WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.980 So, last week, we were introduced to Joseph. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:15.160 So, just to give you just a quick recap, God's chosen Abraham and set him aside as special. 00:00:15.300 --> 00:00:20.000 He's promised him that there will be many nations that will come through him, and the 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:24.960 whole earth, until the end of the earth is known, will be blessed through him. 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:30.179 And so, we have Abraham, and then from Abraham, we have Isaac, and from Isaac, we have Jacob. 00:00:30.700 --> 00:00:32.179 Jacob has 12 sons. 00:00:32.660 --> 00:00:34.679 The 11th is Joseph. 00:00:35.340 --> 00:00:39.740 And Joseph is actually the first one born from Rachel, which if you remember from a couple 00:00:39.740 --> 00:00:43.420 weeks ago, Rachel is Jacob's favorite wife. 00:00:43.420 --> 00:00:48.400 So, what that means is Joseph is his favorite son, and that's not a secret. 00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:49.600 We learned that last week. 00:00:50.900 --> 00:00:52.600 So, he's his favorite. 00:00:53.480 --> 00:00:56.920 Joseph's not very humble in the beginning about some dreams to his brothers. 00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:00.579 Add to that, his father gives him a special coat. 00:01:01.859 --> 00:01:04.359 And so, put all those together, and his brothers pretty much hate him. 00:01:05.019 --> 00:01:10.640 And they want to kill him, and last minute, they decide to throw him into a pit, and then 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:13.780 they pull him out, and they sell him to the Ishmaelites. 00:01:14.099 --> 00:01:16.620 And that brings us up to our passage today. 00:01:16.620 --> 00:01:22.880 Before we jump in, though, what I'd like to do is just point out something real quickly 00:01:22.880 --> 00:01:25.960 about Genesis, because that's the book that we're studying and going through. 00:01:27.080 --> 00:01:34.360 There's 50 chapters in Genesis, and 38 of those are given to about 2,000 years of history. 00:01:34.740 --> 00:01:36.180 So, a pretty large chunk. 00:01:36.180 --> 00:01:42.000 But the last 12 chapters are given towards Joseph and his life. 00:01:42.120 --> 00:01:44.200 So, to me, there's something special there. 00:01:44.260 --> 00:01:48.600 There's something that God wants to point out about Joseph's life, and some of the decisions 00:01:48.600 --> 00:01:50.380 he made, and things that took place. 00:01:50.760 --> 00:01:57.080 It kind of gets us to want to dig in on it a little bit, and see what exactly God has for us. 00:01:57.080 --> 00:01:58.340 What's so special about Joseph? 00:01:58.340 --> 00:02:02.439 What does God say about Joseph's life that pertained to me? 00:02:02.540 --> 00:02:06.880 Those are the kind of questions that I'd like us to answer today and over the next couple 00:02:06.880 --> 00:02:08.539 weeks as we finish out Genesis. 00:02:10.659 --> 00:02:15.580 And as we go through these three chapters that we read this morning, what we'll be looking 00:02:15.580 --> 00:02:20.659 at are the trials and the triumphs that Joseph has faced. 00:02:21.259 --> 00:02:26.659 How God protected him, how he blessed him, and how he walked him through those and blessed 00:02:26.659 --> 00:02:30.719 him in the end, because those are some of the same trials that we're going to face. 00:02:30.759 --> 00:02:35.039 Not with all the exact same details, but we're going to face trials, and we're also going 00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:36.240 to face triumphs. 00:02:36.680 --> 00:02:41.139 And it's how we respond to those, it's how we grow through those that are going to make 00:02:41.139 --> 00:02:44.079 us a better Christian and affect those people around us. 00:02:44.079 --> 00:02:52.159 So, verse 29 starts out with Joseph being sold to the Ishmaelites, and then to Potiphar, 00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:53.919 who's the captain of the guard of Pharaoh. 00:02:53.919 --> 00:03:00.239 Pharaoh being the king of Egypt, and Egypt being the most powerful nation in the world 00:03:00.239 --> 00:03:00.939 at this time. 00:03:01.139 --> 00:03:08.739 So, Joseph, although a slave, is pretty close to the top, not far down from the top that 00:03:08.739 --> 00:03:09.560 you can go in Egypt. 00:03:09.699 --> 00:03:11.619 So, it puts him in a pretty interesting position. 00:03:12.219 --> 00:03:14.879 But let's look at the first trial that he's now facing. 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:19.739 He's been pulled away from his family, his homeland, everything that he knows, placed into 00:03:19.740 --> 00:03:23.000 a godless nation, owned like a piece of property. 00:03:23.180 --> 00:03:28.060 He's receiving no pay for the work that he does, and there's no signs of release, and 00:03:28.060 --> 00:03:30.080 nothing ever changing for the rest of his life. 00:03:30.219 --> 00:03:32.540 Not getting married, no future, he get the idea. 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:35.560 He's not really in a good spot. 00:03:38.060 --> 00:03:41.540 That's the trial that Joseph is faced with. 00:03:41.539 --> 00:03:47.799 But we quickly see that Joseph doesn't get down and out about this, but he faces his trial. 00:03:48.439 --> 00:03:52.899 Verse 2 to 4 says that the Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man. 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:55.799 He was in the house of his Egyptian master. 00:03:56.379 --> 00:04:00.319 His master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord caused all that he did to 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:01.539 succeed in his hands. 00:04:01.959 --> 00:04:06.699 So, Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house 00:04:06.699 --> 00:04:08.359 and put him in charge of all that he had. 00:04:08.360 --> 00:04:14.200 So, he has a trial, and we see that he eventually triumphed that trial. 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:18.199 I say eventually because there was work involved. 00:04:18.520 --> 00:04:21.819 Verse 2 says that he became a successful man. 00:04:22.180 --> 00:04:25.000 It's something he became, and it wasn't just laid upon him. 00:04:25.040 --> 00:04:26.800 It was something he had to work at, right? 00:04:26.939 --> 00:04:31.819 So, he was a good worker, a hard worker, and because of that, God blessed him, and he became 00:04:31.819 --> 00:04:34.060 successful, even as a slave. 00:04:34.060 --> 00:04:40.480 And in that, over the next few verses, we see that Joseph is promoted several times. 00:04:40.899 --> 00:04:44.740 I mean, even in the beginning, he's a slave, but he's not sent out to the fields to work, 00:04:44.819 --> 00:04:46.560 but rather to work inside. 00:04:47.560 --> 00:04:53.480 And as he works, as he does his job well, his master puts him in charge of more and more 00:04:53.480 --> 00:04:54.060 stuff. 