The Life Of Joseph Part 1

Well, any of you who have taken a trip, you know, maybe across the country, or you visited

! some special landmarks. You know, when we were in California, a drive up the Pacific

! Coast Highway, or a trip to Yosemite, or going to the Sequoia National Park. On the trip, there are

these little scenic detours, these little pull-outs by the side of the road, and you stand

there as a family, maybe take a picture, but it's designed because they want you to just

appreciate, to stop, and consider, and enjoy, not just the journey itself, but enjoy the

scenic things along the journey. And so, that's kind of what I want to do today.

I want us to, we're obviously taking this journey in Genesis, chapter 42 today, but along this

Genesis 42 · chapter mention

journey this morning, in this story of the life of Joseph, I want us to pull off by the

side of the road, and I want us just to pause and consider the view. It's not on, it's not

on, they're recording, but just ignore the mic. You can all hear me, right? Okay, if we

need to turn it on, we can do that. Now, where was I?

I think it's easy to lose sight of the fact that in a story of Joseph, in a story of Jacob and his

ten brothers, in this narrative of heading to Egypt, in this rise to power, I think it's really

easy for us to miss the fact this is not just a story about Joseph. This is the story of God.

This is the story of God working and moving through his people.

Really, the Old Testament and the New Testament both is a story of God. That's why it's written.

It's written to inform us about the wonder of the God that we serve. Not just about individuals,

but his working through individuals to shine the spotlight on himself. And so, in our scenic tour

this morning, I want us to pull over and just to take in the view. Take in a view of our God today.

And I think there are five, five scenic stops that we're going to make in this journey this morning,

if we make it through. And I trust and pray that this will be encouraging to you.

As we remind ourselves of who our God is and what God desires, what his character is aiming for,

for you. As he is transforming you into his image, as we've seen that is the ultimate purpose of God

in your life, and in my life, and in Joseph's life, the ultimate purpose for God, for you,

is not some future version of you. It's not what you're going to become one day when somehow all of

the things of your life kind of culminate into this one ultimate plan. But God's ultimate purpose for you

is the purpose he's working out for you today. And that purpose is the purpose he's going to

continue to work on until he comes to take you to heaven. And that's the purpose of transforming you

into the image of Christ. So, if that's the purpose, then we need to take in the view today of seeing

what is God like? What are some of those things about God that make him stand out so that when you

portray the wonderful picture of Christ and people look at Christ by looking at you, he's shining through

your life, what sort of things should they see? What portrait should we convey? The masterpiece that God is

working in your life is a masterpiece to make you look like God. And so, if that's the case, then

what does God look like? Or how should God look like in your world? In the world in which he's placed you?

How should God look? And how can you make the gospel look like the gospel? It's the word euangelion.

It's good news. How can the message of Christ be good news through you? And it will only be good news

as it contrasts itself from the darkness and the despair and the chaos and the destruction of this life.

All the things that happen in this life are contrasted as people look at you and they see the good news

shining through, which is the image of Christ shining through your life. So, how does that show up?

Well, look with me at chapter 42, verse 1. This is the first scenic stop. And the first scenic stop is

God is interested in his renown. He's interested in his image. He's interested in making much of

himself. So, how do I get there? Here's what it says in verse 1. It says,

Alright. Let's take a time out right there.

There is news in Canaan about something. What's happening? What news is Jacob hearing?

There's food in Egypt. Not a trick question. Why was that important?

There's food in Canaan. Matter of fact, there is no food in any of the known world except for Egypt.

Jacob knows that there is worldwide famine, but there's also an answer.

Think about this with me for a moment. Think about the incalculable suffering that is taking place in this moment.

Think about the reach that this has had in the world and the collateral damage that has been playing out.

Think about that for a moment. Think about the millions of individuals who are suffering because of needing some food.

Think of how indiscriminate this suffering was.

So that whether you were an old person or a young person, a man or a woman, a boy or a girl,

a baby, a toddler, it doesn't matter.

Hunger was indiscriminate.

And the suffering that was taking place in this moment was profound.

And yet God had to allow that.

God had to allow that for a greater purpose to be played out.

What was at least one of those purposes for God to allow suffering?

What resulted, what happened because of suffering?

Here in verse 1.

Okay?

It's great. Okay?

