“Lessons from Joseph” - Genesis 50 - Aug 31st, 2025 - Joe Step

All right. How many of you had to wrestle with something from Philemon over the last couple of weeks?

Anybody?

Right?

Yeah, anytime you dive into the Word and you really dig in and God wax on you a little bit,

he probably puts you through something to see if you learned it.

So don't forget what you're learning because the last thing we want is the body of Christ is to come in,

check a box, walk out, and not treat Christianity like we would our job or sport or anything

else that we do, right? If you think about it, if you weren't disciplined in your job,

how long would it be before you got fired?

True? Do we treat our relationship with Jesus the same way?

It's a good question. It's a right question.

because nothing should matter more than our relationship with Jesus.

It should drive everything else.

That we should not compartmentalize our Christianity,

because this is who I am on Sunday,

but everything else is up to me.

Are we really relying on God every step of the way?

Is it really a walk of faith, belief in doing?

So today we're going to dive in.

We're going to take a look at Joseph.

now there's a lot with joseph's story so i don't know if you guys want to read 37 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48

49 and 50 of genesis i would love to do that because then we'd all be on the same page it's a lot of info

but what i'd like to do is start out with three statements that joseph makes in chapter 50

then we're going to go and look into the story of Joseph's life that we get in Genesis,

37 through 50, and we're going to put some meat on the bones.

Because I think we've heard these statements before,

but what we're going to find here is there's a lot of depth and a lot of width

and a lot of stuff that are behind these statements.

And what I hope at the end of the day is that all of us are going to be able to look

into the story of Joseph and look in the mirror,

and then realize that there's a lot of stuff that happened in his life that happens in our life.

How did Joseph deal?

Are we dealing the same way?

Are there things we can learn from Joseph?

I think today is going to be a pretty powerful journey because God's going to dig into some places that we don't like God to go.

Everybody with me?

So this may be a tough one today.

It's kind of like liver and onions.

Okay?

Really good for you, but man, I'm not lining up for that one.

Okay.

So it's always an honor to get it throw down with you guys.

It's always fun to get it again.

I really wish today it was one.

Well, I was going to see if I can make a deal with Scotty because I had to get a flight last time.

So it was only like 35 minutes.

I think that's a record.

Yeah, I'm sure that's a record.

today we got to go down for like an hour and a half just to make up time is everybody cool with that

mark you okay with that you good good what you think fred hour and a half anybody got roast on

no we got to stop wasting time we're good okay so let's pray and we're going to dig right in all right

everybody cool so make your way to genesis 50

jesus 50 father thank you for the opportunity we have to dive into your word

Thank you that we get to share together as your children.

And Father, it might be that there's things that are going on.

You're going to meet us in a unique way.

What we know is that we're not alone.

Your presence is promised.

That by definition, as a believer, as a child of God,

we are never alone.

So thank you.

And if we dive into your word

and your Holy Spirit's never going to miss that word

and he's never going to miss your will.

So Holy Spirit, thank you for leading us into truth

and teaching us.

And let us together unified as the body

understand the truth that sets free.

And even in the midst of the ups and downs,

we're going to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus

and we're going to trust the truth rather than emotions

thank you for this time in Jesus' name

everybody said

amen amen all right so Genesis 50

make your way there

and where I'd like you to go

is about halfway through the chapter

make your way down

to oh

we'll put a little

context to it. How about? Let's go down to 12. 12, verse 12. Thus his sons did for him as he had

charged them. So what's happened here in chapter 50 at this point? Jacob has died. They have

taken him back to Israel to bury him. All right? So that's what's happening. 13. His sons

carried him to the land of Canaan, buried him in the cave of the field of Macpulah before Mamary,

which Abraham bought from Abraham Ephron the Hittite, right?

Verse 14.

After he had been buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt,

he and his brothers, and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.

Now, think about this, because if you go back into the context and you read the story,

Jacob has a Pharaoh's burial.

They took the whole entourage back, and everybody recognized it.

It was a big deal.

And so, and 15, now this really is telling, and this will help us to go back and hang some things on,

when Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, what if Joseph bears a grudge against us

and pays us back in full for the wrong which we did to him?

Hmm. What wrong did they do to him? How many of us know the story of Joseph?

What are some things you remember about Joseph's story? A lot of it, we remember his brothers want to kill him.

We remember Potiphar, probably. We remember that he had dreams, coat of many colors. What else?

