God Redeems Adversity
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· 4 viewsGod works providentially in our lives, even through adversity, for His glory and our good.
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Introduction
“Rube Goldberg Machine” - Joseph Machines
Tension
Unpacking the term
Reuben Garrett Lucius Goldberg was an American cartoonist, sculptor, author, engineer, and inventor who was best for his political cartoons, and especially the ones depicting complicated gadgets performing simple tasks in indirect ways. The cartoons led to the expression "Rube Goldberg machines", which is how you would describe similar gadgets and processes like the one you just watched in action.
Can you imagine how much time it must take to design the connections to each of these items in such a way that each movement would positively affect the next item and not throw it all off course? The closest most of us have probably got to something like this is to set up a table of tumbling dominoes display, (Right Rachel) where each domino is the same size and moves in the same direction.
Goldberg is best known for his political cartoons, and especially the ones depicting complicated gadgets performing simple tasks in indirect, convoluted ways. The cartoons led to the expression "Rube Goldberg machines" to describe similar gadgets and processes like the one you just watched in action.
What I found so intriguing in this particular “Goldberg Machine” is that if you were to zoom out to see the whole room you would barely be able to tell that the random items in the room have been carefully and methodically placed there to be in along chain of reactions that will move throughout the whole room. Things just start lighting up or falling off shelves and tables in seemingly unrelated ways. When that on yellow cup was on the right side of the table all alone I figured he had messed up cause there was not where to go now…but it just kept going and...
In the end we see that it was all carefully designed to accomplish a specific goal. None of it is there by chance, it was all part of long and elaborate plan designed by it’s creator.
Tension
The truth is, each one of us could say that exact thing about our life. That none of it is there by chance. That all of it is part of a long and deliberate plan designed by it’s creator to accomplish a specific goal.
Do you know what we call a plan like this? We call it Providence
If we were to take that same principle and the relationship that the machine has with it’s creator and apply it to the world that we know and it’s creator then we would have something that we call: “PROVIDENCE”.
Are you familiar with this word? I rarely hear anyone use that term anymore outside of a theological context. In truth, it is not a Biblical word in the sense that the word itself is not found in Scripture, but the principle it describes is one of the major doctrines of the Christian faith.
The English word “Providence” is from a Latin compound word where “pro” means “before” and “vide” means to see. So Providence is to “see before” or “to look ahead, prepare, supply, act with foresight.”
but when I do it is typically someone reflecting on something and responding something like, “Well isn’t that providential”.
but when I do it is typically someone reflecting on something and responding something like, “Well isn’t that providential”.
act with foresight. Just like the creator of a Goldberg Machine has to design each element of his machine in consideration of what is going to happen next, the doctrine of Divine Providence says that our creator God has designed every element of our life in consideration of what will happen next, and then next, and then next right up until He accomplishes His will in our life. Nothing is in our life is there by chance, it was all a part of a long and elaborate plan designed by it’s creator.
He is able to “see” “before” and act accordingly. Of course our creator God is not limited like any earthly creator would be, He is able to see to the end of all things. Even more than that...
Just like the creator of a Goldberg Machine has to design each element of his machine in consideration of what is going to happen next, the doctrine of Divine Providence says that our creator God has designed every element of our life in consideration of what will happen next, and then next, and then next right up until He accomplishes His will in our life. Nothing is in our life is there by chance, it was all a part of a long and elaborate plan designed by it’s creator.
The Providence of God is the belief that God guards, guides and governs all things.
The Providence of God is the belief that God guards, guides and governs all things.
The Providence of God is the belief that God guards, guides and governs all things to his intended outcome.
In other words, nothing happens in our life outside of God’s will to make it happen, his hand to move it into existence and his protection that nothing will stop it from happening in the way he created it to.
It is a word closely related to the word we used last week: Sovereign. They are not synonyms, they don’t mean the same thing, but we find that one is never in view without the other. One of the ways that I find helpful to understand their differences is to look at smaller words found inside of the larger ones.
Encapsulated in the word “Sovereign” is the word “reign”. God’s sovereignty is his rightful authority to bring about everything He intends to happen. His reigning, his ruling and his unquestionable position of power over all things. As a king is sovereign over his kingdom, so the “King of Kings” is Sovereign over every kingdom.
