SERIES: RECOVERING STOLEN IDENTITY & RECLAIMING MISPLACED DESTINY: PART 4A: GOD CAN USE DETOURS TO GET YOU TO YOUR DESTINY - SIGNIFICANCE OF DETOURS TO JOSEPH’S DESTINY
1. Genesis 35:18: Rachel died while giving birth to the son. Before dying, she named the boy Benoni. But Jacob called him Benjamin.
2. Genesis 37: 18 But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. 19 “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. 20 “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these wells and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.” 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe - the ornamental robe he was wearing - 24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it. 28 So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the well and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.
3. Genesis 29:1 Now Joseph was taken to Egypt and Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. 6 …Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” 8 But he refused. 16 She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. 17 Then she told him this story: “That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. 18 But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.” 19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. 20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.
4. Genesis 40:23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.
5. Genesis 41: 1 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream… 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, “Make way!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt. 44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”
INTRO: “Recovering Stolen Identity & Reclaiming Misplaced Destiny (Part 4A) God Can Use Detours To Get You To Your Destiny (Taking A Tour Through Your Detours)” (TEACH)
ABOUT STOLEN IDENTITY AND MISPLACED DESTINY AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE.
1. Identity: Answers The Question: ‘Who has God called me to be?’
2. Destiny: Answers The Question: ‘What has God called me to do?’
Identity Theft - When information about you is stolen by someone else and used without your permission. They dumpster dive, use pop-ups, skim your credit card number from a machine, steal your change-of-address info, scam you through a phone call, or just rob you. They pretend to be you and take what is yours! Identity theft also occurs with Christians all the time. Satan steals your true identity through defeat, discouragement, delay, denial and deception about your real destiny.
IDENTITY THEFT IN THE REAL WORLD.
Illustration: Farmer, Eaglet, Naturalist (Outside Barn, Roof Of House, Mountaintop Sun)
YOUR IMAGE AND PURPOSE ON THE PLANET
1 Peter 2:9-10 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
1. Our Privileges: 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. First, A Chosen Race. Second, A Royal Priesthood. Third, A Holy Nation. Fourth, A People For God’s Own Possession.
2. Our Purpose: 1 Peter 2:9b: So that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
3. Our Position: 1 Peter 2:10 For you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
GOD WILL USE DETOURS TO GET YOU TO YOUR DESTINY - ABOUT DETOURS IN LIFE
Detour: An Unplanned, Unexpected Shift or Deviation in the Planned Route a person was taking to get to where he was trying to get. It is good to plan because God is a planner & encourages us to plan. Pro. 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish". Luke 14:28 Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? Pro. 16:9 A man's heart plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Pro. 19:21 Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. Ps. 33:10 The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. Pro. 16:9 The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
Detours Come Due To Development, Disasters, Accidents, Protocol, Apprehension (Sifting, Dragnet). God rarely takes us to our destiny in straight lines - He normally has some development that requires detours. Abraham was on a detour for 25 years. Jacob on detour for about 20 years. Moses in detour 40 years. Israel took a 400-year detour in Egypt; and a 40-year detour in the wilderness. Paul on 3-year detour in Arabian Desert. Daniel / Hebrew Boys (Noble but slaves). Enoch & Elijah were detoured from earth to heaven. Philip was detoured from many in Samaria to one in the desert. Joseph on detour for 13 years.
JOSEPH & DETOURS: 2018 DID NOT GO WELL, BUT DAWN IS COMING… GENESIS 41
Joseph Is An Example Of How God Allows Detours In Our Lives To Reach Us To Our Destiny. He was the 11th teenage son of Jacob living in a Dysfunctional Family - Family with conflict, misbehavior, and often child or parental abuse occurring regularly. Children grow up in such families accepting the lifestyle as normal. Dysfunctional families are often affected by multiple 'Internal' (sibling rivalries, parent-child conflicts, domestic violence, mental illness, single parenthood) or 'External' (alcohol or drug abuse, extramarital affairs, gambling, unemployment).
