WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.740 in two of the Old Testament prophets' writings 00:00:03.740 --> 00:00:09.640 that was a popular phrase among the people of God in those days. 00:00:10.480 --> 00:00:13.660 One time it's mentioned is in Ezekiel 18, verse 2, 00:00:13.740 --> 00:00:14.140 when it says, 00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:20.059 The father eats the grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge. 00:00:20.760 --> 00:00:24.219 The thought is that when your parents do something wrong, 00:00:24.820 --> 00:00:27.219 you're going to face the judgment for it. 00:00:27.219 --> 00:00:29.800 And there's talk of that in the book of Exodus. 00:00:30.359 --> 00:00:33.159 And there's talk of that in the book of Deuteronomy. 00:00:33.719 --> 00:00:36.759 Sometimes people call these generational curses. 00:00:37.780 --> 00:00:42.299 However, as the new covenant began to be revealed, 00:00:42.420 --> 00:00:44.700 that is the one that was promised through the prophets 00:00:44.700 --> 00:00:48.939 about the difference that the coming Christ would make. 00:00:49.019 --> 00:00:49.859 That's the new covenant. 00:00:50.939 --> 00:00:54.039 Ezekiel and Jeremiah said that we teach, 00:00:54.039 --> 00:00:57.719 that we each are responsible for our own sins, 00:00:57.719 --> 00:01:00.159 not the sins of our ancestors. 00:01:00.780 --> 00:01:04.879 We can't blame our sin on our ancestors. 00:01:05.780 --> 00:01:08.939 We're responsible for our sins, 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:11.579 not anybody else's. 00:01:11.579 --> 00:01:15.159 And no one else is responsible for ours. 00:01:15.239 --> 00:01:18.019 That's not to say we're not influenced by others. 00:01:19.299 --> 00:01:22.340 However, we are influenced by other people's sins. 00:01:22.739 --> 00:01:25.379 And the fault of those before us 00:01:25.379 --> 00:01:28.599 influence us as well. 00:01:28.599 --> 00:01:31.119 Either we fall right back in that cycle of fault, 00:01:31.559 --> 00:01:34.539 or either we learn from that and we do better. 00:01:35.379 --> 00:01:39.239 Those faults lead to a lack of healthy function. 00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:41.959 It leads to dysfunction. 00:01:41.959 --> 00:01:46.359 And that dysfunction can drag from one generation 00:01:46.359 --> 00:01:48.219 to another generation. 00:01:48.219 --> 00:01:51.619 And all of that can lead to disaster. 00:01:52.299 --> 00:01:55.780 I spent quite a bit of time last week looking at the book, 00:01:55.959 --> 00:01:59.179 I mean, excuse me, looking at Jacob in the book of Genesis, 00:01:59.539 --> 00:02:00.539 looking at Jacob. 00:02:00.919 --> 00:02:03.500 Even though this series is about the life of Joseph, 00:02:03.500 --> 00:02:05.339 I thought it was important to understand 00:02:05.339 --> 00:02:07.919 the role that his father played 00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:11.020 in a lot of what happens in the coming days 00:02:11.020 --> 00:02:12.000 that we'll be looking at. 00:02:12.939 --> 00:02:14.259 And I want us to see today 00:02:14.259 --> 00:02:19.599 how Jacob's actions affected his kids' lives. 00:02:20.539 --> 00:02:24.479 I want us to look at the entirety of Genesis 37, 00:02:24.740 --> 00:02:26.199 which I know scares you to death. 00:02:26.920 --> 00:02:31.360 But we're just gonna slowly weave through this passage together. 00:02:32.639 --> 00:02:36.099 Genesis chapter 37, beginning in verse one, 00:02:36.180 --> 00:02:36.420 it says, 00:02:36.419 --> 00:02:39.139 Jacob lived in the land of his father's sojournings, 00:02:39.659 --> 00:02:40.859 in the land of Canaan. 00:02:40.979 --> 00:02:42.719 These are the generations of Jacob. 00:02:43.419 --> 00:02:45.159 Joseph, being 17 years old, 00:02:45.219 --> 00:02:47.459 was pastoring the flock with his brothers. 00:02:48.099 --> 00:02:53.339 He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, 00:02:53.799 --> 00:02:54.839 his father's wives. 00:02:55.419 --> 00:02:59.560 And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. 00:02:59.959 --> 00:03:01.659 Now, when you look at this bad report 00:03:01.659 --> 00:03:02.959 that it's talking about here, 00:03:03.500 --> 00:03:04.719 look in the original language, 00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:10.039 it speaks of a whispering report about something evil. 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:14.159 Actually, about something immoral. 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:17.900 So what you have here is a little bit of gossip, 00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:19.919 a little bit of a tattletale, 00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:23.039 but this content of what he had to say 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:25.079 was something that his brothers had done 00:03:25.079 --> 00:03:26.819 that was immorally wrong. 00:03:26.819 --> 00:03:30.039 And he made sure that his dad knew about it. 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:33.139 Now, just because I've got two older brothers 00:03:33.139 --> 00:03:34.739 that I grew up with, 00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:37.879 I happen to believe that the brothers found out 00:03:37.879 --> 00:03:39.639 that Joseph had told his daddy. 00:03:40.359 --> 00:03:41.400 I might be wrong. 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:42.439 I can't prove that. 00:03:42.439 --> 00:03:44.560 But I bet somebody knew about it. 00:03:45.199 --> 00:03:45.479 It says, 00:03:45.659 --> 00:03:52.500 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons 00:03:52.500 --> 00:03:57.139 because he was the son of his old age. 00:03:57.699 --> 00:03:59.759 If you remember the life of Jacob, 00:04:00.439 --> 00:04:03.180 Rachel was Jacob's real love. 00:04:03.319 --> 00:04:04.759 He worked for seven years, 00:04:04.759 --> 00:04:08.159 and his father-in-law betrayed him, 00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:10.179 gave him the ugly sister instead. 00:04:10.579 --> 00:04:13.179 And when he woke up the next morning with the wrong woman, 00:04:13.259 --> 00:04:14.219 he'd come back and said, 00:04:14.299 --> 00:04:16.399 That's not the one that I worked seven years for. 00:04:16.839 --> 00:04:17.279 And he said, 00:04:17.319 --> 00:04:19.079 Well, if you'll pledge to work another seven years, 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:20.060 you can have the other one. 00:04:20.099 --> 00:04:21.959 And so he married both of them, 00:04:22.039 --> 00:04:24.139 but Rachel was always his love. 00:04:24.180 --> 00:04:26.719 And Rachel had a hard time having children. 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:28.100 As a matter of fact, 00:04:28.180 --> 00:04:30.720 she told him to go ahead and get with her servant 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:32.680 and so they could have children. 00:04:33.200 --> 00:04:33.840 And then Leah, 00:04:34.500 --> 00:04:36.220 Rachel's sister had children, 00:04:36.380 --> 00:04:37.900 and Leah's servant had children. 00:04:38.340 --> 00:04:39.820 Everybody seemed to be having children, 00:04:39.960 --> 00:04:40.500 but Rachel, 00:04:40.660 --> 00:04:41.660 it's a big burden to her. 00:04:42.220 --> 00:04:44.440 And when Joseph was born to Rachel, 00:04:46.120 --> 00:04:47.160 Jacob's real love, 00:04:47.240 --> 00:04:48.120 it was a big deal. 00:04:48.780 --> 00:04:49.500 It was a big deal. 00:04:49.980 --> 00:04:52.800 When she attempted to have a second child, 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:55.240 she died in childbirth, 00:04:55.240 --> 00:04:57.639 right as Benjamin was being born. 00:04:57.800 --> 00:05:00.900 So understand that throughout the life of Rachel, 00:05:01.000 --> 00:05:04.500 the only child that she bore herself was Joseph. 00:05:05.060 --> 00:05:06.220 And she cherished Joseph. 00:05:06.600 --> 00:05:08.660 And then Jacob cherished Rachel. 00:05:09.100 --> 00:05:10.400 And so whatever Rachel loved, 00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:11.540 he loved that much more. 00:05:11.800 --> 00:05:16.340 And it showed a favoritism over his other kids as well. 00:05:16.900 --> 00:05:20.379 All of that played into this relationship. 00:05:20.579 --> 00:05:21.740 And while Rachel was alive, 00:05:21.740 --> 00:05:24.759 Joseph was the only child that she had. 00:05:25.240 --> 00:05:28.180 And paid a lot more attention to him 00:05:28.180 --> 00:05:29.420 than she did the other children. 00:05:29.800 --> 00:05:32.819 And that played into Jacob's favoritism as well. 00:05:33.060 --> 00:05:33.680 And it says, 00:05:33.900 --> 00:05:36.400 and he made him a robe of many colors. 00:05:36.699 --> 00:05:39.400 Now I spoke of the elegant nature of that robe 00:05:39.400 --> 00:05:41.240 and what you see in the original language there 00:05:41.240 --> 00:05:42.300 that it speaks of. 00:05:42.379 --> 00:05:44.100 We think about the coat of many colors, 00:05:44.180 --> 00:05:45.780 kind of like Dolly Parton's coat of many colors, 00:05:45.900 --> 00:05:46.500 quilted together. 00:05:46.819 --> 00:05:49.120 That is not what we're talking about here at all. 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:51.579 What we are talking about is a very elegant robe. 00:05:51.579 --> 00:05:52.079 Matter of fact, 00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:55.339 the Hebrew word there speaks of cuffs going to the wrist 00:05:55.339 --> 00:05:58.240 as well as dropping all the way to the ankles. 00:05:58.439 --> 00:05:59.879 If it drops all the way to the ankles, 00:06:00.019 --> 00:06:03.879 what that means is it's not a working robe, okay? 00:06:04.180 --> 00:06:05.620 It is an elegant robe. 00:06:05.839 --> 00:06:08.180 And he was a privileged child. 00:06:08.680 --> 00:06:11.939 And so notice that although there was a pattern of him 00:06:11.939 --> 00:06:16.899 working with his brothers as with the sheep, 00:06:16.899 --> 00:06:20.620 it speaks of that earlier in the passage that we talk about. 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:22.099 In this passage, 00:06:22.199 --> 00:06:24.919 it says that they were working the sheep. 00:06:25.819 --> 00:06:27.399 And while they were working the sheep, 00:06:28.019 --> 00:06:29.779 Joseph was at home. 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:33.979 He was wearing that equivalent to a mink coat around the house, 00:06:34.060 --> 00:06:34.339 okay? 00:06:34.739 --> 00:06:39.279 Instead of his brothers working in a pasture 50 miles from home. 00:06:40.459 --> 00:06:41.179 Verse four says, 00:06:41.339 --> 00:06:44.199 but when his brothers saw that their father loved him 00:06:44.199 --> 00:06:45.839 more than all his brothers, 00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:51.039 they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him. 00:06:51.659 --> 00:06:54.079 So Joseph was the golden child. 