Inside the word “Providence” is the word “provide”. God’s Providence is his movement in his Sovereign authority. He not only has the authority over all things, but he himself is what keeps all things moving in the direction of his intended will.
So he guards, guides and governs all things (Providence) because he has the rightful authority over all things (Sovereignty). Truth is we often find the two written together as God’s Sovereign Providence.
Well as always, I wouldn’t take my word for it, so lets look at some places where we find this attribute of God laid out for us.
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
Do you hear that? It’s not just that God wills it to be a certain way, that is his Sovereignty, but he also “works all thinks according to the counsel of his will” That is his Providential hand at work.
Another place where this is laid out is in where in speaking specifically about God the Son it says:
13 And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Or going to the book with such an elegant name we can read in
35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”
Daniel
In heaven and on earth God’s unstoppable hand is moving to fulfill his purposes according to his Providential plan. We don’t have anything we can say to Him.
Why do I bring in all this theology this morning? Because we are continuing today in the story of Joseph from the book of Genesis. The story of Joseph’s triumphs and tragedies is one of the best places where we see this principle of the Providence of God at work. If you were to open up most any book on theology and go to the section that talks about “The Providence of God” you wouldn’t have to read long before you got to Joseph’s story.
The reason is, like the Goldberg machine we just saw, there are points in Joseph’s life where seem to be excitedly moving forward in a clear laid out direction and at other times is just seems like things are just randomly falling off the table. In one scene Joseph is being raised up to positions of leadership and honor and then in the next moment he hit with a problem that drags him to new places and positions of adversity.
I know this is heady stuff, but lets go back to the Rube Goldberg Machine for our example. The creator of that machine, Joseph, only
And this is where we find the tension of the doctrine of Providence. Our appreciation for this doctrine often depends on which part of a story you are looking at.
I have stories, and I have heard stories of many of you where you looked back over a situation in your life and were just blown away at how amazingly God’s hand was in it all. After months of searching and asking God for his favor, someone just happened to mention to someone else about a new job opportunity and the chain of reactions off of that tumbled all the way to you so that you now have what you think is the perfect job for you. That’s God’s Providence.
And this is the tension that find with the doctrine of Providence. I have stories, and I have heard stories of many of you where you looked back over a situation in your life and you clearly saw the hand of God move in such a beautiful way.
And place whatever you want in there. A new house, the perfect school, a husband or wife all found though this incredible chain of events that you look back over and you celebrate how amazing God is as he clearly had his hand in it all. It is just a beautiful thing how God guarded, guided and governed all of these events to this fantastic end.
But there is a flip side of that too, isn’t there. We love the idea of God’s sovereign providence in the stories where we have already reached the happy ending, but what about the point in the story where all we see is the adversity.
What about stories like the one that has played out before us this week. The story of Jayme Closs whose parents were killed and she was kidnapped and held in the woods for three months. Sure we could point to some wonderful high points of Providence in her rescue , how this woman just happened to be out walking her dog and she just happened to be a retired social worker who would know what to do and how to react. That is a happy ending kind of Providence - but what about the journey up to that point and the journey that Jayme has now to overcome the effects of such an ordeal. Could we say that God guarded, guided and governed those things into her life?
Come on Dan, did you really have to go there? Yeah, I did. Because too often we read Bible stories as if they happened on another planet. Joseph was a real person just like us. He had real brothers, just like many of us. And just as real as those things are, is the fact that his brothers really did plan on murdering him. That was the condition of these mens hearts, the same murderous condition that someone brought into Jayme’s house three months ago.
So as we work through the story of Joseph this morning, my hope is that you will see both the good and the bad that happened to him as real events that happened in the Divine Providential Plan of God. Making it real like I just did might make that more difficult, but all the more important. Because unlike any Goldberg machine that intentionally ends insignificantly, God’s providential plan has the most significant ending imaginable, we just haven’t got there yet.
But at the end of the story we hear Joseph himself declare that everything that he went through was carefully designed by God for an intended purpose. Unlike the Goldberg machines that intentionally end insignificantly, God’s providential plan in Joseph’s life serves to bring salvation to a multitude of people.
in Joseph’s life serves to bring salvation to a multitude of people.
