Joseph - a Dream comes True

[0:00] Go to Genesis 37 if you've got your Bibles. If you'd like a Bible, you might want to wave your hand, stick your hand up and we'll get you on because it'll be easy if you follow along. If you haven't got one on your lap, just raise your hand and help it will get you on. Here we go, we've got two Bibles.

[0:18] Oh, okay. All right then. Genesis 37 is where we're going to go. Thanks, David. Genesis 37. And I'll just get that ready myself. We'll be spending our time really in Genesis, so we'll just go through a bit of a sequence here.

[0:47] So I'll just get that organised. Genesis 37. Genesis 37, that's where we meet Joseph. Joseph, the man Joseph. He's a 17-year-old shepherd. Genesis 37.

[1:10] It tells us there in verse 2 that he's 17 years old. He was the most loved son of Jacob. In verse 3 we read, Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children because he was the son of his old age and he made him a coat of many colours.

[1:30] Joseph wore this famous robe of many colours. Now we had someone this morning wearing a rather outlandish garment and he kind of stood out from the crowd. And this was the same with Joseph. He had this coat, this amazing coat, this technicolour coat of many colours. And his father wanted to show that he was favoured. And that wasn't probably a good idea. When you've got children, you don't favour one above the other. Because what happened? Naturally, jealousy.

[1:59] It provoked his brothers to jealousy. We see that verse 4. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him, Joseph, more than all his brethren, they hated him and they could not speak peaceably unto him. So here was Joseph.

[2:15] He was hated by his brothers, loved by his father but hated and they couldn't speak peaceably unto him. What a family conflict situation. Joseph then reported having some dreams and he reported these dreams to his brothers and he interpreted those dreams how that even the stars and the moon and of his own family would bow down to him, before him. It says that verse 5, Genesis 37 verse 5, And Joseph dreamt to dream and he told it his brethren and they hated him yet the more.

[2:50] So this hatred festered and as Joseph the dreamer drew near on occasion here in verse 18, we see they called him the dreamer. You know, dream boy. He's living in dreamland all the time.

[3:06] This dreamer, Joseph. And as he drew near, his brothers ambushed him and they threw him into a pit. We see that from verse 18. We'll read from verse 18. And when they saw him, Joseph, far off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

[3:25] I wanted to kill him. And they said one to another, Behold, the dreamer cometh. Come now therefore and let us slay him. Let's kill him. We will say an evil beast has devoured him and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

[3:40] Verse 21, Reuben. And Reuben heard it, one of the brothers, and he delivered him, Joseph, out of their hands. He said, Let us not kill him.

[3:52] And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness. There's this big pit, this big hole in the ground. Reuben says, Lay no hold on him, lay no hand upon him, that he might rid him out of their hands to deliver him to his father again.

[4:12] Reuben had hoped that he could come back later and save Joseph out of the pit. Verse 23, And it came to pass when Joseph was come unto his brethren that they stripped Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him.

[4:29] It took off this coat, this colourful coat. And they took him and they cast him into the pit. And the pit was empty, there was no water in it. Then it goes on to say that some slave traders came by, these Midianite merchant men.

[4:45] Verse 28, And it tells how they sold, the brothers sold Joseph, their own brother, as a slave. For 20 pieces of silver to these travelling merchants, these slave traders.

[5:00] It says there, verse 28, They drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit. And they sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for 20 pieces of silver. And they brought Joseph into Egypt.

[5:13] His brothers then pretended to Jacob, the father, that Joseph had been taken by a wild beast. Verse 31, They took Joseph's coat, this one-of-a-kind kind of coat.

[5:27] And they killed a kid of the goats and they dipped the coat in the blood. What a deception that they would deceive the father to think that his son had been killed. Meanwhile, the Ishmaelites had taken Joseph off to Egypt and they sold him to a man called Potiphar.

[5:43] We see that, we'll pick it up again, Genesis 39, verse 1. Genesis 39, chapter 39, verse 1. And Joseph was brought down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him out of the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down there.