The immediate purpose here is that Jacob heard, and it sets in motion what will follow here in the remaining chapters,

that God will now bring Israel and 70 of his family to Egypt.

Why was that important?

Egypt?

Ever thought about why Egypt?

Dialogue with me.

Why do you suppose Egypt was important?

And I'm not looking for a deep theological answer here.

Just real practically.

Why would a group of, a small group of 70 people,

why would being kind of absorbed into this massive, powerful, prominent, and fruitful empire,

why would that be important?

Okay?

So they were protected in Goshen,

but they were a little nation growing within a greater empire, weren't they?

Okay.

Okay.

So there was at least the potential of worldwide proclamation.

Okay?

Worldwide testimony.

What else?

Just practically.

Why would that be important?

Okay.

Perhaps some refinement.

Learning.

Some cultural values.

Maybe growing in educationally, perhaps.

Okay?

That would be something to that.

What about in terms of provision?

What about in terms of protection?

Do you realize that for 400 years,

we don't really hear about the history of this nation?

Because, I think, because there was no conflict.

There was no warring.

There was no need for provision or protection,

because that was all handled by the greater empire.

So Egypt actually becomes this incredible incubator for this fledgling nation,

so that by the time they rise in power,

now all of a sudden Pharaoh is saying,

holy cow, there are more Jews here than there are Egyptians.

Do you think that was by design?

That God providentially uses this secular, heathen nation to nurture and grow

and allow his people to flourish like never before.

That was amazing.

So God does that.

So he allows suffering for the sake of his people.

For the sake of transplanting his people for a time

in a place where they will like, boom, explosion time.

But I think it's more than that.

And that's why I say God is interested in his renown.

I think that perhaps the other reason,

and I'm kind of filling in the white space is because it's not clear.

So I want you to understand this is my feeling.

But I think that God is interested in worldwide evangelization.

Because think about this.

God tells Abraham, he says,

I will make you a great nation.

I will bless you and make your name great so that you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you,

and him who dishonors you I will curse.

And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

Now why is that important?

Because as the nations see God's people flourish,

they will automatically ask themselves the question,

who is their God?

It's just the way things happened in that day.

When good things happened to certain individuals,

it was an evidence of the fact that they were following a God

who had incredible power to bless and to favor

the people that were serving him.

And so it would be through Abraham

that the nations would enjoy a measure of prosperity,

a measure of blessing.

And so God is on display through the life of Joseph,

showing up,

and the world gets to take advantage of Joseph's God.

Worldwide evangelization.

Think with me about this for a moment.

What does Potiphar say in Genesis 39.3?

He says,

And his master saw that the Lord was with him, Joseph,

and that the Lord made all he did prosper in his hand.

God showed up in Joseph's life.

And Potiphar recognized it.

It wasn't just anybody.

It was the Lord, Yahweh.

It's very distinct in the text.

How about Potiphar's wife?

She says,

Lie with me.

And Joseph is very clear.

He says,

How can I do this great wickedness and sin against my God?

What about the keeper of the prison?

Genesis 39.23.

It says,

The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph's authority

because the Lord was with him.

And whatever he did,

the Lord made it prosper.

What about the cupbearer and the baker?

They come to Joseph,

or Joseph comes to them,

and they say,

We're troubled.

We've had some dreams.

And Joseph says,

Actually,

They say to him,

We have each had a dream,

and there is no interpreter.

And Joseph says to them,

Do not interpretations belong to God?

How about Pharaoh?

Pharaoh calls him in.

He says,

I have heard.

I've had a dream,

and there is no one who can interpret it.

But I've heard that it is said of you

that you can understand a dream to interpret it.

And Joseph says to Pharaoh,

It is not me.

God will give Pharaoh an answer.

How about Pharaoh's staff?

In Genesis 41, 38, and 39.

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.

So what conclusion?

Do I think we can legitimately draw from Joseph's example?

That wherever Joseph thrives,

whatever situation Joseph finds himself,

God is always pushed to the forefront of his life.

So here is Joseph.

He is on the world stage.

And who do you suppose is getting the glory for that?

I promise you it's not Joseph.

Joseph has faithfully pushed God to the forefront.

He has faithfully allowed God to show up in the spotlight

because he knew that's where God deserved to be.

