Preview of The Story of Joseph

Transcription

1 Preview of The Story of Joseph In The Story of Joseph we will see how revelation is such a vital part of life. We will see how word of knowledge and word of wisdom are companion manifestations and work together to brings God s will to pass. They will allow us to be in the place God wants us to be. This record is so full of life. They received revelation in the highways and byways of life, too. Genesis 37:2,3: These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. Bilhah was a servant girl of Rachel s (the wife of Jacob), and she bore two sons to Jacob, Dan and Naphtali. Rachael bore two sons to Jacob, Joseph & Benjamin. Zilpah was the handmaid of Leah (Jacob s first wife) and she bore two sons to Jacob, Gad and Asher Leah bore six children to Jacob, five sons; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Sebulun and a daughter, Dinah. All totaled, Jacob had 12 sons and one daughter. God changed Jacob s name to Israel in Genesis 32:28 Genesis 37:4: And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably [at peace or in friendship with another] unto him. Joseph s brothers had jealous hatred in their hearts toward him. They were not on friendly speaking terms. Joseph was their father s favorite plus he was a spy for him and gave him reports of the good things they did as well as bad. Genesis 37:5-8: And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. 65

2 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. The word hatred means to be cold or loveless. Joseph had received revelation from God by way of a dream. This word of knowledge was that his brethren would become subject unto him. Was there a word of wisdom here? No. Here is a great truth concerning word of knowledge Keep it to yourself unless word of wisdom tells you otherwise. Word of knowledge is information God gives you for your knowledge, if He wants you to tell others, He will tell you via word of wisdom. Genesis 37:9,10: And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? This was a repeat about his brother, but now there is added information. Again Joseph does not keep the word of knowledge to himself. He tells his father and his brethren about this dream. Genesis 37:11: And his brethren envied him; [they were inflamed, red-hot with anger] but his father observed [weighed in his mind] the saying. Excessive inflamed anger cannot be maintained and allowed to remain, or it can become an open door for unclean spirits to enter. As the story of Joseph unveils, Jacob sends Joseph out to check on his brothers who are feeding the flocks. When Joseph s brothers saw him afar off they began plotting how to get rid of Joseph. They mocked him and referred to him as the Master Dreamer. They said, Let us kill him. We will throw him in a pit and say a beast killed and devoured him. However, the oldest son Reuben talked them out of killing Joseph and told them to just put him into the pit for now. But when Reuben got back to the pit, Joseph was gone. He had been sold by his brothers to the Ishmeelites for 20 pieces of silver. 30 pieces was the lowest going rate for a slave, Joseph was only worth 20. The Ishmeelites were the descendants of Ishmael the son of Abraham by Hagar the maid of Sarah. Hagar was an Egyptian bond slave. Also, the Midianites were descendants of Abraham s son, Midian. He was from Abraham s second wife, Keturah. Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac and to the rest of his sons he gave gifts and sent them away. (Genesis 25: 5-6) 66

3 The Ishmeelites sold Joseph to an Egyptian captain by the name of Potiphar. Meanwhile Joseph s brothers soaked his coat of many colors in blood so they could tell their father that Joseph was dead, killed and devoured by the beast. Despite Joseph s situation God continued to watch over him. Genesis 39:1-6: And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian s house for Joseph s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. And he left all that he had in Joseph s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured. God had given Joseph revelation about the future and He watched over him. He could have been killed. He watched over Joseph because that revelation had to come to pass. Now we will see if Joseph has matured, gotten a little wiser, smarter. Genesis 39:7-11: And it came to pass after these things, that his master s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. Joseph did not need revelation to stay out of this situation. He already knew this gal was trouble. Proverbs is full of instruction for the unlearned and inexperienced. Many times believers put themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. If you ever were going to do something stupid or something that looked like it was going to be stupid, then you better have revelation from God telling you to do it. UNDERSTAND? 67

4 68 Led By God s Power So if you read the rest of this section, Potiphar s wife grabs Joseph while they were in the house alone. Joseph leaves his garment. She got mad and screamed rape and Joseph ends up in prison. So far Joseph is 3 for 3 in the department of NOT being wise in his words and actions: 1. Told his brothers the revelation God gave him. 2. Told his father and brothers about the 2 nd revelation. 3. Went into a house alone that was occupied by a woman hot after his buns. The first two got him sold as a slave. The third one got him thrown in prison. Nevertheless, God watched over him. Genesis 39:21-23: But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper. Even though he was in prison, he was having the best journey that he could have. God continued to watch over Joseph and the revelation that He gave to him and caused Joseph to prosper. Genesis 40:1-3: And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward. And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison. In one night they both have a dream. Now this was not Joseph s dream; it was their dream. His desire to help caused him to ask questions. Genesis 40:6,7: And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad. And he asked Pharaoh s officers that were with him in the ward of his lord s house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day? There is a great key here in ministering and working with people. When it comes to revelation to minister to someone, it is a good idea to ask questions. Asking questions is