[6:06] Joseph was brought to Egypt. The Ishmaelites took him and sold him to Potiphar, one of the captains of Pharaoh. And notice verse 2.

[6:20] The Lord was with Joseph. Verse 3, rather. The Lord was with Joseph, verse 2. And he was a prosperous man and he was in the house of the master, his master, the Egyptian.

[6:32] So verse 2, it says, Joseph was a prosperous man. He was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. The Lord was with Joseph.

[6:46] Notice that, verse 2. And then verse 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.

[6:58] This is a recurring theme with Joseph. It makes him stand out that there was something about Joseph. The Lord was with him. Something that's special, something that's critical about our lives, is the Lord with you?

[7:12] Is the Lord with you? That's what made the difference in Joseph's life. Verse 2, the Lord was with Joseph. Verse 3, the Lord was with him. So Joseph was trustworthy.

[7:23] Here he was. He was sold as a slave now in Potiphar's hands. He was with him. Potiphar, the captain of the guard of Pharaoh. And Joseph laboured for Potiphar now.

[7:37] And notice how he laboured. He was trustworthy. Joseph had work ethic. He was a hard worker. He was not a shirker. He was a worker. And we can learn from Joseph in that example too.

[7:48] To be such. To be an employee who does a good job. Joseph was such a worker. Verse 4 of 39, it says, And Joseph found grace in his sight, in the sight of Potiphar.

[8:03] And Joseph, it says, he served Potiphar. And Potiphar, it says, made him overseer over his house. And all that he had, he put into his hand.

[8:15] Everything that Potiphar had, he put into the hand of Joseph. Verse 5, and it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer. So he made him like the supervisor, the one in charge of the servants, the employees.

[8:30] And over all that he had. And the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake. And the blessing of the Lord is upon all that he had in the house and in the field.

[8:42] And verse 6, and he left all that he had in Joseph's hand. And he knew not all that he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person and well favoured.

[8:53] It says Joseph was this smart looking fellow. He was a good looking chap and he was well favoured. And next then we see how Joseph encountered temptation.

[9:05] Now, Joseph was tempted. But he maintained his integrity. Joseph was given this charge of this responsible position.

[9:20] His master trusted him. He was trustworthy. He was dependable. And we see another good quality characteristic of Joseph. He resisted temptation.

[9:33] Joseph, he kept pure and faithful to God and faithful to his master. We see that in verse 7 of Genesis 39. Verse 8. And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph.

[9:46] And she said, lie with me. Verse 8. But he refused. And he said unto his master's wife, behold, my master watteth not what is with me in the house. And he hath committed all that he hath to my hand.

[9:59] He says, the master's trusted me with everything. He's committed everything to my hand. Verse 9. And there is none greater in this house than I. Neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee.

[10:09] Because thou art his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? I wanted to highlight some of the character traits of Joseph.

[10:24] And the first one I put to you to highlight here is faithfulness. Joseph's faithfulness. Joseph's main concern was what would God think?

[10:37] What would God think? How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? What mattered to Joseph with his faithfulness, his faithfulness to his master in an earthly way, in a responsibility way, but also his faithfulness unto God.

[11:00] His faithfulness to do the right thing. So Joseph, we can learn from him. The example of Joseph, his faithfulness. What does God think about what I'm planning to do or thinking to do?

[11:11] What would God think for me to fail and to do that which is wrong and sinful? Joseph lived a life of integrity. He wanted to be a man of integrity. Faithful.

[11:23] Faithful. Faithful to God. Faithful to his master. In the midst of this prosperity and in the midst of adversity, as we'll see later, he was faithful.

[11:34] You know, he had the run of the house. He had responsibility. He knew the movements of his master. He knew when he could take advantage if he was so inclined. But no, he wanted to be faithful.

[11:45] He wanted to do the right. And we see through his life as he was ill-treated, as we saw he was ill-treated by his brothers, separated from his country and his kin.