00:06:54.819 --> 00:06:58.759 And when they saw the admiration in the eyes of their father for Joseph, 00:06:59.099 --> 00:07:02.239 as well as witnessing him lauding over him, 00:07:02.519 --> 00:07:03.439 they hated him. 00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:06.620 They did not speak kindly to him. 00:07:07.339 --> 00:07:09.679 It doesn't seem like it could get worse than that, 00:07:09.739 --> 00:07:11.579 but just hold on a minute. 00:07:11.799 --> 00:07:12.699 Because it says now, 00:07:12.699 --> 00:07:14.839 Joseph had a dream. 00:07:15.579 --> 00:07:17.139 And when he told it to his brothers, 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:19.519 they hated him even more. 00:07:19.979 --> 00:07:20.339 Now listen, 00:07:20.479 --> 00:07:21.379 some dreams, 00:07:21.740 --> 00:07:23.779 even if they are of God, 00:07:24.579 --> 00:07:26.579 don't need to be shared immediately, 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:27.459 okay? 00:07:28.399 --> 00:07:29.539 And if they are, 00:07:29.620 --> 00:07:31.120 they need to be done carefully. 00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:33.060 And Joseph didn't do that. 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:34.019 I want you to notice this. 00:07:34.379 --> 00:07:35.399 He said to him, 00:07:35.399 --> 00:07:37.659 hear this dream that I dream. 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:39.039 Behold, 00:07:39.139 --> 00:07:41.539 we are binding sheaves in the field. 00:07:41.659 --> 00:07:42.959 We were binding sheaves in the field. 00:07:43.379 --> 00:07:43.719 And behold, 00:07:43.779 --> 00:07:45.560 my sheaf arose and stood upright. 00:07:45.679 --> 00:07:45.979 And behold, 00:07:46.019 --> 00:07:50.299 your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf. 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:50.839 Okay? 00:07:51.359 --> 00:07:52.239 Now I'm just thinking, 00:07:52.339 --> 00:07:54.379 if I had said that to my brothers, 00:07:54.799 --> 00:07:57.819 I wouldn't have remembered the rest of that day. 00:07:57.819 --> 00:08:04.259 I would have went under the concussion protocol from dealing with that. 00:08:04.939 --> 00:08:05.060 Now, 00:08:05.139 --> 00:08:06.839 what about these dreams from God? 00:08:06.899 --> 00:08:07.759 Let me go there a minute. 00:08:08.899 --> 00:08:12.319 Because I've had people come to me over the years and say, 00:08:12.379 --> 00:08:12.620 Pastor, 00:08:12.680 --> 00:08:13.439 I had a dream. 00:08:15.500 --> 00:08:18.159 And I don't know if that was just my doings. 00:08:18.180 --> 00:08:19.819 I don't know if that was God telling me something. 00:08:20.620 --> 00:08:22.319 I don't know if Satan's messing with me. 00:08:22.500 --> 00:08:24.199 I don't know how to interpret this dream. 00:08:24.379 --> 00:08:24.659 Okay? 00:08:24.660 --> 00:08:30.200 And I got a minor in psychology and I did a dream project in college that I 00:08:30.200 --> 00:08:30.780 barely remember. 00:08:30.880 --> 00:08:31.560 So I'm an expert. 00:08:31.900 --> 00:08:32.040 Okay? 00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:35.700 So when they share this dream with me, 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:37.160 what I always ask them is this. 00:08:38.120 --> 00:08:40.120 How did that dream make you feel? 00:08:42.139 --> 00:08:44.500 And if they come out of that dream feeling convicted, 00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:45.700 well, 00:08:45.720 --> 00:08:46.620 the devil didn't do that. 00:08:47.639 --> 00:08:49.300 He don't cause conviction of sin. 00:08:50.180 --> 00:08:53.019 And if they come out of that dream feeling encouraged, 00:08:53.019 --> 00:08:56.240 to be more obedient to the Lord, 00:08:57.100 --> 00:08:59.240 or to follow through with God's plan for something, 00:09:00.299 --> 00:09:01.579 that sounds like it's from God to me. 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:04.240 But if they come out beaten down, 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:07.120 and they come out discouraged, 00:09:07.740 --> 00:09:10.539 and they come out like they're on the losing end, 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:13.039 then I always tell them, 00:09:13.079 --> 00:09:14.039 I don't think that's from God. 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:15.620 I really don't. 00:09:15.620 --> 00:09:16.500 I mean, 00:09:16.539 --> 00:09:17.879 let's look at the message. 00:09:18.220 --> 00:09:19.899 And I could go on with this. 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:23.060 But we get caught up in the miracles of Scripture. 00:09:23.179 --> 00:09:24.799 But when you study the miracles of Scripture, 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:29.120 always hang on at the end to find out the message there. 00:09:29.419 --> 00:09:31.679 Because they're not just sprinkled for no reason. 00:09:32.019 --> 00:09:34.919 There's always a message there. 00:09:34.919 --> 00:09:38.919 And that message says a lot about the source, 00:09:39.559 --> 00:09:42.279 whether it's a miracle or whether it's a dream. 00:09:43.620 --> 00:09:44.759 So in response to this dream, 00:09:44.839 --> 00:09:45.899 his brother said to him, 00:09:46.579 --> 00:09:50.179 are you indeed to reign over us? 00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:54.099 Or are you indeed to rule over us? 00:09:54.919 --> 00:09:55.579 And Scripture says, 00:09:55.799 --> 00:09:59.059 so they hated him even more for his dreams 00:09:59.059 --> 00:10:00.719 and for his words. 00:10:01.019 --> 00:10:01.500 So in other words, 00:10:01.579 --> 00:10:03.199 every time he opened his mouth, 00:10:03.200 --> 00:10:04.640 especially with that coat on, 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:06.780 it gets worse. 00:10:07.900 --> 00:10:09.000 But he's not done. 00:10:09.420 --> 00:10:10.200 He's still talking. 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:12.400 Then he dreamed another dream. 00:10:13.160 --> 00:10:15.560 And he told it to his brothers and said, 00:10:15.980 --> 00:10:18.280 behold, I've dreamed another dream. 00:10:18.360 --> 00:10:20.620 And behold, the sun, the moon, and 11 stars 00:10:20.620 --> 00:10:23.640 were bowing down to me. 00:10:24.920 --> 00:10:29.680 But when he told to his father and to his brothers, 00:10:29.740 --> 00:10:31.120 his father rebuked him and said to him, 00:10:31.180 --> 00:10:32.500 what is this dream that you've dreamed? 00:10:32.500 --> 00:10:34.659 Shall I and your mother and your brothers 00:10:34.659 --> 00:10:37.120 indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you? 00:10:37.559 --> 00:10:39.500 And his brothers were jealous of him, 00:10:40.159 --> 00:10:44.039 but his father kept the saying in mind. 00:10:44.220 --> 00:10:44.940 How horrible. 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:46.019 How horrible. 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:49.179 However, I want you to understand that it's obvious 00:10:49.179 --> 00:10:50.860 these dreams are from the Lord 00:10:50.860 --> 00:10:53.700 because what he's saying is true. 00:10:54.100 --> 00:10:55.120 Did he have to say it? 00:10:55.179 --> 00:10:56.419 I don't know about that. 00:10:56.779 --> 00:10:58.100 Scripture ain't clear about that. 00:10:58.279 --> 00:11:00.120 I don't know that he had to tell his older brothers. 00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:01.840 Why in the world would he do that? 00:11:01.899 --> 00:11:02.440 But he did. 00:11:02.919 --> 00:11:03.100 Okay. 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:05.500 But the dreams came from the Lord. 00:11:06.340 --> 00:11:07.159 The dream was giving. 00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:08.519 Now think about this. 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:11.560 Joseph's going to go through some stuff. 00:11:11.980 --> 00:11:14.840 And I hope I remember to bring you back to this time 00:11:14.840 --> 00:11:15.700 in this passage. 00:11:16.419 --> 00:11:18.019 Because when he goes through some stuff, 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:19.720 he's going to need some encouragement along the way. 00:11:20.060 --> 00:11:21.120 And you know what that encouragement will be? 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:21.860 Where he will be? 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:24.340 The dreams that he had so long ago 00:11:24.340 --> 00:11:27.060 that tells him that God's going to raise him up. 00:11:27.399 --> 00:11:29.100 That God's going to take care of him 00:11:29.100 --> 00:11:30.980 in the midst of all that. 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:33.440 But what he's saying is true. 00:11:35.220 --> 00:11:36.460 Stirs up his brothers. 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:40.580 They hated him anyway because he was favored. 00:11:40.580 --> 00:11:42.879 And then that favoritism showed 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:46.519 because he got an elegant coat. 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:51.319 It stands out to me that they're in the field 00:11:51.319 --> 00:11:52.559 50 miles away. 00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:54.639 And he's at the house. 00:11:55.779 --> 00:11:57.899 And then when he did see them before they went, 00:11:58.039 --> 00:12:00.620 he told them about these dreams of how 00:12:00.620 --> 00:12:03.340 most of them being his older brothers 00:12:03.340 --> 00:12:05.360 would bow down to him. 00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:09.079 Man, that ain't going over in the home I lived in. 00:12:09.139 --> 00:12:09.860 I'm just telling you. 00:12:09.980 --> 00:12:10.960 He just wouldn't do it. 00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:12.439 They wouldn't allow it to happen. 00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:13.240 My brothers wouldn't. 00:12:14.179 --> 00:12:16.019 It says now his brothers went out to pasture. 00:12:16.519 --> 00:12:18.240 Their father's flock near Shechem. 00:12:19.139 --> 00:12:20.620 And Israel said to Joseph, 00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:23.740 Are not your brothers pastoring the flock of Shechem? 00:12:24.340 --> 00:12:26.000 Come and I will send you to them. 00:12:26.699 --> 00:12:29.620 And he said to him, Here am I. 00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:31.960 So he said to him, Go now. 00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:33.980 See if it's well with your brothers 00:12:33.980 --> 00:12:35.279 and with the flock and bring me word. 00:12:35.779 --> 00:12:37.860 So he sent him from the valley of Hebron 00:12:37.860 --> 00:12:40.379 and he came to Shechem. 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:42.500 Several things about this passage I want to point out. 00:12:42.500 --> 00:12:47.059 One is, Did you hear the response of Joseph? 00:12:48.279 --> 00:12:49.799 His daddy told him to go. 00:12:50.039 --> 00:12:50.679 And what did he say? 00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:52.600 He said, Here I am. 00:12:55.080 --> 00:12:56.340 I'm ready to serve. 00:12:56.340 --> 00:13:01.700 We see a wonderful passage of Scripture in Isaiah 00:13:01.700 --> 00:13:05.340 that talks about Isaiah worshiping before the throne of God. 00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:09.740 And Isaiah's response to God in the midst of that was, Here I am. 00:13:11.040 --> 00:13:11.700 I'm ready. 