I think that God is graciously allowing very hard things to happen

so the world will know this is who I am.

They will come to Egypt.

And the conversation might go something like this.

Egypt has food?

Has there not been a famine in Egypt?

Oh no.

There's been a famine there.

But let me tell you, they've got somebody in charge.

How did he know that there was going to be a need?

He started storing up food for the last seven years?

How did he even know?

Well, Pharaoh had this dream.

And this guy Joseph shows up and he says,

God will show the dream.

And that same God is the one who's worked all these things out.

And Joseph has wisely stored up food.

And so we've got to go to Egypt.

That's where the food is.

God shows up.

Because Joseph faithfully pushes God to the forefront.

And so the nations are blessed by God through the conduit of Joseph.

I think that's really amazing.

Jacob hears there's grain in Egypt.

He says to his sons, get going.

Get a move on.

What you waiting around for?

Come on, start heading to Egypt.

And here we find them in verse 2.

Or excuse me, verse 3.

It says here,

And behold,

Excuse me.

Wrong chapter.

So, ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt.

Time out.

Ten?

You think that's a problem?

Let's keep reading.

But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brothers.

For he feared that harm might happen to him.

Thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came.

For the famine was in the land of Canaan.

It's a big problem.

Last we left Jacob in chapter 37,

He had been confronted with some news.

The news of his son's death.

Now these rascals,

The ten older brothers,

I call them rascals because not only

Did they not take responsibility for what they did to their brother,

But instead,

Their story is,

He was mauled by a fierce animal.

And here's his robe.

And so,

What is Jacob supposed to conclude by that?

He's the one to own the responsibility.

Since he's the one who sent Joseph out on his own.

So,

For the next 13 years,

Jacob is grieving for his son,

Not only the loss of his son,

But the guilt that he felt for having done that to his son.

It says that,

In chapter 37, 34, and 35,

Jacob tore his clothes,

Put sackcloth on his waist,

And mourned for his son many days.

And all his sons and 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.

There will never be a happy day in my life again.

My son is dead.

And so,

In withholding Benjamin,

And keeping him back for himself,

God is now beginning another,

There's kind of this tandem situation taking place,

Where now the ten older brothers are making their way to Egypt,

And what do you suppose is really at the forefront of their attention.

Benjamin's not with us.

I can't believe we did that to Joseph.

God's already beginning this process.

He's beginning the process of helping them to connect in their own minds,

The time of past events.

So, Jacob sends them down,

And they show up.

So, let's pull over in this first stop.

This scenic stop.

Let's talk a little bit about the gospel.

Okay?

We see the gospel, I think, show up.

This message about God show up in the life of Joseph.

But what about, what about in your life?

What is the gospel?

You ever thought about that?

What is the gospel?

I think we would all say,

Well, the gospel involves a need for repentance from sin.

There's got to be a sense in which I understand

Where I stand in relationship to God as a sinner,

Separated from him.

There's a need for repentance in my life.

That Jesus is the only perfect one who can save.

And he paid the penalty for sin for me.

And by receiving him in faith,

And trusting in him,

And confessing that he is Lord,

And believing in my heart that God raised him from the dead,

I'll be saved.

That's the gospel, right?

And I say, yes.

That's a part of the gospel.

But I think that's just a sliver.

I think that's just a piece.

Certainly, the good news about God is that he saves.

But it's more than that.

I think the gospel,

As we find in Luke chapter 24,

Luke 24 · chapter mention

When Jesus shows up with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus,

Walking back that stretch of seven miles.

It says he,

In beginning with Moses and all the prophets,

Told the story about himself.

Really, the gospel is the good news of God.

It's the story of God in your life.

In Acts chapter 2,

Acts 2 · chapter mention

This is the,

No need to turn there.

Let's just think together.

In Acts chapter 2,

Acts 2 · chapter mention

On the day of Pentecost,

The Holy Spirit shows up,

And all of a sudden,

These 120 believers move out into Jerusalem.

And you know what it says that they did?

It says,

In verse 11,

We hear them telling in our own tongues,

The mighty works of God.

That is the gospel.

The mighty works of God.

How God has changed your life.

The blessing and the wonder of your God,

Showing up in every aspect of your life.

Every part.

Invading every compartment.

