1. Coping with life’s expectations!
Genesis 50:14-21

2. Genesis 50:14-21 (NIV)
14 After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, together with his brothers and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father. 15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died:

3. Genesis 50:14-21 (NIV)
17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. 18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. 19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?.

4. Genesis 50:14-21 (NIV)
20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

5. What kind of expectations are you facing?
Is it your own expectations?
Is it other people’s expectations?
Is it God’s expectations? (You think?)

6. Story of Joseph and the amazing colour coat…
Born of Jacob
Had an amazing coat
Had a dream (wheat bowing down)

7. Story of Joseph and the amazing colour coat…
Brothers' plot to kill Joseph
Sold into slavery instead
Taken to Egypt and sold to Potiphar, Pharaoh's captain of the guard

8. Story of Joseph and the amazing colour coat…
Potiphar’s wife had her own expectation of Joseph… (Genesis 39)
The cup bearer and the baker…
Pharaoh's dream...
Second in charge of Egypt…

9. How to cope with expectations…

10. 1. Guard against bitterness…
Story – love triangle
There are always consequences when it comes to expectations
It could lead to bitterness

11. 1. Guard against bitterness…
Joseph’s brothers just assumed he would be bitter
Genesis 50:15 – “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?”
Joseph was not bitter…
Genesis 50:19 – “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?”

12. 2. Take steps toward forgiveness…
The diary of Anne Frank
The key to forgiveness is to understand how much we have been forgiven by God
Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:13)

13. 3. Believe in God’s greater purpose…
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives (Genesis 50:20)

14. 4. Live by promises, not explanations…
Joseph went with the flow (not by choice) and not knowing where it would lead him
But he lived by promises, not explanations
Show movie clip – You know better than I

15. Conclusion Do you need to guard against bitterness?
Do you need to take some steps toward forgiveness?
Do you need help seeing God’s greater purpose in your pain?
Do you need to live by promises more than explanations?