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:13.240 I'm ready to serve. 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:15.600 Joseph had the right attitude toward his father. 00:13:16.019 --> 00:13:16.860 Made a lot of mistakes. 00:13:16.940 --> 00:13:17.940 Father made a lot of mistakes. 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:20.200 But he had the right attitude toward his father. 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:22.560 It's an encouragement to us to have the right attitude 00:13:22.560 --> 00:13:23.320 before our father. 00:13:23.320 --> 00:13:26.040 When he speaks to us, tells us what to do. 00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:28.379 Here I am. 00:13:28.440 --> 00:13:29.160 He was ready to serve. 00:13:30.379 --> 00:13:31.860 Now it says he goes to Shechem. 00:13:33.940 --> 00:13:35.740 Does Shechem ring a bell at all? 00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:41.860 You see, Shechem was the name of the man 00:13:41.860 --> 00:13:45.400 that raped Joseph's sister. 00:13:46.900 --> 00:13:50.460 And after Shechem raped Joseph's sister, 00:13:50.460 --> 00:13:53.220 he wanted to make it right. 00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:56.460 So he went and asked for her hand. 00:13:57.120 --> 00:14:01.320 And his daddy, Jacob, was a passive father. 00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:03.180 He didn't really do anything. 00:14:03.760 --> 00:14:07.100 But those brothers, those brothers said, 00:14:07.660 --> 00:14:10.120 if you want her hand, 00:14:11.020 --> 00:14:14.740 she's not going to be around a bunch of uncircumcised men. 00:14:14.740 --> 00:14:17.139 So if you want her hand, 00:14:17.139 --> 00:14:19.580 not only you, but all the men around you 00:14:19.580 --> 00:14:21.899 must be circumcised first 00:14:21.899 --> 00:14:25.700 before you can have our sister as your wife. 00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:30.080 And so, because the man Shechem really wanted 00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:31.919 Joseph's sister, 00:14:32.259 --> 00:14:34.019 they all were circumcised. 00:14:34.700 --> 00:14:36.639 And while they were still healing, 00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:38.740 and while they were still hurting, 00:14:39.419 --> 00:14:40.740 Joseph's brothers came back 00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:42.200 and killed every last one of them. 00:14:43.620 --> 00:14:44.720 Killed everybody, 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:46.440 every man in the region. 00:14:46.580 --> 00:14:48.399 Took the women and children into their home. 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:51.360 But killed all the men. 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:52.600 Now, 00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:56.259 the area in which Shechem lived 00:14:56.259 --> 00:14:58.080 was called Shechem. 00:14:58.080 --> 00:15:00.920 Because that's where he lived. 00:15:02.160 --> 00:15:04.520 And now they're back pasturing sheep 00:15:04.520 --> 00:15:06.840 in that very area. 00:15:07.940 --> 00:15:08.200 Now, 00:15:08.740 --> 00:15:10.660 due to the total clean out 00:15:10.660 --> 00:15:11.820 that happened previously, 00:15:12.360 --> 00:15:14.460 I don't know that it was dangerous. 00:15:15.020 --> 00:15:16.379 Because all those guys were gone. 00:15:17.280 --> 00:15:17.840 However, 00:15:18.920 --> 00:15:19.300 you know, 00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:21.440 I get the sense 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:24.020 that that may play into Jacob 00:15:24.020 --> 00:15:25.200 asking Joseph, 00:15:25.520 --> 00:15:26.720 will you go check on your brothers? 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:28.620 And make sure they're safe? 00:15:29.180 --> 00:15:30.879 Because we have a history in that area. 00:15:31.420 --> 00:15:32.580 Why don't you check on them? 00:15:34.440 --> 00:15:35.279 It says in verse 15, 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:37.080 And a man found him wandering in the fields. 00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:39.320 And the man asked him, 00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:40.060 What are you seeking? 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:40.560 And he said, 00:15:40.580 --> 00:15:41.960 I'm seeking my brothers, he said. 00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:42.860 Tell me, please, 00:15:43.460 --> 00:15:45.259 where they are pasturing the flock. 00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:46.139 And the man said, 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:46.980 They've gone away, 00:15:47.060 --> 00:15:47.960 for I heard them say, 00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:49.259 Let's go to Dothan. 00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:51.720 So Joseph went after his brothers 00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:53.460 and found them at Dothan. 00:15:54.019 --> 00:15:54.379 Okay? 00:15:54.920 --> 00:15:55.960 That's not Alabama. 00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:57.660 That's a long way from there. 00:15:57.800 --> 00:16:00.259 But Shechem was 50 miles. 00:16:01.660 --> 00:16:03.080 When he got to Shechem, 00:16:03.800 --> 00:16:05.379 he didn't bother to turn around 00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:06.080 and tell his daddy, 00:16:06.680 --> 00:16:07.379 They've moved on. 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:07.900 They're fine. 00:16:08.040 --> 00:16:09.280 There's not a problem in Shechem. 00:16:09.940 --> 00:16:11.639 He found out they went on to Dothan, 00:16:11.700 --> 00:16:13.120 which was 14 more miles. 00:16:13.820 --> 00:16:15.200 And he walked on to Dothan 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:16.420 to check on his brothers. 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:18.960 He went further than 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:21.519 he had previously thought he was going. 00:16:22.420 --> 00:16:24.200 And I wonder why he did that. 00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:25.600 I mean, it could have been 00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:27.520 because he was a good son 00:16:27.520 --> 00:16:30.680 and because his father put him on a task 00:16:30.680 --> 00:16:32.680 and he wanted to do what God, 00:16:33.020 --> 00:16:34.759 he wanted to do what his father wanted him to do. 00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:36.820 However, I also wonder, 00:16:37.340 --> 00:16:41.100 was he looking to get something on his brothers? 00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:43.720 Remember, he had a history 00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:45.000 of giving bad reports about them. 00:16:45.040 --> 00:16:47.379 He at least gave one evil report about them. 00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:49.940 So was he just trying to find something on them 00:16:49.940 --> 00:16:51.580 to make himself look better? 00:16:51.580 --> 00:16:54.000 Or was he following his father's command? 00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:54.660 I don't know. 00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:56.540 I just want you to think about it. 00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.660 I'll tell you what he did do. 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:06.380 He strutted for another 14 miles in that coat. 00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:10.900 That non-working coat 00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:15.519 in front of his hard-working brothers. 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:17.920 Either way, 00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:19.759 whether it was for good 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:20.819 or whether it was for bad, 00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:24.200 he walked all the way with that coat on 00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:25.700 and they saw him coming. 00:17:25.740 --> 00:17:27.920 Looked like Ric Flair in the desert coming through. 00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:29.400 And they saw him coming. 00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:32.019 And they got to murmuring 00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:33.180 before he ever got to them. 00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:35.559 And they saw him from afar 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:37.400 and before he came near to them, 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:39.180 they conspired against him to kill him. 00:17:39.639 --> 00:17:40.440 They said to one another, 00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:41.519 here comes this dreamer. 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:46.059 Now they had a lot to get keyed up about. 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:47.539 He was obviously the favorite. 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:48.940 He got the preferential treatment. 00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:50.440 He was not in the field. 00:17:50.700 --> 00:17:51.960 He was wearing that coat. 00:17:52.339 --> 00:17:54.240 And he also basically told them 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:55.619 that they would serve him. 00:17:55.859 --> 00:17:56.759 Now let me reiterate 00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:58.440 that what he said was true. 00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:00.819 And yes, what he said was of God. 00:18:01.379 --> 00:18:02.639 But it may not have been of God 00:18:02.639 --> 00:18:03.799 the way he told them. 00:18:03.960 --> 00:18:04.799 I don't really know. 00:18:05.079 --> 00:18:05.559 But he may not. 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:06.960 I know they didn't take it that way. 00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:09.839 And the dream came from God. 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:12.079 His father took note of that dream. 00:18:12.539 --> 00:18:14.279 He knew something special was about it. 00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:17.220 He knew God had his hand on Joseph. 00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:21.019 And his brothers said to each other, 00:18:21.099 --> 00:18:22.039 come on, come now. 00:18:22.919 --> 00:18:23.819 Let us kill him. 00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:26.220 And throw him into one of the pits. 00:18:26.899 --> 00:18:28.720 Then we'll say that a fierce animal 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:29.720 has devoured him 00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:33.179 and we'll see what will become of his dreams. 