And that is great news, for those people, but what does it mean for us today? How does the idea of God’s Sovereign Providence serve as an encouragement to us when we encounter difficult times?
That is what we are going to look at this morning through the life of Joseph. Would you open your Bibles up with me to , p. 33, I’ll pray and we will get into our text for today.
Truth
Last week, if you remember, one of the things that I opened up with is that the story of Joseph shares many similarities with the story of Jesus. Some of you even came up afterwards to let me know of some of the ones that you found. Even my son Eli, found a great connection. I love to hear your guys thoughts and reflections on the message like this. Let me encourage you to continue in that effort today. I will of course be making some connections, but I am sure as we examine this story you will find many others yourself.
Each of the events that we are going to cover today could easily be a sermon in an of itself, so we will really be covering them from more of an overview perspective in order to specifically get after the way that God’s providence worked out in Joseph’s life, which point us to how it works out in Jesus’ life which points us to how it works in ours.
But first lets take a look at how it played out for Joseph.
This principle is alive and well in the Genesis story of Joseph. At points in Joseph’s life things seem to be on fire in a good way where He is being raised up to positions of leadership and honor and then in the next moment things just start falling off the table. He is dragged into new places and a new position that brings with it new problems and if it was me I would have a hard time seeing how any of these trials could be linked together. It would probably be even more difficult for me to see how it all might be tied together for something valuable or meaningful.
We are not told what all Joseph knew as he walked through these many trials, but what we do know is that at the end of them he was able to recognized that there was a hand at work through it all.
Last week I left you with a spoiler as I told you the end of the story for Joseph. How the brothers who had betrayed Joseph in their Jealousy would one day stand before him and have to answer for their actions. To their amazement, this was Joseph’s answer:
19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?
We are not told how aware Joseph washat Joseph knew as he walked through the many trials of his life, but what we do know is that at the end of his life he recognized that there was a hand at work in all of his afflictions and all of his suffering. While the point of an much more Sometimes our lives are like that aren’t they? Sometimes things just seem to start lighting up
What are some things He controls? He controls the physical world including the weather (), plants, animals, birds (, ; ), and oceans (). In fact, His providential control is over the entire universe: “The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything” (
As the sovereign One, God has a predetermined plan and purpose for everything that happens in the universe. But He is not merely a detached observer of His creation. He is active in all history, time, and space carrying out His rule and kingship according to His plan and purpose. “…he makes everything work out according to his plan”
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
). Not only did God create everything He upholds all things and all things owe their continued existence to Him ().
Not only did God create everything He upholds all things and all things owe their continued existence to Him.
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
In order to carry out His plan and purpose God guards, guides, and governs all things. This is called providence; “He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’”
In order to carry out His plan and purpose God guards, guides, and governs all things. This is called providence; “He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’” ().
In order to carry out His plan and purpose God guards, guides, and governs all things. This is called providence; “He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’” ().
35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”
).
What are some things He controls? He controls the physical world including the weather (), plants, animals, birds (, ; ), and oceans (). In fact, His providential control is over the entire universe: “The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything” (
What are some things He controls? He controls the physical world including the weather (), plants, animals, birds (, ; ), and oceans (). In fact, His providential control is over the entire universe: “The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything” ().
19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
Psalm 105:16-22
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1 Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! 2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! 3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! 4 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! 5 Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, 6 O offspring of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones! 7 He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth. 8 He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, 9 the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, 10 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, 11 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance.” 12 When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it, 13 wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, 14 he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account, 15 saying, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!” 16 When he summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread, 17 he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. 18 His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron; 19 until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him. 20 The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free; 21 he made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions, 22 to bind his princes at his pleasure and to teach his elders wisdom. 23 Then Israel came to Egypt; Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. 24 And the Lord made his people very fruitful and made them stronger than their foes. 25 He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants. 26 He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen. 27 They performed his signs among them and miracles in the land of Ham. 28 He sent darkness, and made the land dark; they did not rebel against his words. 29 He turned their waters into blood and caused their fish to die. 30 Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings. 31 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country. 32 He gave them hail for rain, and fiery lightning bolts through their land. 33 He struck down their vines and fig trees, and shattered the trees of their country. 34 He spoke, and the locusts came, young locusts without number, 35 which devoured all the vegetation in their land and ate up the fruit of their ground. 36 He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength. 37 Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold, and there was none among his tribes who stumbled. 38 Egypt was glad when they departed, for dread of them had fallen upon it. 39 He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light by night. 40 They asked, and he brought quail, and gave them bread from heaven in abundance. 41 He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed through the desert like a river. 42 For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham, his servant. 43 So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing. 44 And he gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples’ toil, 45 that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws. Praise the Lord!