[11:56] He could have grown bitter and helpless and hopeless. But Joseph stayed the course. He set his course and he stayed the course. He was a great example.

[12:07] He's a great example for us to follow. And we see the temptation from verse 10 of Genesis 39. And it came to pass as she, Potiphar's wife, spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her to lie with her or to be with her.

[12:24] And it came to pass about this time that Joseph went into the house to do his business. And there was none of the men of the house there within. And she caught him by his garment and saying, Lie with me.

[12:35] And he left his garment in her hand and fled and got him out. Now when temptation comes, get out. Get out of it. Run.

[12:46] Run for your life. Flee from sin. Joseph was honest. He resisted temptation. This was repeated temptation.

[12:57] This was not just one instance as repeated. It's day by day by day. He hearkened not to her. No. Then none of the men around.

[13:09] And she grabs him by his garment. And he took off leaving the garment behind. And then Potiphar's wife tries to frame him. Tries to frame Joseph with this false accusation.

[13:20] Verse 18. And it came to pass as I lifted up my voice and cried, she says, He left his garment with me and fled out. She was talking to her husband. And verse 19.

[13:30] It came to pass when his master heard the words of his wife, which he spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me, that his wrath was kindled. Now some reckon maybe she had a bit of a reputation.

[13:43] And maybe he was probably more annoyed with her. Because he knew Joseph. But nevertheless, he had to act. Verse 20. And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound.

[13:56] And he was there in the prison. So here he was falsely accused, shut off in the dungeon of Pharaoh, left to rot in his chains in the jail.

[14:07] But verse 21, we see again, But the Lord was with Joseph. People of God, if you are with him, he is with you.

[14:18] He doesn't leave you or forsake you. He was with Joseph. He was with Joseph. He was with Joseph. He was with Joseph. And it says, But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

[14:31] Here's the jail keeper. The jail keeper. The keeper of the prison. Here's this man in charge of the jail.

[14:42] And he sees Joseph and he recognises straight away, Joseph's got some capability here. He showed him mercy. He gave him favour.

[14:52] The Lord gave him favour. And it says that Potiphar, the Lord had enabled Joseph to find favour with Potiphar before the prison and now with the keeper of the prison.

[15:04] And it says, verse 22, And the keeper of the prison committed Joseph's hand. All the prisoners that were in the prison, whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. Here's this jailer.

[15:15] The jailer gives Joseph responsibility. Verse 23, The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand, Why? Because the Lord was with him.

[15:25] The Lord was with Joseph. And that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper. Now whatever your circumstance of life, wherever life twists and turns take you, the Lord is with you. Amen?

[15:36] The Lord is with you. You can be faithful. You can have faithfulness like Joseph did. Again, Joseph served with honour. He served with honour with Potiphar and he served with honour for the keeper of the jail.

[15:50] And while he's in the jail here, we see, as the story goes, that two of the great officers of Pharaoh's court came to be imprisoned as well.

[16:01] They defended the king. And they were committed to prison too. These high officials of Pharaoh's court, those who served, they were servants of Pharaoh.

[16:13] And they were committed to the prison and to Joseph's care. And it came about, these two high officials, they had a dream. They both dreamt a dream at the same time.

[16:24] And it troubled them and they wanted to understand what the significance was. And Joseph gave the interpretation. He, by God's enabling, was able to reveal what the meaning was of the dream.

[16:42] And Joseph predicted how that the butler would be restored to Pharaoh's service within three days, but the baker would be put to death. So, butler to be restored, the baker to be put to death.

[16:57] And he asked the butler, remember me. Remember me when you're spared. Verse 14 of chapter 40, Genesis 40 verse 14, he says to the baker, the butler rather, he says to the butler, but think on me when it shall be well with thee and show kindness, I pray thee unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh and bring me out of this house.

[17:24] He asked the butler, he says, when you're restored, remember me, save me, get me out of this jail. And what happened? Joseph's interpretations came true. We see that the baker was killed and the butler was set free and resumed his position.