00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:35.220 Now this pit they're talking about 00:18:35.220 --> 00:18:38.859 is a large cistern in the ground. 00:18:38.859 --> 00:18:41.899 And the way they would dig these things out 00:18:41.899 --> 00:18:43.959 is they would dig out a hole 00:18:43.959 --> 00:18:47.139 and then they would open it up 00:18:47.139 --> 00:18:48.599 under the ground like you see. 00:18:49.459 --> 00:18:51.039 They went through rainy seasons. 00:18:51.179 --> 00:18:52.939 It only rained about four months out of the year. 00:18:53.219 --> 00:18:54.339 You better get as much water 00:18:54.339 --> 00:18:55.779 as you possibly can out of that rain 00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:57.539 because they live in desert conditions. 00:18:57.899 --> 00:18:59.139 And so they had different inlets 00:18:59.139 --> 00:19:00.659 that would bring that water 00:19:00.659 --> 00:19:02.240 into that collection, okay? 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.639 Now those things were, 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:05.859 they were plastered with limestone 00:19:05.859 --> 00:19:07.699 limestone to seal them. 00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:09.599 But in reality, 00:19:10.139 --> 00:19:12.719 they didn't last all year long. 00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:16.039 Not only would they use the water 00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:17.259 and the water would dry up, 00:19:17.339 --> 00:19:19.799 but they'd also have cracked cisterns sometimes 00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:21.779 that would not hold water. 00:19:22.419 --> 00:19:24.179 And even when they did hold water, 00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:25.519 I just want you to understand this, 00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:27.599 we're not talking about a fresh spring of sorts. 00:19:27.659 --> 00:19:29.759 This is limestone, okay? 00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:33.559 So when you opened up that stone lid 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:34.700 and looked inside of it, 00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:37.400 you couldn't see much of anything. 00:19:38.460 --> 00:19:39.819 And if somebody didn't put the lid 00:19:39.819 --> 00:19:40.819 back on that cistern, 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:43.519 what fell in that hole? 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:46.720 You don't know until you drop your bucket in 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:48.740 to see what you got. 00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:49.900 Now that ain't part of this story, 00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:51.000 but I just want you to imagine, 00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:52.619 you know, you complain about, 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:54.039 don't complain about water 00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:55.079 because I promise you, 00:19:55.559 --> 00:19:56.440 they had it rough 00:19:56.440 --> 00:19:58.080 when it comes to this cistern 00:19:58.080 --> 00:20:00.360 that they're dealing with. 00:20:00.620 --> 00:20:02.440 They were wells that were dug out 00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:04.420 and limey water. 00:20:06.580 --> 00:20:08.480 I just thought I'd whip your appetite with that. 00:20:09.840 --> 00:20:12.019 This cistern that he dropped in had no water. 00:20:13.120 --> 00:20:14.279 We read of Jeremiah 00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:16.360 falling in one that was full of mud 00:20:16.360 --> 00:20:19.420 and having difficulty getting out because of that. 00:20:19.480 --> 00:20:20.620 But this one was dry. 00:20:21.320 --> 00:20:22.519 Cisterns often broke 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:23.960 and the water seeped into the ground. 00:20:24.039 --> 00:20:24.860 As a matter of fact, 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:25.740 in Jeremiah, 00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:27.700 God uses cisterns 00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:28.900 to talk about 00:20:28.900 --> 00:20:30.839 how we turn to other options 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:32.259 instead of faithfulness to God 00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:34.559 and how useless that is. 00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:37.460 Jeremiah chapter 2, verse 13 says this, 00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.839 For my people have committed two evils. 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:40.380 They have forsaken me, 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:41.620 the fountain of living waters, 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:43.940 and hewed out cisterns for themselves, 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:47.339 broken cisterns that can hold no water. 00:20:47.620 --> 00:20:47.960 In other words, 00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:49.039 instead of relying upon the Lord, 00:20:49.099 --> 00:20:50.259 they try to go their own way 00:20:50.259 --> 00:20:51.880 and their own way is dry 00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:53.099 and does not work. 00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:54.400 That's another sermon for another day, 00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:57.160 but we'll never be satisfied 00:20:57.160 --> 00:20:59.500 when we try to substitute 00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:01.759 God's very best for our lives 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:03.560 with other options. 00:21:04.860 --> 00:21:06.100 They were going to kill him 00:21:06.100 --> 00:21:09.519 and they were going to throw him in a dry well. 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:12.619 But when Reuben heard it, 00:21:12.619 --> 00:21:16.819 he rescued him out of their hands, 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:18.299 saying, 00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:19.839 Let's not take his life. 00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:20.839 And Reuben said to them, 00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:21.819 Shed no blood, 00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:23.599 throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, 00:21:23.980 --> 00:21:25.599 but do not lay a hand on him. 00:21:25.639 --> 00:21:26.500 And he said that, 00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:29.200 that he might rescue him out of their hand 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:31.700 to restore him to his father. 00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:33.639 Reuben thought, 00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:35.560 if they left him to die, 00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:37.600 I will leave them, 00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:39.100 but when they leave this area, 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:40.300 I'll come back 00:21:40.300 --> 00:21:41.920 and I'll rescue my brother. 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:45.620 So when Joseph came to his brothers, 00:21:46.280 --> 00:21:47.780 they stripped him of his robe, 00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:49.420 the robe of many colors that he wore, 00:21:49.980 --> 00:21:51.160 and they took him 00:21:51.160 --> 00:21:52.600 and threw him into the pit. 00:21:53.340 --> 00:21:54.360 The pit was empty. 00:21:54.460 --> 00:21:55.580 There was no water in it. 00:21:56.080 --> 00:21:59.500 Then they sat down to eat. 00:21:59.580 --> 00:22:00.440 I'm going to say that again. 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:03.680 They threw him in the pit. 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:06.160 The pit was empty. 00:22:07.180 --> 00:22:09.000 It had no water in it. 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:15.200 And then they sat down to eat. 00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:22.440 Does that strike you as coldly as it struck me? 00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:29.160 They sat down to eat. 00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:30.300 I find it interesting 00:22:30.300 --> 00:22:32.140 that later in the story, 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:35.000 the brothers tell us 00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:36.240 what they were experiencing 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:37.680 during the meal. 00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:40.800 The reality is, 00:22:40.900 --> 00:22:42.800 in Genesis 42, verse 21, 00:22:43.800 --> 00:22:45.620 it tells us that Joseph 00:22:45.620 --> 00:22:49.680 was begging them in distress, 00:22:50.360 --> 00:22:52.240 but they would not listen. 00:22:53.660 --> 00:22:56.940 And that echoed in their mind 00:22:56.940 --> 00:22:58.400 in latter days. 00:22:59.160 --> 00:23:01.840 That's hatred, my friend. 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:04.240 And it's wrong. 00:23:05.900 --> 00:23:07.880 And that kind of action 00:23:07.880 --> 00:23:10.380 echoed in their minds. 00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:12.240 It says, 00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:13.180 and looking up, 00:23:13.300 --> 00:23:14.560 they saw a caravan 00:23:14.560 --> 00:23:16.480 of Ishmaelites 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:18.019 coming from Gilead 00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:19.720 with their camels 00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:21.500 bearing gum, balm, and myrrh 00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:22.400 on their way 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:23.700 to carry it down to Egypt. 00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:25.960 Then Judah said to his brothers, 00:23:26.100 --> 00:23:27.019 what profit is it 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:28.500 if we kill our brother 00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:29.840 and conceal his blood? 00:23:30.620 --> 00:23:30.860 Come, 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:31.980 let us sell him 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:33.500 to the Ishmaelites 00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:35.200 and let not our hand 00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:36.180 be upon him, 00:23:36.380 --> 00:23:37.319 for he's our brother, 00:23:37.420 --> 00:23:38.240 our own flesh. 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:39.559 And his brothers 00:23:39.559 --> 00:23:41.019 listened to him. 