1. Welcome Feb. 5, 2006

2. Who Do You Think You Are?

3. Open your Bibles to Genesis 37:8-11

4. KJV-R (Webster) Genesis 37:8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

5. 37:9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

6. 37:10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

7. 37:11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

8. Joseph’s brothers don’t believe that their little brother, their father’s favorite, will rule over them. Turn to Exodus 2:14

9. Exodus 2:14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.

10. 2:15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

11. Turn to Luke 19:14

12. Luke 19:14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

13. In these 3 case verses we see the contempt displayed in those who believe they know their own destiny. How different are things today?

14. The arrogance or those people making up the 3 groups associated in the 3 cases we just read are that of…“Who do you think you are?” “We know who we are, and what we think is right.”

15. These 3 cases have much in common.; Types & shadows of the a savior. Types & shadows of the a savior. The arrogant unbelievers. The arrogant unbelievers. The ruling establishment disbelieves too. The ruling establishment disbelieves too. An unexpected savior. An unexpected savior. The punishment of the savior. The punishment of the savior. The eventual redemption of those who believe. The eventual redemption of those who believe. We will focus on the story of Joseph.

16. Joseph becomes the savior of his family. We all know the story of Joseph, being sold into slavery and eventually redeeming his family by saving them from a famine that wiped out much of the population of Canaan.

17. Much of this story is obvious in it’s type and shadow of Christ, but there is much more here. Let’s go a little deeper.

18. Beginning with Joseph’s birth, we know that Joseph was born in the old age of his father Israel. Joseph was the promised son spoken by God long ago to Israel.

19. Joseph’s brothers are happy in their sinful disobedience as can be seen by Joseph’s ill reports of their actions. Joseph’s brothers are happy in their sinful disobedience as can be seen by Joseph’s ill reports of their actions. Gen 37:2

20. “These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.”

21. Israel establishes Joseph as “first born” by giving him a special coat. Israel establishes Joseph as “first born” by giving him a special coat. Gen 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

22. Traditionally long sleeves would identify him as first born. In addition this special coat had multi-colors, signify Joseph as high priest.

23. The brothers reject the authority placed upon Joseph by their father.

24. Genesis 37:8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

25. As we learned last week it seems to be possible that the brothers, after rejecting Joseph, go off to party. As we learned last week it seems to be possible that the brothers, after rejecting Joseph, go off to party. Gen 37:12 And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.

26. Although Joseph is his father’s favorite, it’s his father who actually sends Joseph to his dome by sending him to his brothers.

27. Genesis 37:14 And he (Israel) said to him (Joseph), Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

28. Joseph is rejected.

29. Genesis 37:23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;

30. Because of Israel’s love for his disobedient son’s he sends Joseph, a type & shadow of Jesus the Christ.

31. Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers.

32. Genesis 37:27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.

33. 37:28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

34. Next Joseph is tempted; Next Joseph is tempted; Genesis 39:9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

35. Joseph does not give in to temptation. (39:12)

36. Next Joseph receives his punishment for sin he did not commit. Next Joseph receives his punishment for sin he did not commit. Gen 39:20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

37. Joseph ascends out of the dungeon and is placed into a position to redeem the Egyptians and all the people of the area, including his brothers & family.

38. Genesis 41:40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

39. Genesis 41:57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

40. Genesis 42:2 And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.

41. Joseph saves those who want to escape from the famine. But how does the salvation take place???

42. Step #1

43. Joseph receives the seekers

44. Genesis 42:7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them ; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.

45. Genesis 42:8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

46. Step #2

47. The seekers are convicted of their sin and need for a savior.

48. Genesis 42:21 And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.

49. Step #3

50. Confession

51. Genesis 44:18 Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.

52. 1 Chronicles 5:2 For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:)

53. Step #4

54. Grace

55. Genesis 45:1 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.

56. Genesis 45:5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

57. Genesis 45:7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

58. I’ve listed these 4 steps as if they are separate, THEY ARE NOT. These 4 steps are called REPENTENCE. Repentance is a 1 step process.

59. metanoeÂw~. From G3326 = metaÉ and G3539 = noieÂw~. To think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (morally feel compunction). Repent. 3340. metanoeÂw~. From G3326 = metaÉ and G3539 = noieÂw~. To think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (morally feel compunction). Repent.

60. Judah and his brothers once questioned that Joseph would rule over them, yet Judah and his brothers repent and “bow” before their brother.

61. However, we just like the brothers of Joseph, allow doubt to enter our minds and our grace based faith is challenged.

62. Genesis 50:15 And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.

63. 50:16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,

64. 50:17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.

65. It is difficult to accept such a undeserved gift of free grave and we sometimes let the deceiver trick us into believing God might take back His promise, and that there must be something we must do to secure it.

66. Joseph reassures his brothers by saying; Joseph reassures his brothers by saying; Genesis 50:21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

67. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

68. Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption.

69. Amen.