00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:59.560 Until at the end, in verse 6, he's put him in charge of all that he had, in house and field, 00:04:59.560 --> 00:05:04.780 so that he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him, he had no concern 00:05:04.780 --> 00:05:07.480 about anything but the food that he ate. 00:05:08.699 --> 00:05:13.540 It's kind of ironic that he wants to hold on to his food, but I think for us guys, we 00:05:13.540 --> 00:05:14.879 can probably relate to that, right? 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:18.800 Because unless our wife or our girlfriend is making this dinner, we kind of want to control 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:19.439 what we eat. 00:05:19.860 --> 00:05:23.959 So, he says, Joseph, you got everything except I'll handle my food. 00:05:24.019 --> 00:05:24.660 Don't worry about that. 00:05:25.139 --> 00:05:26.740 So, that makes sense. 00:05:26.740 --> 00:05:29.480 Joseph worked hard. 00:05:29.579 --> 00:05:30.379 He didn't complain. 00:05:30.560 --> 00:05:31.280 He was trustworthy. 00:05:31.579 --> 00:05:32.340 He was honest. 00:05:33.019 --> 00:05:36.980 And he also cared about others, which we'll look at in a little bit more detail in a minute. 00:05:37.620 --> 00:05:40.379 And God was pleased with this and blessed this. 00:05:41.100 --> 00:05:43.680 We also see that Joseph didn't boast in himself. 00:05:44.360 --> 00:05:50.600 I mean, he was a slave, but he didn't boast as he moved up in his responsibilities and things 00:05:50.600 --> 00:05:51.759 he was given to do. 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:58.339 His master saw that the Lord was with him in verse 3 and that the Lord caused all that 00:05:58.339 --> 00:06:00.599 he did to succeed in his hands. 00:06:01.500 --> 00:06:05.659 Now, how is Potiphar going to know that the Lord was with him except that Joseph pointed 00:06:05.659 --> 00:06:07.639 out, pointed that fact out? 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:12.819 So, we see here that Joseph obviously is a testimony towards God. 00:06:13.659 --> 00:06:18.379 See, Egypt is a very spiritual nation, but not in regards to God. 00:06:18.379 --> 00:06:27.879 Their pharaohs at that time were like intermediary, like a channel between the common people and 00:06:27.879 --> 00:06:30.040 the spiritual godly world. 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:34.740 So, Egypt was a spiritual nation, but definitely not in respect to God. 00:06:34.899 --> 00:06:41.399 So, for Potiphar to say that God had blessed him, he has to be told that by Joseph. 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:42.779 So, Joseph is talking to him. 00:06:42.860 --> 00:06:43.639 You know, I'm being blessed. 00:06:43.740 --> 00:06:45.240 This stuff is given to me by God. 00:06:45.240 --> 00:06:46.480 I trust God. 00:06:46.740 --> 00:06:47.759 He's given me this. 00:06:48.460 --> 00:06:55.720 So, the triumph here, after the slavery that he's put into, is to be blessed by God and 00:06:55.720 --> 00:06:57.439 to be promoted for his hard work. 00:06:57.519 --> 00:06:59.060 That's what we see taking place here. 00:07:00.060 --> 00:07:05.199 So, if we jump to verse 6, we suddenly see Joseph's next trial. 00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:07.839 And that's Potiphar's wife. 00:07:09.319 --> 00:07:12.819 An interesting trial to be thrown in front of you. 00:07:12.899 --> 00:07:15.539 Nonetheless, it's sin and it's difficult. 00:07:15.979 --> 00:07:17.159 At the end of verse 6, it says, 00:07:17.259 --> 00:07:20.139 Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance, 00:07:20.740 --> 00:07:24.000 and after a time, his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, 00:07:24.099 --> 00:07:24.759 Lie with me. 00:07:24.759 --> 00:07:31.560 So, this is not a good thing, obviously, for Joseph, because we find here that apparently 00:07:31.560 --> 00:07:33.639 him and Brad Pitt are like brothers. 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:37.379 It says that he was handsome in form and appearance. 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:43.659 And what's interesting is earlier in Genesis, it says that Rachel, which was Joseph's mom, 00:07:44.060 --> 00:07:46.199 was lovely in figure and beautiful face. 00:07:46.199 --> 00:07:51.120 Those are the only two in the Old Testament who are described with those two adjectives. 00:07:51.659 --> 00:07:57.420 So, you've got to be pretty good looking and have a pretty good body in the Old Testament 00:07:57.420 --> 00:07:59.319 to be given that to you. 00:07:59.620 --> 00:08:07.139 So, those are pretty good qualities, but when you're a slave and you have nowhere to go 00:08:07.139 --> 00:08:11.579 and there's no future wife prospects, it's probably not what you want to be blessed with. 00:08:11.579 --> 00:08:17.399 But, in any event, Potiphar's wife sets her sights on Joseph, 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:22.240 and she wants him to have an affair with her and to sleep with her, 00:08:22.579 --> 00:08:23.399 but he refuses. 00:08:23.599 --> 00:08:24.699 Verse 8 says, 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:27.759 He refuses and says to his master's wife, 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:33.019 Behold, because of me, my master has no concern about anything in the house, 00:08:33.059 --> 00:08:36.019 and he has put everything that he has in my charge. 00:08:36.600 --> 00:08:38.579 He is no greater in this house than I am, 00:08:38.580 --> 00:08:43.080 nor has he kept back anything from me except you because you are his wife. 00:08:43.540 --> 00:08:46.860 How, then, can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? 00:08:48.200 --> 00:08:52.780 So, Joseph says that my master trusts me with all that he has. 00:08:53.720 --> 00:08:57.120 He trusts me to leave you alone because you're his wife. 00:08:57.400 --> 00:09:01.200 He trusts me because God has blessed me and put me here. 00:09:01.620 --> 00:09:05.720 So, how can I destroy all of that and sin against God? 00:09:05.720 --> 00:09:10.100 Well, it's a pretty good answer, only, as many of you know, 00:09:10.279 --> 00:09:15.700 how often does Satan take your one rebuttal and leave you alone with sin? 00:09:16.620 --> 00:09:20.040 Often, it's continual, continuing back and forth, 00:09:20.500 --> 00:09:22.080 and this is what happens with Joseph. 00:09:22.920 --> 00:09:24.080 It's day after day. 00:09:24.180 --> 00:09:24.860 Look at verse 10, 00:09:24.940 --> 00:09:27.460 And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, 00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:30.259 he would not listen to her to lie beside her or to be with her. 00:09:30.680 --> 00:09:31.560 She wouldn't get him up. 00:09:31.559 --> 00:09:35.239 She continued to tempt and seduce him daily. 