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:43.960 Then Midianite traders 00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:45.380 passed by 00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:47.519 and they drew Joseph up 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:48.720 and lifted him up out of the pit 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:50.299 and sold him to the Ishmaelites 00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:52.359 for 20 shekels of silver. 00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:53.899 They took Joseph 00:23:53.899 --> 00:23:55.839 to Egypt. 00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:57.019 Now, 00:23:58.099 --> 00:23:59.700 it mentions here 00:23:59.700 --> 00:24:01.059 Ishmaelites 00:24:01.059 --> 00:24:02.680 and it mentions 00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:04.139 Midianites. 00:24:05.139 --> 00:24:06.339 And Ishmaelites 00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:08.180 and Midianites 00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:09.200 are relatives. 00:24:10.159 --> 00:24:11.279 They're both descendants 00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:12.139 of Abraham. 00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.299 And Ishmaelites 00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:17.059 are thought to be 00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:19.579 like the Bedouins 00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:21.980 or like gypsies. 00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:24.179 That name 00:24:24.179 --> 00:24:24.960 kind of become 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:26.879 personified with that. 00:24:28.139 --> 00:24:29.259 They're thought to be 00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:30.639 gypsies 00:24:30.639 --> 00:24:32.139 and the Midianites 00:24:32.139 --> 00:24:34.679 cousins 00:24:34.679 --> 00:24:37.679 and of that same folk 00:24:37.679 --> 00:24:38.980 really was the 00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:41.359 was the middlemen 00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:44.039 for the Ishmaelites. 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:47.039 Ishmaelites 00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:47.960 were the ones 00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:48.659 that owned it. 00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:50.599 The Midianites 00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:52.039 were the negotiators 00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:53.579 or the managers 00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:54.740 typically. 00:24:56.119 --> 00:24:56.960 And we're not sure 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:58.099 why they are described 00:24:58.099 --> 00:24:59.599 like they are here 00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:00.039 but they're 00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:01.159 going to market 00:25:01.159 --> 00:25:02.440 and they got a slave 00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:03.420 at a good price. 00:25:04.920 --> 00:25:07.279 One theologian 00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:07.779 said that 00:25:07.779 --> 00:25:09.059 they paid the price 00:25:09.059 --> 00:25:10.579 for a disabled servant 00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:12.180 for Joseph. 00:25:12.639 --> 00:25:13.299 Another one said 00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:14.559 it was for a common 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:15.720 servant. 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.379 When Reuben 00:25:19.379 --> 00:25:22.099 returned to the pit 00:25:22.099 --> 00:25:24.559 and saw that Joseph 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:25.559 was not in the pit 00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:27.839 he tore his clothes 00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:29.240 it was a sign of mourning 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:30.639 and returned 00:25:30.639 --> 00:25:31.139 to his brothers 00:25:31.139 --> 00:25:31.480 and said 00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:32.299 the boy is gone 00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:33.940 and I 00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:36.779 where shall I go? 00:25:38.940 --> 00:25:39.819 Now there's a 00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:40.619 back story 00:25:40.619 --> 00:25:42.299 to Reuben 00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:44.720 because after 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:46.000 Rachel died 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:47.200 Reuben 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:47.919 laid 00:25:47.919 --> 00:25:49.379 with Bilhah 00:25:49.379 --> 00:25:50.980 his father's 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.359 servant 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:53.039 or often called 00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:54.159 his concubine. 00:25:54.159 --> 00:25:56.460 Now I told you 00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:57.319 last week 00:25:57.319 --> 00:25:58.859 that having 00:25:58.859 --> 00:25:59.799 two wives 00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:00.259 and having 00:26:00.259 --> 00:26:01.000 two servants 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:01.659 and having children 00:26:01.659 --> 00:26:02.279 with all of them 00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:03.480 is not of God. 00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:04.259 Okay? 00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:05.879 It was culturally 00:26:05.879 --> 00:26:07.639 correct in that day. 00:26:08.639 --> 00:26:09.000 They thought 00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:09.779 little of it 00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:11.019 but God 00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:11.639 never honored 00:26:11.639 --> 00:26:12.019 that. 00:26:12.579 --> 00:26:13.359 God never 00:26:13.359 --> 00:26:14.339 allowed that. 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.319 They just did it. 00:26:15.940 --> 00:26:16.119 Okay? 00:26:16.299 --> 00:26:17.119 There's a lot of things 00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:17.839 in our culture today 00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:18.299 that will tell you 00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:18.859 it's okay. 00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:20.519 That don't mean 00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:21.200 that God says 00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:21.759 it's okay. 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.119 And so 00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:23.960 they did that. 00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:24.779 But I'm telling you 00:26:24.779 --> 00:26:25.680 even society 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:26.240 said 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:27.920 don't go lay 00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:28.639 with your father's 00:26:28.639 --> 00:26:29.019 concubine. 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:31.160 That's wrong. 00:26:32.420 --> 00:26:33.599 Even society 00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:34.579 pagan society 00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:34.960 knew 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:36.460 that was wrong. 00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:38.960 Bilhah 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:39.880 was the mother 00:26:39.880 --> 00:26:40.819 of two 00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:41.980 of Reuben's 00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:42.440 brothers 00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:43.720 and being 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.380 the passive 00:26:44.380 --> 00:26:44.799 father 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.380 that Jacob 00:26:45.380 --> 00:26:45.980 was 00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:46.920 he did 00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:47.480 absolutely 00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:47.900 nothing 00:26:47.900 --> 00:26:48.900 about it 00:26:48.900 --> 00:26:49.819 except speak 00:26:49.819 --> 00:26:50.299 to him 00:26:50.299 --> 00:26:50.640 later 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:52.220 in his life. 00:26:53.600 --> 00:26:54.340 Now when I 00:26:54.340 --> 00:26:54.860 get to this 00:26:54.860 --> 00:26:55.440 passage 00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:57.440 and I think 00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:57.920 about what 00:26:57.920 --> 00:26:58.440 Reuben did 00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:59.120 to his father 00:26:59.120 --> 00:27:00.180 and that 00:27:00.180 --> 00:27:00.680 confrontation 00:27:00.680 --> 00:27:01.279 that took 00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:01.779 place from 00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:02.120 that 00:27:02.120 --> 00:27:04.000 and how 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:05.000 Joseph 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:05.799 was his 00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:06.279 father's 00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:06.539 favorite 00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:06.859 and he 00:27:06.859 --> 00:27:07.400 knew that 00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:08.640 I can't 00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:09.059 help but 00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:09.559 think that 00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:10.000 Reuben is 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:10.359 trying to 00:27:10.359 --> 00:27:10.660 make up 00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:11.039 for past 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:11.519 mistakes. 