Divinely Elevated

To keep our feet dry we would take those plastic bags, that you used to get for free from the grocery store, I’m not bitter, and we put our feet in those, before putting our shoes on.

We clopped around in the rain, and the mud and the clay.

Clay and mud, built up on the bottom of our shoes.

Making each of us about 3-4 inches taller.

But also meaning our shoes weighed a couple pounds more.

The bummer of the week, was we were there to cook.

We may not have wanted to cook.

I’d much rather have been inside, next to a fireplace drinking a cup of hot cocoa, but that was not an option.

We were there to prepare food for the campers, and there were still campers.

And these campers needed to eat.

The low point was when we were boiling some chicken to make chicken enchiladas.

Our stove sunk into the ground, and fell over, spilling the chicken and hot water on the ground.

I’ll never forget that moment.

Karen and I looked at each other.

Sighed.

We didn’t say a word.

We brushed off as much mud as we could, put the chicken back in the pot, and continued boiling it.

What could you do?

Our spirits were broken.

But we continued.

We were not prepared for that week.

We should have had better shoes.

We should have had rain gear.

We made it home, and I made sure I bought better equipment for the next trip.

I promised myself, I would be prepared for the next time I went down there.

I would take action.

I bought rain clothes.

Better socks.

Better boots.

I would be prepared.

And in the same way, God has allowed for there to be variety in life.

There’s times of sorrow.

And there’s times of joy.

A baby is born - and you celebrate.

There is a death - and you grieve.

There’s things that you’d like to do over again.

And there’s things that you hope you never have to do again.

We know that God is sovereign over all of these things.

We tell ourselves that.

But the question is, how do we function through these things.

How do we faithfully respond to the will of God?

Especially when it seems to be contrary to what we think it is or should be?

So that is what we will see today, 3 ways to faithfully respond to God’s will.

If you have your Bibles, you can open them up to .

It’s where we will be.

I’m not going to read the chapter, because of it’s length, but feel free to follow along.

First, we see how to Faithfully seek the God’s direction.

The last time we met Joseph, he was in prison.

He’s been put into a secret Egyptian prison.

It’s no Holiday Inn.

It’s a dark place.

Later on it’s described as a pit.

He’s unkempt.

His hair and beard grow long.

He’s dirty.

And Joseph is forgotten here.

There’s no term length to his sentence.

He could be in jail 5 years.

He could be in jail 50 years.

It’s as long as they feel like keeping him.

While Joseph is forgotten in prison, Pharaoh has a couple of dreams.

You can read about them in verses 2-8.

He dreams that out of the Nile river come 7 pretty, and well fed cows.

And they eat.

Boy do they eat.

Then after them came 7 scrawny, ugly cows.

And they ate the nice fat and plump cows.

He wakes up, “Phew it was only a dream”, and goes back to sleep.

Then he has a second dream.

This time there are 7 healthy ears of grain that pop up.

Just perfect for eating.

Then 7 ugly, diseased ears of corn pop up, and they eat the healthy ones.

He wakes up and again knows it’s a dream.

But this time he’s not so relieved.

These dreams really tax Pharaoh’s spirit.

These dreams tax Pharaoh’s spirit.

It says he was troubled.

He could remember them, vividly.

These dreams were bizarre.

They were about cows eating cows, and corn eating corn.

And he could remember the dreams.

That’s an accomplishment.

Have you ever had a dream, then the next day you tried to explain it to someone?

All morning long you remember the dream.

In the shower you remember it.

Maybe you even laugh about it.

Then you find someone to tell it to.

And as you tell it, it suddenly makes no sense at all.

You catch yourself wondering, “Why am I talking about this?”

And you have two options:

You either tell the whole dream and sound like a crazy person.

Or you say forget about it.

And as you tell the dream, you feel like a comedian who forgets the punchline to a joke, the dream itself seems to dissolve in your finger tips.

And you forget where it was going.

That’s not how Pharaoh’s dreams were.

They were vivid.

They were alive.

And they pressed on his heart.

So Pharaoh gathered his magicians and wise men together.

He told them the dream, and asked for the meaning of it.

But none of them could interpret the dream.

That didn’t make Pharaoh feel any better.

But at this point the cupbearer remembered a young Hebrew man named Joseph.

In the previous chapter, the cupbearer and the royal baker, each had a dream.

And Joseph was able to interpret their dreams, and then they came true.

We are beginning to see God’s will develop in this story.

Why was Joseph sold into slavery?

Why was Joseph put into prison?

Why didn’t the cupbearer mention the dream and it being interpreted earlier?

We are starting to see that this is exactly where God wants Joseph to be.

The cupbearer tells Pharaoh about this Hebrew who could interpret dreams.

Joseph is pulled out of the prison.