Yeah, in the pit. He gets thrown in jail. He interprets Pharaoh's dream. We'll talk about those.

So we remember a lot of the highlights, right?

Where we want to dig into is what's going on.

Why this statement, his brothers all of a sudden now, are afraid of him deeply.

What if he pays us back?

Now watch what happened.

This is interesting.

When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, 15 again, they said,

what if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for the wrong

which we did to him.

So they sent a message to Joseph saying, what?

Your father charged before he died, saying,

Thus you shall say to Joseph, please forgive, I beg you, the transgressions of your brothers

and their sin, for they did you wrong.

And now, please forgive the transgressions of the servants of the God of your father.

And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

did jacob really write this letter

so the brothers

concoct the letter to tell joseph

dad said

be nice to us

forgive us

because we wronged you

this is what dad said you better do what dad says

because he'll always do what dad says right

well

joseph weeps

as a result of that statement

have you ever thought about why he

weeps?

And that, I think, is why it's important for us to dig into this today.

Now let's take a look at what Joseph says.

He weeps.

Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

18.

Then his brothers also came and did what?

Fell down before him and said,

Behold, we are your servants.

But Joseph said, number one, do not be afraid, for am I in God's place?

Number two, as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result.

What was the result?

To save many people alive.

Amazing.

So he tells his brothers, you meant evil?

You know what God was doing?

Good.

whoa we'll talk more about that and three so therefore do not be afraid i will provide for you and your

little ones so he can comforted them and spoke kindly to them all right so why are these three

statements so powerful why would the brothers be so afraid that now the hammer's going to drop he's

really going to pay us back now for the evil that we did so let's go back and look at the journey

let's see how deep the evil is

and let's take a look specifically

at some of the layers

of Joseph's brothers and himself

so go back to 37 with me

go back to 37

we're just going to take a journey through the chapters

here

how old was Joseph when this story

opens up

anybody know

he's 17 years old

by chance does anybody know

in chapter 50 when

Joseph has the dialogue with his

brothers and makes those three statements how old Joseph was at that moment?

Anybody know?

I'll tell you in a little bit.

Okay.

No, I promise.

I'll tell you.

Because we get little indications as we go through.

So what's the heartbeat of chapter 37?

We got a couple of things.

Number one, Joseph is 17, and he tells on his brothers.

And by the way, does anybody know how many wives Jacob had?

Four.

Actually, two of them come up, Zilpah and Bilha, and who were the two others?

Rachel and Leah.

He was going after Rachel, got Leah, then got Rachel.

Remember the whole gig.

Does anybody remember how many sons, Rachel, the one that Jacob loved, how many she had?

Two.

Who were they?

Joseph and

Benjamin

Okay

So is Benjamin on the scene

When Joseph is 17

I don't know either

I've wrestled with it

I thought maybe he does

I don't know

But we'll find out later

We'll clear it up

All right

You all with me?

I think I know

I read this story Steve

We're going to catch up

so what happens he tells on his brothers and then god sends him to his brothers so he runs over and when they see him

what is built up to this point there are two major events that have happened

joseph has how many dreams two dreams and what are the result of those two dreams

the whole family is going to bow down to him are they really excited about this no you find out that

Abraham loves Joseph more than any others.

Cote him in any colors, the whole gig.

But what are the brothers doing?

Hate him and hate him and are jealous,

and it deepens and deepens and deepens.

Do you have any family members that maybe you hate

or maybe that hate you?

If you've been there, I'm just telling you.

But add this layer in,

they're not blood brothers except through dad.

Are families that come together like this?

Can that be a challenge?

this is as real as you get.

You got different mamas

and you've got some rivalries in these families.

Let me tell you something, that's as real in this room as breathing.

And if you have a situation like that,

you've chewed that dirt.

You know how difficult it can be.

That doesn't mean they're all bad

because I've seen some families that have come together

that have rocked it and are amazing.

But don't forget you have different mamas

and you have some sibling rivalry.

On top of that, add the two dreams

in and they hate him for it because we're not

bound down to you.

And by the way,

where does Joseph fit in all the 12

at this point?

He's the youngest, didn't he?

Because I don't know if Benjamin's on site yet or not.

All right?

Well, they're jealous.

So when they see him at a distance,

what do they tell each other?

Let's kill him.

And Rubin,

and I believe, somebody correct me,

Is Rubin the oldest?

Yeah.