00:09:36.459 --> 00:09:40.199 Now, normally, in this case, I would say probably the best advice would be to leave. 00:09:41.259 --> 00:09:42.419 Get a new job. 00:09:43.019 --> 00:09:43.779 Move away. 00:09:44.379 --> 00:09:46.000 Do something, but don't stay there. 00:09:46.419 --> 00:09:50.339 Only here, we know that Joseph is still a slave, and he has nowhere to go. 00:09:50.899 --> 00:09:55.599 He has to serve in the same house where his wife is. 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:59.840 Then one day, she literally grabs him by the clothes, 00:10:00.659 --> 00:10:03.620 and Joseph does the only thing that he can do, and that's run. 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:07.279 Of course, leaving behind some of his clothes. 00:10:08.060 --> 00:10:12.360 And just as a word of note there, 00:10:12.940 --> 00:10:17.759 if you ever find yourself in a situation where sin is grabbing at you, 00:10:17.820 --> 00:10:20.360 maybe not grabbing your clothes, but you know what I mean, 00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:21.440 then you need to run. 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:26.220 Don't try to tiptoe around the fire of sin because you'll get burned, right? 00:10:26.440 --> 00:10:27.860 You just need to leave. 00:10:28.520 --> 00:10:33.780 I think of King David and how he didn't leave when he was faced with Bathsheba 00:10:33.780 --> 00:10:35.240 and that temptation. 00:10:35.540 --> 00:10:40.040 He would have saved a lot of heartache and lives if he ran. 00:10:40.039 --> 00:10:47.879 So, you know, in regards to sexual sin and pornography, 00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:51.159 guard yourself, ladies and guys. 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:52.559 It's out there. 00:10:52.860 --> 00:10:53.399 You know it. 00:10:53.500 --> 00:10:57.120 Joseph's temptation was blatant and in his face. 00:10:57.639 --> 00:11:01.939 It was more obvious, but a lot of times it's secret for us, right? 00:11:02.019 --> 00:11:02.659 It's slow. 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:03.679 It's subtle. 00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:05.620 It's not so obvious. 00:11:06.620 --> 00:11:09.860 In relationships, I'm thinking of work or with friends, 00:11:10.019 --> 00:11:11.080 relationships are slow. 00:11:11.259 --> 00:11:13.100 You know, you develop friendships with people 00:11:13.100 --> 00:11:17.500 and you know when those relationships have gone too far, right? 00:11:17.620 --> 00:11:20.659 So don't put yourself in a dangerous position 00:11:20.659 --> 00:11:23.639 when you want to guard yourself. 00:11:24.200 --> 00:11:26.399 And when temptation comes up, 00:11:26.659 --> 00:11:29.080 you want to be ready for what you're going to do. 00:11:29.080 --> 00:11:30.860 So don't let it catch you off guard. 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:34.799 Know in your heart right away that when you're faced with this temptation, 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:36.799 how are you going to respond to that? 00:11:37.699 --> 00:11:39.120 Because Satan will test you. 00:11:39.979 --> 00:11:42.579 If not already, he's done it in the past. 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:43.740 So fight. 00:11:43.899 --> 00:11:47.659 And like Joseph, keep fighting if you're faced with it day by day 00:11:47.659 --> 00:11:51.399 and decide to honor God as you do that and walk away. 00:11:52.819 --> 00:11:54.379 We know he made the right decision, 00:11:54.539 --> 00:11:58.139 but we also know he wasn't rewarded for it, right? 00:11:58.139 --> 00:12:00.959 So Joseph faces another trial. 00:12:01.780 --> 00:12:06.040 His wife, Potiphar's wife, makes up a story that Joseph tried to rape her 00:12:06.040 --> 00:12:08.280 and she has clothes in her hand to prove it. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:11.080 And the next thing you know, Potiphar comes home. 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:13.080 She tells him, and what does he do? 00:12:13.620 --> 00:12:17.720 Probably the only thing he can do besides kill him is throw him in prison. 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:25.320 One thing to point out, though, is Potiphar would have been justified in killing him 00:12:25.320 --> 00:12:30.740 because he was a slave and he acted so horrible to his owner. 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:34.560 Potiphar could have done that, but he doesn't do that. 00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:39.960 And, you know, just a couple thoughts there on why he didn't kill him 00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:41.000 instead of putting him in jail. 00:12:41.139 --> 00:12:44.420 It could be because he really trusted Joseph and he really liked him. 00:12:44.419 --> 00:12:47.479 You know, his wife was older. 00:12:48.179 --> 00:12:49.339 Joseph is a hot stud. 00:12:49.740 --> 00:12:52.039 He's about 18, maybe 25 years old. 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:56.879 So why is he so attracted to his wife that he's going to destroy his reputation? 00:12:57.399 --> 00:12:59.620 It leaves you doubting. 00:13:00.620 --> 00:13:05.559 But in any event, the reason ultimately was it wasn't God's plan to kill Joseph. 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:07.939 It was to put him in prison, and that's where he ends up. 00:13:07.940 --> 00:13:11.840 So his next trial is in an ill prison. 00:13:12.820 --> 00:13:17.060 It's kind of similar to his slave gig in that he's stuck. 00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:18.560 He doesn't have anywhere to go. 00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:19.580 There's no pay. 00:13:19.780 --> 00:13:20.860 He's not moving up anywhere. 00:13:22.400 --> 00:13:24.920 House probably isn't as nice as what he came from. 00:13:26.140 --> 00:13:29.440 Yet it's not long before we see him, with God's help, 00:13:29.520 --> 00:13:32.080 turning that trial into another triumph. 00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:35.820 He doesn't understand why he's there, but he does trust God, 00:13:35.820 --> 00:13:37.140 and he just keeps going. 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:41.660 In verse 21, and then to the end of the chapter, it says, 00:13:41.780 --> 00:13:45.280 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love 00:13:45.280 --> 00:13:47.980 and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:53.700 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners 00:13:53.700 --> 00:13:54.700 who were in the prison. 00:13:55.260 --> 00:13:57.560 Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 00:13:58.100 --> 00:14:02.040 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge 00:14:02.039 --> 00:14:06.539 because the Lord was with him, and whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed. 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:10.959 You know, you're doing something right if you're in jail 00:14:10.959 --> 00:14:12.639 and you're the one running it, right? 