He’s given a shave.

He’s given clean clothes.

And brought before Pharaoh.

Pharaoh retells the dream and finishes by saying that he’s heard that Joseph can interpret dreams.

Joseph doesn’t use this as an opportunity to make himself seem better in front of Pharaoh.

Instead, he directs all the attention to God.

Look at , “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

He goes to God.

This is all about being prepared.

I don’t want your life to be like my unprepared trip to Mexico.

A soldier goes through training so that when he’s in conflict he can react by instinct.

His job isn’t to try and be creative.

His job is to follow protocol and do what he’s been trained to do.

Joseph didn’t rely on his own ability, he didn’t try and get creative.

He said, “It is not in me ...”, that was his first instinct.

Instead, he consults the Lord.

And when we encounter something in life what is protocol, what should be our first action?

It’s to go to the Lord.

It’s to be in prayer.

Do you know what Christianese is?

It’s the language that Christians use when talking about spiritual things.

So when you are asked in Sunday School, what a Christian does to grow in our faith?

How do we answer in our finest Christianese?

We say you:

Read your Bible

Pray

And go to church.

That’s the Christianese.

We know the Christianese answer.

The first thing we should do is pray.

But do we follow the Christianese answer?

We are quick to plan.

We are quick to strategize.

We are quick to come up with ideas.

When something happens, I like to look at all the possible options of things I can do.

But we remarkably slow to drop to our knees.

Think about when we pray.

We pray at the beginning of meetings.

We pray at the end of a meeting.

Prayer like the gavel at the end of a day in court.

Joseph’s first reaction was to credit God, knowing that all good things come from Him.

Our first reaction should be to credit God.

Consulting Him, knowing that everything comes from Him.

Prayer is acknowledging the power of God, and His ability to do what I am incapable of doing.

Prayer is echoing Joseph’s words, “It is not me … God will do” whatever it is we are in need of.

I went to Mexico and said, “I’m never going to be this miserable again. I’m getting a rain coat. I’m gonna be prepared.”

And as we march on through life we need to be prepared.

And our first instinct in preparation should always be to pray.

, Paul says, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Something comes up.

You are nervous.

You’re scared.

What is the first thing we do … go to the Lord.

Not only do we pray, but we are to Faithfully live under God’s Sovereignty.

You know the story.

Joseph explains that God has revealed this dream to Pharaoh.

The two dreams mean that God’s plans are set in stone.

There will be 7 fat cows that are eaten by the 7 skinny cows.

And the 7 good ears of grain that are eaten by the skinny ears of grain are really the same dream, they have the same point.

The double dream is an exclamation point.

God’s plans are set.

There is this great truth, that’s sometimes hard for us to swallow, and that is that God is sovereign.

The reality of God’s sovereignty is that He makes plans.

And His plans concern us; you and I.

He has a plan for you.

He has a plan for me.

And we can’t change that.

says that He has a plan for our lives that is set, it’s as if it is written already in a book.

And we see this truth throughout the pages of the Bible.

There are people that God has planned their lives before they’re alive.

He doesn’t consult them.

He doesn’t ask them.

It’s His plan.

Rebekah was told that the younger son Jacob would be over the older son Esau.

Nothing could change that.

It’s what God planned for Jacob.

Jeremiah was told that he would be a prophet sent by God.

Nothing could change that.

It’s what God planned for Jeremiah.

Nebuchadnezzar was told that he would be brought low for 7 years and forced to live like an animal.

Nothing could change that.

It’s what God planned for Nebuchadnezzar.

Cyrus was chosen by God, before he was alive and before he was even named Cyrus, that he would be the one to order Jerusalem to be rebuilt.

Nothing could change that.

It’s what God planned for Cyrus.

It was appointed for Jesus to be pierced, and killed at the hands of sinful people.

Nothing could change that.

It’s what God had planned.

It’s cool when we read that in the Bible.

This part of Genesis is awesome, because we are seeing that God had a plan for Joseph’s life.

And for this plan to happen it meant:

Being abused and then sold into slavery by his brothers.

Wrongly accused by Potiphar’s wife.

Being forgotten in a secret Egyptian dungeon.

All so that Joseph would be in a position to be able to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams.

Cool!

Prophecy is awesome.

We love reading about it in the Bible when it comes to other people.

But when it comes to us … that’s not embraced.

We love the idea that God had a plan for Joseph, that brought value to his suffering, and that Joseph couldn’t swerve from it.

But we don’t like the idea that God has a plan like that over my life.

It impedes on my free will.

Realize that there are somethings in your life that you cannot change.

Your free will has no bearing on these things.

God’s sovereign plan happened and you cannot do a thing about it.

There are some things you cannot argue about when it comes to God’s plan over your life.

You were born where you were born.