Every sphere.

Dominating it.

Transforming it.

Changing it.

Renewing it.

Helping it.

Saving it.

Not just for some future eternal thing,

But for today.

That's the gospel.

Chapter 2,

47.

Talking about this early church that develops.

It says,

They were praising God,

And having favor with all the people.

And the Lord added to their number,

Day by day,

Those who were being saved.

Why?

Because of praise.

Praising God.

God.

They were a transformed people.

And they let the whole world know,

What the difference maker was for them.

It was God.

It was God changing them.

Every aspect of their life.

And because of their incredible testimony,

Of praising God.

Giving voice to his story.

Helping people understand the mighty works of God.

God gets the glory.

His renown is known.

And God is saving people day by day.

It's extraordinary.

In chapter 7,

This is Stephen.

Acts chapter 7.

Acts 7 · chapter mention

Stephen is standing before this group of individuals.

And we find this really full treatment of the gospel.

Before he's martyred.

And his version of the gospel begins with the history of Israel.

All the way from Abraham until the present day.

It culminates in the person of Jesus.

Because he is certainly front and center in the gospel message.

But it is a story of God working in his people throughout history.

Changing them.

It's the work of God.

So,

I believe the gospel becomes tangible.

As it demonstrates its redemptive quality in every aspect of your life.

Has Jesus saved you?

Just for some future date?

Or has he rescued your family?

Has he rescued your husbanding?

And your wifing?

And your childing?

Has he rescued your academic pursuits?

Your studenting?

Has he rescued your working?

Has he rescued your submitting to the authorities that he's placed over you?

Has he rescued your leading?

Has he rescued your relationships?

Has he rescued your posture towards your health?

Has he rescued your giving?

Has he rescued your compassion for the hurting?

Has Jesus rescued every area of your life?

So there is so much distinction between you and them.

They say,

Wow!

God has shown up in that person.

It's distinctive.

That's what God was doing for Joseph.

God was showing up in his life.

And it was noticeable.

It was obvious.

And the nations were able to see God on display

because of Joseph's devotion

to push God to the forefront.

Okay.

That's scenic stop number one.

Scenic stop number two begins in verse six.

It says this,

Now Joseph was governor over the land.

He was the one who sold to all the people of the land.

And Joseph's brothers came

and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.

Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them,

but he treated them like strangers

and spoke roughly to them.

Okay.

Let's pause there for a moment.

Let's remember some things about Joseph's life.

What are some things we remember about his character?

What do you remember?

What's that?

He's a servant.

That's important.

He told the truth.

Okay.

He had integrity.

What else do you remember about his character?

He was forgiving.

He doesn't have this well of bitterness in his life.

And we'll see that some more as the story plays out.

It's great.

He certainly wasn't bitter towards Potiphar.

He wasn't bitter towards the cupbearer.

Okay.

He didn't like exterminate them

once he had the opportunity to.

He doesn't have this life of bitterness.

He's learned to forgive.

What else?

He's humble.

He was a hard worker.

He was a person who demonstrated wisdom.

He had compassion for people.

So let's not imagine

that as that character continues to be refined,

that now all of a sudden Joseph snaps

and everything is broken now in his life.

I want us to look through this part of the story

with the eyes of what we've seen in his life

leading up to this point.

A person of character.

Not a person who is letting jealousy take hold

or frustration or bitterness get hold of his life.

There's something more going on here.

And I think we have to use the story

that we've learned to this point

to kind of understand

something's happening in Joseph's life.

He seems to be acting a certain way.

It can be interpreted through multiple layers.

But given the fact that I know who he is,

I've got to see this through the same lens.

That make sense?

You think that's fair?

I could be wrong.

But I think something big is at play here.

And here these brothers come in.

Okay?

They come in.

They bow before him.

And then all of a sudden there's this,

woo-hoo!

In Joseph's mind, he remembers.

You ever prayed for something like forever?

And then God answers.

Has that ever been your experience?

What happens in that experience?

I can tell you for me,

there's worship.

There's celebration.

There's like,

wow, God, you nailed it.

Thank you.

And I think that's what's going on

in Joseph's life right now.

I think he recognizes his brothers.

They don't recognize him.

He sees them bowing down.

He remembers that dream.

