We’re going to look at Joseph, who was Jacob’s second youngest son. Remember how his father had given him the coat of many colors? It was a coat that set him apart from his brothers in terms of authority and rank in the family. Remember how his brothers were none too happy with him having that coat? And Joseph, being the brilliant young man that he was, couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Not only did he have his father’s love and authority Joseph also had two dreams and he was eager to share them with his brothers.
The first one had to do with the sheaves bowing down before him and worshiping him, and of course, you know his brothers were thrilled with that dream They patted him on the back and thanked him for sharing it with them so much that they even had a party for him. No! They were highly agitated with that dream because how dare he, the youngest in the family, believe that the dream represented them bowing down to him and worshiping him!
Now Joseph didn’t catch the hint the first time when his brothers weren’t happy with the first dream. So he has a second dream and he was even more thrilled to share that the moon and the stars are circulating him and worshiping him. He shared that dream. So not only did he get his brothers upset but his mom and dad were not too happy either. They said so you’re saying that all of us are going to be worshiping you? That’s what you’re telling us?
So in Genesis 37, Jacob sends Joseph to look for his brothers. The interesting thing about this was he had already told his father he didn’t think his brothers were doing what he’d ask them to do. So Jacob sends Joseph out to the fields to see the work his brothers were doing. But guess what? No brothers. They were not in the field doing what their father thought they would be doing. A man tells him that they were in Dothan. Joseph goes to Dothan and shows up and we’re going to pick it up in verse 23.
(23) And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him.
They’re having a good time doing what they’re not supposed to be doing and they see Joseph. I want you to see what the brothers had said earlier about Joseph.
(20) Come now therefore, and let us slay him and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
Can you imagine the anger that he must have elicited from his brothers that they would want to kill him? We only see the record about the dreams, but you have to know that there were a lot of other things going on in their lives for such anger, for such resentment to build up that you would want to kill your brother. I have two brothers and two sisters. I cannot imagine what that’s like. I cannot imagine what they could do to me that would make me respond the way Joseph’s brothers did.
(21) And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; And said, let us not kill him.
(22) And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hands upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.
Reuben planned to get them to throw Joseph into the pit and then, at some point, go back and get him out and take him back home to his father. That was Reuben’s plan.
(23) And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him.
Notice the first thing they did. They took away his authority. That was the first thing that they did. In essence, they were saying “So much for your dreams Joseph.”
(24) And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.
They had no intention of letting Joseph out of that pit. None. Now notice what they do next.
(25) And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.
They sat down to eat while their brother was in the pit. Get the image ladies and gentlemen. This is how much they despise Joseph.
(26) And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?
(27) Come, let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him: for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren what content.
Who was the one who delivered brothers? Judah. Jesus is referred to as what? The lion of Judah. So, do you think it is an accident that Judah was the one who saved his brother? We are going to see this more clearly later on. His brothers sell him to merchants, who were Midianites. Now, jump down to verse 36.
(36) And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s and captain of the guard.
So, let’s review for just a moment before we go to chapter 39. Joseph has two dreams. In them, his family was going to be paying homage to him, but now Joseph finds himself in a pit far away from those dreams. And then, not only that, he’s taken out of the pit and he sold like a common slave.
Now let’s go to chapter 39. We’re going to read the first six verses.
(1) And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
(2) And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the House of his master the Egyptian.
Hold your finger here and go to Hebrews 13. Remember when Joseph was in the pit and then he was sold? Do you think maybe he asked himself, “Where is God?”
In Hebrews 13, let’s look at verses 5 and 6.
(5) Let your conversation (your way of living) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
(6) So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me.”
God was with Joseph the whole time. Whatever you are going through, it doesn’t matter how it looks, the Lord is with you. The problem comes when we take our eyes off of Him and focus on the problem. Then the problem overwhelms us to the point that we can’t see God.
Scripture tells us that while Joseph was going through these things, the Lord was with him. And we have to believe that when we’re going through things that we don’t like, that hurt us, that make us angry, that makes us want to take revenge – we have to realize that God is with us.
Sometimes the most difficult thing for us is not to do something when we have been done wrong. It’s something in our makeup. When you take a step to right a wrong, you step outside the will of God. If you’re trying to handle your business, God can’t. Whenever you want to take care of your business think about Adam and Eve. They took care of their business and it killed us all. If you want to kill God in your life, start trying to take over your life.
We see in Joseph that his circumstances were not an indicator of whether or not God was in his life.