JOSEPH’S DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY
Joseph’s Father Jacob Was Born Into Sibling Rivalry & Favoritism. Jacob tricked his father into giving him the birthright due to his older brother. Laban’s deception to give Leah away before Rachel. Jacob had 13 children by 4 different women. The fight over Jacob between Leah & Rachel. Women using fruits to bargain who would sleep with Jacob. Joseph should have never been born – his mother was barren for years and angry about it. What was it like for Joseph to see his mother dying in childbirth? The pain he carried and why Jacob loved him more. In the midst of the drama, the boys created their own chaos. Reuben had sex with his father’s concubine Bilhad. Dinah is raped by the Shechemites. In order to avenge their sister’s rape, Simeon and Levi became mass murderers. Jacob tricked one man Esau, but those two boys tricked a whole town and murdered their men making Jacob to flee with his family. God killed the 1st & 2nd born sons of Judah (Er & Onan) because they were wicked. Then Judah had a relationship with his own daughter-in-law thinking she was a prostitute and unknowing demanded she be killed for being pregnant. Boys ready to hate their own brother because the father loved him more. Throwing their brother in a pit after stripping him of his multi-colored coat and then sitting down to eat a meal. Hearing your brother crying from the pit in agony. Selling your flesh and blood to foreign merchants. Killing a sheep, putting blood on the brother’s clothes and telling the father he is dead. Talk about keeping that secret of the family for about 15 years and allowing the father to grieve daily.
Such Family Should Have Never Produced A Joseph. In our society, most people from these backgrounds are killers, jail birds, drunks, addicts, etc. But please note that God’s Destiny on your life can be fulfilled even in the midst of thorns. Just like a beautiful rose that grows in a thorny bush, so a Person of Destiny can come from a rough and stained background. You don’t have to be perfect. Joseph went through far beyond what the average Christian will ever go through. But God's Presence is so evident in Joseph that God is everywhere in his life.
PURPOSES OF GOD’S DETOUR: (EXODUS 13:17-18)
Exodus 13:17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle. 21 By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
1. God Was PROTECTING Them From Danger. They traveled in circles because it was God's providential plan.
2. God Was KEEPING Them From Danger. God was getting them ready for WHERE He wanted them to be. God was getting them ready for WHAT He wanted them to do.
3. God Was DEVELOPING Them Even In Danger. Why? Because there will be difficulties where you are destined to be.
4. God Was DIRECTING Them Through The Danger. Because you have not been this way before, trust the leading of God.
CHARACTERISTRICS OF DETOURS.
1. Detours Will Come - Times of God’s construction in our lives to bring us down new paths and opportunities to accomplish His plans and Destiny for us and others.
2. Detours Appear Suddenly & Without Warning. One day you are perfectly well, but the next day you are lying in a hospital.
3. Detours Do Not Mean You Have Sinned. Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. E.g. Detour, Police, Criminal.
4. Seldom Do We Know The Length Of The Detour. When the highway sign points out a detour, you take it without knowing how long it is going to be.
5. On A Detour You Drive More Or Less By Faith. The detour road you have not traveled before. Therefore, you must follow the signs to bring you back on your route (Rom. 8:28).
6. Most Detours Are Rough And Winding. I don't believe I have ever seen a good detour road. They take you out of your way, delay your arrival, and must be traveled slowly & carefully.
7. On A Detour With God Can, Sometimes, Be Perplexing (Exodus 13:17). Principle of Progress: What is easiest may not always be what is best. A "nearer" way but not a better way.
8. A Detour May Have Its Good Points. I have found in my experience as a traveler that sometimes the most beautiful scenery is found on the detour road.
9. A Detour Always Leads To An Appreciation Of The Good Highway. Getting back on the main road always brings comfort and relief.
10. A Detour Is Always Intended By God To Be Temporarily. 1 Peter 5:10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
11. On A Detour With God Is Progressive: What may seem at times like a "backward" step may in fact be "forward" motion. Psalm 37:23-24 The steps of a good man are ordered…
CONCLUSION: CHOICES ABOUT DETOURS
1. You Can Turn Around & Go Back: Some weak, cowardly people take this way out of difficulty.
2. You Can Take The Detour & Grumble & Complain About It All The Time: Many do this and never enter just like the Israelites – Moses, Aaron, Miriam, sons of Aaron, all men over 40 - except Joshua & Caleb. They saw God in the problems and trusted Him.