00:27:12.420 --> 00:27:13.160 If I can 00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:13.779 protect what 00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:14.180 my daddy 00:27:14.180 --> 00:27:14.619 loves the 00:27:14.619 --> 00:27:15.039 most 00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:15.779 well then 00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:16.180 maybe my 00:27:16.180 --> 00:27:16.539 daddy will 00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:16.980 love me 00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:18.180 and he 00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:19.019 freaked out 00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:19.619 when Joseph 00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:20.240 was not 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.539 in the 00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:21.019 cistern 00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:22.119 that he 00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:22.420 thought he 00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:22.779 would be 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:23.059 in. 00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:25.359 Verse 31 00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:25.680 says 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:25.960 then they 00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:26.160 took 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:26.680 Joseph's 00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:26.880 robe 00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:27.140 and they 00:27:27.140 --> 00:27:27.480 slaughtered 00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:27.779 a goat 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.119 and dipped 00:27:28.119 --> 00:27:28.480 the robe 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:29.039 into blood 00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:29.920 and they 00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:30.319 sent the 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:30.640 robe of 00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:31.180 many colors 00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:31.599 and brought 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:32.000 it to their 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:32.480 father and 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:33.039 said this is 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:33.380 what we 00:27:33.380 --> 00:27:33.680 found. 00:27:33.780 --> 00:27:33.960 Please 00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:34.420 identify 00:27:34.420 --> 00:27:34.900 whether it's 00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:35.380 your son's 00:27:35.380 --> 00:27:35.660 robe or 00:27:35.660 --> 00:27:35.800 not. 00:27:35.880 --> 00:27:36.100 Do you 00:27:36.100 --> 00:27:36.640 get that? 00:27:38.340 --> 00:27:38.740 They've 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:39.200 taken it 00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:39.540 off of 00:27:39.540 --> 00:27:39.840 Joseph. 00:27:40.360 --> 00:27:40.600 They're 00:27:40.600 --> 00:27:40.900 the ones 00:27:40.900 --> 00:27:41.220 that tore 00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:41.640 it up 00:27:41.640 --> 00:27:42.380 and now 00:27:42.380 --> 00:27:42.520 they're 00:27:42.520 --> 00:27:42.840 bringing it 00:27:42.840 --> 00:27:43.000 to him 00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:43.420 saying does 00:27:43.420 --> 00:27:43.760 this happen 00:27:43.760 --> 00:27:43.980 to be 00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:44.380 Joseph's 00:27:44.380 --> 00:27:44.580 robe? 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:46.280 And he 00:27:46.280 --> 00:27:47.000 identified it 00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:47.340 and said it 00:27:47.340 --> 00:27:47.720 is my 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:48.140 son's robe. 00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:48.560 A fierce 00:27:48.560 --> 00:27:49.100 animal has 00:27:49.100 --> 00:27:49.680 devoured him. 00:27:50.100 --> 00:27:50.620 Joseph is 00:27:50.620 --> 00:27:51.360 without doubt 00:27:51.360 --> 00:27:52.020 torn to 00:27:52.020 --> 00:27:52.380 pieces. 00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:53.460 Then Jacob 00:27:53.460 --> 00:27:53.980 tore his 00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:54.540 garments and 00:27:54.540 --> 00:27:55.160 put sackcloth 00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:55.440 on his 00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:56.000 loins and 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:56.480 mourned for 00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:57.060 his son many 00:27:57.060 --> 00:27:57.380 days. 00:27:57.660 --> 00:27:58.160 All his 00:27:58.160 --> 00:27:58.620 sons and 00:27:58.620 --> 00:27:59.020 his daughters 00:27:59.020 --> 00:27:59.640 rose up to 00:27:59.640 --> 00:28:00.140 comfort him 00:28:00.140 --> 00:28:00.800 but he 00:28:00.800 --> 00:28:02.300 refused to 00:28:02.300 --> 00:28:03.140 be comforted. 00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:04.620 And he 00:28:04.620 --> 00:28:05.340 said now I 00:28:05.340 --> 00:28:05.940 shall go 00:28:05.940 --> 00:28:06.380 down to 00:28:06.380 --> 00:28:07.080 Sheodah to 00:28:07.080 --> 00:28:07.720 my son 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.480 mourning. 00:28:09.800 --> 00:28:10.320 Thus his 00:28:10.320 --> 00:28:12.320 father wept 00:28:12.320 --> 00:28:14.060 for him. 00:28:15.100 --> 00:28:15.780 Now when it 00:28:15.780 --> 00:28:16.740 speaks of him 00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:18.780 tearing his 00:28:18.780 --> 00:28:19.420 clothing and 00:28:19.420 --> 00:28:20.280 putting sackcloth 00:28:20.280 --> 00:28:20.640 on his 00:28:20.640 --> 00:28:21.280 loins and 00:28:21.280 --> 00:28:21.880 mourning for 00:28:21.880 --> 00:28:22.460 his son for 00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:23.220 many days, 00:28:23.900 --> 00:28:24.800 it speaks of 00:28:24.800 --> 00:28:26.420 an inconsolable 00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:27.420 grief. 00:28:27.840 --> 00:28:28.480 Normally when 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:29.160 somebody grieved 00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:29.720 they'd grieve for 00:28:29.720 --> 00:28:30.180 a week. 00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:31.019 If it was 00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:31.500 somebody in 00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:31.920 their immediate 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:32.559 family they 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:33.380 may grieve for 00:28:33.380 --> 00:28:34.160 a month. 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:35.339 But in 00:28:35.339 --> 00:28:36.079 reality this 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:36.620 speaks of 00:28:36.620 --> 00:28:38.460 many days. 00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.420 And then he 00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:40.339 says now I 00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:41.400 shall go down 00:28:41.400 --> 00:28:42.039 to Sheodah to 00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:43.680 my son mourning. 00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:44.559 What Jacob is 00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:45.660 saying is I'm 00:28:45.660 --> 00:28:46.039 not going to 00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:46.600 mourn for my 00:28:46.600 --> 00:28:47.120 boy for a 00:28:47.120 --> 00:28:47.400 week. 00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:48.180 I'm not going 00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:48.600 to mourn for 00:28:48.600 --> 00:28:49.240 my boy for a 00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:49.400 month. 00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:49.880 I'm going to 00:28:49.880 --> 00:28:50.440 mourn for him 00:28:50.440 --> 00:28:51.920 for all of my 00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:52.519 life. 00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:54.400 I'll die 00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:55.839 mourning the 00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:56.600 loss of my 00:28:56.600 --> 00:28:56.940 son. 00:28:58.319 --> 00:28:59.019 He mentions 00:28:59.019 --> 00:29:00.000 Sheod. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.079 Sheod. 00:29:01.359 --> 00:29:02.900 Sheod is the 00:29:02.900 --> 00:29:05.119 abode for the 00:29:05.119 --> 00:29:05.480 dead. 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:08.900 And because of 00:29:08.900 --> 00:29:09.920 the truths that 00:29:09.920 --> 00:29:10.960 are shared in the 00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:12.500 New Testament we 00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:13.599 have a much 00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:14.619 better understanding 00:29:14.619 --> 00:29:15.420 of the afterlife 00:29:15.420 --> 00:29:17.480 than Jacob did. 00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:19.000 We have a much 00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:19.740 better understanding 00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.779 of the afterlife 00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:22.420 than the people of 00:29:22.420 --> 00:29:23.059 the Old Testament 00:29:23.059 --> 00:29:23.559 did. 00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:25.799 very few 00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:28.240 references to 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:29.299 as we see 00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:29.740 heaven and 00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:29.960 hell. 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:31.500 God through 00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:32.220 progressive 00:29:32.220 --> 00:29:33.339 revelation has 00:29:33.339 --> 00:29:34.460 revealed more 00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:35.220 and more of 00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:35.879 his work, 00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:37.139 more and more 00:29:37.139 --> 00:29:37.919 of his way, 00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:40.539 the reality of 00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:41.059 eternity. 00:29:42.119 --> 00:29:43.079 As the word of 00:29:43.079 --> 00:29:43.679 God was made 00:29:43.679 --> 00:29:44.659 complete we got 00:29:44.659 --> 00:29:45.419 that much more 00:29:45.419 --> 00:29:45.759 of it. 00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:46.500 And the New 00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.220 Testament tells 00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:48.919 us descriptively 00:29:48.919 --> 00:29:49.919 of the horrors 00:29:49.919 --> 00:29:51.259 of hell and the 00:29:51.259 --> 00:29:52.579 glories of heaven. 00:29:52.579 --> 00:29:54.079 When he mentions 00:29:54.079 --> 00:29:54.960 Sheod here it 00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:55.759 speaks a lot to 00:29:55.759 --> 00:29:56.579 the ignorance that 00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:57.419 he has about 00:29:57.419 --> 00:29:58.519 what's coming after 00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:59.000 death. 00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:00.299 And that's often 00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:00.819 what scripture 00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:02.439 spoke of in the 00:30:02.439 --> 00:30:02.980 Old Testament. 