God’s Hand in the Life of Joseph
Genesis 49:22-26; 50:22-26; Exodus 13:19; Joshua 24:32; Acts 7:16; Hebrews 11:22
1. HIS FRUITFUL LIFE (49:22-26)
a. The signs of his fruitfulness
b. The sphere of his fruitfulness
c. The secret of his fruitfulness
2. HIS FINAL WORDS (50:24-25)
a. Words of faith
b. Words of encouragement
3. THE FACT OF DEATH (50:26)
(Genesis 50:15-21)
1. Recognise that resentment and revenge are natural responses to hurt
2. Accept that revenge is not your right
3. Remember that God is good sovereign and able to bring good out of the evil done to you
4. Choose to forgive and treat with grace those who hurt you
Genesis 39:1-20
1. THE POWER OF THE TEMPTATION
It was a surprise temptation
It was a strong temptation
It was a sustained temptation
It was a secret temptation
It was a sensible temptation
It was a subtle temptation
2. THE POWER OVER THE TEMPTATION
He had convictions before the crisis
He knew that love involved loyalty
He had the sense to avoid the source
He was still shocked by sin
He knew that retreat was better than defeat
Genesis 47:27-50:14
1. LESSONS FOR THE DYING
a. Face the fact of death (47:29-30; 48:21; 49:29)
b. Understand the meaning of death (47:30; 49:29 33)
c. Speak about death to your family (47:29-30; 48:21; 49:29)
d. Give your family something of eternal value (48:3-4 15-16; 49:1-28)
e. Worship God right to the end (47:31)
2. LESSONS FOR THE LIVING
a. The dying need our presence ((47:29; 48:1-2; 49:1)
b. The dying need us to take them seriously (49:29-31)
c. We need to listen to the dying (47:29-50:14)
d. We need to allow ourselves to grieve (49:33-50:14)
Genesis 45:1-28
1. PROVISION TO ENJOY (vv5-11 18 20)
a. Available provision
b. Appropriate provision
c. Abundant provision
2. MESSAGE TO CONVEY (vv13-28)
a. Content of the message (vv9-11 25-28)
He is alive
He is lord and saviour
He calls you to come to him
b. Communication of the message
With urgency (vv9 13)
With authority (v9)
With personal testimony (v13)
With provided strength (vv21-23)
With unity (v24)
Genesis 44:1-45:15
1. THE MOMENT OF DESPERATION (44:1-34)
(What can we say? God has uncovered your servants ‘ guilt. 44:16)
2. THE MOMENT OF REVELATION (45:1-3)
(I am Joseph! 45:3)
3. THE MOMENT OF INVITATION (45:4-8)
(Come close to me. 45:4)
4. THE MOMENT OF CELEBRATION (45:14-15)
(And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them.
Afterward his brothers talked with him. 45:15)
Preparation for reconciliation
Genesis 42:6-28; 43:15-44:34
1. THE DEEP LONGING OF JOSEPH
a. A longing to reveal
b. A longing to pardon
c. A longing for relationship
d. A longing to provide
2. THE WISE ACTIONS OF JOSEPH
a. Stage 1 — Actions that burdened them (1st meeting with Joseph)
Harsh treatment (42:6-14)
Difficult requirement (42:15-16 18-24)
Brief imprisonment (42:17)
Disturbing discovery (42:25-28)
b. Stage 2 — Actions that baffled them (2nd meeting with Joseph)
Unexpected favour (43:15-17)
Understandable fear (43:18-23)
Unnerving formality (43:24-32)
Uncanny familiarity (43:33)
Unusual favour (43:34a)
Unreal freedom (43:34b)
c. Stage 3 The action that broke them (3rd meeting with Joseph)
The silver cup (44:1-34)
A case study in self-centredness
Genesis 42:29-43:14
1. THE CASE OF SELF-CENTEREDNESS
A self-centred person . . .
a. Looks at life only from his/her own point of view
b. Is quick to give way to self-pity
c. Is quick to blame others
d. Has a tendency to blow things out of proportion
e. Is ungrateful
f. Is insensitive to the feelings of others
g. Is unreasonable and stubborn
h. Turns to God only as a last resort
2. THE CAUSE OF SELF-CENTREDNESS
a. Nature
b. Nurture
c. Choices
3. THE CURE FOR SELF-CENTREDNESS
a. The Cross a provision to receive
b. The Cross a principle to live by
Genesis 37:17-35; 41:53-42:28
1. CONSCIENCE AND SIN CONTEMPLATED (37:17-20)
2. CONSCIENCE AND SIN CHALLENGED (37:21-27)
3. CONSCIENCE AND SIN COMMITTED (37:23-28)
4. CONSCIENCE AND SIN COVERED (37:31-42:20)
5. CONSCIENCE AND SIN CONFESSED (41:53-42:28)
a. The pressure of want (41:53-42:6)
b. The harshness of Joseph (42:7-14)
c. The terror of prison (42:15-17)
d. The demand for Benjamin (42:18-24)
e. The money back in their sacks (42:25-28)
Genesis 41:39-57; 4713-26
1. THE LEADER AND HIS/HER GOD
a. In touch with God (41:16)
b. Unashamed of God (41:25 28 32)
c. Healed by God (41:50-52)
2. THE LEADER AND HIS/HER BOSS
a. Loyalty (41:55)
b. Submissiveness (47:11)
c. Integrity (47:14)
3. THE LEADER AND HIS/HER SUBORDINATES
a. Firmness (47:13-24)
b. Fairness (47:25)
4. THE LEADER AND HIS/HER WORK
a. Clear objective (41:36)
b. Wise plans (41:34-36 47-57)
c. Effective communication (47:23-24)
d. Hard work (41:46-49)
e. Accessibility (41:45b-46)
f. Creative problem solving (47:16-24)