We don't seek to escape this life by dreaming of heaven. But we do find we can endure this life because of the certainty of heaven. Heaven is eternal. Earth is temporal. Those who fix all their affections of the fleeting things of this world are the real escapists, because they are vainly attempting to avoid facing eternity - by hiding in the fleeting shadows of things that are only but lasting only for a short time.
Many things happen in the events of life, we form our characters, our morals, our attitudes, our thought process, our ethics, from what we choose to believe to what we reject, in the events of life we are shaped. Many when going through the rough streams of life develop hatred toward humanity and God, disappointments build a distrust and suspicion. Being let down by someone you trust for some will make you independent and hard working for others to a place of isolation, many things happen through the events of life.
How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.
In the Bible there is a young man by the name of Jospeh, He was a man that God used mightily, so mightily that with God’s help was able to sustain a nation from perishing from a famine in the land. And what we are going to read will be a series of events that occurred that would shape and change not only his life but others forever.
1st Point “The pain never imagined”
Genesis? ?37:10-11, 18-28???
“And he told it to his father [as well as] his brethren. But his father rebuked him and said to him, What is the meaning of this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow down ourselves to the earth and do homage to you? Joseph's brothers envied him and were jealous of him, but his father observed the saying and pondered over it. And when they saw him far off, even before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him. And they said one to another, See, here comes this dreamer and master of dreams. So come on now, let us kill him and throw his body into some pit; then we will say [to our father], Some wild and ferocious animal has devoured him; and we shall see what will become of his dreams! Now Reuben heard it and he delivered him out of their hands by saying, Let us not kill him. And Reuben said to them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit or well that is out here in the wilderness and lay no hand on him. He was trying to get Joseph out of their hands in order to rescue him and deliver him again to his father. When Joseph had come to his brothers, they stripped him of his [distinctive] long garment which he was wearing; Then they took him and cast him into the [well-like] pit which was empty; there was no water in it. Then they sat down to eat their lunch. When they looked up, behold, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites [mixed Arabians] coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum [of the styrax tree], balm (balsam), and myrrh or ladanum, going on their way to carry them down to Egypt. And Judah said to his brothers, What do we gain if we slay our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites [and Midianites, these mixed Arabians who are approaching], and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brothers consented. Then as the Midianite [and Ishmaelite] merchants were passing by, the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the well. And they sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took Joseph [captive] into Egypt.”
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Joseph was probably unwise in telling the first dream (knowing how irritating it was to his brothers) he was even more wrong sharing this second dream, especially because it set him not only above his brothers, but also set him above his father and mother.
Joseph seems to have been afflicted with the sort of pride often apparent among the favored and blessed. He was so focused on how great his dreams were for him, he didn’t begin to consider how the dreams would sound in the ears of others. Think with me with what his brothers said.
Look, this dreamer is coming! It isn’t hard to see how unwise it was for Joseph to tell his dreams in the way he did. It only made his brothers hate him. They derisively called him this dreamer. People will either accept or reject by how you come across as a child of God, either arrogant or compassionate.
They decided to defeat Joseph’s offending dreams by attacking him. Without intending to, they put Joseph’s dreams to the ultimate test. If the dreams really were from God, they could not be defeated by the hatred of the brothers.
Reuben one of his brothers could have simply rose up and said, “This is wrong! We can’t do this!” He didn’t because though he wanted to do right by Joseph without alienating his brothers and his desire to be nice to everyone failed to prevent a great evil. The good Reuben wanted to do (bring him back to his father) would not happen.
The tunic of many colors was the sign of the father’s special favor. The brothers must have had a perverse pleasure as they ripped it off Joseph, and it must have been particularly painful for Joseph to have it torn off him. Then they threw him in a pit then ate. When others see the favor of God in your life they will try to strip it from you.
The heartless character of these brothers was clear – they could eat a meal with Joseph nearby in the pit. They could sit down and enjoy food while their hearts were bent on murdering their brother. This was a shocking demonstration of the depravity of the human heart – but it isn’t the last demonstration. It’s very hard to see when those you think love you can go on with life and not even flinch knowing they have caused you pain.
For example, in 1995 Susan Smith deliberately drowned her own children and lied to the country about the children being kidnapped. We usually think someone who committed such an act would be overwhelmed by remorse, but her ability to put on a false face about such a horrific crime shows how deceitful our hearts can be.
The brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver: The account is so shocking as to be numbing. We don’t know if we should think more highly of Joseph’s brothers because they decided to spare his life or less highly of them because they figured they could get rid of him and make a little money at the same time. Apparently they considered that their brother was only worth twenty shekels of silver. They thought so little of the life of their brother they sold him and at a cheap price.
2nd Point “What shapes our lives”
The events of life should not determine our faithfulness to God but for some it does, people might go through the same trial and one might grow closer to God and the other might turn away from God, one might thank God for the growth the other will blame Him for the event. In Joseph we will never find that He questioned God in the events of His life.
He was betrayed, ridiculed, sold into slavery, punished for doing no wrong, and it doesn’t stop there, there were more events that took place to help him in his journey coming into all that God had for his life.
Genesis? ?39:2-5, 7-9, 14-20? ??
2 “But the Lord was with Joseph, and he [though a slave] was a successful and prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all that he did to flourish and succeed in his hand. [Gen. 21:22; 26:27, 28; 41:38, 39.] So Joseph pleased [Potiphar] and found favor in his sight, and he served him. And [his master] made him supervisor over his house and he put all that he had in his charge. From the time that he made him supervisor in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the Lord's blessing was on all that he had in the house and in the field.
7 Then after a time his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph, and she said, Lie with me. But he refused and said to his master's wife, See here, with me in the house my master has concern about nothing; he has put all that he has in my care. He is not greater in this house than I am; nor has he kept anything from me except you, for you are his wife. How then can I do this great evil and sin against God?
14 She called to the men of her household and said to them, Behold, he [your master] has brought in a Hebrew to us to mock and insult us; he came in where I was to lie with me, and I screamed at the top of my voice. And when he heard me screaming and crying, he left his garment with me and fled and got out of the house. And she laid up his garment by her until his master came home. Then she told him the same story, saying, The Hebrew servant whom you brought among us came to me to mock and insult me. And when I screamed and cried, he left his garment with me and fled out [of the house]. And when [Joseph's] master heard the words of his wife, saying to him, This is the way your servant treated me, his wrath was kindled. And Joseph's master took him and put him in the prison, a place where the state prisoners were confined; so he was there in the prison.”
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Beloved again Jospeh did what was right before God and was lied about, was betrayed and now he was placed back in prison. If anyone had a reason to dislike, disown and reject God it would’ve been Joseph, but he kept his heart right before God and God honored his faithfulness.
Joseph’s ordeal was probably worse than any of us have gone through. Yet God did not abandon him even in the smallest way. If God allowed Joseph to be a slave, then he would be a successful man even as a slave.
We often complain to God that He put us in a terrible or difficult place. Yet God’s will is that we trust Him to bless us and make us successful (as He measures success) wherever we are. He was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian: Even at this early point when it seemed Joseph had no control over circumstances – and indeed, he had none – God overruled the evil choices of man to accomplish His eternal purpose.
By his trust in God, diligent work, and blessing from God, Joseph showed Potiphar that God was real. The same principle should be lived out by followers of Jesus today; others should see the difference Jesus makes in our lives by the way we work. Because of God’s blessing and Joseph’s faithfulness, God made sure Joseph was advanced in his position, even as a slave.
Romans 1:16-18
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
It would have been easy for Joseph to do what we so often do: think little of his present position because it seemed so bad (he was a slave, after all). But Joseph believed God could bless him right where he was, so he didn’t wait for a better situation to be blessed by God. After the same principle, blessing can be brought upon our workplace because of our presence of godliness.
Clearly, Joseph rose to the top, but it took a while to happen. Joseph was 17 years old when he was sold into slavery (Genesis 37:2). He was 30 when Pharaoh promoted him (Genesis 41:46), and had been in prison for two years before that (Genesis 41:1). So he was in Potiphar’s house for 11 years. It took 11 years for the full measure of God’s blessing to be accomplished in Joseph’s life.
11 years seems like a long time. Many think if advancement is from God, it must come quickly. Sometimes this is the case, but not normally. Normally, God allows good things to develop slowly. Human children have the longest development time both in the womb and in childhood compared to animals. It takes many years for an acorn to become an oak; a squash might grow almost overnight.