00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:03.960 Because God 00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:04.720 hadn't revealed to 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:06.439 them the horrors 00:30:06.439 --> 00:30:07.159 of those without 00:30:07.159 --> 00:30:08.539 Christ and the 00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:09.519 glories of those 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.919 with Christ. 00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:13.000 It says meanwhile 00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:15.599 the Midianites had 00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:17.720 sold in Egypt 00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:18.579 to Potiphar. 00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:19.099 Potiphar. 00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:21.259 An officer of 00:30:21.259 --> 00:30:21.699 Pharaoh, 00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:23.819 the captain of 00:30:23.819 --> 00:30:24.340 the guard. 00:30:25.259 --> 00:30:26.819 That cell in the 00:30:26.819 --> 00:30:27.960 slavery is the 00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:29.019 beginning of the 00:30:29.019 --> 00:30:29.860 rest of the story. 00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:33.940 But what's in all 00:30:33.940 --> 00:30:34.700 that for us? 00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:37.279 What does that say 00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:37.900 to us? 00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:40.100 Three things 00:30:40.100 --> 00:30:41.740 that I see. 00:30:42.580 --> 00:30:43.980 One is greatness 00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:44.900 can come through 00:30:44.900 --> 00:30:45.580 brokenness. 00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:48.539 this family is a 00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:48.899 mess. 00:30:49.899 --> 00:30:50.639 And we've seen 00:30:50.639 --> 00:30:51.240 some of the fruit 00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:51.859 of it today. 00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.259 A passive 00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:54.099 biased father 00:30:54.099 --> 00:30:54.759 makes for a 00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:55.639 spoiled child 00:30:55.639 --> 00:30:56.759 and for some 00:30:56.759 --> 00:30:57.539 hateful brothers. 00:30:58.139 --> 00:30:58.839 And when that 00:30:58.839 --> 00:30:59.659 child is so 00:30:59.659 --> 00:31:00.839 outspoken and 00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:01.460 very visionary 00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:03.139 it makes so much 00:31:03.139 --> 00:31:03.539 worse. 00:31:04.079 --> 00:31:04.919 The first part 00:31:04.919 --> 00:31:05.980 of chapter 37 00:31:05.980 --> 00:31:06.779 builds a powder 00:31:06.779 --> 00:31:07.500 keg of family 00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:07.980 conflict. 00:31:08.639 --> 00:31:09.579 You know there's 00:31:09.579 --> 00:31:10.179 something coming 00:31:10.179 --> 00:31:10.960 when you see 00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:11.939 Joseph walking 00:31:11.939 --> 00:31:12.859 through the desert 00:31:12.859 --> 00:31:13.699 with that robe 00:31:13.699 --> 00:31:14.839 on looking for 00:31:14.839 --> 00:31:15.559 his hateful 00:31:15.559 --> 00:31:16.179 brothers. 00:31:17.179 --> 00:31:17.859 And when he 00:31:17.859 --> 00:31:18.399 got there 00:31:18.399 --> 00:31:19.439 it blew up. 00:31:20.359 --> 00:31:21.259 The boastful 00:31:21.259 --> 00:31:22.179 young brother 00:31:22.179 --> 00:31:23.719 was met by an 00:31:23.719 --> 00:31:24.859 envious murderous 00:31:25.579 --> 00:31:26.859 clan of brothers. 00:31:26.859 --> 00:31:28.279 And if you don't 00:31:28.279 --> 00:31:28.859 know the rest of 00:31:28.859 --> 00:31:29.399 this story 00:31:29.399 --> 00:31:30.500 you need to come 00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:31.240 back next week. 00:31:31.779 --> 00:31:32.319 You may not 00:31:32.319 --> 00:31:33.379 believe me but 00:31:33.379 --> 00:31:34.240 all of this 00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:35.219 brokenness will 00:31:35.219 --> 00:31:36.079 turn into greatness 00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:37.119 over the next 00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:38.519 13 years of 00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:39.819 Joseph's life 00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:40.419 that we have a lot 00:31:40.420 --> 00:31:41.120 of detail about. 00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:43.840 That's all to say 00:31:43.840 --> 00:31:44.680 that our past 00:31:44.680 --> 00:31:45.700 does not have to 00:31:45.700 --> 00:31:46.600 define our future. 00:31:47.660 --> 00:31:48.580 Don't let the 00:31:48.580 --> 00:31:49.860 devil tell you 00:31:49.860 --> 00:31:51.080 that you can't. 00:31:51.800 --> 00:31:52.680 Don't let the 00:31:52.680 --> 00:31:53.580 devil tell you 00:31:53.580 --> 00:31:54.300 that you can't 00:31:54.300 --> 00:31:54.800 get out of the 00:31:54.800 --> 00:31:55.080 pit. 00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:57.460 That means you 00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:58.120 may feel like 00:31:58.120 --> 00:31:58.539 you're in. 00:31:58.620 --> 00:31:59.440 Don't ever believe 00:31:59.440 --> 00:31:59.800 that. 00:32:00.320 --> 00:32:01.380 Because greatness 00:32:01.380 --> 00:32:02.960 can come 00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:04.980 through brokenness. 00:32:05.840 --> 00:32:06.460 Second thing is 00:32:06.460 --> 00:32:06.820 this. 00:32:07.880 --> 00:32:09.019 God's with us. 00:32:10.420 --> 00:32:11.480 God's with us. 00:32:12.220 --> 00:32:12.900 There's a passage 00:32:12.900 --> 00:32:13.820 in Acts where 00:32:13.820 --> 00:32:15.680 Stephen is testifying 00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:16.480 about the Lord's 00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:16.860 work. 00:32:17.300 --> 00:32:17.779 It's such a 00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:18.740 powerful testimony 00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:20.060 that people couldn't 00:32:20.060 --> 00:32:20.620 stand it. 00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:21.340 And they ended up 00:32:21.340 --> 00:32:22.220 stoning him to death 00:32:22.220 --> 00:32:23.200 throwing rocks at him 00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:23.940 until he died 00:32:23.940 --> 00:32:25.539 because of his 00:32:25.539 --> 00:32:26.880 powerful, powerful 00:32:26.880 --> 00:32:28.340 sermon about the 00:32:28.340 --> 00:32:29.180 power of God 00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:31.180 and how those 00:32:31.180 --> 00:32:32.060 even of that 00:32:32.060 --> 00:32:32.860 modern day church 00:32:32.860 --> 00:32:33.680 had missed 00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:35.600 the power of God 00:32:35.600 --> 00:32:36.960 and had not 00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:37.640 walked with God. 00:32:37.640 --> 00:32:39.720 and he is 00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:40.400 going through 00:32:40.400 --> 00:32:41.280 how God has 00:32:41.280 --> 00:32:42.240 worked, Stephen 00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:42.840 in his sermon 00:32:42.840 --> 00:32:43.800 about how God 00:32:43.800 --> 00:32:44.300 has worked 00:32:44.300 --> 00:32:44.720 through the 00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:45.360 generations. 00:32:46.320 --> 00:32:46.740 And he gets 00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:47.420 to this and he 00:32:47.420 --> 00:32:48.220 says this in Acts 00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:49.140 7 verse 9. 00:32:50.060 --> 00:32:51.520 And the patriarchs 00:32:51.520 --> 00:32:53.420 jealous of Joseph 00:32:53.420 --> 00:32:55.140 sold him into 00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:55.620 Egypt. 00:32:57.280 --> 00:32:58.560 But God 00:32:58.560 --> 00:33:01.040 was with him. 00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:04.339 God was with him 00:33:04.339 --> 00:33:04.879 in the pit. 00:33:06.399 --> 00:33:07.359 God was with him 00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:07.980 in the slavery. 00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:10.240 God was with him 00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:11.619 through it all. 00:33:13.460 --> 00:33:14.500 I said that to a 00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:15.299 grieving family on 00:33:15.299 --> 00:33:15.639 Friday. 00:33:17.319 --> 00:33:18.319 That God would be 00:33:18.319 --> 00:33:20.039 with them when the 00:33:20.039 --> 00:33:21.500 family and the 00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:22.519 friends and the 00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:23.319 food were gone. 00:33:24.039 --> 00:33:24.779 God's still going to 00:33:24.779 --> 00:33:25.480 be there with you. 00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:27.200 He'll walk with you 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:28.599 through it all. 00:33:29.420 --> 00:33:30.299 I've said it through 00:33:30.299 --> 00:33:30.819 prisoners. 00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:33.259 between bars. 00:33:33.920 --> 00:33:35.039 Standing on the 00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:35.599 other side of the 00:33:35.599 --> 00:33:36.019 bars. 00:33:36.639 --> 00:33:37.500 I've spoken to them 00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:38.519 in solitary confinement 00:33:38.519 --> 00:33:39.519 and told them, I want 00:33:39.519 --> 00:33:39.980 you to understand 00:33:39.980 --> 00:33:40.339 something. 00:33:40.899 --> 00:33:42.079 You feel very alone 00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:42.639 right now. 00:33:43.859 --> 00:33:44.639 God's with you. 00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:46.859 I've said it to those 00:33:46.859 --> 00:33:48.220 that feel like they're 00:33:48.220 --> 00:33:49.119 at the wit's end. 00:33:49.720 --> 00:33:50.759 And it's true. 00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:52.460 God's with you. 00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:54.819 If you have ever 00:33:54.819 --> 00:33:55.740 surrendered your life 00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:56.379 to Christ, 00:33:57.279 --> 00:33:58.819 Christ promises us 00:33:58.819 --> 00:34:00.019 in Hebrews 13 5, 00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:01.900 I will not leave you 00:34:01.900 --> 00:34:03.519 or forsake you. 00:34:04.019 --> 00:34:04.859 If you've ever 00:34:04.859 --> 00:34:05.819 surrendered your life 00:34:05.819 --> 00:34:06.440 to Christ, 00:34:07.079 --> 00:34:08.739 Romans 10 13 tells us 00:34:08.739 --> 00:34:10.059 that everyone who 00:34:10.059 --> 00:34:11.079 calls upon the name 00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:12.500 of the Lord will be 00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:12.980 saved. 