Finding God's Purpose in Egypt (Part 3, Sheep Among The Wolves)

4 And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Genesis 45.

Title - Finding God’s Purpose In Egypt

Series - Sheep Among The Wolves, Part 3

Background

Egypt

Egypt was the superpower of the time.

It was also the height of worliness and evil, an idolatrous nation who worshiped animals and humans.

Egypt became the place where God’s purpose in Joseph was fulfilled.

Joseph

the 11th son of Jacob by Rachel

at age 17 he was sold in Egypt by slave traders

at age 30 he became governor over all the land of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh

at age 39 he made himself known to his brothers and was reconciled with them

At 17 years old, he already knew God has a plan for him.

Even though it wasn’t very clear to his young mind, he believed it.

He became the envy of his brothers

Joseph discovered God’s purpose in his life, not in the comfort of his father’s home, but in the midst of idolatrous Egypt.

It never occured to Joseph, nor to his family, that he would one day become governor over all Egypt, and become a savior to many people and nations

- the people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain

The Main Point

Egypt was the superpower of the time.

It was also the height of worliness and evil, an idolatrous nation who worshiped animals and humans.

Joseph discovered God’s purpose in his life, not in the comfort of his father’s home, but in the midst of idolatrous Egypt.

The Main Point

God’s purpose in our life is almost always accomplished in the least expected places and circumstances.

Sermon Points

How did Joseph come to his discovery of God’s purpose in his life?

Joseph’s journey can be summed in 4 short sentences:

It was a series of unfortunate events

There was an outpouring of God’s favor

He left a testimony of faithfulness

God brought him to a discovery of God’s purpose

A Series of Unfortunate Events

He was rejected by his brothers

Genesis 37:18–20 NKJV

18 Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. 19 Then they said to one another, “Look, this dreamer is coming! 20 Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!”

Genesis 37:26–28 NKJV

26 So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” And his brothers listened. 28 Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

His brothers hated him because

he was loved by Jacob more than all his brothers

of his dreams - maybe he boasted of his dream in his own innocent way

His brothers wanted to disprove Joseph

after all, he was the youngest of them

He was falsely accused by his master

Genesis 39:6–7 NKJV

6 Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7 And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”

Potiphar’s wife desired Joseph, which he refused.

Genesis 39:10–12 NKJV

10 So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her. 11 But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, 12 that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.

Joseph was put in prison by a false accusation

Genesis 39.10-

Genesis 39.6-

Genesis 39:19–20 NKJV

19 So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. 20 Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison.

Genesis 39.19-

Notice - Joseph patiently accepted his fate.

He was forgotten in the dungeon

When he interpreted the dreams of 2 prisoners - pharaoh’s cupbearer and chief baker, he asked to be remembered. he was forgotten.

Genesis 40:20–23 NKJV

20 Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. 21 Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. 22 But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Genesis 40.

WHAT’S THE POINT?

WHEN GOD ALLOWS PROBLEMS TO GO THROUGH YOUR LIFE ONE AFTER ANOTHER - TAKE THEM PATIENTLY!

Joseph was silent - imagine hoo many questions were running his mind!

Joseph did not put a vendetta over the people who hurt him!

An Outpouring of God’s Favor

He was loved by his father, Jacob

Genesis 37:3–4 NKJV

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.

Genesis 37.1

The LORD was with Joseph in the house of Potiphar

Genesis 39:1–6 NKJV

1 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. 5 So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. 6 Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.

Genesis 39.1-

The LORD was with Joseph in prison

Genesis 39:20–23 NKJV

20 Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. 23 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’S THE POINT?

IF GOD HAS A PURPOSE IN YOUR LIFE, THERE IS NO WAY THAT GOD WILL FORSAKE YOU!

NO PLACE IS TOO FAR FOR GOD TO REACH YOU!

NO CIRCUMSTANCE IS TOO HARD THAT GOD CANNOT HELP YOU!

IN THE MIDST OF HUNGRY WOLVES WAITING FOR A CHANCE TO DEVOUR YOU, YOU ARE GOD’S SHEEP PROTECTED BY THE TENDER HAND OF JEHOVAH!