[17:43] And it says that in verse 23, chapter 40 of Genesis, verse 23, yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forget him.

[17:56] Joseph was history now. That was, you know, here's the butler back to his old job and he forgot about the fact that Joseph had foretold through God's power that he would be restored.

[18:09] And with God's help, Joseph had interpreted both of these dreams. He'd interpreted them accurately, predicting that one would be reinstated, but the other put to death.

[18:19] But the butler forgot Joseph. Verse 1 of chapter 41, Genesis 41, verse 1, it says, and it came to pass the end of two full years that Pharaoh dreamt.

[18:33] Pharaoh dreamt to dream, it says. And he was concerned about these dreams that he had, a couple of dreams. And verse 8, it says, Genesis 41, verse 8, and it came to pass in the morning that his, the Pharaoh's spirit was troubled.

[18:51] And he sent and he called for magicians of Egypt and all the wise men thereof. And Pharaoh told them his dream, but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

[19:04] Suddenly, the light goes on, the butler, oh, I know who can interpret dreams. It prompted the butler to remember Joseph, I know who can help you, Joseph.

[19:17] Joseph, this is two years, two years. Joseph, he was still in jail. This is two years on. He'd been two long years in jail, in prison for a crime that he had not committed.

[19:30] Joseph, he'd been there, left, forgotten, forsaken. He could have grown bitter. He could have grown bitter, yet he was patient. You know, isn't it true that sometimes God's timing can mean some long waits for us?

[19:46] You might say, I can identify with that. Sometimes you've just got to be patient. It's hard, isn't it? You know, how does that, you know, there's a comic cartoon, you know, give me patience and give it me right now.

[20:01] You know, you get that state where you're wanting something, God to move, God to act. You're wanting something to change. You don't like how it is. Sometimes you've just got to be patient. Just count to ten.

[20:13] Count to a thousand. You know, there's a sense we've got to wait, don't we? Wait on God and know that it doesn't, it's hard waiting but sometimes the wait is what we need and the wait will be worth it.

[20:26] God's timing, God's timing is the best timing for you, for me. Now, there's things I'd like to see different, there's things I'd like to see improved and changed and just got to keep praying, keep praying, keep praying, keep believing like Joseph.

[20:43] We can learn to trust our Lord even in those times where it's hard going to trust Him. He will reward our faithfulness in the fullness of time. He's a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

[20:56] He will reward you for your faith, for your faithfulness as He did with Joseph. Ultimately, Joseph was rewarded for the wait. Joseph was unwilling to be deterred by the hatred that he'd suffered, his betrayal, by the unjust treatment, by the forgetfulness of others.

[21:13] It didn't make Joseph bitter, it made him better, it made him stronger. Genesis 41, verse 14, we'll read on. What can we learn from Joseph?

[21:25] Genesis 41, verse 14, then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph. You know, the butler recommended Joseph and Pharaoh said, yeah, go get him. And they brought him hastily out of the dungeon and he shaved himself, chased his raiment and came in unto Pharaoh.

[21:42] I don't know if he had two years of a beard there but they shaved it off him. He had to be presentable as he came before Pharaoh, as he changed his clothes and he came in unto Pharaoh and, well, suddenly stood before Pharaoh.

[21:56] This man has been in the dungeon for two years. Genesis 41, verse 15, and Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamt to dream and there is none that can interpret it and I have heard say of thee that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.

[22:12] You know, the reputation of Joseph had travelled to the very courts of Pharaoh. What did Joseph do? He didn't say, yes, I'm the answer to your prayers.

[22:25] He didn't say, yes, I'm the expert interpreter of dreams. He said, no, he gave credit to God. Now sometimes when God gives you some capacity to serve, it can go to your head.

[22:37] You can get, you know, become like a big shot and a braggart and even the gifts God has given you, you can kind of claim some praise of men for that.

