Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction: As we went over last week, all of us are in need of discernment.

In order to successfully live our Christian lives it is necessary for us to cultivate the skill of applying God’s Word with the purpose of separating good from evil and right from wrong so that we can then act on that knowledge.

This week we are going to take a look at an example of Biblical discernment.

Part of developing the skill of discernment is taking at look at those who practiced it and following their example.

Joseph Pre-Discernment

It is unknown to us whether Joseph was baiting his brothers with his dreams or if he was simply too immature to realize the extent of their hatred for him.

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One thing is for sure, the author really wants us to understand that Joseph’s brothers really hated him, and so by revealing his dreams to his brothers he was either rubbing salt on their wounds or he was simply too naive to realize that they hated him.

Either way we see that in the early part of Joseph’s life he lacked discernment.

He lacked the ability to see that either he was causing greater damage to his relationship with his brothers or he lacked the ability to discern the spirit of his brothers towards him.

Genesis 37:12-

Joseph, apparently out of touch to the degree of hatred that his brothers had for him, went out to them as they were tending the flocks.

They would have killed him were it not for Reuben who probably, since he was the oldest, did not want to have to bear the blame for his brothers killing Joseph.

Instead they decided to throw him into a pit (cistern; 20 feet deep) and they eventually made the decision to sell him into slavery.

Joseph in Potiphar’s House

Genesis 39:

When Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt he was sold into Potiphar’s house, Pharaoh’s captain of the guard.

As he was in Potiphar’s house Potiphar discerned that Joseph was discerning over all that was put in his charge.

The narrative also makes clear that the discernment that Joseph had came from God.

As a result of divine blessing, Potiphar made Joseph the chief discerner over all that was in his house.

Potiphar trusted Joseph’s discernment to the extent that Potiphar stopped paying as careful attention to his own possessions because he knew that Joseph was up to the task.

So as Joseph made both financial and logistical decisions day in and day out, he exercised the discernment that God had given him.

But Joseph was a good looking guy.

In the Old Testament the announcement that someone was either handsome or beautiful in form and appearance signaled the beginning of trouble.

Can you think of any examples of this?

For Joseph that trouble came in the form of his master’s wife.

Genesis 39:

Since Joseph was handsome, Potiphar’s wife decided that she wanted to have him.

This offer might have been tempting had Joseph not been discerning.

It would have been tempting due to the fact that Potiphar’s wife was probably beautiful herself

It would have been tempting because Joseph was in a strategic position to take over control of his masters house

It would have been tempting because Joseph could have been tempted to think that he deserved what was now coming to him

Joseph was able to discern the fact that, although he didn’t deserve to be sold as a slave, neither had God given him permission to overthrow Potiphar.

Joseph’s refusal to even be in the presence of this seductress shows his deep care for both God and Potiphar.

Out of spite, Potiphar’s wife then goes about framing Joseph.

It is unclear what Potiphar thought of the situation or who he became angry with.

What we do know is that the Egyptian punishment for a slave attempting to overthrow his master’s household was death.

Instead of issuing the death sentence, Potiphar mercifully sent Joseph to prison.

This seems to indicate that since Joseph had only ever had Potiphar’s best interests in mind for roughly 11 years, Potiphar spared his life, likely trusting the judgment of Joseph over the judgment of his own wife.

Joseph in Prison

Genesis 40:

Even in prison, Joseph exercised discernment to the point of earning the complete trust of the keeper of the prison.

Summarize the butler and baker

Summarize the Butler and the Baker

Joseph Before Pharaoh

Summarize Pharaoh’s dream

After two full years the butler finally remembers Joseph and recommends him to Pharaoh

Genesis 41:16

Pharaoh then tells Joseph his dreams

Genesis 41:25-

Due to the discerning spirit of Joseph, Joseph found himself as the second most powerful person in the world, yet he never lost sight of the fact that it was all a gift from God.

Conclusion: In the life of Joseph, whether he was in Potiphar’s house, in prison, or before Pharaoh, Joseph had determined to honor God, and God, in turn, honored him with a spirit of discernment that enabled him to save the lives of God’s chosen people.

May we prioritize our relationship with God, and out of a desire to honor Him, seek and ask for the gift of discernment.