well it's already been such a great day
gathering together
celebrating all that the Lord has been doing in Sean's life
listening to Ephesians 3
so faithfully taught by Ian
praying together
what a great day it's already been
and I hope what we do tonight won't spoil that at all
just want to read a few verses from Psalm 105
and then I'll pray
and then we'll get to work because we've just got a mere
thousand odd verses to get through this evening
the writer of Psalm 105 says this
verse 16
he called down famine on the land
and destroyed all their supplies of food
and he sent a man before them
Joseph
sold as a slave
they bruised his feet with shackles
his neck was put in irons
till what he foretold came to pass
till the word of the Lord proved him true
the king sent and released him
the ruler of people set him free
he made him master of his household
ruler over all he possessed
to instruct his princes as he pleased
and teach his elders
wisdom
let's pray
together
father god we thank you so much for your word
father we thank you it's complete
father thank you that it is all useful to us
for correcting and admonishing
for teaching
and for training us in righteousness
and so lord as we come to study a big section of it tonight
father would you enable us to see the wood from the trees
father would you teach us wonderful things about the god that you are
and father may we leave here with a better handle
on what you are saying to each of us
that we might go and live differently this week
as those that are known by the living God
those that have been reconciled to the living God by the Lord Jesus
and those indwelt by the living God by the Holy Spirit
so father bless us and help us
teach us
father inspire us by your spirit we pray in Jesus name
amen
so tonight we're starting a new series
we're not really starting it
we're going to have like the warm up
to our new series
Joseph and the Gospel of Many Colors
if you're color blind that will just look weird
to you
it is an incredible series
the story of Joseph captures many hearts
many of us would have heard it countless times in Sunday school
particularly when we just got some new coloring pens in
and could do the coat in about 16 colors that Woolworths were selling
back in the day
we would have also seen it portrayed in music
in probably with Jason Donovan or Philip Schofield or somebody else
it's a story that we all know really well
but I do think it is probably the story
that we tend to abstract from the rest of the Bible
they almost treat it as like a lay-by where we go for a little while
to hear about a great story
about a dysfunctional family
about a jealous set of brothers
who sell their brother
who goes off on a journey
who ends up in prison
and by the end of the story
he's the Prime Minister
of the most powerful country in the world
but I think if we're going to get the most out of this series
we have to place the life of Joseph
within the context of Genesis
and within the broad sweep of the entire Bible
or else
it may just be a 10-week study in moralism
that we're going to say
you should all be more like Joseph
and less like his brothers
you should all use your positions of authority
like Joseph did in Potiphar's house
and don't whatever you do be like Potiphar's wife
it's going to be be like him
don't be like her
unless we can place it
within God's grand story
if we can get a handle on Genesis
get a broad overview of how it fits together
then I hope it'll make our appreciation of Joseph all the more
and our sermons in Joseph
just a little bit thicker
that transcend a few lovely choruses
by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice
but it does feel a bit like
making a canapé out of a rhinoceros
taking a huge chunk of Bible
and trying to condense it down
in the short time that we have
into something that's useful and digestible
so bear with me
we're all going to have to do a warm-up
if you've got your Bible open
go like this
because we're going to have to turn a lot of pages
if you're in your iPhone
go like this
because you're going to do a lot of scrolling down
and a lot of scrolling up
but we do know don't we
that beginnings are important
beginnings are important
we have phrases like
start as you mean to go on
Mary Poppins
that great philosopher
a job well done
a job well begun
is nearly half done
a job well begun
is nearly half done