No one consulted you.

“How would you like to be born in the United States?”

“No, God, I’d rather be born in England.”

“Okay. It’s your life.”

You were born with the ethnicity and color of skin that you have.

No one ever asked you, “How do you feel about being white?”

These things are completely out of your control.

And you also don’t know where your life is going.

You don’t know where you will be in 10 years.

You don’t know where you will be in 5 years.

There’s many times we don’t know where we will be next year.

I’m sure Joseph had plans for his life.

He had met with his high school guidance counselor and knew where he’d go to college and what he’d do.

I’m sure Joseph had plans, but none of those plans involved being in prison for a big chunk of them under false charges.

Nor was Joseph aware of God’s plans.

And so, through each phase of his journey, he lived in a way that was faithful to what God valued.

And when God had revealed the meaning behind Pharaoh’s dreams, what do we see Joseph do?

Does he sit back and say:

“Well God is sovereign, He has his plan. So let’s do nothing. Que sera, sera.”

No.

True God is sovereign.

And Joseph knows that.

Verse 25, “God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.”

He knows God is sovereign.

He knows God has a plan.

Verse 28, “God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.”

He knows God is sovereign.

He knows God has a plan.

Verse 32, “the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.”

He knows God is sovereign.

He knows God has a plan.

There is the sovereignty of God, and Joseph affirms it.

But does he stop there?

No.

He acts.

Verse 33, “Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.”

He then comes up with a plan.

Those 7 years are going to be hugely prosperous for Egypt.

The plan is to tax Egypt on 20% of their produce and save it.

Because he knows in 7 years there will be a 7 year famine.

God is sovereign.

God has a plan that is fixed.

And yet, in God’s sovereignty God requires you to take action.

You still have a responsibility even under the sovereignty of God.

We take comfort knowing that there are things God has said He will do.

And yet, we take action.

Think about the Christian life.

We repent.

We believe.

We have faith.

We pursue what is right.

echo this responsibility of living under the sovereignty of God.

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

We make these decisions, we live obediently to God because we know that God is sovereign.

You ever think about this? Why are we obedient to God? Why do we try and please God?

It’s because He is sovereign.

Why do you deny yourself, and pursue Christ?

Why do you set aside a large chunk of your paycheck and give it to God?

Why do you knock on strangers doors once a month and tell them about Christ?

Because you know that there is a God who is Lord over everything, even the future.

We know that God has a plan and nothing can change that.

We know that Christ is going to return with a robe dipped in blood and a sharp sword.

says, “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.”

Because you believe God to be how the Bible describes Him to be which is sovereign and holy … you therefore act.

So part of living faithfully under the sovereignty of God, means we have to act.

How do we know what actions to take?

This means we have to study Scripture.

We trust in it.

We make decisions based of it.

Living faithfully under the sovereignty of God means that we do things and we take responsibility.

Because God is sovereign and because we fear Him:

Men we lead our homes.

Christians we serve one another.

We go to war with our flesh.

Because we know God has a plan that is true … we actively live knowing the reality of it.

The last way to be prepared is to Faithfully survive on God’s Providence.

Joseph makes his plan, collect 20% of all the produce and save it.

Which they do for 7 years.

At the end of the 7 good years, the 7 bad years begin.

And they are bad.

These 7 years are so bad that the good years are forgotten.

This was a global tragedy.

Just like how the Great Depression affected the entire world, this affected the whole known world.

The surrounding nations were dry.

They weren’t prepared.

But this is what Joseph through God’s guidance had prepared Egypt for.

So Pharaoh opened the storehouses, he opened the savings, and he sold to the Egyptians and to the rest of the world what God had provided.

Those hard times were awful.

But God had prepared them for this time.

So they lived on God’s providence.

Do you ever look at how God has prepared you for your years of famine and then you look back and you say, “Thank you God.”

This requires practice.

There was once a fellow who, with his dad, farmed a little piece of land.

Several times a year they would load up the old cart

Twilight found them in what looked like a huge, colorful garden. The old man breathed in the aroma, listened to the bubbling brook, and pulled the ox to a halt. "Let's sleep here,"

The son sighed. "This is the last trip I'm taking with you, you're more interested in watching sunsets and smelling flowers than in making money!"

The dad smiled back, "Why, that's the nicest thing you've said in a long time,". A couple of minutes later he was snoring as his boy glared back at him.