I want to share something that you will find interesting. Joseph was a slave, but this verse says he was prosperous. How could he be prosperous in the way that we understand prosperity today? He didn’t own anything. Everything he had responsibility for belonged to his master.
Everything we have belongs to whom? Us. No, it doesn’t, but we act like it. From God’s point of view, everything you do is for the Kingdom. If you are not making decisions that further the needs of the Kingdom you are outside his will. Joseph was a steward, a caretaker, of what belonged to his master. So how could he prosper?
The word “prosper” means “to advance, make progress, succeed, be profitable.” Do we see money anywhere in this definition?
A dear friend of mine gave me a definition of prosperity that has stuck with me. He said prosperity is when you pray for someone, whether the person is blind, lane, in a wheelchair – whatever the situation – and the person is healed! That is the definition of prosperity!
Joseph was prosperous because of the value he brought to his position. He had a pipeline from heaven that helped him solve problems. Everything Joseph did benefit his master.
Now back to Genesis 39.
(3) And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
What was it that Potiphar saw? The things that Joseph did mean success for his house. That’s what he saw. Do you want to know why God wants us to prosper? It’s so that people will know we have a connection with Him. He wants us noticed so the door can be opened for us to share the gospel.
Let me give you an example. Ed is on the job and people notice that he seems to be the go-to guy when difficult situations arise. So, a coworker asks him how he’s able to do what he does. Ed says when I’m faced with a problem, the first thing I do is pray. The first thing I do is seek God. That’s number one. I thank God and then I wait for Him to tell me what I need to know. The says the God you serve does that for you? Ed says, yeah, He does that for me. And then the person asks Ed, do you think the God you serve will do that for me? The whole point of prosperity ladies and gentlemen is to expand the Kingdom.
Who caused Joseph to prosper? God. Your Heavenly Father! In the next verse, we’re going to see the results of God being with Joseph.
(4) And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
Who did Joseph serve? Potiphar. But who did Joseph also serve? God. Serving God was Joseph’s priory. Potiphar benefited from Joseph’s service to God.
Potiphar owned Joseph. For the sake of this example, your job “owns” you. If God is with you and He is blessing you, then guess what happens when you are on your job? You bless your job, your boss, your organization. Sometimes we forget that wherever we are God is with us and God’s blessings flow with us if we hearken to his voice and then diligently do what he tells us to do.
(5) And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
Go back to Genesis 39 and look at verse 2. “And the Lord was with Joseph.” Look at verse 21. “But the Lord was with Joseph.” Look at verse 23. “Because the Lord was with him.” Three times in one chapter. God is making a point.
Turn to chapter 41. Between chapters 39 and 41 a lot happens. Potiphar’s wife chases after Joseph and when he was not interested, she got upset. And the interesting thing about Joseph’s non-interest was his explanation in Genesis 39 and the latter part of verse nine.
“There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
Do you see this? It wasn’t about Potiphar at all. Joseph says how can he do such wickedness to God. So when you think about your actions, when you think about your wanting retribution, when you think about your wanting revenge, ask yourself how can you do such wickedness against the Lord your God?
Because Potiphar’s wife accused Joseph, Genesis 39:20 says he was placed in the prison where royal servants were placed. And verse 21 reminds us “But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”
In Genesis 41, let’s read verse one.
“And it came to pass at the end of two full years, the Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.”
Between the time that Joseph was in Potiphar’s house and he was put in prison, the Bible says he found favor with the person over the prison. Before we get to chapter 41, Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh’s baker and butler. You know the story. Both interpretations happened just as Joseph said they would because, as he tells them, God had given him the interpretation.
The point I want you to see is this. Chapter 39 says that God was with Joseph and that he was prosperous. Everything that Joseph did benefited Potiphar. And because of his value to Potiphar, he wasn’t put in a common prison.
? Joseph’s prosperity led to him being put in the king’s prison.
? Joseph’s prosperity led him to have favor with the keeper of the prison.
? Joseph’s prosperity led him to talk to the butler and the baker who had had dreams and he says “Let me talk to God and see what He has to say about your dream because all interpretations of dreams come from Him.”
? Joseph’s prosperity then led to Genesis 41, verse one, where he was in the king’s prison when the king, Pharaoh, had two dreams.
Joseph interprets the dream – God interprets the dream – for Pharaoh. We know the story. Jump down to verse 37. After God had interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, verse 37 says,
(37) And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.