[22:48] Joseph had none of that. We never should get to that, should we? When God gives you something to do, just humbly serve. And Joseph gave credit to God. That's what we must do when we're doing something for God.

[22:59] Give credit to God. Give glory to God. Not to yourself. Verse 41, verse 16, Genesis 41, verse 16. What does Joseph say?

[23:10] Joseph answered Pharaoh saying, it is not in me. God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. He didn't claim any credit.

[23:20] He didn't want to brag on about, oh, I've got these spiritual gifts and I've got this knowledge and, you know, you see these days that people call themselves the apostles such and such or the prophets such and such and, you know, I'm the great reverend doctor, whatever it be.

[23:41] No, I'm just, it's not in me. It's in God. It's in God. He's the one. He's the one who's got the answer for you. And as believers, we're to give God the glory, don't we?

[23:52] Give God the glory. Give God the credit for our skills, for what lacking skills we might have, for our inadequacy, that God would get the glory, that God would get the glory.

[24:04] And verse 25, it says, Genesis 41, 25, Joseph said unto Pharaoh, and it goes on, God has showed Pharaoh what he's about to do. Joseph explained, we won't labour it here, but he talked about the couple of different dreams and he interpreted those dreams to Pharaoh, that there would be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.

[24:26] He said, get ready, Pharaoh. There's going to be seven years of plenty, then there's going to be seven years of famine in a nutshell. God has showed you what he's going to do, what he's about to do.

[24:39] And then we read on, Joseph gave wise counsel from verse 29, Behold, there comes seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. And they shall arise after them seven years of famine, and all the plenty shall be forgotten of the land of Egypt, and the famine shall consume the land.

[24:54] Now therefore, let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this and let him appoint officers over the land and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.

[25:09] And let them gather all the food of those good years that come and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh and let them keep food in the cities and that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land perish not through the famine.

[25:27] And then we read verse 37, The thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?

[25:40] Amen. He was standing right in front of him. Pharaoh recognized Joseph is the man. He's the man that I need. He's the God-given man.

[25:51] That Pharaoh, for all of his confused pagan philosophies and ideas and ideals, that he could see there's something about Joseph. The Spirit of God is in this man.

[26:03] And Pharaoh promoted Joseph to that position of the chief administrator of Egypt. Verse 39, Pharaoh said unto Joseph, For as much as God has showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art.

[26:17] 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. Now we've had some of our number go to the great land of Egypt and see astonishing sights.

[26:34] I can't imagine what sights they've seen. I've been in some museums where you see little hieroglyphs or you see statues and what not and you think the greatness of Egypt, the greatness of Egypt was under Joseph's dominion, under Pharaoh.

[26:53] Joseph became the leader of all of Egypt, Egypt with all its treasures, Egypt with all of its wonders, that Joseph was second only to Pharaoh himself.

[27:05] Now that could have gone to his head, couldn't it? suddenly elevated from two years in the prison growing that long beard and you suddenly shaved new clothes and suddenly you're the man.

[27:17] You're the wise, discreet man that I need. You're the man who's got wisdom, who's got discretion, who's got some know-how here. You're the wise one. What did Joseph do?

[27:31] You could think what Joseph could have thought, yeah, I'm the man. No, he stayed humble. He stayed humble. The power and prestige of his position didn't go to his head.

[27:42] He didn't become some big braggart. You know, he didn't start some big, putting his name out there. You see some where it's the, you know, the Fred Bloggs evangelistic ministries or whatever it is.

[27:58] They put their name out there in lights, you know. No, Joseph wasn't like that. The prestige of that position, it didn't change him. He was still the same Joseph.

[28:10] Amen. He still stayed humble. He showed wisdom and foresight. And verse 41, it says, of 41, Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

[28:23] Wow, what a job. What a promotion. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand and he put it on Joseph's hand. The king's ring, I suppose, the signet, that which he would stamp, his documents, I suppose, or that which would signify his authority.