Plato
a great Disney character
the beginning is the most important part
of any work
if anyone's ever built anything
particularly if it was a house
how you start the foundations
are really going to be the foundation
of everything else you build
if you make them shallow
Jesus even tells a story
doesn't he
about foundations built in sand
the rain came down
and the floods came up
and the house on the sand
fell flat
the opening lines of a book
are important
if we don't judge it by the cover
we're going to read the opening lines
and decide whether we're going to continue
did you know
there's a trend in London
that on the same day
you register your birth
with the registrar
you also put your son or daughter's name down
on the waiting list
for the best nurseries in town
because we know
don't we
that we want to give people
the best start in life
the best beginning
they can have
it may surprise you to know
but I spent a disproportionate amount of time
on the introduction
to a sermon
because I think
if I can grab your attention
in the first two minutes
you might just
stay with me
for the next
five
how you begin your day
is important
if I come
and watch you
get ready
that sounds weird
if I come
and see
you're the beginning
of your day
I can pretty much
predict how the rest
of your day will go
if you start the day
rushed and stressed
and tired
then it's going to be
a bad day
I can tell you that
if you start the day
slothful and lazy
and you hit the snooze button
at least five times
I dare say your day
will be largely unproductive
if you start your day
prayerful with the Bible open
thankful to the Lord
for this great gift
that he's given you
it may just be a fruitful
day
beginnings are important
beginnings set the trajectory
for what follows
so when we begin
our Bibles in Genesis
if we can understand it
it will be a massive help to us
because it is from Genesis
that everything else
sprouts and develops
what God starts to reveal
in Genesis
he develops
and ends
in the book of Revelation
it's from Genesis
that we get our cosmology
the doctrine of creation
it's here we get our
the beginnings of our theology
our doctrine of God
it's here we get our
anthropology
our doctrine of man
here we get our
harmatology
our doctrine of sin
our soteriology
our doctrine of salvation
our Christology
the beginnings of our
doctrine on Christ
it's here we get our
pneumatology
our doctrine of the Holy Spirit
our eschatology
where it's all heading
and the doctrine of the last things
Genesis has the dawning of death
the institution of marriage
the initiation of covenant
the theology of work
the biblical role of manhood
and womanhood
the first proclamation of the gospel
the first allusions to the Trinity
and the first sacrifice
and many other prototypical events
that will all be opened and developed
during the rest of the Bible
it's no coincidence that our
in our world
the most ferocious attacks
by those that are anti-theists
are in the book of Genesis
because if we can
dismiss how it all began
then everything else unravels
if we can do away with God as creator
we can live how we like
so we've got 50 chapters
1,533 verses
some 40,000 words
on a time period
from the creation of the world
to about 1600 BC
we've got 21 minutes
so we're going to try to
wrestle this dense
long theological tone
into submission
fingers at the ready
Genesis actually splits
into two great acts
two great acts
and the first one is
chapters 1 to 11
and they're called pre-history
and this is what happens
in pre-history
chapter 1
and the first bit of chapter 2
is creation
that's the bit we know
God spoke and it was
and it was good
and it was very good
and then in chapter 2
we get a second run at creation
this time looking at
the origins of man
how God created man
and he saw that it was
very good
chapter 3 deals with
the fall of man
man has one rule
he cannot eat from the tree
and he's got a choice
whether he obeys or disobeys
and he gets it wrong
and so do all of we
and then chapter 4
to the end of pre-history
is the relentless spread
of evil
and this happens in
three big events
Cain and Abel
Noah and the flood
and then the tower
of Babel
is this initial
spark of sin
as Eve
and then Adam
eat the forbidden fruit
from the tree
it spreads
like a disease
and a virus
through every iota
of society
and then we get history
which takes 12 to 50
and it's around
three main characters