(38) And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
(39) And Pharaoh said until Joseph, for as much 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 to thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
In Genesis 37, when Joseph was in that pit that his brothers had put him in, do you think that he had any idea what was down the road for him? No. All he could see was the bottom of that pit and the top of that pit. He had no idea what his faithfulness to God was working out in his life.
Ladies and gentlemen, you may be in a pit right now and your life may be spiraling downward and you don’t understand what’s going on. But take a lesson from Joseph. Your pit maybe your now – now you understand the title of the lesson – your pit maybe your now but your end may be something similar to Joseph’s. Your now does not have to be your end.
Joseph had no clue that he was going to be standing before Pharaoh. From the time he had the dream, was put in the pit, and standing before Pharaoh was about 13 years. That’s a long time to think that God may not be with you anymore, but God was with him the whole time!
Joseph continued to do the things that he did that honored God during those 13 years. Things are going on in our lives for two weeks and we are worn out! It’s just been two weeks and we think God what’s going on? It’s been two weeks, not 13 ½ years! Think about it. You are not living in a one-hour sitcom where they solve your problems! It takes more than an hour. It took you more than an hour to get into it!
It’s going to take some time and it starts with changing you first! There’s no way of getting out of a problem if you are not changed. And the only way you’re going to change is if you set aside yourself and let God take over. You must allow God to lead you. His will must become or wills.
This is what I want to say. But haven’t you said enough? No! (Laughter) Joseph was in that pit and he had no idea that somewhere down the road he was going to have the influence over Pharaoh. You come into contact with people every single day. They’re looking at you. They’re watching you. They’re measuring you to see if what you say lines up with what you do. You claim to be a Christian. You claim to trust God. You claim to have faith. They’re watching you. They’re listening to you.
Now listen to me. You don’t know if one of those folks listening to you has the potential to have that kind of influence and the kind of power that Pharaoh had. You could influence someone who has that kind of potential and not even know it.
Do you see what I’m saying to you? It is your walk with God that people are looking at. And if you're acting just like they’re acting, they will ask themselves why should I pay any attention to you? You have no idea who you are influencing. None.
True story. At my Dad’s funeral, my brother-in-law, before we had the funeral said Before I met Daddy, everyone called my father that, he said that "I did not go to church a lot and I did not study my Bible a lot. But John would get up every morning, he would make his bowl of oatmeal, pour his cup of coffee and pull out his Sunday School quarterly – every single morning. He never questioned me about why I wasn’t doing it. He didn’t make me feel bad for not doing it. It was just something John did every morning. And I looked at John and said to myself, he’s doing this for a reason and I need to find out what that reason is.
So my dad, simply getting up in the morning and doing what he always did, influenced my brother-in-law to get back into church and spend more time with God. My Dad didn’t say anything to him – directly. My brother-in-law just watched him.
Who is watching you? A pharaoh may be watching you. Now let’s not say you know a pharaoh who’s like president United States. But think about a person who influences what they do and, because they’re watching you and they’re listening to you, they’re taking what you say and what you do and repeating it in their areas of influence. And the folks in their area of influence are influencing others and you didn’t even know it.
So when you get to heaven, God will say come over here I want to show you something. And He reaches over and pulls back the curtain and you see all these people – that you never met. You only recognize the person you hung around the coffee pot with every day. You would talk about scripture a little bit and what’s going on in your life and what you believed. You never condemned the person. You just shared your life. The person took what you shared back to his or her group and someone in that group shared some of the things with another group and what you said to one person multiplied.
And you are not thinking about hey, I’m having a lot of influence here. No, you are simply trying to reach one person and hopefully, you’ve done that. And because of that one person, God pulls back the curtain back and you see thousands of people. And he says, well done My child. Well done!
Let’s close with the first seven verses of Genesis 45.
(1) Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.
(2) And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.
(3) And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; Doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
(4) And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.
(5) Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
Do you see this? Because Joseph was obedient and did no wicked thing before God – remember Potiphar’s wife? God was able to use him to preserve the life of his family.
Let’s look at the big picture about the life that Joseph preserved. Because of Joseph, Abraham and his family lived. If they had not lived, guess who could not have been born? Jesus! Do you see the life that Joseph preserved?
(6) For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
(7) And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
So what can we learn from this record in Genesis?
? Your circumstances are not an indicator of God’s presence in your life.
? Don’t let the seemingly constant barrage of circumstances wear you down and stop you from believing that God is with you.
? Your faithfulness will allow God to take you from your now to your expected end.
? And finally, your end will be better than your now.
Amen?
