Acts 7:9 “And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him…”

Tough Stretch for Jacob For Jacob, it is string of terrible events: Levi and Simeon abusing the covenant of God Rebekah dies Rachel dies Reuben has relations with Bilhah

Tough Stretch for Jacob Isaac’s death Joseph “death” (sold and son’s not caring) Judah’s marriage to a pagan Grandson’s dying Son’s fathers his son/grandson

Tough Stretch for Jacob All of this comes on the heels of God’s promise to continue blessing him with the promises of Abraham.

Tough Stretch for Jacob As Chapter 37 ends, Jacob is devastated. Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, “For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.

Tough Stretch for Jacob Jacob had God’s word to depend on, but it can seem very distant, especially in immediate pain.

Joseph stands strong – Ch. 30:1-3 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.

Joseph stands strong – Ch. 30:4-5 So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field.

Joseph stands strong – Ch. 30:6-7 Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”

Archeological discovery of Joseph’s likeness

Joseph stands strong – Ch. 30:8-9 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand.There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

Joseph stands strong – Ch. 39 Integrity The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.

Joseph stands strong – Ch. 39 Joseph has integrity and a spiritual view. He had: Confidence in the future revealed by God’s word Already seen God’s hand of blessing Appreciation for his master’s trust Respect for his master’s wife

Joseph stands strong – Ch. 30:10-12 So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her. But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.

Joseph stands strong – Ch. 39 Again with Joseph and his clothing? This is the second time his clothing was used to bring a bad report about him.

Joseph stands strong – Ch. 39 Joseph would not through away his future for momentary pleasure. …unlike Uncle Esau Heb. 12:16-17

Joseph stands strong – Ch. 39 And, it lands him in jail.

Joseph stands strong – Ch. 39 Few things in life are more difficult than to be falsely accused. But, God was with him…again.

These Dreams; Part I – Ch. 40 It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker. So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while.

Dream I: The Butler Did It! 40:9-15 ile.

Dream II: The Baker’s Goose is cooked! 40:16-18 ile.

Bad memory – Ch. 40:20-23 Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

These Dreams; Part II – Ch. 41:1, 8b-9  Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream…And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh. 9 Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: “I remember my faults this day...

These Dreams; Part II – Ch. 41:10-12  When Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker, we each had a dream in one night, he and I. Each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. Now there was a young Hebrew man…

These Dreams; Part II – Ch. 41:14-16  Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.” So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”

The Cattle 41:17-21

‘Course, here the fear always is… The Cattle 41:17-21 ‘Course, here the fear always is…

Mad cow disease…

The Wheat 41:22-24

7 years of plenty + 7 years of famine Times 2 = God has decreed it! The Interpretation 41:25-32 7 years of plenty + 7 years of famine Times 2 = God has decreed it!

The 1/5th Plan 41:33-36

The Result Ch. 41:37-41  So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”

The Result Ch. 41:50-52  And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him. Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.” And the name of the second he called Ephraim: “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

Living by faith begins with who God is and how He does things. For us… Living by faith begins with who God is and how He does things.

There are many… many… times when it feels like God has abandoned us. For us… There are many… many… times when it feels like God has abandoned us.

For us… We should never use our emotions or mere circumstances to determine God’s presence or faithfulness.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 5:1-3 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.

2 Corinthians 5:4-5 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight.  We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

Don’t let what you see blur what is true. For us… Don’t let what you see blur what is true.

For us… For Joseph and those like him, their focus was primarily the “here and now”.

For us, it’s more, it’s eternal, it’s often unseen.

Don’t let your eyes stop you from seeing. For us… Don’t let your eyes stop you from seeing.

Romans 8:16-18 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

And, every step of the way… For us… And, every step of the way…