00:14:14.620 --> 00:14:17.639 He's kind of elevated to this status. 00:14:17.779 --> 00:14:21.419 It's pretty wild to be in prison and have pretty much free reign. 00:14:22.379 --> 00:14:26.740 You know, you kind of see the keeper of the prison tossing him the keys. 00:14:26.939 --> 00:14:29.240 Here, stud boy, lock yourself up before you go to bed tonight. 00:14:29.240 --> 00:14:32.539 I mean, it's pretty wild, but that's where God puts him. 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:38.960 But seriously, though, it says something awesome about how God has blessed Joseph 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:41.139 and how Joseph is as a person. 00:14:41.779 --> 00:14:43.159 He's dependable. 00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:44.019 He's honest. 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:45.180 He's hardworking. 00:14:45.779 --> 00:14:49.060 And as we'll see in a minute, he does care about those who are around him. 00:14:51.060 --> 00:14:56.159 As we move to chapter 40, we see that the king's cupbearer and the baker 00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:58.840 are thrown into this same prison where Joseph is. 00:14:59.800 --> 00:15:02.720 And he is assigned to take care of him. 00:15:04.820 --> 00:15:05.940 He's doing time. 00:15:08.280 --> 00:15:09.420 He's a supervisor. 00:15:10.220 --> 00:15:13.759 And yet he's still concerned with other people's welfare. 00:15:15.160 --> 00:15:18.360 And then one night, both the cupbearer and the baker have dreams. 00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:21.259 Look at verse 6. 00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:25.840 And he went to check on them in the morning, which is another pretty wild thing. 00:15:25.899 --> 00:15:26.639 He's in prison. 00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:29.779 And he's so diligent to his job that he's not sleeping in. 00:15:29.980 --> 00:15:32.379 He's going to check on the new people to see how they're doing. 00:15:32.899 --> 00:15:33.200 Right? 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:34.879 So he goes and checks on them. 00:15:35.560 --> 00:15:39.720 And he says, why are your faces downcast? 00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:42.440 And they said, we've had dreams, but no one can interpret them. 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:45.400 So notice Joseph's response at the end of verse 8. 00:15:45.520 --> 00:15:49.020 Joseph says, do not interpretations belong to God. 00:15:49.019 --> 00:15:52.720 Please tell them, meaning the dreams, to me. 00:15:54.319 --> 00:15:58.220 Now it's interesting because Joseph here isn't saying that he's God. 00:15:58.740 --> 00:16:03.860 But rather, we get an indication that Joseph's relationship with God 00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:06.319 wasn't secret but public knowledge. 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:11.080 Joseph doesn't have the answer to their dreams, but God does. 00:16:11.940 --> 00:16:15.100 So Joseph says, interpretations belong to God and you don't know God. 00:16:15.660 --> 00:16:16.460 I know God. 00:16:16.560 --> 00:16:18.780 So why don't you tell me your dreams and I'll ask it for you. 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:22.860 That sounds pretty good. 00:16:22.980 --> 00:16:23.640 So they tell him. 00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:31.240 It's easy to pick up from these passages that Joseph was a strong witness for God. 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:34.080 He wasn't just there doing a good job, 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:37.180 but he was doing it for the sake of the glory of God. 00:16:38.040 --> 00:16:40.060 So he listens to the first dream from the cupbearer 00:16:40.060 --> 00:16:42.920 and then gives the interpretation, verse 13. 00:16:43.420 --> 00:16:47.139 In three days, Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:53.240 and you shall place Pharaoh's cup in his hand as formerly when you were his cupbearer. 00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:56.600 That was pretty positive news for the cupbearer. 00:16:56.720 --> 00:17:01.360 So we see Joseph taking an opportunity to put in a good word for himself. 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:03.759 He is in prison and nobody else is helping him out. 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:05.000 So he says in verse 14, 00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:10.000 only remember me that it went well with you when it goes well with you. 00:17:10.140 --> 00:17:14.359 Please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house. 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:17.359 For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:21.079 and here also I have done nothing that they should put me in the pit. 00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:27.759 So he's hoping that the cupbearer remembers him when he goes before Pharaoh. 00:17:28.659 --> 00:17:32.359 Next comes the baker and he tells his dream to Joseph 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:34.859 and Joseph tells him what it means in verse 18. 00:17:35.980 --> 00:17:38.019 He says the three baskets are three days 00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:41.799 and three days Pharaoh will lift up your head from you. 00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:43.339 Interesting, the exclamation point. 00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:46.980 Like he literally means he's lifting up his head and hanging him on a tree 00:17:46.980 --> 00:17:49.440 and the birds will eat the flesh from you. 00:17:50.460 --> 00:17:51.339 And that's all. 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:54.279 So enjoy the rest of your stay here in prison for the next three days. 00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:59.019 That's awkward to have to tell somebody that. 00:17:59.860 --> 00:18:02.259 I mean that's a tough interpretation, right, to give somebody. 00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:07.400 The Lord gives you an interpretation that is that heavy on someone else. 00:18:08.099 --> 00:18:11.079 But Joseph gives him the truth and tells it to him nonetheless. 00:18:13.500 --> 00:18:17.460 We don't know what the cupbearer and the baker did, 00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:22.700 whether or not they deserve to be restored or if they deserve to be killed. 00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:24.559 But really that's not the point here. 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:29.740 The point was to show that God knows and controls all things, right, 00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:31.539 even before they happen. 