Genesis 40:20-41:37
Genesis 40:20-41:37
A couple weeks ago in our Restoration Series about the life of Joseph I had the privilege of teaching through Genesis 40. Joseph is such a model for us on how to respond to God when things are difficult and are just not going our way.
Joseph has been sold by his family, thrown into prison for something that he did not do, and now he is in prison looking for a way out. The question that we asked on that Sunday was… “We always expect a happy ending but what happens when the happy ending isn’t coming or is coming slower than we would like?”
As we looked at how Joseph responded we saw several things…
1) JOSEPH WALKED WITH GOD…
He did not let his difficult circumstances be a reason that he didn’t walk with God. He didn’t use them as an excuse. Instead he let them be a catalyst to depend upon God and walk with Him!
2) JOSEPH LIVED WITH INTEGRITY…
He was honest with those around him about their dreams. He lived uprightly. He did not manipulate his position of power to get what he wanted. He did the right thing and left the consequences to God.
3) JOSEPH PATIENTLY TRUSTED GOD…
Joseph, even when he wasn’t delivered in “his timing” (Gen. 41:1) - He still trusted in God and His sovereignty… He knew that God was good and that He was trustworthy. He knew His character.
But I want to focus on Genesis 41 today. It's very intriguing. Joseph is “delivered from the pit”... from the prison. He is standing before Pharaoh. The “happy ending” is seemingly around the corner for Joseph but HE DID NOT CHANGE.
Often, when the circumstances of our lives start to resolve themselves we revert back. We go back to who we were. Sometimes we stop living for God with the same passion.
But when I watch Joseph and I see the way he lived his life I see two things…
1) HE DID NOT CHANGE TO GET DELIVERED…
2) HE DID NOT CHANGE ONCE HE WAS DELIVERED…
This shows that it really was not about getting what he wanted but about following and honoring God.
When Joseph is pulled out of prison to go before Pharaoh to interpret his dream he knows that this is his chance. This is his chance to get out of prison.
Will he trust in himself or will he be dependent upon God? What if Pharaoh's interpretation isn’t favorable? Won’t he leave me in prison? What if I am sent back?
He had a choice… He made his choice. He was not going to change. He was still going to walk with God, live with integrity, and trust God. Look at verse 8…
“Joseph answered Pharoah, “it is NOT IN ME; GOD WILL GIVE…”
He told Pharaoh… This comes from God! He goes on to listen to Pharaoh’s dream and then he brings meaning to it. God will bring 7 good years and then 7 famine years… so what you should do is create a reserve of food so that when the famine comes you are ready.
Bold move by Joseph…
1) PHARAOH DID NOT HAVE A GODLY WORLDVIEW…
Pharaoh didn’t believe in the same God that Joseph was speaking about… but Joseph didn’t shy back; He boldly proclaimed the name of God and the power of God to Pharaoh - no matter the cost.
2) IT WASN’T ALL GOOD NEWS…
Sure, there were going to be 7 good years. BUT there were also going to be 7 years of famine. Joseph had to be nervous to give the bad half of that news to someone who could put him back in prison or even kill him… but he was honest… again.
3) HE TOLD PHARAOH HOW TO RUN HIS COUNTRY…
To Pharaoh, Joseph is just some guy in prison. When Joseph interprets his dream he tells him how to RUN HIS COUNTRY! He tells him to fill up food reserves to prepare what God (a God he doesn’t believe in) is going to do (based on a dream interpretation).
This could have gone horribly, horribly wrong. EXCEPT God was in the midst of it. Look at verse 37…
“This proposal PLEASED PHARAOH and all of his servants.”
God protected Joseph. He allowed it to be well received. And as we will see… Joseph didn’t just not change to get delivered… He is not going to change once he is delivered.
He still is going to…
1) Walk with God…
2) Live with integrity…
3) Patiently trust God…
God used this time to humble him and make him dependent upon Himself. Too often once we get what we want… we change. We need to follow after God fully in the valleys and the mountains.
Family discussion:
1) Why is it easy to stop following God closely when things get better?
2) What do you learn from Joseph the most?