[28:41] He put it on Joseph's hand and he arrayed him in vestures of fine linen. Not even finer linen than someone wore this morning. There's vestures of fine linen and he put a gold chain around his neck.

[28:52] Now, here was Joseph. Suddenly, you know, he's got the Pierre Cardin or whatever of the day. He's got the finest robes and the finest gold chain and he's riding in the second chariot, it says, and they would cry before him, bow the knee.

[29:09] And he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. Verse 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.

[29:21] He says, you've got total authority here. You know, people are not going to be able to do anything without your say-so. Look at what had happened to Joseph. He'd been falsely charged.

[29:34] Yeah, in all of this, it was all in accord with God's plan. You might think, what's going on in my life, in my circumstance, in my family, it's looking like it's not working that well.

[29:47] But God's purpose and plan is being worked out. Because God is with you, isn't he? If you're saved, God is with you. God is with Joseph. God's presence was with Joseph.

[29:59] God's purpose was with Joseph. God's plan was for Joseph. Joseph's life, it teaches you and me that through all of life's troubles and heartaches and disappointments, that God's doing his work in us.

[30:11] He's working his work. And it's for our growth. It's for our blessing. Just hold your course. Stay the course. And know in faith that you rest on the promises of God.

[30:24] God had promised blessing. God had promised to Joseph as a 17-year-old. God promised Joseph blessing. It's just a bit, it took a bit of time.

[30:37] It took a bit of time for it to come to pass, didn't it? But God is in control. God is in control from the age of 17 through as we come to see he's 30 years old.

[30:49] Wow. It's a big interval of time, isn't it? You wonder, did God leave Joseph in that interval? No. God is in control. He's with you. He never leaves you nor forsakes you.

[31:00] You that know him. And God is in control even when the world seems like it's spinning out of control. God is in control and we can rest our hope and faith in that. And so verse 46, Genesis 41 verse 46.

[31:16] Joseph was 30 years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He'd been through such heartache and pain. He'd been through such toil and imprisonment in hardship.

[31:33] God was with Joseph. The famine struck. We know the food was running out all across the world and in Canaan it forced Jacob to send his sons to buy some grain from the Egyptians.

[31:47] And Benjamin, Joseph's younger brother stayed at home. Jacob feared losing him as he had Joseph. And when Joseph finally encounters his brothers again, he conceals his identity.

[32:00] They come before Joseph. He knew them but they didn't know him. Here he was in the Pharaoh's fine linen, the gold chain and such and I suppose an Egyptian look that he looked different and they didn't recognise who he was.

[32:16] There's a 17 year old who probably didn't have a beard back then. Now he would have had a beard or he would look so much different. And so then Joseph he concealed his identity and he accused them of being spies, told them to get to return with Benjamin or he would not sell them grain.

[32:34] And the ongoing famine forced Jacob to reluctantly send his sons back with Benjamin. And then they're unexpectedly dining even at Joseph's house.

[32:46] And when at last the brothers met with Joseph they failed to recognise him. They bowed low before him. Little did they realise they were fulfilling Joseph's dream that he had had that they would bow before him.

[33:00] Little did they realise that the fulfilment of God's dream for Joseph was then fulfilled. And then Joseph tested the character of the brothers by placing a silver cup in the sack of Benjamin falsely accusing of theft.

[33:16] When Judah offered to stay in place of Benjamin Joseph knew that his character that Judah's character had changed and then he revealed that he was their brother.

[33:27] We see the faithfulness of Joseph now just secondly see the forgiveness of Joseph. Forgiveness that's a hard thing isn't it? Some people are hard to forgive. You might have a list of people like that.

[33:40] They're hard to forgive. They've done you wrong. They do you wrong. They're still doing you wrong. Joseph had every right to hold some grudges against his brothers.

[33:52] What they'd done to him the trouble they'd caused him and now in this new position in Egypt he had the signet ring of the king he could punish them any way he would have liked.