So the oldest brother said,

we ain't going to do that now, fellas.

But he leaves.

They throw him in a pit.

So rather than killing him,

what do they do?

They sell him, he goes down to Egypt.

What do they do with the coat of many colors?

They rip it up,

dip it in lamb's blood,

take it back to dad,

and now dad believes what?

Joseph's dead.

Okay.

So there is the evil we're talking about.

Maybe Joseph is now going to drop the hammer on us.

Now that dad is dead, he's going to drop the hammer.

He's going to take us out.

And you go, whoa, that's a big deal, right?

So they're fearing for their very lives.

But Joseph responds and says, really?

He weeps, and we get the three statements.

So let's keep building this.

What happens next?

He's down with Potipher, right?

And he's got the number two place now in Potipher's house.

Potipar has put him over everything. Amazing. Why? Potipar knows. What do we find in there also? The Lord is with him.

He's been sold into slavery. The Lord's with him. Have you ever been innocent in something and gotten in a really bad spot and forget that the Lord is with you?

Anybody besides me? Yeah, we forget, don't we? So be reminded. You can be absolutely right and be in a

really cruddy place, God is with you. Fair? That's a good thing to know. Because the beauty of it is,

it's about the blood of Jesus Christ covering us. It's about death, fair, resurrection. It's about

presence. Yes, not about my emotion in the second. And by the way, Paul tells us,

don't make a final judgment on the journey, on the temporary run, because you don't know what God's

going to work out. The day of the Lord will reveal that.

how many of us are making temporary calls or final calls on temporary issues

do that a lot don't we well i know that old steve

well you need to go talk to no i'm not going to talk to him because i know he's going to say

anybody here ever done that before yeah all of us

we won't talk to our wives we won't talk to our kids because we already know

the result we never give god place

by just being obedient, do we?

Pretty interesting.

Well, what do we get?

So we know the story.

There's a lot of little details in here

that I think are really interesting

because what you find out is that

Potiphar's wife goes to Joseph,

says, hey, let's go,

and he goes, no, not going to happen

because I've got everything here.

I'm number two in the house.

You're the only thing I don't get.

So not going to happen.

I'm not going to go against God.

But what we find in the next set of verses

day after day after day after day she is doing this to him do you think that the the house probably

saw that do you think that was a known thing i wrestle with that a little bit well lo and behold sure

enough they're alone in the house he runs out she lies says oh he tried to take me to all this stuff

and we know that potipers anger burns yes now the question is if potter really thought that joseph was after

his wife, don't you think he would have killed him?

But what's he do instead?

Okay. Now, does anybody remember what Potipers' position is?

He's the chief of the guard.

That means he's in control of what?

The prison.

And where does he put Joseph?

Into prison.

And what ends up with Joseph while he's in prison?

He ends up being number two in prison.

because the chief captain in the prison puts him over all of the prisoners.

The Lord was with him.

You go, wow, okay, that's pretty interesting.

I wrestle with that.

I just put that as a speculation.

If Potiphar really thought he was after his wife, he would have killed him.

But I think you knew he could trust him.

He put him in and he gets number two.

Well, lo and behold, what happens?

There are two guys that show up, cup bearer and a baker.

They both have dreams.

Remember?

And so he interprets both those dreams.

What's he find out?

The cup bear is going to go back to the presence of the king, and the baker, he's done.

Whether, you know, however that happens, that's a bad gig, right?

So it's interesting because he tells the cup bear, hey, you're going to be in the presence of the king.

Well, the baker's back here goes, oh, hey, hey, man, you need to tell me my.

dream because I had a dream and I had bread on my head and all this stuff. Oh yeah, you're going to die.

But one thing I want you to see, turn with me there while he is interpreting those,

because we've got to go over to, are we in chapter 40 interprets the dreams? No, that's Pharaoh,

isn't it? The prisoners? Yep. So I want you to see something here. Move down in 40,

down to verse 14.

So three days in 13, three days Pharaoh is going to lift you up, man, he's going to restore

you.

And look what Joseph says in verse 14.

Only keep me in mind when it goes well with you, please do me a kindness by mentioning

me to Pharaoh and do what?

Get me out of this house.

I don't deserve to be here.

Look what he says next.

For I was in fact kidnapped in the land.

of the Hebrews and even here, I have done nothing that they should put me into this dungeon.

So up to this point in the story, we've heard no emotion from Joseph.