5 a very important key, especially when dealing with people that have unclean spirits. They may not know and you may not even know it at first. During the course of the dialog, God can begin to reveal things to you to help you to minister and bring deliverance to that individual. Ministering to people is more than walking up and then just forgetting about them. Genesis 40:8,9: And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you. And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; Joseph came unto them and saw their dejection. Then he engaged in asking questions. He did not sit around and wait for green light from God or wait for revelation to know what their problem was. HE ASKED QUESTIONS first, then God gave him the revelation he needed. ASKING QUESTIONS is ministering to them. What does the doctor do when you go to him or her for help? People, if someone comes to you for help and you have no immediate revelation from God, ask them questions and find out what you can and then allow God to work within you to do of His good will and pleasure. Genesis 40:10-15: And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: And Pharaoh s cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh s hand And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days: Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh s cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. (word of knowledge, tells him what is going to happen) But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon. (word of wisdom) God revealed the dream of the butler to Joseph and gave the butler the interpretation of his dream, and he also tells him to remember him. He goes on to tell the interpretation of the baker which was not going to be good news. Sure enough all happened just as Joseph said. However, the butler did not remember Joseph to the Pharaoh and two more years pass. Now do you think that Joseph is wondering about his two dreams that he had when he was 17 years old? 69

6 Genesis 41:1-9: And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river. And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank (plump) and good. And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted (diseased) with the east wind sprung up after them. And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream. And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh. Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day: Then the butler tells Pharaoh about the dream that he had and that there was a young Hebrew, servant to the captain of the prison, who interpreted his dream. The butler finally comes through for Joseph. Genesis 41:14-16: Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. Genesis 41:28-32: This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh. Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. 70

7 This was the word of knowledge Joseph received from God and reported to Pharaoh. NOW what would you tell Pharaoh to do about the problem he was going to be facing in seven more years? How much would you save back towards the famine that was coming? What would you do? Here comes the word of wisdom. Genesis 41:33-36: Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine. God s Word of Wisdom said:! Appoint someone with oversight and wisdom to be overseer of the land of Egypt. One in charge.! Let the overseer administer with a staff of officers of his choosing.! Save 20% or one fifth of the plenty for the seven years of famine.! Gather and store the food in the cities for protection and accountability. The goal: that the people of Egypt would not perish and be lost in the famine. This is a pretty detailed report. God can give you as much detail as you need. Genesis 41:37-43: And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. Pharaoh recognized that Joseph was tapped into God. He knew how to receive revelation from God. The Pharaoh gave Joseph an Egyptian name: Zaphnathpaaneah. Which means God speaks, and He lives. Joseph ruled over Egypt with Pharaoh being the only one above him. Genesis 41:53-57: And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 71

8 72 Led By God s Power And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands. In chapter 42 the first dream of Joseph comes to pass. Genesis 42:1-6,9a: Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die. And Joseph s ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. But Benjamin, Joseph s brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him. And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan. And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them Genesis gives details of how Joseph did not reveal his identity and put his brothers through the wringer. He acted as though his brothers were spies, he even put Simeon in jail for a short time. Finally in Genesis 45 Joseph could not contain himself any longer and made himself known to his brothers. Genesis 45:3-13: And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not:

9 And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty. And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you. And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither. Joseph realized God s plan to save Israel and that his life was an important key to God s plan. (Jesus Christ had to believe who he was too.) It took him a number of years to understand the truth behind his dream. It was for Joseph s knowledge, but it was for the future survival of Israel. Genesis 45:24-28: So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way. And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob s heart fainted, for he believed them not. And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived: And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die. Then God gives Jacob revelation, word of knowledge, word of wisdom. Genesis 46:2-4: And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes. Jacob packs up his family and goes to Egypt. He is 130 years old. In Genesis 47:11 Joseph placed his father and brethren in the best land in Goshen, Rameses and Joseph nourished the family of Israel. Genesis 47:14-20: And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh s house. 73

10 And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth. And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail. And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year. When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands: Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate. And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh s. After the famine was over Joseph gave the people seed for the land, and he made a law that the Pharaoh should receive 20% of their yield and that they could keep 80% for themselves. Jacob lived seventeen more years in Egypt and died at the age of 147. Jacob called in all his sons and prophesied over each one of them (Genesis 49). Joseph lived 110 years. After Jacob s death the brothers of Joseph thought he would take revenge for what they had done unto him, but Joseph said, Fear not; for I am in the place of God. I am where God has placed me! Do you believe you are where God placed you? 74