3. You Can Accept The Detours Of Life & Trust God: Rom. 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Paul adopted such an attitude - 2 Cor. 12:9 And he said unto me My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness..." Jesus adopted this attitude – Luke 23:34 Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Stephen adopted this attitude – Acts 7:60: Father, lay not this sin to their charge. Joseph adopted this attitude – Genesis 45: 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh...
BEGIN HERE (5C): FROM JOSEPH, WE MUST TRUST GOD IN THE DETOURS OF LIFE
1. Detours May Not Make Sense, But God Has Reasons For Every Detour. The Bible records God’s thoughts about the detour He provided for Israel: Exodus 13:17: When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they will change their minds and return to Egypt." They did not perceive His reasons just as we do when going through detours. We complain.
2. Detours Cause Us To See God’s Character More Clearly. God is our Eternal Comfort, but unless He places us in uncomfortable positions, we will not know. He is our Shepherd, but we will never know unless we are lost and in danger and suffering.
3. God Uses Detours To Plant Us In The Heavenly Places With Christ. The bright orange signs that lead through detours are not in vain. They help us know the way through the construction site. Through situations, God is doing the same – making us Heavenly minded.
4. Detour May Last For Years Before We See The Benefits. After decades & detours before Joseph's position in a foreign was established at just the right time. Detours may take years.
5. Detours Leading To Your Destiny Will Attract Enemies & Friends. God may send you through detours to connect with the enemies and friends that will help shape the destiny – Thank God for the brothers, thank God for the Potiphar’s wife.
6. Detour Will Have Big Kingdom Impact No Matter How Small To Us. Saul, from hunting down and wanting to kill followers of Jesus, he became the greatest missionary ever.
7. Detours May Be For The Blessing Of Others. Abraham was a herder of livestock and God told him to leave and set out for a place He would show him. Through Abraham "all the peoples on earth will be blessed ". Abram's detour resulted in all nations on earth being blessed.
8. Detours Are Often A Regular Part Of God’s Plan In Guiding Us To Our Destiny. God will often give us a glimpse of our destiny long before we reach it. E.g. He told Abraham there would be 400-year detour in Egypt before the Promised Land. But it is shrouded in mystery. He shows Joseph the end, not the in-between. How will it happen? God does not say. Why? Because when we know the blue print, we try to manipulate the outcome. Example: Shakespeare’s Macbeth: Three witches predict that Macbeth will be promoted as Thane of Glamis. Then Thane of Cawdor! And finally be king hereafter. This goes to his head. Murders begin. When he goes back for more surety of his position, the witches tell him he should be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm him. They add that he will never be defeated until the entire forest of the Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill uproots and moves against him in battle. Macbeth takes solace in these witches and states: “Then I am invincible for no one can impress the vast forests to move in battle.” But that was all a seeming lie. We don’t like to read the Word but go seeking after miracles and wonders. Pastors now dabble in witchcraft for miracles. Jannes and Jambres’ rods also turned into snakes but not by the power of God. Moses’ serpent swallowed theirs.
9. Detours Come Because Of Development & Development Takes Time, Tests, Failure, & Overcoming. God knows each one of us individually and what it takes to develop each of us.
10. Detours Come To Open Our Eyes To New Possibilities – Things We Never Might Have Seen Or Considered.
11. Detours Come To Make Us Pick Up People Along the Way - And Distinguish Enemies From Friends. Naomi picked up Ruth. Genesis 13:3 – He picked up Hagar
12. Detours Come To Amplify Your Problems For Others To See - So they can testify to our victory (Isaiah 41:18-20 I will make rivers flow on barren heights… and turn the desert into pools of water, and the dried ground into springs… The desert shall have forests of wood. Why? 20 so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this.
13. Detours Come To Make Others Want To Become Like You & Serve Your God – People Becoming Jews Because they saw God’s hand of blessings on the Jews even in their poverty. Esther 8:17 People want to be Jews because fear of Jews seized them (Persia). In Exodus a mixed multitude wanting to be Jews went with them.
14. Detours Come To Teach Us To Speak With Discretion. Joseph was a dreamer, but part of what made his brothers envious was that Joseph shared these dreams. Don’t cast pearls…
15. Detours Come To Teach Us That Doing The Right Thing Does Not Always Lead To Physical Relief. In the house of Potiphar, he refused to compromise and landed in jail.