[34:06] You can imagine he had that authority. He could have enforced punishment but Joseph was willing to forgive. It's a good thing isn't it? Sometimes unforgiveness it actually does you the most harm doesn't it?

[34:19] When you don't forgive it actually hurts you more than it hurts them. Joseph was willing to forgive to let it go. All the wrongs that had been committed by others. We see Genesis 45 verse 1 Joseph could not refrain himself before them all as he 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.

[34:42] Imagine as he said I am Joseph. He would have been a heart a heart a heart wrenching time I am Joseph. Verse 2 and he wept aloud and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.

[34:58] So Joseph explained to his brothers that they need not feel guilty for betraying him because it was part of God's plan. It's when you have that kind of helicopter view you realise all the goings on of life and all the wrongdoing of people God's over it all.

[35:17] He's in charge. He's the one that's superintending. He's the overseer. He's the great bishop. He is the one who looks over our lives from the womb to the tomb.

[35:29] He's over us. And he knew that whatever wrongdoing they had done it was all part of God's plan. That was what mattered. That God's plan was him to be in Egypt and to preserve his family.

[35:41] And he told them bring your father bring our father and bring the whole family into Egypt and to live in Goshen because there's five more years of famine to come.

[35:55] And Joseph supplied them transport and garments and silver and donkeys to carry provisions and they returned joyously with their father.

[36:07] The whole family was back together again. Joyously reunited with Joseph. What God did in the story of Joseph God had allowed all those hardships all of those testings all of those trials all of the sufferings physical mental emotional so Joseph could fulfill God's plan God's plan to save many lives.

[36:31] We see that as he wraps it up in Genesis 50 verse 20 as he speaks to his brothers he says as for you you thought evil against me you thought to harm me to do evil against me but God meant it unto good so that God actually despite the hard and hurt of it God meant it for good to bring to pass as it is this day to save much people alive.

[37:02] After all that Joseph had gone through he was able to see God's hand at work in it all even in the ordeals that he had been through you might think that too you know there's times I could think back through life situations of life and things didn't work out how I wanted it to but it actually worked out for the better it worked out for the best it actually did and you look back and think wow I'm glad I didn't take that track I'm glad I didn't take that that turn that fork in the road but God took me down the other fork in the road you know you can look back can't you and think hitherto as in in the past hath God helped me in the past God has helped me up to this point I can look back and I can see yes God was working even in those tough things God was working he is still working maybe some things aren't quite where I want them to be but God is going to make it according to his perfect plan and even the most wicked intentions of men they can't thwart the perfect plan of God can they Joseph's story tells us how the toughest and the most wicked of things the most unjust circumstances can still be according to his will his will and even though we know foolish men do foolish things and I'm one of them

[38:18] God oversees God over intends he super intends and Joseph was saying to them you sold me but God sent me you know it's like you sold me throwed me in the pit and then handed me over for sell me for some coin treated me like garbage you sold me but God sent me God sent me God was doing it and forgiveness is powerful isn't it it's such a powerful thing and I was on a I've mentioned it before I was on this kind of it was a secular kind of course a secular kind of course the man running it was a Christian but he put it in even in a secular setting it was kind of a positive self-development kind of course and as a Christian he obviously knew what the Bible says about forgiveness but he made the point of getting things right and he challenged the participants in this course you know we're going to have a break now get your phone and make the call you know to actually stop putting it off that person that you've got a problem with that person that you know you need to say sorry to it could be their fault but get it right and it was quite a moving time even in this secular setting this kind of secular workplace!