A couple of minutes later he was snoring-as his boy glared back at the stars. The night dragged slowly; the son was restless. Before sunrise the young man hurriedly shook his father awake. They hitched up and went on. About a mile down the road they happened upon another farmer-a total stranger-trying ing to pull his cart out of a ditch. "Let's give him a hand," whispered the old man. "And lose more time?" the boy exploded. "Relax, son ... you might be in a ditch sometime yourself. We need to help others in need-don't forget that." The boy looked away in anger. It was almost eight o'clock that morning by the time the other cart was back on the road. Suddenly, a great flash split the sky. What sounded like thunder followed. Beyond the hills, the sky grew dark. "Looks like a big rain in the city," said the old man. "If we had hurried, we'd be almost sold out by now," grumbled bled his son. "Take it easy ... you'll last longer. And you'll enjoy life so much more," counseled the kind old gentleman. It was late afternoon by the time they got to the hill overlooking looking the city. They stopped and stared down at it for a long, long time. Neither of them said a word. Finally, the young man put his hand on his father's shoulder and said, "I see what you mean, Dad." They turned their cart around and began to roll slowly away from what had once been the city of Hiroshima.

The night dragged slowly; the son was restless, he was eager to get to town and sell what they had.

Before sunrise the young man hurriedly shook his father awake. They hitched up the cart and went on.

About a mile down the road they happened upon another farmer, a total stranger, trying to pull his cart out of a ditch. "Let's give him a hand," whispered the old man.

"And lose more time?" the boy exploded.

"Relax, son ... you might be in a ditch sometime yourself. We need to help others in need don't forget that." The boy looked away in anger.

Suddenly, a great flash split the sky. What sounded like thunder followed. Beyond the hills, the sky grew dark. "Looks like a big rain in the city," said the old man. "If we had hurried, we'd be almost sold out by now," grumbled bled his son. "Take it easy ... you'll last longer. And you'll enjoy life so much more," counseled the kind old gentleman. It was late afternoon by the time they got to the hill overlooking looking the city. They stopped and stared down at it for a long, long time. Neither of them said a word. Finally, the young man put his hand on his father's shoulder and said, "I see what you mean, Dad." They turned their cart around and began to roll slowly away from what had once been the city of Hiroshima.

It was almost eight o'clock that morning by the time the other cart was back on the road. Suddenly, a great flash split the sky. What sounded like thunder followed. Beyond the hills, the sky grew dark. "Looks like a big rain in the city," said the old man.

"If we had hurried, we'd be almost sold out by now," grumbled his son.

"Take it easy ... you'll last longer. And you'll enjoy life so much more," counseled the kind old gentleman.

It was late afternoon by the time they got to the hill overlooking looking the city. They stopped and stared down at it for a long, long time. Neither of them said a word.

Finally, the young man put his hand on his father's shoulder and said, "I see what you mean, Dad." They turned their cart around and began to roll slowly away from what had once been the city of Hiroshima.

Living on the providence of God requires practice to see how the Lord puts obstacles and provides in unique ways to prepare you for now.

There are sermons that you’ve heard that are preparation for later.

There are friends who come into your life, and who prepare you for difficulty .

You ever get that mysterious check in the mail that you have no idea what it’s for?

When I first became an adult I would get so excited about that random mysterious check.

It might have been from the IRS, the bank, mortgage company, a stranger.

When I was younger, I’d think, “Sweet, now I can go buy some toys.”

Surviving on the providence of God says, “How has what He has given me help me now?”

Maybe God has given this to me for a purpose.

You get a mysterious bill, that is the same amount as that mysterious check.

Surviving on God’s Providence means being content with what He has given you and learning to live on that.

Surviving on God’s Providence means looking back on the past, and seeing how God has provided for today.

And the most important way to do this is by looking to the Cross.

The day is coming when each of us will stand before God.

On that day we will be judged.

And the only way we will survive … is by God’s providence displayed in the sending of Jesus Christ.

The way to survive death and judgment isn’t by saying I need something new.

It’s by looking back.

It’s by looking back on what God has already given us.

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

It’s by surviving on the providence of God.

It’s by surviving on Jesus Christ.

Life is hard and we need to be prepared.

In baseball, one of the things I was taught from coaches, and when I’ve coached, is to be ready.

Before the pitcher throws the ball you need to be ready.

So you stand in a ready position.

The infielders stand on the balls of their feet, ready to run in any direction.

And they need to anticipate what they will do when the ball is hit.

If the ball is hit to the outfield, where will the infielders go.

If the ball is hit to you, what will you do with the ball.

“The plays at first, I’ll throw it to first.”

We need to be prepared.

Are you prepared for life?

Like the outfielder who’s first step is backward, our first step needs to be to seek the Lord’s direction, and we do this in prayer.

And then we act.

We know God is sovereign, but that doesn’t remove our responsibility to move, to do something, to act.

And lastly, we survive by God’s providence.

What has He given you to prepare you for today.

And like Egypt with the silos that were full of grain sent by God.

They survived on the Lord’s kindness.

We too, look for God’s sovereign hand to go before us and to live on it.

Are you prepared?

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