And he's saying,

God, you are so faithful.

And in that moment

of recognizing the faithfulness of God,

now you're not going to then also turn

and then begin to sin.

That's just not going to happen in that moment.

Let me give you a personal example.

I'll try to make this brief.

My kids,

when we were living in Illinois,

kept saying,

Dad,

can you build us a tree house?

And I was like,

I don't really have money to buy wood.

I don't really have the materials for that.

But,

tell you what,

you do this for me.

You pray

that God gives us lumber

and I'll build you a tree house.

So every time we pass a lumber yard,

hey,

should we pull over and ask them

if they've got some lumber

they can kind of give to us?

No,

it's not going to work that way.

You pray,

God will provide.

So I kid you not,

for two years

they prayed every single night.

God,

please give us some lumber.

We want a tree house.

So we're in this,

we're in a ministry up there

and kind of in transition time

and they had just bought a facility

and they were renovating

and tore the guts out of this building.

And drywall's coming down,

electrical's coming down,

all of the studs are coming down

and we're hauling it out to the dumpster

and I tell somebody,

hey,

I got to take some lumber out to the lumber.

Ha ha!

Look at it all!

Look at all this lumber!

And so we built a tree house.

We built a double-decker tree house.

That was awesome.

And my kids,

they were at Gramp Camp,

so I'm piling it all up in the garage

so that when they come home

and that garage is open,

surprise!

And we had a blast.

We had a blast

putting up that tree house

and celebrating

the goodness of God.

There was righteous reckoning.

There is righteous reckoning with God.

God answers prayer

and all of this hardship

that Joseph experienced

now begins to come clear.

He sees his brothers standing before him

and he remembers the faithfulness of God

in fulfilling the promises

that he had for him

even though 13 years have gone by.

Actually,

I take that back,

not just 13 years

because it's 13 plus 7.

So 20 to 21 years

have gone by

before he finally understands

and sees God working.

But there's a problem.

There's a big problem

because Joseph knows

how they treated him

as a favored son

and somebody

is not in the group.

Benjamin

is not in the group.

Oh,

what happened to Benjamin?

What is up with my father?

Is he even alive?

And I'm sure

these things are going through

Joseph's mind

and so he asks some questions.

He takes a posture

that on the surface

seems very hard

and very difficult

but I believe

he's mining for information here.

In verse 6 he says,

Joseph was the governor

of the land.

He was the one

who sold all the people.

His brothers came

and bowed before him

and then verse 7,

Joseph saw his brothers

and recognized them

but treated them

like strangers

and spoke roughly to them.

We find what he says.

He says in verse 9,

You are spies.

You have come

to see the nakedness

of the land.

They say to him,

No, my lord,

your servants

have come to buy food.

We're all sons

of one man.

We are honest men.

Your servants

have never been spies.

Okay, there's a glimmer

of some information.

So Joseph presses in

some more.

He says to them,

No, it's the nakedness

of the land

that you have come to see.

And they said,

We are servants,

twelve brothers,

the son of one man

in the land of Canaan

and behold,

the youngest is this day

with our father

and one is no more.

Okay, got it.

Information.

Dad's still alive

and brother's at home.

Okay, that's the first piece

of good news.

Joseph presses in

verse 14 some more.

It is,

As I said to you,

you are spies.

By this you shall be tested.

By the life of Pharaoh

you shall not go

from this place

unless your youngest brother

comes here.

Send one of you

and let him bring

your brother

while you remain confined

that your words

may be tested.

Whether there is

truth in you

or else by the life

of Pharaoh

surely you are spies.

And he put them

all together

in custody

for three days.

So,

Joseph

is trying to help

his brothers.

I really believe that.

Joseph puts them

all together.

He says,

One of you is going.

So,

as they are all together,

now,

can you envision

maybe what that dialogue

sounds like?

What are they talking about?

What is happening?

What do you suppose?

Help me here.

Who is going to go?

What else is maybe

playing out in their minds

at this point?

Maybe

I actually

would rather stay

because I don't want

to face

Dad.

You can go.

Egypt is a little bit better.

Who is going to tell Dad?

He doesn't trust him yet.

Why?

Why should he

not trust him yet?

Okay?

Because of what they did

to him.

But he's...

That's right.

There is not

brokenness yet.

