Tag: joseph

My inspiration from for this exhortation comes from the Holy Spirit highlighting my reading of Today in the Word – Moody Publication and www.biblekeeper.com/but-god/

It reflects on the story of Joseph in the Bible. 

Genesis 41:1–16, Genesis 45:1–15, Genesis 50

Joseph’s family was so dysfunctional that his brothers sold him into slavery!

Here are some symptoms of a dysfunctional family: https://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/portrait-of-a-dysfunctional-family/

• Estrangement—Family members who avoid other family members.
• Anger—It may be expressed or repressed.
• Lack of Trust—Seen in faulty patterns of communication.
• Deception—Inability to speak the truth to other family members.
• Unhealthy Secrecy—Refusal to face the truth.

It’s not surprising that when we turn to the pages of Holy Scripture, we don’t have to look very far to find dysfunctional family relationships:

• Consider the very first family—Adam and Eve who blamed each other for their own disobedience.
• Consider their children—Cain murdered his brother Abel.
• Consider Noah’s three sons—Ham disgraced his father by uncovering his nakedness.
• Consider Abraham and Sarah—He lied about his wife, calling her his sister. His nephew Lot turned out to be a major disappointment.
• Consider David—Although he was a great king, a great warrior, and a great poet, as a father and husband he was a failure. His marriage to Michal was largely a failure, his marriage to Bathsheba was based on an adulterous affair, and his son Absalom turned against him. As his kingdom crumbled, so did his family.

In Genesis 41:1–16 we see:

• The cupbearer eventually remembered Joseph after Pharaoh’s dream could not be explained (vv. 1–13). 
• They quickly retrieve Joseph from the dark, damp dungeon and clean him up. 
• They shave his scraggly beard, give him a bath, and clean clothes (v. 14). 
• They take him to Pharaoh and tell him to interpret a Pharaoh’s dream (v. 15).
• Joseph’s response is  “I cannot do it” (v. 16).

In that moment, we can’t imagine the reaction in the room, especially the cupbearer who recommended Joseph to the Pharaoh. 

And then Joseph says in Genesis 41:16 “It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.” 

He interprets the dream with God’s help.

Genesis 41: 37-44  

37 Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. 40 You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.” 41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck.  43 Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, “Kneel down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. 44 And Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.” 45 Then Pharaoh gave Joseph a new Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah. He also gave him a wife, whose name was Asenath. She was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. So Joseph took charge of the entire land of Egypt.

• Even though Joseph did not deserve what had been done to him, he continued to remain faithful to God. 
• He finds favor with Pharaoh, is promoted to second in command and given a wife!
• He is given an Egyptian name- Zaphenath-paneah which several scholars agree means “the god speaks and he lives” 

Genesis 42:1–8, Genesis 45:1–15

• Since there was a famine in the land, Joseph’s brothers traveled to Egypt to buy grain (Gen. 42:1–8). 
• When they arrived, they did not recognize Joseph; they thought he was dead.
• After the brothers journeyed back and forth a few times, Joseph revealed his identity: “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!” (45:4). They were terrified (v. 3). The brother who they had tormented now held all the power.  

Joseph could have been angry, scathed, tainted by the betrayals and trials he experienced  But God… He had the God-given ability to forgive, and love.

Genesis 45: 4-7 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 

Years later, after Jacob’s death, Joseph’s father, the brothers become fearful, because they think that now that Jacob is dead that Joseph is going to exact vengeance  on them – pay them back for what they did to him. They still didn’t get it!!!

So they send a message to Joseph… 

Genesis 50:16-18 

16 So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us  17 to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept. 18 Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said. 19 But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? 21 No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.

Joseph somehow continued to trust God. He realized that what others had meant for evil, God intended for good (Gen. 50:20).

He forgave those who hurt him the most and reunited with his family (vv. 5–7). He knew God had a purpose: “It was not you who sent me here, but God” (v. 8). Because of his position, Joseph was able to provide for his family in their time of need. His brothers were given a second chance because Joseph saw things from God’s perspective (vv. 9–15).

Holy Spirit, help us to see things from God’s perspective!

But God…

I’m unworthy…

Paul, the Apostle – Galatians 1:15-16 15 But God in his grace chose me even before I was born, and called me to serve him. And when he decided 16 to reveal his Son to me, so that I might preach the Good News about him to the Gentiles, I did not go to anyone for advice

I feel helpless…

Romans 5:6-8 6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.  7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

I feel unloved…

Ephesians 2: 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 

I feel weak…

Psalm 73:26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.

I am tempted…

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able . . .

I am unfruitful…

1 Corinthians 3: I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

I’m facing death…

Acts 13:29-30 When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead…

My situation is impossible

Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

I’m troubled

Acts 7:9-10 Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles.

I’m fearful…

1 Samuel 23:14 David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.

I’m not smart enough…

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

I need revelation…

1 Corinthians 2:10 Eye has not seen, nor ear heard . . . the things which God has prepared for those who love Him . . . But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.

It is evident that “But God” is a powerful phrase found in the Bible and points us God’s faithfulness and power. We are limited and God is limitless. Nothing is impossible with our God.

“But God” Scriptures remind us that we can trust Him to take the ashes of our lives and make them beautiful!