This is the first time that we find him cry out and say, I'm innocent. I don't belong here.

Get me out. Have you ever been innocent in a spot and you're begging God to get you out?

Did he do it right away? Look at the opening of the next chapter.

How long was he forgotten?

How long?

Wow.

Anybody waiting for two years to be remembered?

Let that sink in.

The journey isn't always easy.

The adversity is not always easy.

We forget that because I believe we have a church culture in America that is really convinced us.

We get patted on the back.

It's all about us because we're really.

a cool thing and we deserve it all. But what happens when the adversity comes? What happens when

you get your legs swiped out from under you? What happens when you have struggles? What happens

it could be relationally, financially, financially, it could be in the church, it could be list out

anything. And if we had time and I wish we did, I really do, that we could share the devastation

and the things that you and I have experienced, not out in the world, but in the church. How many of us

still carries scars from somebody in the church, from a pastor, right, from a teacher, from a coach,

from another family, maybe from your own family. And let me ask you, when it ultimately comes down

to it, what happens when we're forgotten? What happens when God is silent? Is the word still true?

Is a deathbound resurrection still true? Is his presence still true? Let me tell you,

something. If we don't dial into that one, something's going to happen down the road, and Jesus

will not at that point be enough. And I do not think that's why Christ died and rose again for us

to jump ship when it gets tough. He was forgotten two years. Now, we could go a long way into that

one. But if we had time to share stories, would that give some perspective? Would you be

stated by somebody's story, but what at the end of the day would we find out, do you think?

There's not a person in this place that doesn't carry a burden, that doesn't have a deep

scar, that hasn't had a broken heart, and all of a sudden, you and I start looking at each other

a little bit different. Yes? And I think it's going to be at that point that we understand

what love is. It's going to be at that point where we're able to bridge over. And I'm going to be at that point

and it not be about me all the time.

The sermon was too long.

The room was too hot.

The music was too whatever.

And all the junk that we've talked about before, right?

And you really start digging in to realize what matters most.

And if we're not loving one another in the body of Christ, what are we doing?

If we're not serving one another, if I'm not willing to give, I saw a meme that I thought was pretty powerful.

what would you do if you had one day left?

If you had one day left, what would you do?

What would be the top priority for you?

How many of you would want to go to your favorite place on earth if you could do it?

How many of you would want to rob a bank because you always wanted to?

I don't know, right?

What would you do if you had that one day left and you knew it if you drew your last day?

And at the end of that little meme, it said,

Jesus knew it was his last day and he washed feet.

That wouldn't have been on my list.

Let's be honest.

How many washing feet been on your list?

Okay.

So here we are with Joseph.

Forgotten for two years.

Are you seeing the theme of twos here?

I don't know what that means, but it blows my mind that he has two dreams.

These guys have two dreams.

He interprets two dreams.

He's second in Potipers' house.

second in the jail. Now what happens? Pharaoh has two dreams. And we don't have to go into all the

details about the dreams, but what is revealed in the two dreams? This guy, the cup bearer,

here's Pharaoh telling the two dreams. Nobody can tell Pharaoh what it means, and the cup bearer goes,

oh, I remember my sin today. Two years later, what's he do? Oh, I know a guy who's down in the jail.

he can tell you your dreams.

So they pull them up.

They shave him up, they wash him up,

they put him in the presence of the king of Pharaoh,

and what's he doing?

He interprets the dreams.

And then Joseph becomes number two in Egypt.

The only thing he doesn't have is the throne itself,

but he gets the ring from Pharaoh.

Can you imagine?

Everybody bows down.

Whatever Joseph says, that's what you do.

Period.

He has everything but my throne.

Can you imagine?

then why is that because the lord was with them but how many of us would have already had

18 justifications about why you didn't deserve it and why you didn't do right and we'd have 15

things to point fingers at god and all of a sudden because you chose out you didn't get to see

the next blessing you didn't get to see the next provision so i wonder what happens if we

take our hands off say okay i'm just going to stay in i'm only going to see you're

Let's stay in.

Why?

Because the greatest thing you and I will ever do is keep our eyes fixed.

Yes?

Because we're doing one or two things.

I'm either walking in the flesh or I am walking in the spirit.

Is there ever a middle ground?

Can I really do both?

There was a time over at Water Spring.

I was doing a chapel and tell me kids, if you were here, you might remember it.

