The Story of Joseph: Destined to Rule

The Providence and Promises of God

Destiny?

•      Destiny –

    1 : something to which a person or thing is destined : fortune <wants to control his own destiny>
2 : a predetermined course of events often held to be an irresistible power or agency

•      What would you do if you knew you were going to inherit a fortune? 

The One?

Recap

•      Genesis 37 - 39

•      Tends family business in Canaan.

•      Has dreams of sheaves (rulership).

•      Sold into slavery by his brothers.

•      Prospers in Potiphar’s house.

•      Rejects Potiphar’s wife.

•      Thrown in prison.

•      Prospers as the prison overseer.

The presence of God

•      “The LORD was with Joseph”

–    God loved Joseph.

–    God was working to fulfill an ancient promise.

•      Providence

–    1 a often capitalized : divine guidance or care b capitalized : God conceived as the power sustaining and guiding human destiny
2 : the quality or state of being provident

•      Covenant

–    1 : a usually formal, solemn, and binding agreement : compact
2 a : a written agreement or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action

A Promise to Abraham

•       I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.  Genesis 17:7 (NIV)

•       He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Genesis 15:5 (NIV)

•       And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.”  Genesis 17:8 (NLT)

•       “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.  I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.  I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3 (NLT)

Abraham’s Part

•      Abraham believed God.

•      Took action as God directed

–  Moved his family.

–  Sign of circumcision.

–  Sacrificed Isaac.

Joseph in Prison

•       Genesis 40:1-20

•       While they were in prison, Pharaoh’s cup-bearer and baker each had a dream one night, and each dream had its own meaning. When Joseph saw them the next morning, he noticed that they both looked upset.  “Why do you look so worried today?” he asked them.

•       And they replied, “We both had dreams last night, but no one can tell us what they mean.”  “Interpreting dreams is God’s business,” Joseph replied. “Go ahead and tell me your dreams.”

•       Please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place. For I was kidnapped from my homeland, the land of the Hebrews, and now I’m here in prison, but I did nothing to deserve it.”  –  Gen. 40:5-8, 14 (NLT)

•       Interprets the cup-bearer and baker’s dreams.

•       The dreams come to pass.

•       Gets forgotten for another 2 years.

Pharaoh’s Dream

Joseph before Pharaoh

Genesis 41: 29-36 (NLT)

•       God has revealed to Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do. The next seven years will be a period of great prosperity throughout the land of Egypt. But afterward there will be seven years of famine so great that all the prosperity will be forgotten in Egypt. Famine will destroy the land. This famine will be so severe that even the memory of the good years will be erased. As for having two similar dreams, it means that these events have been decreed by God, and he will soon make them happen.

•        “Therefore, Pharaoh should find an intelligent and wise man and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh should appoint supervisors over the land and let them collect one-fifth of all the crops during the seven good years. Have them gather all the food produced in the good years that are just ahead and bring it to Pharaoh’s storehouses. Store it away, and guard it so there will be food in the cities. That way there will be enough to eat when the seven years of famine come to the land of Egypt. Otherwise this famine will destroy the land.”

Ruler of Egypt

•       Genesis 41:37-44 

•       Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” 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. 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.” 

Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” 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. 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. 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.”

•       Given an Egyptian name

•       Takes a wife and has two children

•       Saves up the harvests for seven years

Saving Egypt

 Genesis 41:53-57 (NLT)

•       At last the seven years of bumper crops throughout the land of Egypt came to an end.  Then the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had predicted. The famine also struck all the surrounding countries, but throughout Egypt there was plenty of food.  Eventually, however, the famine spread throughout the land of Egypt as well. And when the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told them, “Go to Joseph, and do whatever he tells you.”  So with severe famine everywhere, Joseph opened up the storehouses and distributed grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout the land of Egypt.  And people from all around came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph because the famine was severe throughout the world.

Genesis 47:23-25 (NLT)

•       Then Joseph said to the people, “Look, today I have bought you and your land for Pharaoh. I will provide you with seed so you can plant the fields. Then when you harvest it, one-fifth of your crop will belong to Pharaoh. You may keep the remaining four-fifths as seed for your fields and as food for you, your households, and your little ones.”

•       “You have saved our lives!” they exclaimed. “May it please you, my lord, to let us be Pharaoh’s servants.” Joseph then issued a decree still in effect in the land of Egypt, that Pharaoh should receive one-fifth of all the crops grown on his land. Only the land belonging to the priests was not given to Pharaoh.

Observations

•      Joseph’s gifts came from his faith in God  and the abiding presence of God.

–   “The LORD was with Joseph.”

–   “He is filled with the spirit of God.”

•      Joseph was instrumental in saving Egypt and other countries during the famine.

•      God fulfilled his promise to Abraham by blessing Egypt and other countries.

–   “Through you all nations will be blessed.”

Parallels with Jesus

Your Inheritance

•      218 references to inheritance in the NIV.

•      Through Jesus, you inherit the promises of Abraham.

–  The life-giving presence of God.

–  You have an everlasting possession.

–  You rule and reign with Christ.

–  You will bless the nations with God’s grace and power.

You are Abraham’s Seed

Galatians 3: 6 – 9 (NIV)

•       Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

•       Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you.“

•       So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Galatians 3: 26 – 29 (NIV)

•       You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

•       If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

You have the Holy Spirit

Romans 8: 15 – 17 (NIV)

•      For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

•      The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

All Things are Yours

1 Cor. 3:22-23 (NIV)

•      All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

Romans 4:13 (NIV)

•       It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

You are Seated with Christ

Galatians 2:4-7 (NLT)

•      But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 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!)

•      For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

•      So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

You are Gifted for Service

Joseph’s gifts:

•      Dream interpretation

•      Wise administration

Romans 12: 6-8 (NLT)

•      In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.

•      So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.  If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.  If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.  

Your Part

•      Exercise faith to receive the promise

–    Believe and relate to an unseen LORD

–    Love God by listening to what He says.

•      Matthew 6:33 – Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.

–   Implies God rules!

–   Circumcision of the heart – setting aside things which dishonor God.

What then shall we do?

•      Take hold of your inheritance.

–  Establish your love relationship with God.

–  Ask God to give you an understanding of what he has in store for you.

–  Identify your gifts and begin applying them in service to others.

•   Get the book “Now Discover Your Strengths”.

•   Take the online test and develop an action plan.

Believe!