16 When he summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread, 17 he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. 18 His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron; 19 until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him. 20 The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free; 21 he made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions, 22 to bind his princes at his pleasure and to teach his elders wisdom.
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But what about humanity and the affairs of men? The Bible says God is operative in all that comes to pass in the world and directs all things to their appointed end: over the affairs of nations (; ; ; ), over man’s birth and lot in life (; ; ; ,), over the outward successes and failures of men’s lives (,; ), over things seemingly accidental or insignificant (; ), in the protection of the righteous (; ; ; ; ), in supplying the wants of God’s people (,; ; ), in giving answers to prayer (; ; ; ; ,), and in the exposure and punishment of the wicked (; ).
The sphere of God’s control also includes the exercise of a person’s will. God can interfere with people exercising their wills and cause their will to be thwarted (; ). Or He can allow them to do what they will. All of that is still within the sphere of His control and plan. People exercise their wills in the context of influences but God is in control of all the factors that influence people to make the choices they do.
How does God direct and control all things and what does “control” mean? Although God is in control of all things, He may choose to let certain events happen according to natural laws and secondary means, which He has ordained to further His plan.
God in His power works together with subordinate powers and second causes according to the pre-established laws of their operation, causing them to act when and how they do. The powers of nature do not work by their own inherent power. God’s power upholds and operates in and through them (). The laws of nature are the expression of His will. That someone should die of sickness is not outside God’s control because He can control disease and raise the dead.
Other times He Himself is the primary cause of something to further His plan. As says, “For in him we live and move and exist.” God in all His fullness and power is present everywhere at all time. He can suspend the laws of nature to accomplish His purposes—something the Bible calls a miracle—and raise the dead, or turn water into wine, or cause the sun to stand still ().
How should we respond to the sovereignty and providence of God? Humbly acknowledge that He is the Most High God and we are not. Yielding our will to His because He is in control only makes sense ().
Give thanks that the One who is in control is infinitely good (), wise (), and loving ().
Finally, do not worry about things because He has a plan for our good and His glory (; ). Entrust yourself to Him to experience peace.
Sovereign
Providence
Tension
1 Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.
Genesis 39:
You remember how Joseph’s brothers had sold him to these Ishmaelite traders who were passing by on their way to Egypt. Joseph arrives in Egypt and is sold off to a man named Potiphar. So let’s take a moment to better understand Joseph’s situation. Let’s bring his story back to our planet.
What do we do when we are not where we thought we would be, We are not doing what we thought we would be doing, and we encountered obstacles that we never thought we would be encounter?
You remember how Joseph’s brothers had sold him to Midianite traders who were passing by on their way to Egypt. Joseph arrives in Egypt and is sold off to a man named Potiphar.
:
36 Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.
Place - Position - Problems
Does God have a plan?
15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind.
Rev
Remember that Joseph is the son of Jacob, a nomadic Shepherd. This was his identity. Everything he knew and was is wrapped up in his family connections. The very family that just betrayed him into slavery and then told his father he was killed. So no one is looking for him. No one is coming for him. And now he is in Egypt and he knows nothing of Egyptian life. He doesn’t know Egyptian culture, Egyptian customs, Egyptian lands or the Egyptian language. From every angle it would be easy to say that Joseph was all alone. but...
Truth
God is present even when we seem alone ()
God is present even when we seem alone ()
Joseph’s in not currently sitting in a “happy ending”. His situation is one where we would be more inclined to ask God “Where are you?” “Why don’t you see me” Why don’t you answer me. The favored son of Israel is now, as tells us, in pain over the shackles that bind his ankles and the iron ring around his neck.
