ANYONE CAN BECOME SOMEBODY IN GOD'S HAND
GENESIS 41: 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. 44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. 46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
INTRODUCTION
If You Were To See Joseph In A Chariot Beside Pharaoh And You Were In Egypt Then, You Will Say: “What A Lucky Boy!” But luck had nothing to do with it. The Story Of Joseph Proves That Everyone Has A Shot At Being Someone Great. At starting all over. And one thing I do not understand is just how God does it. How Does He Take The Low-Borns And Make Them Heroes? Paul writes in I Corinthians 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brothers, that there are not many wise according to flesh, not many powerful, not many wellborn. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world that He might shame those who are wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world that He might shame the things that are strong, 28 And the lowborn things of the world and the despised things God has chosen, things which are not, that He might bring to nought the things which are, 29 So that no flesh may boast before God.
GOD’S FAVOR BRINGS MAN’S FAVOR
What Is Favor? “One day of favor is worth a thousand days of labor”. God can do for you in one day what could take years to accomplish. Definition: A spirit of approval, goodwill, or liking, partiality. An act of kindness or generosity. favoritism, attractiveness, To be favored means: regarded or treated with favor; provided with advantages… specially privileged. God Put A Double Portion On Elijah. Hezekiah’s 15 years. Daniel advices three kings. Shepherd David becomes king. Naomi to have a posterity. Made Sarah fruitful. Ezekiel and dry bones. Esther a queen. But when God promotes, can we handle power?
JOSEPH’S IMMEDIATE POWERS – PUBLIC HONORS: TESTED AT BOTTOM & TOP LATER
1. Financial Powers: He Wore The Pharaoh’s Ring.
2. Unlimited Rights: The Signet Ring
3. Immediate Physical Status: He Changed His Prison Garments For Fine Clothes.
4. Immediate Limousine: He Was Made To Ride In A Fine Chariot – 2nd Only To Pharaoh.
5. Family Rights: He Was Given A Wife Of Noble Esteem. Egyptians Esteemed Gods.
6. A New Name: He Was Given A New Name & Title – Zaphenath-Paneah
7. 2nd In Command: Accountable to Pharaoh only. Powers throughout the land.\
SOME NOBODIES THAT GOD USED
1. Gideon Hiding In The Winepress - Judges 6:34 The Spirit Of The Lord Took Control Of Gideon.
2. Four Lepers Who Suppressed The Syrian Armies (2 Kings 7). They Brought A Prophecy True.
3. Paul – God Uses The Lowborns, The Scums, Etc. Paul Had To Become A Nobody.
4. David The Shepherd (I Samuel 16): Taken From Obscurity.
5. Moses Tried To Be Somebody. He Came To God And Became Somebody.
To Understand Joseph, Understand The Line Of Blessing
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MIRACLES AND BLESSINGS
Blessings & Miracles are like two different delivery systems from God. Illustration: Woman Drowning – God Sent A Log, A Boat & A Helicopter. She missed God’s blessings for she was awaiting a miracle. God moves many ways but blessing is how He apparently planned to.
1. Definition Of Miracle & Blessing: A miracle is "an event that appears unexplainable by the laws of nature." In contrast, a blessing is also supernatural in origin but utilizes natural means. In other words, a miracle supersedes or suspends natural laws, while a blessing is God's divine power working through natural laws. Since miracles are more spectacular than blessings, many Christians are only looking for their needs to be supplied through a miracle but a blessing is much better. Before you can receive a miracle you have to be in a crisis. For God to suspend or supersede His natural laws, there has to be a very good reason. Therefore, those who live from miracle to miracle, live from crisis to crisis. In contrast, the blessings of God will prevent crisis in your life. Which would you rather have -- a desperate situation where you received the miracle of a new car; or would you rather be so blessed that if you wanted a new car, you could just go buy one with cash. “Why ask for daily bread when you can own the bakery?”
2. Miracles Are Always Temporary, While Blessings Are Eternal. The miraculous supply of manna is the longest, recorded miracle in the Bible. Most miracles are momentary, but the manna lasted 40 years. Joshua 5:10-12 says the children of Israel crossed into the Promised Land and the next day, the manna ceased after they had eaten the corn of the land. The manna ceased because miracles are temporary.