A Testimony of Faithfulness

Joseph was not favored by God because he was a good person. Joseph’s good character was his response to God’s favor!

Genesis 39:8–9 NKJV

8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. 9 There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

Joseph did not abuse his authority in the house of Potiphar

Genesis 39:22–23 NKJV

22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. 23 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.

Joseph became a trusted prisoner!

WHAT’S THE POINT?

ALTHOUGH THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE HARD, REMAIN FAITHFUL TO GOD AND MEN!

- stewards must be faithful

- be faithful until death

- be faithful in few and in much!

- be faithful until death

A Discovery of God’s Purpose

Joseph waited two more years after he interpreted the dreams of the butler and the chief baker, before he received a summons from Pharaoh!

Genesis 41:37–43 NKJV

37 So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to 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.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he set him over all the land of Egypt.

Genesis 41.37-

Joseph realized his dreams of long ago are being fulfilled when he recognized his brothers as they bowed before him to buy grain.

Genesis 42:6–9 NKJV

6 Now Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth. 7 Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he acted as a stranger to them and spoke roughly to them. Then he said to them, “Where do you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan to buy food.” 8 So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. 9 Then Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them, and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land!”

Genesis 42.

Joseph revealed himself and acknowledged the purpose of God

Genesis 45:4–7 NKJV

WHAT WAS GOD’S PURPOSE IN JOSEPH’S LIFE?

Genesis 45.4-7

NOT THE DREAM; NOT THE POSITION

JOSEPH WAS GOING TO ADMINISTER THE PRESERVATION OF THE ROYAL SEED OF ABRAHAM IN THE TIME OF THE GREATEST FAMINE!

HIS GIFT ALSO SAVED MANY PEOPLE AND NATIONS!

THE GIFT OF ADMINISTRATION WAS ALREADY WITH HIM FROM HIS YOUTH!

WHEN HE REPORTED TO HIS FATHER THE ACTIVITIES OF HIS OLDER BROTHERS. - ;

WHEN HE WAS MADE OVERSEER IN POTIPHAR’S HOUSEHOLD

WHEN HE WAS MADE OVERSEER IN PRISON

IT TURNS OUT THAT THE “SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS” WERE IN FACT GOD’S OPPORTUNITIES TO TRAIN THE MAN THAT WILL ADMINISTER FOOD AND SAVE LIVES IN THE 7 YEARS OF FAMINE!

WHAT’S THE POINT?

ONCE YOU HAVE COME TO THE VERY PURPOSE OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE, ALL THE NEGATIVE THINGS - THE PAIN, THE DISAPPOINTMENTS, THE FRUSTRATIONS, THE ANGER - ARE FORGOTTEN, AND REPLACED BY AN OVERFLOWING OF GRACE!

Joseph let go of his anger against his brothers!

NOTICE:

Joseph’s dreams was not the purpose - they were just the means to God’s purpose in his life!

GOD’S PURPOSE

Joseph’s experiences - however painful - were his training grounds!

Conclusion

Do not allow Egypt and its sinful environment stifle God’s purpose for your life. Remain faithful, especially when it is hardest to do.

GOD’S WORK IS WAITING FOR YOU JUST AROUND THE BEND!

has a purpose in our life that is far greater that we can imagine to accomplish on our own.

So what? What then?

Do not allow Egypt and its sinful environment stifle God’s purpose for your life. Remain faithful, especially when it is hardest to do.

GOD’S WORK IS WAITING FOR YOU JUST AROUND THE BEND!

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE IN EGYPT TODAY? IMPRISONED? SUFFERING IN THE HAND OF FALSE ACCUSER?

REMEMEMBER JOSEPH’S RESPONSE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES

YOUR COMMUNITY

REMAIN FAITHFUL TO GOD

ENTRUST YOUR CARES AND WORRIES TO THE GOD WHO KNOWS YOU AND CARES FOR YOU!

SONG - Tender Hand Of Jehovah

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