12 to 25
gives us Abraham
or Abraham
25 to 36
gives us Jacob
and 37
to 50
in multi-colors
gives us Joseph
and Isaac fits just here
he's kind of spread
between the Abraham narrative
and the Jacob narrative
and act 1
is like a panorama
it's like the broad view
of how it all got started
and of how it all went wrong
and then
in history
God goes zooming
into one family
to one family
that he chose
out of Ur of the Chaldeans
to be his chosen people
through whom he would bless
and bless the rest of the world
and start to set in motion
the most outrageous rescue plan
ever conceived
Genesis is a strange book
it starts with God
and his creation
and ends with Joseph
in a coffin in Egypt
that's how broad
and how specific
it gets
to get a good grasp of it
we're going to need
a vehicle
to guide us through
and Gordon Fee
says in his book
reading the Bible
book by book
he says
the first of the five books
of Moses
relates to the beginning
of everything
and then focuses
on God's call
and covenant
with Abraham
and his seed
promising to make them
a numerous people
and give them
the land
to live in
so all I want to do
this evening
is I want to trace
two themes
through Genesis
the first one is land
and the second one is seed
I want to see what God
is doing with land
and then I want to see
what's happening
with this word
seed
you all look as excited
as I am
so let's crack
on
start with this
start with land
land in creation
land
in
creation
chapter 1
verse 9
says that God
formed
the land
let the water
under the sky
be gathered
to one place
and let dry ground
appear
and it was so
God called the dry ground
land
and the gathered waters
he called seas
and God saw
that it was good
then it goes on
to say
in the immediately
next verses
that God made land
produce vegetation
seed bearing plants
to grow
and to spread
and then in chapter 1
verse 24
on the land
let the land
produce living creatures
according to their kinds
the livestock
the creatures
that move along
the ground
and the wild animals
each according
to its kind
and it's also
on day 6
that he makes man
and there's something
very interesting here
that we should pause
and look at
that there's only
two days
in the 6th of creation
where God speaks twice
the first one
is day 3
where land
becomes life
where land
becomes life
where inanimate
becomes animate
animate
where land
becomes vegetation
and he speaks twice
again in
chapter 6
day 6
where we get animals
and then humanity
these are special days
where God speaks twice
making inanimate
animate
and then making
animal
man
God
formed the land
and then God
filled the land
with animals
and then he says
to the pinnacle
of his creation
man
in verse 28
be fruitful
in increasing number
fill the land
and subdue it
he then says
in chapter 2
verse 7
that man
was formed
from the dust
of the land
then the Lord
formed a man
from the dust
of the land
and breathed
into his nostrils
the breath
of life
and the man
became a living
being
in chapter 2
verse 15
the Lord
took the man
and put him
to work
in the garden
of Eden
to work it
and take care
of it
God formed
the land
God filled
the land
God said
multiply
and spread
out across
the land
man was formed
from the dust
of the land
man was placed
in Eden
to work
the land
it all
starts so
well
but then
chapter 3
comes along
when the land
is cursed
look at verse 17
because you
listened to your
wife and ate
the fruit
from the tree
about which
I commanded
you
you must not
eat from it
cursed is the
land
because of you
through painful
toil you will
eat food
from it
all the days
of your life
chapter 3
verse 18
the land
bites back
it will produce
thorns and
thistles for you
and you will
eat the plants
of the field
chapter 3
verse 19
by the sweat
of your brow
you will
eat your food
until you
return to the
ground
since from it
you were taken
for dust
you are
and dust
you will
return
the land
is cursed
the land
bites back
and man
will return
to the dust
of the land
from which
he was created
the perfect
harmony
purpose
and provision
of creation
is spoiled
and tainted
and twisted
by the fall
and then it
spreads
it spreads
absolutely
everywhere
we get
Cain murdering
Abel
and by the time
we get to
chapter 6
we see
all the thoughts
of man
were only
evil
all the time
chapter 6
verse 5
the Lord
saw how great
the wickedness
of the human
race had become
on the earth
and that every
inclination of the