3. Joseph Was Blessed: GENESIS 49: 22 “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. 23 With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. 24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, 25 because of your father’s God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the skies above, blessings of the deep springs below, blessings of the breast and womb. 26 Your father’s blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers.
JOSEPH RECEIVED THE BLESSING
Abraham Faced Any Struggles With His Faith, His Surroundings, his relatives, his wife but Romans says “he staggered not at the promises of God… This blessing bypasses Ishmael and goes to Isaac and he faced many struggles with his enemies, his wife’s conception, his children, etc. It bypasses Esau and goes to Jacob. A man leaves with nothing but a staff and returns with hundredfold – that’s Jacob. Joseph who is the next recipient is about to be placed through the crucibles of suffering. Satan’s intention is to cause him to trip and desert God. “A faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted. Someone Once Said: “If Joseph had not been Egypt’s prisoner, he would have never been Egypt’s governor.”
JACOB AND FAMILY ISSUES: OTHER PEOPLE’S ISSUES ARE MORE THAN YOURS.
Looking At The Kind Of Family Joseph Came From, We Would Have Thought He Would Amount To Nothing. Look, ten boys from that family were worthless. We must ask whether God makes mistakes. But let us admit, some families are just messed up. And sometimes we say “Pastor, I don’t know but my family is the most messed up.” Then you hear of someone else’s family and you begin to thank God for yours. Sometimes we just want to walk away from it all. As messed up as they were, they appeared perfect from the outside so that Schechem wanted to marry Dinah.
1. Favoritism In His Nuclear Family – Joseph & his brothers.
2. Jealousy And Envy – Among The Brothers (Joseph and brothers)
3. Hatred - Death Threats Hanging over his father Jacob By His Brother Esau.
4. Crooked In-Laws: As In The Case Of Laban, his sons And Jacob (Joseph’ father).
5. His Father Worked For A Woman He Loved For 14 Years – Joseph’s Mother.
6. Romantic Rivalry & Competition – Between Rachel (Joseph’s Mother) And Leah (His Aunt).
7. Barrenness Ruined The Love – Joseph was the first Love Child.
8. Older Brother of Benoni (Son Of My Sorrows) To Benjamin (Son Of My Right Hand)
9. Sorrows – His mother Rachel died.
10. Waywardness – Loose Brothers and careless Sister.
11. Family Secrets – Incest - Oldest Son Sleeps With Father’s Wife (Bilhad).
12. Rape – His Sister Dinah Is Raped By Schechem Of Hamor.
13. Family At Risk Of Being Wiped Out – Brothers Killed People Of Schechem.
14. Betrayal – 10 Brothers Betraying Joseph
15. Jacob Angry With Joseph For His Dreams. Not advising him to privacy.
THEN ADD THIS OTHER MESS
What Is A Mess? A Disordered, Untidy, Offensive, Or Unpleasant State Or Condition.
1. Joseph’s 2nd Mess - His Brothers Hated Him.
2. Joseph’s 3rd Mess – He Was Tossed In The Pit.
3. Joseph’s 4th Mess - He Was Sold Into Slavery.
4. Joseph’s 5th Mess – His Reputation Was Damaged By Lies
5. Joseph’s 6th Mess: He was forgotten in prison.
6. Joseph’s 7th Mess: He had to face whether to forgive his brothers or not.
Along The Way, This Boy Should Have Been Killed, But God Kept Him.
BY THE TIME JOSEPH IS ABOUT 10 YEARS, HERE’S THE FAMILY SITUATION.
The father is a polygamist, fathering 12 sons from 4 women (two of whom were sisters), who lived in the same household; as did all of the brothers and half-brothers. His only sister had been raped. His older brothers were guilty of murder, plundering, theft and gross immorality. His mother, Rachel, and his grandfather Isaac are dead. That would qualify Joseph for an appearance on Jerry Springer or Oprah Winfrey. Such families are considered doomed. But not with God. What can God do? We will see the challenges, struggles and triumphs in this series. With all of the above, God can make a way.