16. Detours Come To Teach Us That There’s No Excuse That’s Good Enough To Break God’s Commandments: Losing all at a young age, betrayed, sold, lied on, Joseph had all reasons to do his own thing - have excuses and compromised principles but he did not.
17. Detours Come To Teach Us The Art Of Delayed Gratification: We live in a world of instant gratification. For God’s sake, wait. Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Joseph could have succumbed to the seduction of Potiphar’s wife and enjoy the pleasure of sin. But he said: Genesis 39:9 “How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God.” Instead of giving in, he “left his garment in her hand, and ran outside”.
18. Detours Come To Teach Us To Trust God, Not Circumstances: When you find yourself in the pits, the tendency is to turn your back on God and think He’s forgotten you. “The Lord was with Joseph...” is repeated so many times in the Story of Joseph.
19. Detours Come To Teach Us It Pays To Have Integrity: Joseph’s life is a powerful testimony of the long-term effects of integrity. Temptation will come, but Grace protects from Satan’s traps.
20. Detours Come To Teach Us To Give God The Glory: Joseph knew his gift to interpret dreams came from God. He never took credit & always focused on giving God the glory for all he did.
21. Detours Come To Teach Us To Fully Forgive: Forgiveness not only will heal your relationship, but it will also keep your heart free from bitterness and deep-rooted resentment from the past.
22. Detours Come To Teach Us Humility: Deuteronomy 8:2: Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.
23. Detours Come To Teach Us That Even If You Find Yourself In “Prison,” Don’t Lose Hope In God’s Promises, the Dawn is coming. Joseph’s dreams probably felt like a distant memory while he was in prison… but God remained with Joseph in that prison. He gave him favor with the chief jailer... Wait on God, that call will come one day. Job 14:14 …All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
SOME OF THE DETOURS OF LIFE
1. Health Problems
2. Marital Problems
3. Financial Problems
4. Enemies & Dream Killers
5. Gossipers
6. Immigration
7. Professional Problems
8. Deception
9. Failures
10. I Am Too Young 11. Disappointments
12. Family Background
13. Fear Of Death
14. I Am Getting Old
15. What Other People Think
16. Difficult People
17. Negativism
18. State Of The World
19. Demons And Satan
20. What Will People Say? 21. Spiritual Stagnation
22. Addiction
23. Messed Up Home
24. Bad Dreams
25. Ancestral Oppression
26. Poverty
27. Stressed Out
28. Hate Your Looks.
29. Less Academic
30. Low Self-Esteem
INTERCESSORY: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER DETOURS (EXODUS 14: 8-10)
Don't Stop And Murmur, But March On. This disappointment might be God's "appointment" to prove that blessing can follow bitterness. Rom. 5:3-5 “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
1. Refuse Fear:
a) Fear makes us skeptical (Exo. 14:11a Because there were no graves…).
b) Fear makes us selfish – we focus on self (Exo. 14:11b What is this you have done to us?).
c) Fear makes us stubborn (Exo. 14:12a We told you to leave us alone in Egypt…).
d) Fear makes us short-sighted (Exo. 14:12b “It would have been better we die in Egypt…)
2. Renew Your Faith - Three Steps:
a) Let go: (Exo. 14:13a"…Do not be afraid...") Recognize God is in control.
b) Look up: (Exo. 14:13-14 "stand still & see". Fear causes flight. Faith stands & looks to God.
c) Launch out: (Exo. 14:15 “Tell the people to move on". There's time to pray and a time to act. A time to wait and a time to go.
4 THINGS ABOUT ISRAEL & CHRISTIANS
1. People: God never forgets he has a people of covenant.
2. Promise: God Gave His Word or promise To Abraham, Isaac, Jacob.
3. Property: Go has a heritage or possession for his people.
4. Presence Of God: God Will Always Be with his people no matter what.
THEY FORGOT THAT WHEN WHEN GOD DETOURS YOU… HE NEVER LEAVES YOU…
1. Exodus 13:20 So they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness. 21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. 22 He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.
2. Exodus 30: “The Lord was with Joseph” is mentioned over 8 (eight) times.
JOSEPH AWOKE ONE MORNING & HIS STORY HAD CHANGED.