I put up two ladders, and I put my feet on the first rung, feet on the second rung,

I could barely reach the third rung, what do you think happened on the fourth and fifth?

What do you have to do at that point?

You have to make a choice, don't you?

Because you're not going to get to the top of either one of those by playing the middle.

You can't.

And so where are you in your life?

Have you been forgotten?

Have you been busted up?

Have you decided riding the middle and trusting your emotions and pointing the finger to everybody

is a better place to go?

I would love to sit down with you and have an honest talk to find out how it's going.

Because I've been there too, even lately with job changes and finance,

and I've got to have control.

As a dude, we get concerned about that, don't we?

And what's the last place we tend to go?

God, I know you'll provide.

I'm glad I'm not the only control freak in the room

So now he's number two

How old is he when he is made number two in Egypt

How old is he?

30 years old.

So how long now has he been away from home?

How old was he when we open up in 37?

17.

How old is he now?

30.

How long has he been gone?

Think about that.

13 years a good chunk of time, isn't it?

Do you think he's had to wrestle with a lot of stuff during that time?

You think that what his brothers did been on his mind?

Yeah, we know what it's like to carry those burdens.

Well, lo and behold, seven years go by, and now two more years.

So the first seven were what?

What's happening?

He interprets the dreams, what practically happens in Egypt.

We have seven years of plenty.

and Joseph's had been put in charge of storing everything up seven years and it is phenomenal plenty

now we're two years into the famine and jacob says fellas there's food in egypt go down and get food

so now we're nine years further so now joseph has how old 39 years and who shows up in his presence

the brothers and he gives it to him you guys are spies what are you doing they're not spies we just want food

our brother will tell me about your family your father's still a lot yeah yeah yeah he's up there we got

family we got 12 brothers one's no more and and we got a little guy up there now and that's the first time

we hear about benjamin that's why i wrestle i don't know if he was there or not just saying

i don't think we're gonna salvation is going to rise and fall and whether he is i'm just saying

it's it i wrestle because i don't know if he was there when joseph left

but logically he wouldn't ask about him if he wasn't

so he had to be there. Is that fair? That's Pastor Scotty. He'll know. I think, so

anyway, he really interrogates these guys. But what I want you to dig in and see here,

what chapter are we in, by the way? Are we close? Famine, there we go. All right. Now,

in chapter 42, go down to verse 21 with me, okay? Because we're having to pick out a few things here,

because we can't go through all these chapters in depth.

I'd love to do that.

It'd be great.

Now, watch this.

So it says 17.

Let's go down to 17.

Get a little context here.

So he put them all together in prison for three days.

Now Joseph said to them, on the third day,

do this and live for I fear God.

And if you're honest men,

let one of your brothers be confined in your prison.

But as for the rest of you,

go carry grain for the famine of your house.

and bring your youngest brother to me so your words may be verified and you will not die

and so they did all right so do they i think when he asks a question they tell him about the brother

he finds out about the brother ah i don't think benjamin was there when he left

because when he asked about the family they tell him about the little brother i think that's

first time you go hey you're going to bring that guy back to me remember okay you're

You guys will never want me back.

I don't know.

Anyway, now what?

Now here's the hard deal of why we're getting here.

The brothers, how long are we in the run now?

He was 30 when he took over, seven years now of plenty.

Now they're two years into the famine.

How many years now?

He's 39.

At 9 to 13, we're what?

22 years now into this run when he finally gets to see face to face.

What do the brothers do?

They bow down.

interesting. Do you realize there are four bow downs as you read through this story?

We're not bound down to you, you little rot. We're going to kill you instead. No, we'll just sell you down, right? They're not going to do this. And by the time we get to the end of the story, four times they bow down. If God says something going to happen, I wonder, yeah, I think we're in good hands. Yes? And one thing that's really good about that, has God told us and Jesus told us that he's coming back? Then why do we live as if he's not?

interesting in it

oh man

god yeah he is coming back

how sure are we that

85 and a half what

would be 100%

yeah I think I think we're in good hands

I think he's coming back

so let's go rock it

do we can't yes

right

so 39 now

22 years

Now watch this.

20.

Sorry, 21.

Are you there?

42.21?

They said to one another, truly, we are guilty concerning our brother because we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen.

Therefore, this distress has come upon us.

Do you all remember what they did?

when they threw him in the pit?

They sat down and ate.

And while they're sitting there chow and down,

he's in the middle of that pit crying out from his soul.