thoughts of the
human heart
was only
evil
all the time
and God
regretted
he had made
human beings
on the earth
and his heart
was deeply
troubled
spoiled
one bit
of disobedience
spreads
we get
murder
and then we
get this
everyone's
only thinking
and doing
evil
all the time
and so God
wants to press
reset
the idea
of the flood
comes
and chapter 6
verse 8
gives us
this spark
of a reset
and a recreation
but Noah
found favour
in the eyes
of the Lord
evil spreads
chapter 7
verse 21
the land
is flooded
it's
de-creation
we start
Genesis
with the
spirit of God
hovering over
the waters
of the deep
but now
the waters
of the deep
return
and cover
the land
as God
de-creates
and resets
creation
only Noah
was left
chapter 7
verse 23
only Noah
was left
and those
with him
in the ark
and so we get
this really
interesting parallel
between Noah
and Joseph
Noah preserves
human life
during the
great flood
Joseph
preserves
human life
during the
great famine
there seems
to be a
slight
symmetry
to the role
that each
of them
are playing
chapter 9
verse 1
humanity
is reset
that creation
mandate
goes out
again to
Noah
chapter 9
verse 1
be fruitful
in increasing
number
and fill
the land
but we see
that the reset
isn't going
as well
as we'd
hoped
chapter 9
verse 20
Noah
a man
of the land
proceeded
to plant
a vineyard
when he
drank some
of its wine
he became
drunk
and lay
uncovered
inside his
tent
isn't it
interesting
the symmetry
there between
Adam and even
the garden
getting into
trouble with
the fruit
of the land
and now
Noah again
getting into
trouble with
the fruit
of the land
planting a
vineyard
getting drunk
and passing
out naked
in his
tent
it seems
that sin
is more
than just
environmental
it seems
that the reset
didn't work
because unfortunately
in Noah doing
a geographical
he took himself
with himself
and this ingrained
sin that had
spread to
every iota
of humanity
travelled with
him
so even on
Ararat
he's getting
into trouble
and making
bad choices
it's true
for each
of us
sin in our
lives is not
because we're
being infected
from outside
it's because
we're broken
inside
and until we
get that
we'll only ever
be asking
God to change
our circumstance
and what God
needs to do
is change our
hearts
because we're
so tainted
and infected
by sin
then we get
to Babel
in chapter
11
and God
says spread
out
fill the
land
and the
people in
verse 4
said no
they find
the plain
of Shinar
they build
a temple
and they say
they build
a tower
and they say
come let us
build ourselves
a city
with a tower
that reaches
to the heavens
so that we
may make
a name
for ourselves
otherwise
we will be
scattered over
the face
of the whole
earth
disobedience
again
God says
spread out
and fill
the land
and they say
no
let's build
a tower
to literally
reach to the
heavens
so we can
totally do
away with
God
and again
be the
masters
of our
own lives
the gods
to our
own
selves
but in
chapter 11
verse 9
God sees
he comes
down
he confuses
the language
and they're
scattered
over the
whole
world
the human
disobedience
won't thwart
the plans
of God
that his
creation
might
be indwelt
by his
people
and then the
narrative slows
down a lot
in chapter 12
moving from
these big
global
vistas
to one
family
and we
get
Abraham
chapter 12
verse 1
the Lord
said to
Abraham
go from
your land
your people
and your
father's
household
to the
land
I will
show you
go to
the land
I will
show you
and as we
read in
Hebrews
this is
credited
to Abraham
as righteousness
that his
faith
was credited
to him
as righteousness
that he
left
everything
he knew
to obey
a God
who spoke
to him
he gets
a little
sidetracked
in chapter
12
verse 10
that there's
a famine
in the land
that he's
going through
so he goes
down to
Egypt
to live
there for
a while
because of
the famine
there he gets
into all sorts
of trouble
trying to say
Sarah that
his wife
is actually
his sister
it's always
going to get
you into
trouble
and again
it's
interesting
because during
a famine
Abraham
goes to
Egypt
obviously
the hero
that we're
going to
learn about
Joseph
during a
famine
goes down
to Egypt
not by
choice
but in
chapter 26
we learn
about Isaac
and there's
a famine
and God
says to him
whatever you
do
don't go
down to
Egypt
chapter 26
verse 2
do not
go down
to Egypt
live in
the land
where I
tell you
to live
stay in
this land
for a
while
and I
will be
with you
and will
bless you
seems to
be something
really interesting