There is not

brokenness yet.

And let me tell you,

nothing will beat you

into brokenness

better than

a jail cell.

We're going to get to that

in a moment.

It's good.

I think Joseph

longs

for brokenness

in his brothers.

He longs

for brokenness.

So here they are

in this prison cell.

We know,

well,

we kind of know

what's coming too.

We know what else

is going on in their mind.

We deserve this.

this is our fault.

Now,

the hen

has come to roost.

Now,

our

past iniquities

are catching up with us.

So,

we find that

Joseph

sends him to prison.

And I wonder,

even for us,

sometimes,

what goes through our heads

when tragedy strikes?

What are some of the

questions that you ask

yourself

when hard things come?

Let's be honest.

Let's put ourselves

in their shoes.

What do you go,

what do you think about,

Bob?

What did I do

to deserve this?

Something must be wrong

in my life.

And that is

an important question.

question.

You must

ask

that question.

Because God

disciplines those

he loves.

And if you're a son

or a daughter

and you've been involved

in some

sinning,

God loves you

through discipline.

So,

that's an important

question to ask.

We've got to ask

that question.

So,

we move past

that and say,

no,

this isn't because

of sin.

So,

what else

is going through

your mind?

Okay.

What is God

trying to do

in my life

to get me ready

for something else?

That's a great,

great question.

How do I,

yeah.

How do I fix

this problem?

Yeah,

we think about that

for sure.

How do I get

myself in this mess?

If only I had

so these things

are going through

their minds

and

it's going to

take something

significant

to pull them out.

Before we get there,

I want us to think

about this

this God

who is righteous

in reckoning.

Do you know

that God

God

is faithful

to answer prayer

for you?

God is faithful

to do that.

Would you

describe yourself

as being

a person

of praise?

Like,

when really hard

things happen,

do people

look at your life

and say,

you know what,

you're going through

some really hard

things,

but I'll tell you

what,

I've never seen

somebody

worship God

that way

before.

Their life

is so dominated

by Thanksgiving.

It's quite

extraordinary.

And it shows up

even more

when hard

things come.

And I don't get it.

That must be

a divine

quality.

That must be

God working

in their life.

just

write down

this verse.

Colossians 2,

Colossians 2:6

verses 6 and 7.

Colossians 2,

6 and 7.

Here's what it says.

As you therefore

have received

Christ Jesus,

the Lord,

so walk in Him.

If you are

a child of His,

you need to

walk in His steps.

You need to

emulate His life.

You need to do

what Jesus does.

You need to

follow His example.

Okay, how?

You're rooted

and you're built up

in Him.

You're established

in your faith.

Abound in it

with

thanksgiving.

Wow.

I don't know

about you,

but if there's

anything that's

elusive in my life,

it's thanksgiving.

I

tend to see

things very

black and white

very clearly

and it's really

easy

to call a spade

a spade

and in doing

that to say,

I'm going to

write that person

off right now.

Or,

I see the situation,

God,

what are you doing

to me?

What do I do

to get in this mess?

instead of saying,

oh Lord,

I'm so thankful

that you're

on the throne

and that this

is for my good.

You have

that struggle

ever in your life?

It's really easy

to get critical

of people.

It's really easy

to get bent out of shape

over situations

that happen in life.

It's really easy

to complain.

It's really easy

to complain.

Isn't it interesting

that the

two passages

in the New Testament

that talk about

worship,

the clearest,

songs and hymns

and spiritual songs,

one focuses

on the aspect

of the Holy Spirit,

don't be drunk

with wine

but be filled

with the Spirit.

Okay?

The other talks about,

it says,

let the word of Christ

dwell in you

richly.

So,

we got the power

of the Spirit

and the power

of Christ

through His word,

evidence itself

in worship

and guess what

the byproduct is?

Praise.

Thanks.

Whatever you do,

give thanks

always

for all things

to God the Father

in the name

of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I think

Paul focuses on that

because he knows

how hard

we do

with that.

I'm going to take

a detour

from our detour.

We were having

a front yard

Bible club

when we were living

in Illinois

and all the kids

were supposed to come.

They had been invited

to be part of this

and

we only had

two or three kids

show up the first day.

Like,

where is everybody?

We'd had like 12

the previous year.