What was Joseph's position?

Have you ever been there?

We're not talking about, come on, guys.

Joseph was in distress.

This was deep.

He was crying out from the depth of his soul.

And his brothers remembered.

Wow

And so we fast forward

We know some of the story here

We know that Simeon gets held behind

They go back

And what do they tell Jacob

Hey by the way

The guy down who gave us food

Remember that?

He gave us all our money back

We had a lot of layers into that

We got to move forward

But what do they say?

Hey you know what? The guy down Egypt's got Simeon

So we got to go back

And what he wants, he wants Benjamin

We got to take Benjamin

Benjamin back. How did Jacob respond? Anybody remember? Ain't no way. Now there's a certain way my mom used to say that. I can't say it here. I don't have a PG version. Not happening. So they wait. They wait. They wait. They wait. They wait. Until when they run out of food. And then Jacob, oh, we got to go get food. And then the brother said, well, really? We can't go back down if we don't take Benjamin. And finally, Jacob relents. Okay, take them. I'm going to be devastated. If you don't bring them back, I'm going to die. And we've got to.

all this layer of emotion that not only the brothers are carrying because of what they did to

Joseph, you've got Joseph carrying all this now because now he's seen his brothers and you've got

Jacob now on a whole other level because Joseph's already been taken away from the wife that

he loved first, Joseph who he loved more than any, now the little brother's got to go back.

He's already lost Joseph. He thinks he's lost Simeon. Now he's afraid he's going to lose Benjamin.

is that some legit emotion

yeah

but what do they do go ahead and go we got to get food we got to go do it

so what happens

he goes down

all the brothers go

and he's going to send them back

right he gets to see benjamin they have the whole gig

he's going to send them back but then he does another trick on him

doesn't he do you remember what he did

he took his own personal cup and put it where

in Benjamin's sack

and then he says all right these guys are going to go so far off servant you go in and you ask him

why would you steal from from Joseph right so the guy chases him down said why are you guys stealing

stealing what are you talking about we didn't stole anything really okay well let's let's put it to

the test everybody put your bags down let's take a look at them and lo and behold bag by bag by bag by bag by bag and

Loan, who's got the cup?

Benjamin.

Anybody ever thought about why Joseph did that?

I've wrestled with that.

Is he testing his brothers here?

Even though Ruben was willing to stand up,

he didn't stand up all the way, did he?

No, we're not going to kill him, but then he's gone,

he's sold out, he comes back and he's devastated. He even goes into sackcloth and ashes.

Joseph's gone. So the question is, I wonder if Joseph is pushing his brothers to find out if

somebody's going to stand up for Benjamin.

You ever thought about that?

And boy, do they ever stand up? Do you remember?

Who is it that ultimately stands up for Benjamin?

Anybody remember?

Judah.

Who was the one

said, sell him?

Judah.

Now there's a change of heart.

Now I'm going to protect this little guy

because not only

am I going to watch out for him,

but there's a whole other layer to it

because they've clued into dad's

emotions.

And now Judah

makes the deal.

Judah.

And who comes out a line of Judah?

Jesus.

And who stood in our place?

So it's cool to get to see the gospel in this one too.

Now obviously Joseph is a type of Jesus

and we can talk about that layer as well.

So lo and behold, what happens?

He reveals himself.

Go to chapter 45 with me real quick.

So he can't stand anymore.

He weeps so loud.

the house hears it. Pharaoh's house hears about it. Joseph is in an emotional wall deep.

He just crying out all these years of hurt, all these years of pain. And now in 45, if you'll move down,

say to verse three, then Joseph said to his brothers, I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?

But the brothers could not answer, for they would dismayed in his presence. You think?

I reckon. Then Joseph said to his brothers, I love this, because now we're 22 years later. Yes? Can we agree on the math? He's 30 in Egypt. We're seven. Now we're two. So here he is. At 39 years old, he's been gone 22 years. Now look what he says. 22 years. Joseph said to his brothers, please come closer to me. They came closer. I'm your brother Joseph, whom you sold in Egypt. Now do not be grieved or angry with your.

yourselves because you sold me here for what? God sent me here before you guys to preserve life.

For the famine has been in the land these two years. There are still five to go in which there

will be neither plowing or harvesting. God sent me before you to preserve you a remnant in the earth

and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.

So 22 years in the run, we now find that Joseph has a position to see it through God's eyes.