there going
on in
the life
of Isaac
and yet
back to
Abraham
gets a
covenant
ratified in
chapter 15
I am the
Lord your
God who
brought you
out of
the
Chaldeans
to give
you this
land
to take
possession
of it
when
Abraham
arrives
in the
land
God
says
you've
arrived
and one
day
this
will
all
be
yours
but in
chapter 15
verses 13
to 16
we get the
beginnings
of the
idea that
Egypt is
going to
play a
role
chapter 15
verse 13
then the
Lord said
to him
know for
certain
that for
400 years
your
descendants
will be
strangers
in a
country
not
their
own
and that
they
will be
enslaved
and ill
treated
there
and I
will punish
the nation
they serve
as slaves
and afterwards
they will come
out with great
possessions
you however
will go to
your ancestors
in peace
and be buried
at a good
old age
in the fourth
generation
your descendants
will come
back here
for the sin
of the
Amorites
has not yet
reached
its full
measure
God says
I'm going
to give
you this
land
Abraham
or
Abraham
by this
point
I'm going
to give
you this
land
but before
you take
possession
of it
fully
you're going
to go
to Egypt
for 400
years
and as we
learn in
Exodus
when we
did it
this oppression
in Egypt
is going
to teach
God's
people
what their
God is
like
that he
is strong
and powerful
that he
redeems
that he
rescues
and he
does it
with his
mighty
outstretched
hand
against the
Pharaoh
but see
as well
that the
promised land
is a
gracious
gift
of God
but also
the promised
land is
severe judgment
on the
Amorites
they're not
going to use
it well
that their
wickedness
will only
increase
and that's
why when we
get to Joshua
they're all
punished
because they've
turned their
back on God
and their
sin
is explicit
in chapter
26 verse
3 and 5
this covenant
is reiterated
to Isaac
and in chapter
28 verses
13 to 15
Jacob
is included
in this covenant
again
but there's a
big twist
there's a big
twist at the
end of the
book that God
has already
told Abraham
about
which
Isaac
will know
about
which Jacob
will know
about
because in
verse 26
chapter 46
verse 1
Jacob
set out
with all
that was
his
and when
he reached
Bathsheba
he offered
a sacrifice
to the
God of
his father
Isaac
chapter 46
verse 5
Jacob
left
Bathsheba
and Israel's
sons took
their father
Jacob
and their
children
and their
wives
in the
carts that
Pharaoh had
sent to
transport him
so Jacob
and all his
offspring went
to Egypt
taking with
them their
livestock
and the
possessions
they had
acquired
in Cana
so we get
this amazing
twist
God says
you've got
this land
but by the
end of the
book
they're all
in Egypt
and there's
only one
bit
of the
promised
land
that they
own
the cave
of
Machpelah
that Abraham
purchased to
bury Sarah
in in chapter
23 verse 9
and in chapter
49 we realize
that's where all
the descendants
have been
buried
chapter 49
verse 29
then he gave
them these
instructions
that's
Joseph
I am about
to be gathered
to my
people
bury me
with my
fathers
in the
cave
in the
field of
Ephron
the Hittite
the cave
in the
field of
Machpelah
near Mamre
in Canaan
which Abraham
bought along
with the field
as a burial
place from
Ephron the
Hittite
there Abraham
and his
wife Sarah
were buried
there Isaac
and his
wife Rebecca
were buried
and there
I buried
Leah
the field
and the
cave
in it
were bought
from the
Hittites
by the time
we get to
Genesis
there's this
great promise
that this
land will be
yours and
your descendants
but they
only own
one little
cave
in one
little corner
of the
land
and yet I
think we
learn as we
read in
Hebrews
that there's
great faith
here exhibited
by Joseph
by faith
Joseph
when his
end was
near
spoke about
the exodus
of the
Israelites
from Egypt
and gave
instructions
concerning his
burial
of his
bones
see how
that is
real faith
that Joseph
was a really
big deal
in Egypt
he was an
absolute hero
who had
saved a
whole nation
from starvation
and yet
he believed
all that
God said
that Egypt
this is not
your home
this is not
where you're
going to
remain
so he says
I'm going
to die
but when
you go
when God
comes and
rescues you
and brings
you into
all that
he's promised
take me
with you
take my
bones and
put them
with Abraham
and Sarah
and Leah
and Isaac
bury me
with my
people in
the land
God has
promised
great amount
of Genesis
is about
land
about God
working out
his purposes
great amount
of the story
of Joseph
is about
faith
how it is
God
getting his
people
into Egypt
so he can