THIS DECISION OF PHARAOH WAS QUITE REMARKABLE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
1. We Are Told Joseph’s Age: Moses Wants Us To Know That God Can Use Anyone.
2. Take Into Account That Joseph Was A Foreigner.
3. Remember That Joseph Was An Ex-Con.
4. Pharaoh Just Met Joseph – he hasn’t known the guy five minutes.
5. Pharaoh Actually Appointed The Person Who Was Most Competent For The Position! Kings appoint political ally or supporter not the most competent for the job.
PHARAOH TRIED TO “EGYPTIANIZE” JOSEPH. ALL WOULD BE A CHALLENGE FOR HIM.
1. Pharaoh Dressed Joseph Like An Egyptian.
2. Pharaoh Gave Him An Egyptian Mode Of Transportation.
3. Pharaoh gave Joseph an Egyptian Name. Zaphenath-paneah. The name contains the syllable “nath” which carries an association with Neith who was one of the goddesses of Egypt.
4. Pharaoh Gave Joseph An Egyptian Wife. His wife’s name was Asenath – notice the syllable, “nath.” Her name meant “belonging to Neith,” the daughter of an Egyptian priest.
5. Joseph Was Married – This proves he was monogamous and not like the Egyptians.
CONCLUSION: LIFE LESSONS FOR SURVIVING IMPERFECT FAMILIES
After Being Brought Up In Chaos And Sold Into Slavery By His Brothers, Joseph becomes the survivor of an imperfect family in dramatic fashion. His life tells all of us, first of all…
1. DON’T QUIT: He was pampered, but he worked hard. I suppose most of us would understand if Joseph just given up at this point and resigned himself to failure. We might even forgave him if he used his family background as an excuse for his inactivity. But Joseph shows none of those tendencies. In fact he is a hard worker out and in prison. So God blessed his hands.
2. BE FAITHFUL: Some people from imperfect families may be tempted to blame God for their troubles, and become bitter with Him. We might understand if Joseph abandoned his faith for awhile after such a traumatic ordeal as being disowned by your own brothers. But Joseph kept his faith and devotion in God. In fact, Joseph is one of the greatest characters in the Bible because no criticism ever offered on his life. 14 chapters deal with his life, yet no moral failure or major shortcoming is mentioned. This sets him apart from Abraham, Moses, David, etc. in the Bible.
3. BREAK THE CYCLE: Joseph’s family was known for deceit. His father Jacob deceived his own father Isaac to steal Esau’s birthright. Joseph’s grandfather, Laban, tricked his father into marrying both Rachel and Leah. Later Jacob deceived Laban and took advantage of him. Joseph’s brothers deceived their dad by telling him Joseph was killed by a wild animal. Yet, Joseph was known for his integrity. Genesis 39:4 says Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to him everything he owned. When Potiphar’s wife makes sexual advances on Joseph, he replies by saying, Genesis 39:9 “How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”
4. TRUST GOD: Potiphar’s wife hated that Joseph wouldn’t respond to her advances, so she falsely accused him of attempted rape. Joseph was sent to prison. But in Gen. 39:2, 21 “The Lord was with Him.” An imperfect family background does not means God has forgotten you or left you.
5. BE USEFUL: In prison, Joseph’s character qualities granted him favor with the prison warden, and he put Joseph in charge of his prisoners. Later he is called upon to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. At the age of 30, he rose to be 2nd in command in the world’s most powerful empire. Some people from imperfect families feel broken. They may be put back together but are never useful. You may feel broken, but God wants to not only restore you, but make you useful. Joseph’s life shows us that God can and will use people from all kinds of backgrounds.
BIBLE VERSES ON OUR PERSERVERANCE AND PATIENCE
1. Romans 5:3-5 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
2. 1 Peter 5:10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
3. James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
4. Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
5. Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
6. Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
CLOSING PRAYERS: YOU ARE A DELICATE FLOWER PLANTED AMONG THORNS
Pray This Prayer: I Will Persevere And Not Quit, I Will Be Faithful, I Will Break The Cycle Around Me, I Will Trust God, I Will Be Useful.