Everybody tracking with me on that?

I believe there were layers to this earlier.

Does anybody remember how many children Joseph has with the priest's daughter?

Two.

Again, we have a two.

Manassan Ephraim.

Anybody remember what Manassan Ephraim's name?

means mean.

Manassah means God has caused me to forget the pain of my homeland.

Ephraim means God has given me provision in a strange land.

Think about that.

So I wonder if Joseph was working through the emotions when he names his boys.

Isn't that amazing?

God has helped me forget and he is

provided. And those are the names of his boys.

Phenomenal. So by the time is in his early 30s, this is working out. Now we're 39, and he

tells his brothers, we're good. I know God has been in every layer of this to bring me here.

And it wasn't just about me, it was about you. Think about that. Wow. And so, long story short,

as we work up to 50.

Now make your way to 50

and we'll land this plane.

Everybody tracking with some of the emotions here?

Because if you don't really see

into the depth of these things that Joseph is dealing

with, what his brothers are dealing with,

those three statements in 50 don't make a lot of sense.

Them making up a story

doesn't make sense.

Him weeping doesn't make sense.

And all of a sudden, they go back,

they grab Jacob,

does anybody know

From the time they grabbed Jacob and Jacob came into the land,

how many years was it from Jacob coming to Egypt to the time Jacob died?

Anybody remember?

17 years.

So I want you to think about something.

For 17 years, what kind of land did they get?

What kind of land was Goshen, according to Pharaoh himself?

It was what?

The best land in Egypt.

The best.

So Joseph not only has given them the best land,

he has provided for them and the children for how many years now?

17 years.

Plus, because you've got to go all the way back to the second year when all this stuff started

because he put their money back in their sack,

gave them all the grain they needed, right, went above and beyond,

already showing provision before he ever revealed himself.

So now we're upwards of 20 plus years,

22 now by the time Jacob dies, 22 years, Joseph has been loving, proving forgiveness,

speaking kindly, making sure they're clothed, making sure they have a home, making sure

they're safe, has Joseph proven forgiveness?

Could you do that to somebody who's done evil towards you?

Do we do that towards you?

people who do evil against us?

Amazing, isn't it?

So when you really play this out, how old is Joseph when we have the dialogue in chapter 50?

56 years old?

How many years has it been?

40 years.

39, 40, Texas math, I'm counting fingers.

Y'all with me?

Almost four decades.

Now let's go back really quick over these three statements.

What's the first statement he makes?

The brothers say, be nice to us.

Dad said, take care of us.

So why does Joseph weep?

Why does he weep?

Think about it.

20 years, fellas, I've gone above and beyond.

Really?

Really? They had not received it. Now that Dad's dead, they're waiting for the hammer to fall.

Joseph weeps because they had not really trusted him ever in this whole time.

How long are you willing to stay in the game for somebody that doesn't trust you?

How long are you willing to stay in the game to provide and speak kindly and do the right thing?

Right? How many of us are really going to honor God in the time that it's the toughest?

So he weeps. Now what's the first statement that he makes?

Am I in the place of God?

guess what that runs right back to the garden doesn't it

do you remember what the very first question satan asked eve

did god really say so what's really on the table here

is there magic juice in the in the fruit

right no it's not about that it's about the word of god did god really say

so ultimately what's on the table oh come on

god knows you're you're gonna be like him knowing good and evil

and do you know that by definition when you and I step out of the will of God and go do our own thing for our own reason

we've taken his place you by definition have taken his role and what's Joseph saying

not doing it I'm not going to take God's place here God's doing something far deeper and wider

and then what's he say you meant evil he doesn't minimize that it was evil but then he says what

God meant it for good.

And how do I know that?

Because all 70 of you came down

and I've been loving on you guys

and providing for you guys for over 20 years.

Think about that.

Here's a question.

I was reading through a study one time.

This question came up and I used it.

It's an amazing question.

Can you and I actually see God's hand at work

in man's malice?

do we trust that God is at work even in man's evil?

Y'all with me?

That's a question.

And when that one hit me so deep, I go, whoa, okay.

Was God working good even though Jesus got put on the cross?

Was that evil?

Was that horrible?

Is that devastating?

Was God at work?

Did Jesus know that?

Yeah, absolutely.

Not my will, your will, Father, right?

So you want to talk about what it really means to be a Christian?

It's to not take God's place, but to trust him in every step.