Well,

come to find out

they were in

playing video games.

They had kind of grown up

a year over time

and there are things

that are more important

than learning about

the Bible.

So,

the leader

said,

hey,

you know,

what should we do?

And I think

when my wife says,

well,

we just need to pray

that God

shuts off the power

somehow

so they can come.

Well,

you guess what God did

the next morning?

I was sitting on the couch

at six in the morning

and all of a sudden

this boom

flash of light,

a transformer

about 150 yards

from our house

blew

and the rest of the week

no power.

Don't ask

my family to pray.

It'll come true.

The problem was

it was a week

like we've just had.

Oppressive heat

and humidity.

No fans,

no air conditioning,

no circulation

of the wind

through the house.

It was pretty miserable.

And on Thursday

after days of that,

my daughter,

I won't tell you the name,

comes to me and says,

Daddy,

I don't think

this is fair.

I don't like

this one bit.

And I was reminded

of this verse.

It says,

giving thanks

always for all things

to God the Father.

Now,

my initial response

was,

hey,

think about,

you know,

50% of the world

doesn't have power.

You ought to be grateful

for the power

you get at some point.

And I think

that was

okay.

But I think

that was missing

the mark.

Because

it really wasn't

grateful for

the lack of electricity.

It was just grateful

that we only have

a lack of electricity

for a couple of days.

How do you say,

thank you for no power?

Thank you for

oppressive heat

and hard time

sleeping at night.

How do you say that?

Well,

here's what happened

on Friday.

On Friday,

I think it was Friday,

Thursday or Friday,

I forget,

there were

a couple of kids

who gave their life

to Christ

because of no power.

Is that a reason

to praise the Lord?

You see,

we can do that

because of the God

we serve.

We can say

thank you

for no power

because even if

we don't see

how God is going

to show up,

we know

that he's working

it through

somehow.

If it's not

just to shape

character in us,

it's to bring about

purposes in others.

And that's a good thing.

We need to be people

who are giving thanks.

That's scenic stop

number two.

Let's take this last one,

this third one here,

and we'll finish

the other couple

next week.

Scenic stop

number three.

God is interested

in full repentance.

This is where

we begin to see

what Ed was referring to.

Verses 18 to 22.

It says,

On the third day,

Joseph said to them,

Do this and you will live,

for I fear God.

Okay?

That goes back

to the beginning.

Remember Joseph's

unwavering commitment

to push God

into the spotlight?

Here he is doing it again.

If you are honest men,

let one of your brothers

remain confined

where you are

in custody

and let the rest

go and carry the grain

for the famine

of your households.

And bring your youngest

brother to me

so your words

will be verified

and you shall not die.

And they did so.

Then they said

to one another,

In truth,

we are guilty

concerning our brother.

That's cool.

There's the beginnings

of brokenness.

In that we saw

the distress of his soul

when he begged us

and we did not listen.

That is why

this distress

has come upon us.

And Reuben answered them,

Did I not tell you

not to sin against the boy,

but you did not listen?

So now,

there comes a reckoning

for his blood.

They did not know

that Joseph understood them,

for there was

an interpreter between them.

Then he turned away

from them

and wept.

What did Joseph

desire for his brothers?

What did he want

for them?

You think that he desired

brokenness for them

because he knew

that true wellness,

true spiritual

and mental,

emotional health

will come through

the right posture

with God,

the right approach

to God,

the right understanding

of God?

I see.

I think he begins

to see God show up

in their life.

Some glimpses

of some brokenness here.

He is just overcome.

He is overcome

with emotion.

Like,

God,

you did it again.

You are doing it again.

Who could have thought

that these hard-headed,

cold as stone guys

will begin to melt?

Will ever come

to the point

of recognizing

that what they did

against me

was wrong?

Only you can show up

in giving this gift

of repentance

and brokenness.

Only you can show up

to begin that process

for them.

And he is beginning

to see this

and he is just

overcome.

He's overwhelmed.

Good tenderness.

Good passion.

Desire to see the best

for his brothers.

Not just physically

being well.

But most importantly

to be well spiritually.

This scene

was etched

into their minds.

They remember

and recall

the events

of that day.

What do they refer

to here?

What are some

of the things

in verses

what,

21

that they refer to?

Describe that scene

for me.