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:34.980 God's using Joseph to make that known. 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:39.319 So Joseph's triumph here is God's triumph. 00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:43.380 God gets glory as it's displayed and shown through Joseph. 00:18:44.620 --> 00:18:47.940 And we do see that Joseph's interpretations were true. 00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:51.519 On the third day, this is in verse 20, 00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:53.839 the third day when it was Pharaoh's birthday, 00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:55.420 he made a feast for all his servants, 00:18:55.940 --> 00:18:59.720 lifted up the head of the cupbearer and the head of the baker, 00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:01.759 he restores the cupbearer, 00:19:02.120 --> 00:19:05.880 and he hangs the chief baker, just as Joseph had said. 00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:12.680 And then the beginning of the next trial for Joseph is verse 23. 00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:17.140 The cupbearer did not remember him and forgot about him. 00:19:17.220 --> 00:19:20.339 So Joseph continues in jail, doing his job, 00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:25.420 not getting paid, but patiently trusting that God knows what he's doing. 00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:29.140 And as we look at chapter 41, 00:19:30.140 --> 00:19:36.019 we see that he's there for two years before Pharaoh has a dream. 00:19:36.840 --> 00:19:39.240 So he's really forgotten. 00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:41.820 I mean, two years is a long time to go. 00:19:42.620 --> 00:19:45.759 Two years with no sign of being called into action. 00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:49.640 Joseph's in his 20s, the prime of his life. 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:54.640 And I am not. 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:00.559 So I can imagine that he was a little frustrated. 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:03.960 I would imagine that he was a little discouraged 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:06.599 and asking, why am I here? 00:20:06.599 --> 00:20:08.259 I'm 27 years old. 00:20:08.379 --> 00:20:10.740 I have way more potential than being stuck in prison, 00:20:10.939 --> 00:20:14.359 doing absolutely nothing but taking care of a bunch of other guys 00:20:14.359 --> 00:20:16.359 that probably should be here and I shouldn't. 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:19.740 Because Joseph was human just like us, 00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:22.000 and that's something that we would struggle with as well. 00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:28.279 You might be in a certain phase or situation in your life 00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:29.279 that you don't understand. 00:20:29.379 --> 00:20:32.119 And like Joseph, it seems like it's going on forever. 00:20:32.719 --> 00:20:35.179 Maybe it's two years, maybe it's less, maybe it's more. 00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:38.500 But there's a purpose in it. 00:20:39.340 --> 00:20:42.700 So I would say take encouragement from our story from Joseph 00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:45.539 that God hasn't forgot about you, 00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:48.259 and God has you right where you are 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:51.160 if you're trusting him to use you for a purpose. 00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:56.940 So just rest in that and take comfort in knowing that. 00:20:57.980 --> 00:21:01.880 I was thinking about this week as I was watching Juliet. 00:21:01.880 --> 00:21:05.420 That she's going through this learning to crawl stage. 00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:08.280 And she's doing really good with it. 00:21:08.360 --> 00:21:10.660 But she started out like a couple weeks ago 00:21:10.660 --> 00:21:13.340 just learning how to crawl. 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:14.640 She didn't know what it was. 00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:17.000 She just knew it was something she should do next. 00:21:17.860 --> 00:21:19.000 And we would help her. 00:21:19.100 --> 00:21:21.760 We would, you know, show her how to move a little bit. 00:21:21.820 --> 00:21:24.240 We'd put things in front of her to encourage her to move. 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:27.380 And, you know, at times it didn't feel good. 00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:31.539 She would make a step forward and do a face plant into the carpet. 00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:34.900 But she would get back up and she would keep going, 00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:37.480 even though she didn't understand what we were doing. 00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:39.940 And we were with her the whole time. 00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:41.740 We're protecting her. 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:45.160 You know, we didn't put her out on the sidewalk to learn to crawl, 00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:46.880 where she would really hurt herself. 00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:50.760 And slowly, day by day, she got better. 00:21:51.320 --> 00:21:53.640 And now she's almost mastered it. 00:21:53.740 --> 00:21:54.980 Now she's just going to get quicker. 00:21:55.560 --> 00:21:57.200 And she's going to move on to walking. 00:21:57.520 --> 00:21:59.960 She doesn't even know what walking is at this point. 00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:03.140 But we teach her anyway. 00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:03.860 Right? 00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:07.740 And that's kind of like our relationship to Christ, to God, 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:13.100 is we do the crawling, right? 00:22:13.260 --> 00:22:15.840 And God guides us and gives us the strength to do it. 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:16.759 He protects us. 00:22:17.179 --> 00:22:19.559 And there's times where we're going through those painful spots 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:23.240 where we make head first into the carpet. 00:22:23.699 --> 00:22:25.299 And it may hurt and we don't understand why. 