Yes?

Number two, are we really committed to the truth that God is at work, even if man does evil?

Does man's evil thwart God's good?

Does God all of a sudden show up and say, oh my goodness, so-and-so did really bad?

What am I going to do?

Does God take it off?

No, he's sovereign.

And in an amazing thing, that even in man's evil, even in man's malice,

God is still at work, his sovereign will is not thwarted.

There's no plan B.

Amen?

Do we believe that, though?

Do we honestly believe that?

What's that going to look like if you and I actually play that out?

My neighbor, my wife, my husband, my kid, my family, my mom, my dad,

my brother, my sister, how many of us have some deep cuts there?

Are we going to take God's place?

Or are we going to forgive? Are we going to serve and speak kindly?

Because that's the last statement, right?

I'm going to provide for you and your children. I'm going to speak kindly.

I'm going to continue. In other words, what's he say? That third statement is all about

I'm going to continue to do what I've been doing for 22 years.

I'm not going to change what I've been doing.

Now let that sink in for me.

that my alarm is going off here.

I'm done.

Does this make sense, though?

There's a lot of ways we could go with it.

There's so many beautiful gold nuggets through this story

that we didn't even get close to touching.

But hopefully with those three statements,

where is it in your life right now?

You're taking God's place.

Stop it.

Take your hands off.

Trust God.

Work that out.

That's going to take some prayer.

that's going to take some talking out that's going to take some dialogue that's going to take some time

so we're not just going to click our finger and have it all figured out amen but are we committed to the

process are we committed to do what god said do and are we willing to say that even so person X did

against me and it was evil yes it was can i see god's hand at work in that will i commit to find

god's hand at work in that are you with me that's a phenomenal thing and

And meanwhile, are we going to continue to speak kindly and provide and serve and give and go

because it's for God's glory, not whether that other person gives me a thumbs up?

Because after 22 years, Joseph weeps because it's revealed to him, his brothers never trusted him.

That's a shot.

will we continue to do good even in the midst of evil

and i believe that's what's going to make the largest impact in our culture

when you and i are not taken off because of offenses because of evil

we will simply do what god said do you all with me and if we'll do that as a body of

christ if we will be committed to that and building one another up knowing the journey

And when somebody comes to me and says, man, Joe, I got X, Y, Z.

Okay, yeah, I get it.

Talk with the gentleman just last night.

Six weeks ago, loses his wife.

She dies in his arms.

Six weeks, he's been crushed, does not know.

Six weeks later, what happens?

I've got to move home.

I've got to move home.

Okay, brother, what are you going to do?

Move home.

Well, but I don't know what waits me there.

doesn't matter take the next step it might just be a post-it note just do what god said do just follow it

because when you show up and you obey the first thing what do you think god will do next

you'll get the next post note right okay i gotta take that step now we're going to go down this way right

how many of you've been there how many of you know how hard that is the waiting is tough man

being forgotten for two years feeling like god's silent that's tough but what's necessary at that

moment to trust his word and know he hadn't missed it it doesn't matter how dark it is god's still

present i will lean on him and focus on him only everybody with me so hopefully there's something

there that you can grab onto put in your pocket walk out that door and apply and i'm not saying it's

easy but what i am saying is a body of christ it's necessary

not easy but necessary love you guys it's always good to get a hang out and i appreciate your patience

i know we've been here a while i told you we were going to make up some time didn't i

but i didn't lie about finishing we're done let's pray father thank you thank you that through somebody

like Joseph, we can actually look in

and there's something there.

There's a lot of death. There's a lot of challenge.

There's a lot of things.

And what do we find?

That Joseph,

through the process of decades,

something landed.

Something changed.

We saw Judah change over those decades as well,

willing to stand up for somebody

when he wouldn't before.

Hate does some crazy stuff to us.

but yet in the run even Judah came about

to put his life on the line for someone else

and what do we find Joseph

in all the ups and downs

he wouldn't take your place

he trusted your hand even in evil

and he continued to serve

Father may we simply walk that out the same

to learn to do so

that true faith is in obedience

and action, help us every breath, because your presence is reality, that we can walk that out

and honor you. And we're never going to see unity like that until all of us make those commitments

to get over ourselves, to get over the circumstantial, to get over the stuff, and keep our eyes on

you. Thank you. In Jesus' name, everyone said, amen, amen. Thank you guys. Appreciate it.