PLACE: Potiphar’s House
PLACE: Potiphar’s House
POSITION: Slave
POSITION: Slave
This is Joseph’s Problem.
This is Joseph’s Problem.
Without the doctrine of Providence, everything in Joseph’s story at this point would have us believe that he is completely alone, but he is anything but alone:
2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.
Genesis 39:
Did you hear that? The Lord is with him so he is successful man - even as he remains a slave! How is this possible? Aren’t slavery and success polar opposites? Not in God’s Presence. Not in God’s Providential Plan.
He It may seem like Joseph is alone, but he is anything but as the text says:
Genesis 39:
2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
God uses the humble to confound the proud????????????????????????????????????????? (Jesus connection)
1 Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
3 His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
Joseph’s problem, his families betrayal, led him to slavery, which led him to Potiphar’s house, which led him to be an Overseer, in charge of most everything that this Egyptian Officer had.
PROBLEM: His Brother’s betrayed Him
PROBLEM: His Brother’s betrayed Him
PLACE: Potiphar’s House
Our PLACE / Our POSITION
Our PLACE / Our POSITION
POSITION: Slave
GOD’S PLAN: Overseer, in charge of most everything that Potiphar had
Understand that Joseph did not show up on Monday and then become Potiphar’s chief attendant by Tuesday night. We don’t really know how long Joseph was there. We don’t even know if Potiphar was Joseph’s first slave master. What we do know is that Joseph was 17 years old coming into Egypt and he spent 13 years as a slave there. In that time he had to learn the customs, culture, landscape and probably most importantly the language. But the Lord was with him, and He Providential led him through the adversity of slavery into the position of a successful Overseer.
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Happy Ending? Not for too long, as the second half of verse 6 introduces a new Problem for Joseph.
Genesis 39:
6 So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7 And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. 9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” 10 And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.
But Potiphar’s wife was used to having her way. So one day she dismissed all the staff, and tries to force Joseph to do what she asked. She grabbed him by the coat and he had to leave the coat in her hand in order to flee the evil thing that she was trying to force him into. Joseph did the right thing - but he knew that it would not look that way.
Potiphar’s wife had a lust for power and pleasure and she set out to get the rest of the staff on her side. She lies her way into the hearts of the other servants in the house - the servants that up until now were under Joseph’s authority. Only when she has the entire household set against Joseph, does she brings her lie to her husband.
19 As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. 20 And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.
Genesis 39:19-
21 He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22 Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 23 The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar.
I recognized something in this story that I never saw before. I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t missing something so I researched it some and found that I was not the first person to come to this conclusion. In fact it is a very popular conclusion. I believe that Potiphar knew that his wife was lying. There are several reasons why I believe this, and one big reason why it matters.
19 As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. 20 And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.
1. Potiphar new his wife. He knew her character and probably saw first hand some of the advances that she had made toward Joseph. Remember it said she was after Joseph “day after day”.
2. Why would Potiphar’s wife have to convince the servants of Joseph’s guilt and her innocence if her husband typically took her at her word. Instead, Potiphar comes home to an angry mob of servants who want Joseph gone.
3. If Potiphar really believed that this foreign born Hebrew Slave attacked his wife, the only honorable thing to do would be to execute him as an example to the other servants. Not put him in the King’s Prison - which is best understood to be a “white collar” offense kind of prison. You know the one with the spa and golf course.
No, I am convinced that the anger that was kindled here was not directed at Joseph but at the situation his wife lust for power and pleasure had created for him. So his hands were tied. He knew that his wife had delivered Joseph to him out of jealousy, but he had to punish him some way for fear of losing face with the rest of servants.
Makes me think of another time when a powerful ruler had a jealous mob bring an innocent man before him. He tried to wash his hands of the guilt even though he still sent him off in condemnation.
Joseph was in a tight spot. He did the right thing, but he was being punished anyway.