[39:42] type of setting forgiveness is powerful it's powerful and he said even if they don't receive it even if they hang up on you you've done your part you've done your part to get it right you know to get it right forgiveness is powerful and Joseph showed grace and mercy to those his brothers even though they'd sold him into slavery Joseph's faith and trust held him through God sustained him and he trusted in God's promise we see the faithfulness of Joseph we see we see the forgiveness of Joseph and we see the faith of Joseph lastly we see the faith of Joseph we see that he says you know you you meant to do me harm but God God was working God brought good out of this and we see that in all of it that faith faith held Joseph through to that closing stage of his life that he trusted in God's promise he trusted in what God showed him as a 17 year old and he waited for God's timing to come and he stayed true to God in the meantime

[40:52] Joseph had faith that God had a purpose despite despite life's ups and downs despite the crazy times that Joseph found favour with God even in the corrupt pagan land of Egypt Joseph could have really gone off track here couldn't he imagine he would have been given so many temptations you could imagine in a position of power in a position of trust in a pagan land how Joseph could have lost lost his course there and gone off track but no he stayed the course even in this corrupt land of Egypt he stayed faithful he stayed righteous his faith was proved and held the question for us today I put to you is where does God want to use you what is his divine purpose for you for your life it's a question we all have to personally think of you might feel like you're still a 17 year old

[42:01] Joseph and it's all ahead of you maybe you're looking back and feeling like I've got less ahead of me than what's behind me now but whatever the course whatever the case God's purpose prevails doesn't it that God wants to accomplish his divine purpose through you and that can mean as it meant for Joseph unfair treatment it might mean enduring some tough things but know this that God keeps his promises Joseph had faith God is going to keep his promise and he saw that as he wrapped it up at the time there in Genesis 50 verse 20 God meant it unto good God's meant this to happen this is in accord with God's will that it was meant to be for each of us today how can we learn from Joseph just we can learn from his faithfulness we can learn that no matter what I'm going to be faithful

[43:06] I'm going to be steadfast I'm going to stay the course I'm going to be faithful in the secular setting I'm going to do the right I'm not going to be a shirker a lazy worker or an unfaithful servant I'm going to be faithful in what I do I'm going to be reliable dependable I'm going to have faithfulness I'm going to have forgiveness so those that don't really deserve it because God has given his forgiveness to me I don't deserve that and we'll see the faith that will prevail the faith that ultimately is blessing just to know him is blessing enough isn't it isn't it to know Christ to know you're saved to know your sins lifted off you faith is a blessing of its own and God keeps his promises his his word of faith his word faith comes by hearing the word faith cometh by hearing hearing by the word of

[44:16] God God keeps his promises he's got a word for us and this is the word you don't have to go to some prophet or some some latter day extra biblical revelation God has a word for you and here it is it's in this it's in between these covers of this book and that's not to say he can't reveal other things but of course we test everything by his word this is what is the measuring stick this is the rule of faith and conduct this is how we know what's right and wrong and the word tells us believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved that's a promise from God I urge you today you might say preacher I think I believe I think I'm a Christian you can know so it says you can know it says this is the record that he that believes can know that he has present tense possession you have it in your hand now forever everlasting life you can know that for sure you can simply call on him let's just wrap it up in prayer here Lord

[45:17] Lord we just come to you and we pray that each soul here might come to that rest in Christ that we might not be detoured by what besets our steps Lord that we might see that in our wanderings of life you do prevail help us to take the right track Lord we pray that each one here today might know what it is to say Lord Jesus Christ you died for me for my sin you paid for it fully there at the cross and I lift my sin off my back and I put it on you Lord as it were I receive your carrying of my sin on the cross for me that you paid my debt there in full everything I owed you paid it in full Lord I receive your cancellation of my sin debt my that gift of everlasting life I receive it by faith

[46:23] Lord help us to have as Joseph had that faith that prevails that that faith that knows you're in charge and your promises are yay and amen and your promises will never fail your word will never fail and you promise that your will is for our good and Lord we thank you for that we pray that each one might know that faithfulness as we come to follow you that we will be faithful you'll help us you'll make us faithful you'll bid us to be faithful and Lord you'll help us have forgiveness you'll help us to have that that heart that doesn't carry any any hatred or hurt but you'll take it all off us Lord and we praise you Lord we praise you Lord that the example of

[47:24] Joseph is one we can learn from even today and apply the truth that he did in our own lives we thank you Lord in Jesus name Amen