00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:16.480 He will be with you. 00:34:17.759 --> 00:34:18.480 I don't know what 00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:19.079 valley you're going 00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:19.280 through. 00:34:19.400 --> 00:34:19.820 I don't know what 00:34:19.820 --> 00:34:20.539 pits you feel like 00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:20.940 you're in. 00:34:22.360 --> 00:34:23.079 I don't know what 00:34:23.079 --> 00:34:23.719 kind of brothers you're 00:34:23.719 --> 00:34:24.159 dealing with, 00:34:24.800 --> 00:34:25.739 but I want you to know 00:34:25.739 --> 00:34:26.280 you're not alone. 00:34:26.280 --> 00:34:28.240 God's with you. 00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:30.420 Third thing is this. 00:34:31.240 --> 00:34:32.080 God's not done. 00:34:33.140 --> 00:34:33.800 God's not done. 00:34:34.400 --> 00:34:35.000 He's not done with 00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:35.340 Joseph. 00:34:36.580 --> 00:34:37.660 God's not done with us. 00:34:39.420 --> 00:34:40.100 Years ago, 00:34:40.160 --> 00:34:40.960 I was in a premarital 00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:41.780 counseling session 00:34:41.780 --> 00:34:42.300 with a couple, 00:34:43.120 --> 00:34:44.120 a dear young couple. 00:34:44.780 --> 00:34:45.840 I loved them to death. 00:34:47.420 --> 00:34:48.320 And I asked them 00:34:48.320 --> 00:34:49.440 to fill out a form 00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:50.900 with a lot of 00:34:50.900 --> 00:34:52.340 open-ended questions. 00:34:52.340 --> 00:34:55.120 And one of those 00:34:55.120 --> 00:34:57.760 questions was, 00:34:58.700 --> 00:35:00.880 I see myself as, 00:35:01.460 --> 00:35:02.460 and there was a blank. 00:35:04.920 --> 00:35:05.860 When I was looking 00:35:05.860 --> 00:35:06.660 at his paperwork 00:35:06.660 --> 00:35:07.840 before they came in, 00:35:08.700 --> 00:35:09.400 he put out there 00:35:09.400 --> 00:35:10.100 beside that, 00:35:10.900 --> 00:35:13.380 I see myself as 00:35:13.380 --> 00:35:15.360 a cycle breaker. 00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:18.980 I see myself as 00:35:18.980 --> 00:35:20.160 a cycle breaker. 00:35:20.159 --> 00:35:22.219 Well, 00:35:22.259 --> 00:35:22.739 I'll just be honest 00:35:22.739 --> 00:35:23.079 with you. 00:35:23.960 --> 00:35:24.859 I was kind of dumb 00:35:24.859 --> 00:35:25.319 that day. 00:35:25.759 --> 00:35:26.239 I couldn't figure out 00:35:26.239 --> 00:35:26.679 what he was talking 00:35:26.679 --> 00:35:26.940 about. 00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:28.000 I thought, 00:35:28.059 --> 00:35:28.659 I didn't even know 00:35:28.659 --> 00:35:29.480 he rode bikes. 00:35:31.739 --> 00:35:32.299 What does he do, 00:35:32.379 --> 00:35:33.179 jump or something? 00:35:33.259 --> 00:35:33.859 How is he breaking 00:35:33.859 --> 00:35:34.319 bikes? 00:35:35.739 --> 00:35:36.279 What in the world 00:35:36.279 --> 00:35:36.980 is he talking about? 00:35:38.199 --> 00:35:38.899 I didn't give it 00:35:38.899 --> 00:35:39.460 much thought 00:35:39.460 --> 00:35:41.059 until I met 00:35:41.059 --> 00:35:41.799 with that dear couple. 00:35:43.179 --> 00:35:43.879 And when I met 00:35:43.879 --> 00:35:44.139 with them, 00:35:44.159 --> 00:35:44.480 I said, 00:35:44.539 --> 00:35:45.119 I want to ask you 00:35:45.119 --> 00:35:45.500 a question. 00:35:45.599 --> 00:35:46.019 You answered 00:35:46.019 --> 00:35:46.460 the question 00:35:46.460 --> 00:35:47.019 in an interesting 00:35:47.019 --> 00:35:47.319 way. 00:35:47.399 --> 00:35:47.940 What did you mean 00:35:47.940 --> 00:35:48.239 by, 00:35:48.239 --> 00:35:49.699 I see myself 00:35:49.699 --> 00:35:50.959 as a cycle breaker? 00:35:52.559 --> 00:35:53.619 And that young man 00:35:53.619 --> 00:35:54.139 looked at me 00:35:54.139 --> 00:35:54.719 and said, 00:35:55.259 --> 00:35:56.679 throughout the 00:35:56.679 --> 00:35:57.319 generations, 00:35:58.119 --> 00:36:02.619 there's been a cycle 00:36:02.619 --> 00:36:03.439 in my family 00:36:03.439 --> 00:36:05.619 of alcoholism 00:36:05.619 --> 00:36:07.679 and lostness. 00:36:09.679 --> 00:36:10.579 And I'm going to 00:36:10.579 --> 00:36:11.379 break that cycle. 00:36:11.379 --> 00:36:16.019 I can tell you, 00:36:16.019 --> 00:36:18.340 that young man's 00:36:18.340 --> 00:36:19.280 a faithful husband. 00:36:20.480 --> 00:36:21.840 That young man 00:36:21.840 --> 00:36:23.480 is a successful 00:36:23.480 --> 00:36:24.659 and a comforting 00:36:24.659 --> 00:36:25.360 source 00:36:25.360 --> 00:36:26.880 to this community. 00:36:27.800 --> 00:36:29.039 That young man 00:36:29.039 --> 00:36:30.000 is a wonderful father 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:30.759 to his children. 00:36:31.619 --> 00:36:32.860 That young man 00:36:32.860 --> 00:36:33.679 is a loving husband 00:36:33.679 --> 00:36:34.420 to his wife. 00:36:35.420 --> 00:36:36.539 And that young man 00:36:36.539 --> 00:36:37.340 is a force 00:36:37.340 --> 00:36:39.099 in his church. 00:36:39.659 --> 00:36:40.860 And yes, 00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:43.119 he's a cycle breaker. 00:36:43.119 --> 00:36:45.799 And God's 00:36:45.799 --> 00:36:46.219 not done 00:36:46.219 --> 00:36:46.759 with him. 00:36:48.940 --> 00:36:49.659 And God's 00:36:49.659 --> 00:36:50.039 not done 00:36:50.039 --> 00:36:50.659 with you. 00:36:51.759 --> 00:36:52.539 And God's 00:36:52.539 --> 00:36:52.940 not done 00:36:52.940 --> 00:36:53.599 with me. 00:36:54.659 --> 00:36:55.380 And God's 00:36:55.380 --> 00:36:55.719 not done 00:36:55.719 --> 00:36:56.299 with us. 00:36:57.579 --> 00:36:58.259 May we live 00:36:58.259 --> 00:36:58.839 every day 00:36:58.839 --> 00:37:00.219 to please him 00:37:00.219 --> 00:37:00.839 in all we do. 00:37:01.639 --> 00:37:01.839 Now, 00:37:01.900 --> 00:37:02.279 if you're here 00:37:02.279 --> 00:37:02.679 this morning 00:37:02.679 --> 00:37:03.380 with every head bowed 00:37:03.380 --> 00:37:03.960 and every eye closed, 00:37:04.019 --> 00:37:04.679 I want to ask you 00:37:04.679 --> 00:37:05.500 if you've ever 00:37:05.500 --> 00:37:06.079 given your heart 00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:06.380 and life 00:37:06.380 --> 00:37:06.739 to the Lord 00:37:06.739 --> 00:37:07.539 Jesus Christ. 00:37:08.420 --> 00:37:09.199 I didn't ask you 00:37:09.199 --> 00:37:09.519 if everybody 00:37:09.519 --> 00:37:10.359 thought you had. 00:37:10.500 --> 00:37:11.019 I ask you 00:37:11.019 --> 00:37:12.019 if you ever have. 00:37:12.019 --> 00:37:14.099 Because if you haven't, 00:37:14.119 --> 00:37:14.579 I don't want you 00:37:14.579 --> 00:37:15.380 to leave here today 00:37:15.380 --> 00:37:16.980 until you say, 00:37:17.039 --> 00:37:17.280 Pastor, 00:37:17.380 --> 00:37:18.159 I want to give 00:37:18.159 --> 00:37:18.759 my heart and life 00:37:18.759 --> 00:37:19.219 to Jesus. 00:37:19.980 --> 00:37:21.039 I want to be saved. 00:37:21.840 --> 00:37:22.519 I want to know 00:37:22.519 --> 00:37:23.079 that he's always 00:37:23.079 --> 00:37:23.539 with me 00:37:23.539 --> 00:37:24.000 and I want to know 00:37:24.000 --> 00:37:24.480 that I'll always 00:37:24.480 --> 00:37:25.000 be with him. 00:37:26.360 --> 00:37:27.219 Maybe you've done that 00:37:27.219 --> 00:37:27.820 but you've never 00:37:27.820 --> 00:37:29.000 acknowledged him publicly 00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:29.500 so it's been 00:37:29.500 --> 00:37:30.259 a private matter 00:37:30.259 --> 00:37:30.719 for you. 00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:32.300 Jesus, 00:37:32.519 --> 00:37:33.199 by his commission 00:37:33.199 --> 00:37:33.960 and by his example, 00:37:34.079 --> 00:37:34.719 told us that we 00:37:34.719 --> 00:37:35.400 are to be baptized 00:37:35.400 --> 00:37:37.579 to show our 00:37:37.579 --> 00:37:39.179 obedience to follow him. 00:37:40.119 --> 00:37:40.880 That's never happened 00:37:40.880 --> 00:37:41.119 to you. 00:37:41.119 --> 00:37:41.739 I encourage you 00:37:41.739 --> 00:37:42.159 to come 00:37:42.159 --> 00:37:43.119 in just a few moments 00:37:43.119 --> 00:37:43.579 when we stand 00:37:43.579 --> 00:37:43.980 to sing. 00:37:44.799 --> 00:37:45.460 Be obedient. 00:37:45.579 --> 00:37:46.380 We'll line that up 00:37:46.380 --> 00:37:47.279 in the coming days. 00:37:47.519 --> 00:37:47.900 We're putting it 00:37:47.900 --> 00:37:48.420 on the schedule 00:37:48.420 --> 00:37:49.380 just these days. 00:37:50.839 --> 00:37:51.519 Maybe you're here 00:37:51.519 --> 00:37:52.380 and God's drawing you 00:37:52.380 --> 00:37:53.559 to First Baptist Church. 00:37:53.880 --> 00:37:54.799 God's doing a wonderful 00:37:54.799 --> 00:37:55.559 work in our church. 00:37:55.639 --> 00:37:56.460 I'm thankful for that. 00:37:56.900 --> 00:37:58.079 Maybe God's drawing you 00:37:58.079 --> 00:37:58.519 to be a part 00:37:58.519 --> 00:37:59.159 of this church. 00:37:59.699 --> 00:38:00.139 You come. 00:38:00.219 --> 00:38:00.799 We'd love to talk 00:38:00.799 --> 00:38:01.579 about that with you. 00:38:02.380 --> 00:38:03.219 Or maybe there's 00:38:03.219 --> 00:38:04.679 just stuff in your life 00:38:04.679 --> 00:38:05.019 that you, 00:38:05.099 --> 00:38:05.980 maybe there's a cycle 00:38:05.980 --> 00:38:06.819 you need to break. 00:38:06.820 --> 00:38:09.900 Maybe there's a pit 00:38:09.900 --> 00:38:10.900 you need to be reminded 00:38:10.900 --> 00:38:11.700 that God's there 00:38:11.700 --> 00:38:12.100 with you. 00:38:12.180 --> 00:38:12.740 I don't know 00:38:12.740 --> 00:38:13.740 what your circumstances 00:38:13.740 --> 00:38:14.200 are, 00:38:14.860 --> 00:38:16.100 but I know he'll meet 00:38:16.100 --> 00:38:16.900 you where you are 00:38:16.900 --> 00:38:17.760 so you can seek 00:38:17.760 --> 00:38:18.420 his face 00:38:18.420 --> 00:38:19.480 where you'll stand 00:38:19.480 --> 00:38:20.140 in just a moment 00:38:20.140 --> 00:38:20.780 at his altar 00:38:20.780 --> 00:38:21.800 or with a pastor 00:38:21.800 --> 00:38:22.620 praying for you. 00:38:24.140 --> 00:38:24.900 Whatever you need 00:38:24.900 --> 00:38:25.280 to do, 00:38:26.039 --> 00:38:26.760 I just encourage 00:38:26.760 --> 00:38:27.280 you to be obedient 00:38:27.280 --> 00:38:28.080 and follow the Lord 00:38:28.080 --> 00:38:28.980 as he leads you. 00:38:29.740 --> 00:38:30.240 Lord Jesus, 00:38:30.340 --> 00:38:30.860 I love you 00:38:30.860 --> 00:38:31.480 and I thank you, 00:38:31.539 --> 00:38:31.860 dear Lord, 00:38:31.940 --> 00:38:33.000 for your love for us. 00:38:33.420 --> 00:38:34.239 I ask right now 00:38:34.239 --> 00:38:34.820 that you'll move 00:38:34.820 --> 00:38:35.300 and you'll work 00:38:35.300 --> 00:38:35.920 in our midst. 00:38:36.400 --> 00:38:37.820 In Jesus' precious name, 00:38:38.500 --> 00:38:38.760 Amen.