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:29.699 But it's part of the process of God teaching us to walk the Christian life. 00:22:30.619 --> 00:22:34.539 And if you have kids, you know, 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:39.500 the kids are like the best example of our relationship to God 00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:41.819 and how he teaches and trains us, 00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:45.819 even when we don't understand or want to go through what we're going through. 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:48.639 Or even times of punishment and correction. 00:22:49.439 --> 00:22:51.639 You know, as a father to a child, we know they need it. 00:22:51.899 --> 00:22:53.019 But the kid hates it. 00:22:54.339 --> 00:22:56.899 And the same happens with God. 00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:58.579 He knows that we need to be corrected. 00:22:59.319 --> 00:23:02.139 And so he applies that when it needs to be done. 00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:03.740 But it's for our good. 00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:04.140 Amen. 00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:09.500 So let's be like Joseph, right? 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:11.079 And let's trust God. 00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:14.180 He knows where we are and how to step forward. 00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:20.099 So two years after the baker gets whacked for making a bad birthday cake, 00:23:20.660 --> 00:23:23.599 Pharaoh himself has two very troubling dreams. 00:23:24.779 --> 00:23:26.640 He dreams that he's standing on the Nile. 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:31.480 Now, for Egypt, the Nile is a representation of their power and wealth. 00:23:31.580 --> 00:23:35.960 Where Egypt is, the Nile comes down and basically feeds all of the land. 00:23:36.080 --> 00:23:38.300 So in the rainy season, when there's flooding, 00:23:38.860 --> 00:23:41.660 that just starts the whole process of everything growing. 00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:43.340 And they live off that. 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.480 Their cattle lives off that. 00:23:44.560 --> 00:23:45.780 They have grain from that. 00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:50.819 And so this becomes their source of life. 00:23:52.119 --> 00:23:55.319 So he sees seven healthy cows appear out of the Nile, 00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:57.220 followed by seven thin cows. 00:23:58.000 --> 00:24:00.599 Cows also, like grain that we'll see in a minute, 00:24:00.819 --> 00:24:04.940 are a typical farm animal in Egypt. 00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:10.500 Grain and cows are just two staples for what they are as a nation 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:12.519 and how they live, how they survive. 00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:17.759 It's interesting that the second group of ugly cows, 00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:21.700 Pharaoh really puts an emphasis on how thin and ugly, 00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:23.539 almost evil looking in appearance. 00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:29.460 And then all of a sudden, those evil, ugly cows eat the big, plump, nice looking cows. 00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:31.619 It's a weird way to describe a cow. 00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:35.200 But the thin ones eat the large ones. 00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:39.700 And this is part of the troubling that stirs up Pharaoh's heart while he's dreaming. 00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.539 And it wakes him up. 00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:44.279 He goes back to sleep and he has another similar dream with grain 00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:50.740 and large, plump grain being eaten by thin and just lethargic grain that's dying. 00:24:51.339 --> 00:24:52.659 So he's just troubled. 00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:53.519 He's king of Egypt. 00:24:53.899 --> 00:25:00.599 And the two things that, like, staple in Egypt as having power, life, and money, 00:25:01.399 --> 00:25:05.420 he has these troubling dreams about them being eaten up and taken away. 00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:13.259 And we know that these dreams are not ordinary dreams, but that they're given by God, right? 00:25:13.300 --> 00:25:15.500 We know this because they're memorable. 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:19.140 You guys have all dreams, but you guys have all dreamed. 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:22.600 But how many times do you remember your dream very far into that day? 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:24.140 A lot of times they're forgotten. 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:25.740 So they're memorable. 00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:28.980 They're very troubling, which we have nightmares. 00:25:28.980 --> 00:25:37.019 But, again, oftentimes you forget what your nightmare was about as the day goes on because it was just your brain working throughout the night 00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:40.019 and not put there specifically by God. 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:41.400 So they were memorable. 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:42.000 They're troubling. 00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:43.779 And they're also very specific. 00:25:44.420 --> 00:25:45.720 God is the one that's put it there. 00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:47.299 God is the one that knows the meaning of it. 00:25:47.299 --> 00:25:49.220 And that's what we see taking place. 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:53.359 So Pharaoh has this dream. 00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:54.519 He's disturbed by it. 00:25:55.000 --> 00:26:00.079 And Joseph's good old forgetful friend, the cupbearer, finally steps up to Pharaoh and says, 00:26:00.159 --> 00:26:01.139 Hey, I know this guy, Joseph. 00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:05.680 He told me about my dream, about the baker's dream, and it came true. 00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:06.419 I got restored. 00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:07.240 He got whacked. 00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:10.180 And Joseph's in prison if you want to go talk to him. 00:26:10.839 --> 00:26:13.700 So, of course, Pharaoh sends for Joseph. 00:26:14.879 --> 00:26:16.000 They get Joseph out. 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:16.660 They clean him up. 00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.559 They bring him to Pharaoh. 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:21.500 In verse 15, it says that Pharaoh said to Joseph, 00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:24.680 I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. 