What's that?

That's right.

I warned you guys

you would not

listen to me

and here it comes.

Here it is.

I agree.

I agree.

Good point.

Really good point.

Okay.

Now,

they leave home

knowing that Benjamin's

not there.

Okay.

That was probably

a factor.

Joseph's questioning

and then putting

him in prison

is beginning

just to stir

the conviction

of their hearts.

And I agree.

I think it was

all intentional

for their good.

They're remembering

this scene

like,

remember

his desperate

cries,

please don't

do this to me.

And it's haunted

them.

It has haunted

them from the

day it happened.

Their dad

has reminded

them every day.

Every day

of sorrow,

every day

of grief

for father

has been a day

of grief

for them.

They have lived

this moment

by moment,

day by day.

It's haunted

them.

But surely

Joseph was dead

in their minds.

And they have

come to believe

their own story.

They really have

come to believe

their own story.

Three days

in the Egyptian

prison,

these terrible

turn of events,

a clear reminder

before they leave

home,

and now the

impending doom

that certainly

awaited them

when they went

home.

You referred to

that.

The grieving

father,

the starving

family,

the need to

bring Benjamin

back.

The sky was

clearly falling

for these men

in their own

minds.

But they would

never be whole

without being

broken.

broken.

And God

was beginning

that process

in their

life.

So how

about you?

Put yourself

in the shoes

of these

ten brothers.

brothers,

you will

never be

whole

unless you're

broken.

Are there

things

in your

life

you've kind

of given

a pass

and maybe

the years

have trickled

by without

dealing with

those big

things because

you're too

worried about

the implications

of what would

happen if you

come clean

about those

things?

You ever

been there?

I was.

When I was

in high school

and just

learned to

drive, I

was backing

out of a

car place

and I

turned a

little early

because I

didn't know

that you

weren't allowed

to do that

or shouldn't

do that

and so I

put a big

dent in

the car

next to

me.

But I

didn't know

whose car

it was

and I

was like

what can

I do?

So I

let it

go.

And then

several years

later

I was

roofing

a house

with my

dad,

somebody

in our

church

and we

were putting

on a

free roof

and guess

what I

saw in

the driveway?

The same

car

and the

same

dent.

Oh

what do

I do?

there it

is.

I

let it

go.

No big

deal by

now.

The past

is past.

It's only

a couple

hundred

dollars.

I could

pop that

thing out

no problem.

And then

come my

sophomore

year of

college

and a

person comes

to the

school and

says you

know what?

deal with

the things

in your

past

that are

sins in

your life.

You need

to get

past them.

You need

to move

past those

things so

you can be

the person

that God

wants you

to be.

So you

need to

pray right

now.

God bring

to my

mind all

those things

in my

life that

I need

to make

right.

Help me

to be

broken.

I prayed

that.

Guess

what came

to my

mind?

In a

flash.

I can't

deal with

that.

Nope.

Not going

to do

it.

Not going

to do

it.

Too much

time has

gone by.

So

two years

after college

I'm in

Los Angeles

and I'm

listening to

a message

and same

thing.

Hey

deal with

the things

in your

past because

God wants

you to be

a whole

person.

He wants

to be a

broken

person.

Okay.

Alright

Lord I'll

do it.

So I

called up

Miss

Machowski

and I

said guess

what that

little dent

in your

car.

Sorry

that was

me.

How can

I deal

with that?

And we

did.

We did

business.

And I

tell you

it was

so freeing.

Something

that seemed

like Mount

Everest

was so

small

and all

I had to

do was

come

clean.

what do

you need

to come

clean

with

today?

What is

it in

your life

there needs

to be

brokenness

for you

before God

can continue

to move

you in

the journey

of spirituality?

I imagine

there might

be

something

and

perhaps

time

and

distance

have

made

this

very

small

thing

into

something

very

large

because

you're

like

now I

feel

embarrassed

about

having

waited

so

long

but I

just

dealt

with

it

right?

Do

business

with God

do business

with that

individual

and

let

brokenness

settle

in

to

your

life

thanks

for

listening

sorry for

holding you on

too long

I

have

to

do

I

do

I

do

I

do

I

do

I

do

I

do

I

do

I

do

do

lip

lip

do

I

do

lip

lip