As God was developing Joseph the enemy was preparing to destroy him by the wife of Potiphar, she had her eyes on him and one day she requested him to lie with her. Joseph showed remarkable faithfulness towards God, Potiphar, and himself by resisting this temptation for so long – perhaps for up to 11 years. Many character qualities helped in this.
Joseph let his faith be known. Potiphar (and others, presumably) knew Joseph was blessed because of his relationship with God (Genesis 39:3). Joseph had to have said something about his relationship with God for this to be the case. Joseph just said “No!” He refused. Sometimes it just comes down to that. One must refuse and say no to sin, even when they feel like saying yes. Knowing the fleshly inclination of men – their ability to detach sex from romance and love, and be promiscuous – this was wonderful obedience on the part of Joseph.
How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? Obedience is much easier when we know who God is. Because Joseph knew and loved God, the thought of sinning against Him was unpleasant. If God blessed Joseph in the pit, if He blessed Joseph the slave, we are not surprised to see that He blessed Joseph in prison. None of these terrible circumstances changed or defeated God’s plan for Joseph’s life. Even after Joseph was falsely accused and thrown into prison, God still blessed:
3rd Point “What the enemy meant for evil, God meant for good”
Genesis? ?42:9 ???
“And Joseph remembered the dreams he had dreamed about them ????????
Now the country is in a state of need there arose a great famine in the land, no one had food, no one had anything to eat people are about to die of starvation but remember God was with Joseph and gave him wisdom to deal wisely but now all the betrayal, all the hurt and the ones who gave him into slavery, everything he has ever been through and the people that began this whole process has now been set before his eyes, his brothers who do not recognize him have now come to him for help, all the events in his life that have now shaped Joesphs life are for this moment in time. To save a nation.
They have come to bow down before Joseph and pay homage to him, let’s remember the dreams, for God was with Joseph and kept His promises. Yet his brothers did not know who he was yet. This must have been a very hard thing for Joseph, to keep his identity from his family, to restrain himself and also to see that God had planned this event to bring it to this moment as God was shaping Joseph through the events of life. Then he reveals himself.
Genesis? ?45:1, 3????
1 “Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence.”
But remember beloved God was with Joseph as He is with those who are faithful. God is with you and I as well. See beloved we don’t like to think that the trials we go through are for our good and for the glory of God but beloved they are, if God is for us who can be against us and the scripture always fulfills itself in the events of life to glorify the King.
Genesis? ?50:19-21????
“Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.”
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Joseph first understood he was not in the place of God. It wasn’t his job to bring retribution upon his brothers. If the Lord chose to punish them, He would have to find an instrument other than Joseph. From a human perspective, Joseph had the right and the ability to bring retribution upon his brothers, but he knew God was God and he was not. Such retribution was God’s place, not Joseph’s.
As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good: Joseph did not romanticize the wrong his brothers did. He plainly said, “You meant evil against me.” Although this was true, it was not the greatest truth. The greatest truth was “God meant it for good.” Every Christian should be able to see the overarching and overruling hand of God in their life; to know that no matter what evil man brings against us, God can use it for good.
Joseph did not have the text of Romans 8:28, but he had the truth of it: 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. Sadly, many of us who have the text do not have the truth. Ultimately, our lives are not in the hands of men, but in the hands of God, who overrules all things for His glory.
As said before, if Joseph’s brothers never sold him to the Midianites, then Joseph never went to Egypt. If Joseph never went to Egypt, he was never sold to Potiphar. If he was never sold to Potiphar, Potiphar’s wife never falsely accused him of rape. If Potiphar’s wife never falsely accused him of rape, then he was never put in prison. If he was never put in prison, he never met the baker and butler of Pharaoh. If he never met the baker and butler of Pharaoh, he never interpreted their dreams. If he never interpreted their dreams, he never got to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. If he never got to interpret Pharaoh’s dream, he never became prime minister. If he never became prime minister, he never wisely administrated for the severe famine coming upon the region. If he never wisely administrated for the severe famine coming upon the region, then his family back in Canaan perished from the famine. If his family back in Canaan perished from the famine, then the Messiah could not come forth from a dead family. If the Messiah could not come forth, then Jesus never came. If Jesus never came, then we are all dead in our sins and without hope in this world. We are grateful for God’s great and wise plan.
Beloved through the events of life is where we can see God move when we stay faithful even in the most difficult times in life. What the enemy means for evil God will use it for His good and bring us through and shape us into the men and women of God He has called us to be.