00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:29.299 I have heard it said of you that you hear a dream, you can interpret it. 00:26:29.900 --> 00:26:32.700 Joseph answered Pharaoh, it is not in me. 00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:34.859 God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer. 00:26:37.339 --> 00:26:40.619 So Joseph goes on to tell Pharaoh what his dream means. 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:43.480 Egypt will experience seven years of plenty. 00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:46.480 They will have plenty of food, and everything will be great. 00:26:46.620 --> 00:26:50.240 And following that, there is going to be seven years of famine, which will be very severe. 00:26:51.940 --> 00:26:53.160 That is the meaning of his dream. 00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:54.480 But Joseph does not stop there. 00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:59.460 God also gives him a solution. 00:27:00.360 --> 00:27:03.700 In the interpretation, he adds to that a solution to the problem. 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:06.319 So, look at verse 34. 00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:07.220 It says, 00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:12.700 Now, therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 00:27:12.700 --> 00:27:23.480 Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land, and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. 00:27:23.480 --> 00:27:32.360 Let them gather all the food of these good years of their coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. 00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:42.120 That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine. 00:27:42.119 --> 00:27:49.539 After this, Pharaoh asks, Well, where can we find a man that can do this? 00:27:49.639 --> 00:27:53.459 A man to whom the Spirit of God is? 00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:55.179 And he asks that specifically. 00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:59.679 And in asking this question, Pharaoh suddenly gets the answer. 00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:02.459 Well, it's the person who just gave me that wisdom. 00:28:02.899 --> 00:28:06.000 And it says that in verse 39, that Pharaoh said to Joseph, 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:11.180 So, since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you. 00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:15.279 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. 00:28:15.859 --> 00:28:18.900 And only as regards to the throne will I be greater than you. 00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:26.359 So, Pharaoh quickly realizes that the best person for the job is the very one that God gave this wisdom to. 00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:34.960 It's a pretty smart decision, and because of it, Joseph gets the promotion of out of prison and second in command of all of Egypt. 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:44.660 So, he's been a slave in prison for 12 years, and now he's 30 years old, and he's moved into this position of second in command of the Pharaoh. 00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:50.840 But at this point, Joseph's work isn't done, right? 00:28:50.900 --> 00:28:54.620 He's free, which is pretty awesome, especially after how long he's been in there. 00:28:55.120 --> 00:28:57.940 But the job he has in front of him is pretty enormous. 00:28:57.940 --> 00:29:06.539 He's responsible to store up all the food for all of Egypt over seven years, and then be able to supply food for all of Egypt for seven years after that. 00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:15.700 And we also see later that it also is enough to provide for nations outside of Egypt as they look for food and come into Egypt as well. 00:29:16.080 --> 00:29:24.080 So, it's really an extra blessing that God has given Joseph to be able to plan and prepare to do that as well. 00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:34.819 But we see how Joseph triumphs over this is the same way he triumphs over his previous trials, and that's basically that he trusted God. 00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:39.379 We see that God gave Joseph the plan and the wisdom. 00:29:39.919 --> 00:29:43.480 The Pharaoh gives him the power, the earthly power, to make it happen. 00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:46.899 And Joseph puts those together and does his job, right? 00:29:46.900 --> 00:29:54.220 He's diligent, he's honest, he's hardworking, he goes to work at it, he assigns the people what needs to be assigned, and he starts storing up food. 00:29:55.320 --> 00:30:01.540 And he does it so that, or in such a fashion that he does it well, and God blesses that as well. 00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:06.040 Because they start out, they're counting, they're inventorying all the grain. 00:30:06.280 --> 00:30:08.620 They get to a point where they have so much, they just stop counting it. 00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:11.580 They keep counting, they keep inventorying. 00:30:11.740 --> 00:30:14.380 We have so much, it doesn't matter, let's just keep doing what we're doing. 00:30:14.380 --> 00:30:23.600 So, during this time as well, Pharaoh gives Joseph a wife, which is pretty cool, not just because he gets a wife, 00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:29.880 but by marrying into top Egyptian family, it kind of secures his new promotion. 00:30:30.460 --> 00:30:36.880 It isn't like he got promoted and maybe next year Pharaoh won't like him and he'll demote him and put him back in prison. 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:47.540 But he gives him a wife from the royal family and it kind of establishes his presence there, which will remain until the end of Joseph's life. 00:30:48.100 --> 00:30:58.000 He's also blessed with two kids, which Joseph proclaims, gives glory back to God, even through the naming of his children. 00:30:58.000 --> 00:31:06.839 In verse 51, he says, Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, for he said, God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house. 00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:13.839 The name of the second he called Ephraim, for God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction. 00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:26.519 So, we see even here, even in the giving of names to his children, that Joseph is proclaiming that God was with him and has blessed him through all of this. 00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:33.259 So, what is the point of Joseph's life? 00:31:33.359 --> 00:31:35.680 We learned a lot of cool things up until this point. 