By: Nick Parsons
A couple weeks ago in our Restoration Series about the life of Joseph I had the privilege of teaching through Genesis 40. Joseph is such a model for us on how to respond to God when things are difficult and are just not going our way.
Joseph has been sold by his family, thrown into prison for something that he did not do, and now he is in prison looking for a way out. The question that we asked on that Sunday was… “We always expect a happy ending but what happens when the happy ending isn’t coming or is coming slower than we would like?”
As we looked at how Joseph responded we saw several things…
1) JOSEPH WALKED WITH GOD…
He did not let his difficult circumstances be a reason that he didn’t walk with God. He didn’t use them as an excuse. Instead he let them be a catalyst to depend upon God and walk with Him!
2) JOSEPH LIVED WITH INTEGRITY…
He was honest with those around him about their dreams. He lived uprightly. He did not manipulate his position of power to get what he wanted. He did the right thing and left the consequences to God.
3) JOSEPH PATIENTLY TRUSTED GOD…
Joseph, even when he wasn’t delivered in “his timing” (Gen. 41:1) - He still trusted in God and His sovereignty… He knew that God was good and that He was trustworthy. He knew His character.
But I want to focus on Genesis 41 today. It's very intriguing. Joseph is “delivered from the pit”... from the prison. He is standing before Pharaoh. The “happy ending” is seemingly around the corner for Joseph but HE DID NOT CHANGE.
Often, when the circumstances of our lives start to resolve themselves we revert back. We go back to who we were. Sometimes we stop living for God with the same passion.
But when I watch Joseph and I see the way he lived his life I see two things…
1) HE DID NOT CHANGE TO GET DELIVERED…
2) HE DID NOT CHANGE ONCE HE WAS DELIVERED…
This shows that it really was not about getting what he wanted but about following and honoring God.
When Joseph is pulled out of prison to go before Pharaoh to interpret his dream he knows that this is his chance. This is his chance to get out of prison.
Will he trust in himself or will he be dependent upon God? What if Pharaoh's interpretation isn’t favorable? Won’t he leave me in prison? What if I am sent back?
He had a choice… He made his choice. He was not going to change. He was still going to walk with God, live with integrity, and trust God. Look at verse 8…
“Joseph answered Pharoah, “it is NOT IN ME; GOD WILL GIVE…”
He told Pharaoh… This comes from God! He goes on to listen to Pharaoh’s dream and then he brings meaning to it. God will bring 7 good years and then 7 famine years… so what you should do is create a reserve of food so that when the famine comes you are ready.
Bold move by Joseph…
1) PHARAOH DID NOT HAVE A GODLY WORLDVIEW…
Pharaoh didn’t believe in the same God that Joseph was speaking about… but Joseph didn’t shy back; He boldly proclaimed the name of God and the power of God to Pharaoh - no matter the cost.
2) IT WASN’T ALL GOOD NEWS…
Sure, there were going to be 7 good years. BUT there were also going to be 7 years of famine. Joseph had to be nervous to give the bad half of that news to someone who could put him back in prison or even kill him… but he was honest… again.
3) HE TOLD PHARAOH HOW TO RUN HIS COUNTRY…
To Pharaoh, Joseph is just some guy in prison. When Joseph interprets his dream he tells him how to RUN HIS COUNTRY! He tells him to fill up food reserves to prepare what God (a God he doesn’t believe in) is going to do (based on a dream interpretation).
This could have gone horribly, horribly wrong. EXCEPT God was in the midst of it. Look at verse 37…
“This proposal PLEASED PHARAOH and all of his servants.”
God protected Joseph. He allowed it to be well received. And as we will see… Joseph didn’t just not change to get delivered… He is not going to change once he is delivered.
He still is going to…
1) Walk with God…
2) Live with integrity…
3) Patiently trust God…
God used this time to humble him and make him dependent upon Himself. Too often once we get what we want… we change. We need to follow after God fully in the valleys and the mountains.
Family discussion:
1) Why is it easy to stop following God closely when things get better?
2) What do you learn from Joseph the most?
By: Nick Parsons
1 Comment
"This shows that it really was not about getting what he wanted but about following and honoring God."
It's so easy to forget this. Thanks for reminding us Nick!