rescue them
and teach
them about
himself
but great
faith
exhibited by
Joseph
saying I
believe
God what
you said
is true
and I
want to
be part
of it
Egypt
is not
my
home
but you
are going
to take
us
and be
in the
land
that you
promised
that's
so similar
to us
isn't it
God
says this
is not
your land
this is
not where
you are
meant to
be
this is
not where
you are
to permanently
reside
we are
just here
and in
the exodus
that the
Lord Jesus
has led
being welcomed
into that
land
that has
been
promised
that place
that the
Lord Jesus
has been
preparing
ever since
his ascension
and I
wonder if
that's one
of the
lessons
we're to
learn from
Joseph
to not
let our
roots go
down too
deep in
this land
but to know
that there is a
promised land
far better than
Canaan promised
to Abraham
that's where
we're to be
looking
that's what
we're to be
living for
and that's
where we're
to orientate
all of our
lives
knowing that
one day
we'll reside
there forever
as a gracious
gift
from a good
God
Joseph knew
that through
redemption
they would
take possession
of the land
God had
promised
through our
redemption
through the
Lord Jesus
we like
Joseph
are to have
that faith
that will
be welcomed
into the
land
that new
world
that recreated
perfection
that God
has promised
that's land
there's a lot
of it
to get
through
now let's
go through
seed and
this will
take us
a lot
less time
the whole
story starts
in chapter
3 verse
15
the first
pronouncement
of the
gospel
in the
Bible
and I
will put
enmity
between you
and the
woman
and between
your offspring
and hers
he will
crush your
head
and you
will strike
his heel
the seed
of the
woman
would be
the way
that the
curse
of sin
would be
undone
and this
means that
everybody
born next
are they
that seed
are they
that one
whom God
is going
to use
to redeem
the world
who's going
to be
this promised
seed
and so we
get Adam's
children
and the
promised
seed is
obviously
not
able
because
he's
dead
and it's
obviously
not going
to be
Cain
because he's
the one
who made
able
dead
and is
being
and is
responsible
and is
now
cursed
to wander
the world
alone
but then we
get Seth
and Seth
is the
line
through which
the promised
seed will
come
and it's
from Seth
that we
get Noah
if you want
to read that
chapter 5
we'll let you
into all the
intricate details
about the
family tree
and Noah
has three
sons
and we
wonder which
ones of
these
is going
to be the
line of the
promised
seed
it's not
particularly
obvious
although Ham
is cursed
because he
sees his
dad passed
up naked
and we
learn that
it's not
Japheth
but it is
in fact
Shem
is the
one
who is
the promised
seed
and we
pick that
up in
chapter 11
verse 10
and from
Shem
we get
terror
and terror
seems to be
a bit of a
weird inclusion
because nothing
really happens
except we
learn that
terror took
terror
was
related to
Abraham
promised
and called
by God
and Abraham's
got a bit of a
checkered life
that God says
you're going to
have a son
and Abraham
decides it's a
DIY kind of
job
so he
gets given
Hagar
by Sarah
to try and
give himself
a son
but this is
the DIY
lie
and Ishmael
is not
the promised
lie
and Ishmael
is interesting
it's Abraham's
DIY
attempt to
grab hold
of the
covenant
but Hagar
Ishmael's
mum
is an
Egyptian
a descendant
of the
Hamites
chapter 16
verse 12
we learn
that he's
going to
be a
wild donkey
of a man
his hand's
going to
be against
everyone
and everyone's
hand's
going to
be against
him
we also
learn when
we get
into the
Joseph story
that when
Joseph's
brothers
sell
Joseph
they sell
him to
the
Midianites
or the
Ishmaelites
who take
him down
to Egypt
seems that
Ishmael
has a part
to play
but of
course
the promise
line comes
through
Isaac
and Isaac
testifies to
God
making the
impossible
possible
because Sarah
is about a
hundred years
old which
is no age
to start
mothering
children
but Isaac
is not the
serpent
crusher
he's still
not arrived
because Isaac's
character and
faith are
shaky to say
the least
so then Isaac
has two
sons one's
called Esau
he becomes
the father
of the
Edomites
or the
red ones
if you like
he's not
chosen
but Jacob
is the
chosen one
but you have
to look at
Jacob's family
tree and
wonder which
one of these
is the
chosen
promise
seed
you've got
Reuben
Simeon
Levi
Judah
Issach
Zebulun
all the
sons of
Leah
you've got
Joseph and
Benjamin
the sons
of Rachel
and because
they're in the
middle of
who's the
favourite by
having the