00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:39.660 And we'll be talking about Joseph's life further in the next few weeks. 00:31:40.579 --> 00:31:47.160 But what's the point of his life and why is a chunk of Genesis devoted to showing us his life? 00:31:47.160 --> 00:31:51.440 Because through it, we see our life. 00:31:51.500 --> 00:32:00.900 Maybe not in the exact detail of Joseph with being put in prison and women grabbing at you, but we see struggles of life, right? 00:32:00.900 --> 00:32:09.140 We see being stuck in jobs or positions or being held responsible for doing things that we didn't ask for, we didn't deserve. 00:32:09.900 --> 00:32:14.180 We see injustice, we see pain, we see suffering, we see evil. 00:32:14.180 --> 00:32:19.820 But over all that and through all that we walk through, we see the hand of God. 00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:27.680 We see God taking care of his own and wanting to use us for his glory and for our good. 00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:34.640 It's for our good because like little Juliet, he's teaching us and correcting us. 00:32:35.080 --> 00:32:38.880 He's making us stronger and getting us ready for the next task. 00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:45.520 Whether it's the next trial or the next triumph, the next blessing that he's going to give us. 00:32:47.300 --> 00:32:48.940 And he has a plan for us. 00:32:49.740 --> 00:32:55.700 It just requires that we stop trying to be God's ourselves and we leave that to him. 00:32:56.100 --> 00:32:59.460 We leave God's job to God and not to us. 00:33:00.140 --> 00:33:01.800 You might say, well, I don't believe in God. 00:33:01.799 --> 00:33:08.099 And I would say that if that's where you are today, if you don't believe in God or don't think there's a God, 00:33:08.579 --> 00:33:12.859 then I would invite you to keep pushing in on the question of, is God real? 00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:14.799 And not to settle for unbelief. 00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:16.700 Find out for yourself. 00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:18.619 Investigate from the Bible. 00:33:19.419 --> 00:33:20.079 Keep coming out. 00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:21.099 Keep hearing the messages. 00:33:21.619 --> 00:33:24.519 And like Pharaoh, listen to what God has to say and then you decide. 00:33:24.519 --> 00:33:30.019 Ask God, the one who formed you and created this world. 00:33:30.740 --> 00:33:33.180 Ask him to show himself to you. 00:33:33.599 --> 00:33:37.119 He will because the Bible says that he delights in those who seek him. 00:33:37.940 --> 00:33:38.759 He has a plan. 00:33:38.859 --> 00:33:39.579 He has a purpose. 00:33:40.519 --> 00:33:47.019 And so if you ask him to show himself to you in your unbelief, then your creator will show you himself. 00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:50.639 That's what kind of God we have. 00:33:50.640 --> 00:33:56.820 Because he sent his son, Jesus Christ, onto the earth to die. 00:33:56.980 --> 00:34:00.660 And he did it not for popularity, but he did it for each one of our sins. 00:34:01.160 --> 00:34:03.120 He did it because we couldn't do it ourselves. 00:34:03.660 --> 00:34:06.980 He did it so we could know and have a relationship with God. 00:34:07.060 --> 00:34:08.519 That's the only way that was possible. 00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:13.039 Maybe this morning you do believe in God and you just say, well, I want to do it my way. 00:34:13.960 --> 00:34:17.280 I think a lot of us have gone through that at some stage in our life. 00:34:17.280 --> 00:34:23.040 If I can make a better decision because, well, I know me best. 00:34:23.160 --> 00:34:23.700 God doesn't. 00:34:25.140 --> 00:34:27.940 The problem is God is a very jealous God. 00:34:28.040 --> 00:34:29.380 And there's no God of Matt. 00:34:29.480 --> 00:34:31.240 There's no God of Sean. 00:34:31.860 --> 00:34:34.220 There's no God of put your name in there. 00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:36.800 There's only one true and living God. 00:34:37.140 --> 00:34:38.680 And he doesn't share that with anybody. 00:34:38.679 --> 00:34:40.019 Not because he doesn't want to share. 00:34:40.139 --> 00:34:46.960 Because if he is actually the only true, almighty, all-powerful, all-knowing God, he can't share that with anybody. 00:34:47.159 --> 00:34:50.239 Because that would make him a liar to share it with somebody that's less than that. 00:34:52.619 --> 00:35:01.219 So when we want to take that ourselves and say we know it better, then we're telling God he doesn't know best and we're smarter than him. 00:35:01.219 --> 00:35:03.059 And that puts us in a bad place. 00:35:03.619 --> 00:35:19.919 So I would say if that's where you are, that you want to do it yourself, I would encourage you to think deeper about that decision before you continue down your life making decisions all on your own without seeking your creator God first to find out what plan he has for you. 00:35:19.920 --> 00:35:37.960 See, we try to make decisions based on our limited knowledge and our kind of impatient, short-sightedness instead of trusting an all-knowing God who has a plan for all of the world. 00:35:38.639 --> 00:35:39.860 And you're a part of that. 00:35:39.960 --> 00:35:45.420 So when you try to pull yourself off and not follow that plan, it's going to throw things out of whack. 00:35:45.420 --> 00:35:58.039 He's building his church, a people who will look to him through trials and have faith that he will provide what they need to triumph over this life. 00:35:59.019 --> 00:36:13.240 So to sum all that up, I would say that through trials and through triumphs, as Joseph trusted and stayed faithful to God, God used him to play a part of blessing the nations. 00:36:13.239 --> 00:36:21.039 We see how he blessed the nations in keeping them alive through famine and other nations coming and damage them through that. 00:36:21.339 --> 00:36:22.879 God wants to do the same with you. 00:36:23.319 --> 00:36:26.919 He wants you to be part of being a blessing to the nations. 00:36:27.479 --> 00:36:30.819 And that happens by following our God and our Savior. 00:36:33.139 --> 00:36:35.599 Let's pray as we pray. 00:36:35.599 --> 00:36:54.619 Lord, we thank you for this story about Joseph, for all that you put him through for his good but also our good as we get to see his life and we get to learn and hopefully avoid mistakes before they happen. 00:36:54.619 --> 00:37:00.559 Lord, we ask that you would help us to put you in your place as God over our life. 00:37:00.679 --> 00:37:08.000 That we would follow you and trust you in good and bad so that you get the glory and you get the praise. 00:37:08.380 --> 00:37:09.940 And we ask these things in your name. Amen. 00:37:09.940 --> 00:37:10.039 Amen.