NKJV "will complete it"
NRSV "will bring it to completion"
TEV "will carry it on until it is finished"
NJB "will go on completing it"
This is a Future active indicative, which can refer to the certainty of the event. Believers live in the tension between the "already" and "the not yet" of the Kingdom of God. Full and complete kingdom benefits are future, while citizenship and status are present. Believers live in the overlapping of the two Jewish ages. The new age has arrived (Bethlehem-Pentecost) but the old age remains (fallen nature both in the physical creation and in fallen mankind).
▣ "the day of Jesus Christ" The reference to the Second Coming is a common element of Paul's opening words in his letters (cf. 1Co_1:7-8; 2Co_1:10; Col_1:5; 1Th_1:10 and 2Th_1:4 ff). This eschatological event appears in Php_1:6; Php_1:10; Php_2:16 also.
The eschatological emphasis of a special coming day when humans will meet Jesus (as Savior or Judge) goes by several designations in Paul's writings:
1. "the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (cf. 1Co_1:8)
2. "the day of the Lord" (cf. 1Co_5:5; 1Th_5:2; 2Th_2:2)
3. "the day of the Lord Jesus" (cf. 1Co_5:5; 2Co_1:14)
4. "the day of Jesus Christ" (cf. Php_1:6)
5. "the day of Christ" (cf. Php_1:10; Php_2:16)
6. "His day (Son of Man)" (cf. Luk_17:24)
7. "the day that the Son of Man is revealed" (cf. Luk_17:30)
8. "the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ" (cf. 1Co_1:7)
9. "when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven" (cf. 2Th_1:7)
10. "in the presence of the Lord Jesus at His coming" (cf. 1Th_2:19)
In the OT the writers saw two ages, an evil age and a coming age of righteousness, the age of the Spirit (see Special Topic at Eph_1:21). God would intervene in history through His Messiah to set up this new age. This event was known as the day of the Lord. Notice that NT writers attribute this to Christ. His first coming, the Incarnation, was foretold in many OT texts. The Jews did not expect a divine person, just a divine intervention. The two comings of the Messiah, one as Suffering Servant and Savior, one as Judge and Lord, were not obvious to OT people.
▣ "He who began. . .will perfect it" Both the terms "began" and "perfect" were technical terms for the beginning and ending of a sacrifice (cf. Rom_12:1-2).