God is kind even when our situation is difficult ()
God is kind even when our situation is difficult ()
Again we see the importance of holding on to the doctrine of Providence, even through adversity. Everything in this part of Joseph’s story would lead us to believe that God has abandoned Joseph, but nothing could be further from the truth...
21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.
Joseph’s problem, The jealousy of his master’s wife, led him to the King’s prison, which led him to the favor of the jailor, which led him to become the one who oversees all of the King’s prisoners.
And there is that word success again! For most of us, Prisoner and Successful are not synonyms. They do not mean the same thing. I mean it is one thing to be such a model inmate that you get first in line at dinner, but it appears that Joseph was so successful that he was promoted to be one of the prison guards. That is not the way it is supposed to work. But that’s what God’s Presence does. That’s what God’s Providence does. Because God is with us, things look differently. God’s plan was still for Joseph to be an Overseer.
God’s plan was for Joseph to be an Overseer.
PLACE: King’s Prison
POSITION: Prisoner
GOD’s PLAN: Overseer over all of the King’s Prison
___________________________________________________________
So Joseph is in prison working as an Overeer when one of his old hobbies comes into play. The story of Joseph keeps hitting on the themes of pits, promotions and premonitions. While in prison, Joseph is introduced to two formerly trusted servants of Pharaoh.
1 Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody. 5 And one night they both dreamed—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison—each his own dream, and each dream with its own interpretation. 6 When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, “Why are your faces downcast today?” 8 They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.”
Genesis 40:
So both of them tell Joseph their dream. You can read about the dreams in the rest of Chapter 40 on your own, but the interpretations were such that one of the accused would be restored to his position under Pharaoh while the other would remain condemned.
It brings to mind another place in Scripture where an innocent man stood condemned with two others. He also declared life to only one of the two men hanging there...
Anyway…Joseph’s interpretations came true and in the prescribed time, the cup bearer was restored to his position and the baker was executed. After Joseph gave the good news to the cup bearer, he asked that in return he might remember him and mention him to Pharoah.
23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
This is Joseph big shot. Here is someone who daily stands with in earshot of the most powerful man in all of Egypt.
Surely now he will be given the justice that has escaped him for so long. Don’t get me wrong, Joseph is arguably the most successful prisoner there ever was, but every man longs to be free.
Genesis him to remember him and mentionthe baker was the lives of these officials played out exactly as the dream laid out. Joseph asked the
But what would freedom mean for Joseph? A man betrayed by his family. A man in a foreign land. A man with “slave and prisoner” on his resume. Where would he go if he was just set free? What would he do? God had bigger and better plans for Joseph than just his freedom. Unfortunately he had two long years to think about this, because the text says that
Where would he go if he was set free? What would he do? Unfortunately he had two long years to think about this, because the text says that
This is Joseph big shot. Here is someone who daily stands with in earshot of the most powerful man in all of Egypt.
Surely now he will find the justice that has escaped him for so long. Don’t get me wrong, Joseph is arguably the most successful prisoner there ever was, but he still wants to be set free. What would that mean for Joseph?
A Hebrew, the slave of Potiphar is now released from unjust condemnation. Where would he go now? What would he do? Unfortunately he had two long years to think about this, because the text says that
23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
The cupbearer may have forgotten Joseph, but God in His providence did not. You see
God is at work even when we can’t see it ()
God is at work even when we can’t see it ()
After two whole years the most powerful man in all of Egypt had a problem. He had a dream. Which led to his His spirit being troubled. Which led to him needing an interpretation. Which led to him calling on all the officers in Egypt. Which led to the cupbearer finally remembering the dream interpreter Joseph.
over a dream that he had. So he shared his dream to all of the officers of Egypt One of his officers And just like the baker and cup bearer he was distraught because “there was no one to interpret the dream. And who just “happened” to be standing there listening? So the cup bearer finally tells Pharoah about Joseph…
14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”
And again you can read the details of the dream and the interpretation for yourself this week, in essence it came down to God letting Pharoah know that there would be 7 wonderful years of harvest in the land followed but 7 horrible years of famine. What I wanted to draw our attention to this morning is to Pharaoh's response to the wisdom that Joseph shows in the interpretation.
38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?”