most sons
Zilpah
Leah's
maidservant
is given
to Jacob
and she
has Gad
and Asher
and Rachel
decides
well my
maidservant
could give
you some
sons and
I might
win so
Bilhah
goes in
and Dan
and Naphtali
are born
well that's
mess isn't
it
that's like
a Jeremy
Kyle show
waiting to
happen
one father
four
childbearing
women
twelve sons
who don't
get on at
all
which one
of these
is going
to be
the line
of the
promised
seed
well
there's
Joseph
but
Joseph
isn't
the
promised
seed
it's
Judah
that's
not the
obvious
choice
because
we're
going to
see
next
week
that
Judah
doesn't
start
great
Judah
is
going
to
be
the
line
of
this
promised
seed
the
one
descendant
of
Eve
who
will
crush
and
bring
an end
to
death
and
sin
and
evil
forever
so
what part
does
Joseph
play
well I
think
Joseph
knows
that
he's
not
a big
deal
he's
very
forgiving
to his
brothers
he's
very
servant
hearted
in every
situation
he finds
himself
in
as we
read
in
Psalm
105
he's
very
wise
and
seeks
to
teach
the
elders
and
princes
in
Egypt
wisdom
he's
a
great
example
but
he
knows
he's
not
the
main
event
and
I
wonder
too
if
this
isn't
what
we're
to
learn
from
the
life
of
Joseph
this
isn't
actually
what
we're
to
emulate
in
the
life
of
Joseph
that
I'm
not
the
main
event
but
to
point
to
that
promised
seed
that
you're
not
the
main
event
but
the
goal
of
your
life
is
to
live
a
life
of
faith
and
integrity
a
life
of
wisdom
and
honouring
God
in
order
that
one
who
would
come
from
the
line
of
Judah
would
look
great
and
be
glorious
we
know
what
we
read
in
Micah
5
but
you
Bethlehem
Ephrathah
though
you
are
small
among
the
clans
of
Judah
out
of
you
one
who
will
be
ruler
over
Israel
whose
origins
are
from
of
old
from
ancient
times
Galatians
3
the
promise
the
promises
were
spoken
to
Abraham
and
to
his
seed
scripture
does
not
say
and
to
seeds
meaning
many
but
one
who
is
Christ
Jesus
says
to the
Pharisees
if you
believed
Moses
you
would
believe
me
because
he
wrote
about
me
and
in
that
way
we're
to
see
Joseph
as a
real
important
cog
in
this
unfolding
machine
that will
give us
the Lord
Jesus
Joseph
links to
and points
to
Christ
he's a
vital part
of the
story
because
without
him
Judah
wouldn't
survive
without
him
David
wouldn't
be
born
and
great
David's
greatest
son
the
serpent
crusher
that
promised
seed
wouldn't
come
into
the
world
as I've
read
Genesis
this
week
over
and
over
and
over
again
the
one
thing
that
I've
learned
that's
captured
and
provoked
my
thought
is
just
how
messy
it
is
just
how
at
every
turn
something
goes
wrong
someone
makes
a bad
choice
somebody
tries
to go
off
plot
and
yet
it's
confirmed
that
God
is
sovereign
over
the
mess
of
this
world
and
he's
working
out
his
purposes
they
cannot
be
thwarted
despite
people's
best
efforts
because
his
serpent
crusher
his
own
son
the
Lord
Jesus
will
come
into
the
world
Jesus
will
be
the
answer
to
all
the
merc
and
mess
and
sin
and
fallenness
that
we've
got
ourselves
into
the
book
of
beginnings
has a
totally
unsatisfactory
end
the
promise
of
land
while
they're
in
Egypt
the
promise
of
the
serpent
crusher
from
the
seed
while
Judah
doesn't
look like
a great
candidate
and God
has given
them three
covenants
and they've
messed up
at every
point
and therefore
the ending
of Genesis
just leaves
us
crying out
for
that
promised
seed
who
will
come
and
make
all
things
new
and
come
and
rescue
and
redeem
forever
and
bring
us
into
that
land
that
God
has
promised
will
be
perfect
and
new
let's
pray
Father God
thank you
that you're
sovereign
over the
mess of
this
world
thank you
that you're
sovereign
over the
messy
decisions
in our
lives
Father
thank you
that even
though
bad things
happen
that you
manage to
weave them
together for
good
and so
Father
may we
live lives
like Joseph
lives of
integrity
and faith
lives of
servant
heartedness
lives of
wisdom
lives lived
in the
fear of
the Lord
that you
might walk
with us
through our
days
and Father
that we
might point
as Joseph
did to
that
promised
seed
who was
to come
into the
world
who would
be the
answer to
sin
and death
and who
would be
the way
that we
get to
be in
that new
creation
that perfect
world
with you
our sovereign
God
so Father
we pray
that as we
go from
here to
study
more of
Joseph
Father
would these
lessons that
we learn
be dear to
us
glorifying to
you
and so
helpful to
those that
we interact
with daily
that we
too might
point to
your son
the Lord
Jesus
Amen
everything
thanks
стро
hmm