Now we have Pharaoh saying that The Lord Is with Joseph”
Genesis 41:39
38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”
Genesis
Do you see how the Providential Plan of God was that Joseph would be an Overseer.
He promised this in his dreams to Joseph that we looked at last week.
He was given the robe and role of an Overseer by his Father Jacob and in their jealousy, his brothers sold him into slavery.
He was then given the role of overseer as a slave in Potiphar’s house, and because of the Jealousy of his master’s wife, he was thrown in prison.
He was then given the role of an overseer as a prisoner (crazy as that is!) and even there it seems he was forgotten by all…except for God. It was God’s Sovereign Providential Will that Joseph become Overseer over all of Egypt.
PLACE:
PLACE:
POSITION:
POSITION:
Why? To save all so many people from the starvation of the Famine that God was going to bring down on Egypt.
PROBLEM:
PROBLEM:
Gospel Application
Gospel Application
Yeah, but this story goes all the way to the happy ending. It is easy to trust in God’s providence when you can see how it is going to end well.
Did Joseph know that everything was going to “end well”? Do you think that as Joseph was dragging his chains through the steets of this strange foreign land he was thinking to himself, “This is going to go well for me?” I don’t think so.
We really don’t know how much Joseph knew about what would eventually happen to him. He might of forgotten all about those dreams of sheaves and stars as he served as a slave and prisoner. Or maybe he swayed in and out of hope that they were anything but figments of his imagination.
Just like us, Joseph didn’t know if he was close to anything resembling a happy ending, or close to the next experience when it feels like everything just falls off the table. What he did seem to know however is that God was with him no matter what was next.
Next week we will dive deeper into this event, but for today I just want you hear what Joseph to his brothers about all of these things that have happened to him.
what we do know is that when it did happenhow do we know that this is the providence of God and not just good luck? How do know that GOd was an we see God’s hand in it? Maybe it was just Joseph doing what was right and then getting rewarded for it?
Our Place, Our Position, Our Problem
5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
Genesis 45:
Remember how we feel about that person who murdered Jayme’s parents - these brothers had hearts as wicked as that person - and yet Joseph is saying that God used their evil intentions to accomplish his perfect plan.
ees a much bigger hand at work in it all.
This message is also made clear all the way into , in speaking of God’s role in this story it says
God’s Plan! - The Great Reveal!
Psalm 105
4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.
Genesis
16 When he summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread, 17 he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. 18 His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron; 19 until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him. 20 The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free; 21 he made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions, 22 to bind his princes at his pleasure and to teach his elders wisdom.
Gospel Application
The Bible is clear that that God never tempts anyone to Sin. That He never forces anyone toward sin. And He is never responsible for the sinful acts of man. But he does work through the sins of men to accomplish his plan. And this is good news for us. It means that if we when we have problems that bring us to places and positions of adversity it is not without meaning or purpose. God has a plan, even in these. That is the hope found in the Providence of God.
That he is guarding, guiding and governing everything in our lives toward his intended end.
Landing
At the po
So what is God’s ultimate plan? Where does God’s “Goldberg Machine” finally stop.
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
It was not a series of unfortunate events that brought Joseph through betrayal, slavery, and Prison. It was God’s Providencial Plan to save people from starvation.
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” 24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
It was not a series of unfortunate events that brought Jesus through betrayal, flogging and the cross. It was God’s Providential Plan to save people from being eternally separated from him.
God sent them through their trials to preserve life. This is the most significant ending. God does what he does in and through us in order to save us. That is what his Providential hand is moving us all toward.
We will return to Joseph’s story next week, but let me leave you with one of the most prominent verses on the Providence of God in the New Testament.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Is that you? Do you love God? Have you been called according to his purposes? The purposes of God is the Providence of God. If you hear God calling you to take a step in obedience toward him today then know that he has been orchestrating the events in this direction for some time. Today would be a great day to begin to truly love God and strive in cooperation with all He has laid out for your life. If you want to know more about that, come talk to me today. I would love to connect with you on it.
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
This is a sobering verse, isn’t it? I think back to times in my life when I suffered the worst tragedy of my entire life. When our son James was born into heaven, there were times when I questioned God in that, but I never questioned his right to do it.
Let’s Pray.
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.