I. Introduction: life of Joseph. Don t Quarrel on the Way a. Joseph and his brothers. i. Jacob had 12 sons. ii. Joseph was his favorite son because Rachel was his favorite wife. 1. Jacob gave him a coat of many colors. iii. Joseph s brothers were jealous of him. iv. Joseph didn t make things any easier on himself by telling his brothers about a couple of dreams he had. 1. Their sheaves bowing down to his sheaf. 2. Sun, moon, eleven stars bowing down to him. v. His brothers ended up taking advantage of opportunity to do him harm. 1. Some wanted to kill him. 2. But they ended up putting him in a pit and then selling him to some Midianite traders. b. Joseph in Egypt. i. Sold as a slave into Potiphar s house. 1. He prospered as a slave. 2. So much so that Potiphar made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. Genesis 39:4 ii. But he was eventually imprisoned because of Potiphar s wife. 1. She had tried to get him to lie with her. 2. He had resisted, even having to flee without his coat when she had grabbed him by his coat to coerce him to lie with her. 3. She lied to Potiphar, and he put Joseph in prison. iii. While in prison, Joseph again prospered. 1. The keeper of the prison gave Joseph authority. 2. While he was there, he interpreted the dreams of the baker and the butler. c. Joseph over Egypt. i. When Pharaoh had a dream, the butler remembered Joseph. ii. Joseph was called, and he was able to interpret the dream. 1. Seven years of plenty. 2. Seven years of great famine. iii. Joseph was put in charge of preparing for the famine. 1. He rose to prominence over all the land of Egypt. iv. He stored up grain during the seven years of plenty. 1. And he was able to sell the grain during the years of famine. d. Joseph s brothers.
i. In time, Joseph s family was affected by the famine. ii. And Jacob sent ten of his sons to Egypt to buy grain. 1. Only Benjamin stayed at home. iii. They bought grain from Joseph but they didn t know who he was. 1. He demanded that their younger brother be brought to him. iv. Eventually, they talk Jacob into sending Benjamin with them. v. When they face Joseph again, some time still passes before Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. 1. Read Genesis 45:3-13. vi. But I want you to pay extra attention to the last thing that Joseph says to his brothers before they leave. 1. Genesis 45:24, See that you do not become troubled along the way. 2. NASV, Do not quarrel on the journey. 3. NIV, Don t quarrel on the way. 4. ESV, Do not quarrel on the way. e. This morning s sermon. i. Do Not Quarrel on the Way. ii. Here s what I think Joseph meant by that. 1. Obviously, they felt great remorse now at what they had done to Joseph. 2. And, if you remember back to the story, they weren t all in agreement at the time with what they did. 3. Joseph knew that the situation could end up in division and arguments. 4. It was your fault. 5. Arguing/Quarreling over what had happened. iii. So he essentially tells them to forget about it. 1. Because God used the situation to work out for the best. iv. The lesson is about our relationship with our brethren. 1. About not quarreling on our way. 2. About not letting the trivial things in life break the bond that we have as brethren. f. The command for peace. i. 2 Timothy 2:24, A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient ii. Romans 14:19, Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. iii. 2 Corinthians 13:11, Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. iv. Why do brethren struggle with this concept? v. We re going to look at three short points that will help us in our relationships with our brethren.
II. Be clothed with humility (1 Peter 5:5). a. The story of Joseph could be described as a story about humility. i. Joseph exhibited pride in telling his brothers and family about his dreams. 1. That everyone would bow down to him. ii. His brothers showed selfishness in how they reacted to Joseph as a boy. 1. It was their pride that led them to do such terrible things to Joseph even though he had done them no wrong. iii. Joseph was humbled through his experiences. 1. Sold as a slave. 2. Imprisoned. iv. Joseph s brothers learned humility as well. 1. Ended up having to bow down to their brother. 2. Little glimpses give me the impression that they had learned a little humility even before they went to Egypt. b. Brethren can live in peace if they will each humble themselves. i. Jesus taught this lesson. 1. When the disciples argued about greatness in the kingdom, Jesus taught that he who is the least will be great. 2. When Jesus taught the disciples to wash each other s feet, He was teaching humility and service toward each other. ii. Galatians 5:13, For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. iii. 1 Peter 5:5, Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 1. Clothed with humility. 2. An attitude that covers all whole person. iv. Now, let s apply that to quarreling/arguing/fighting (especially with our brethren). c. Humility stops quarreling by reminding us that i. I might be wrong. ii. I don have to be right. iii. I don't have to get my way. iv. I m not perfect. III. Love as brothers (1 Peter 3:8). a. The story of Joseph could also be described as a story of love. i. The love of Jacob for his wife, Rachel (the mother of Joseph and Benjamin). ii. The love of Jacob for Joseph. iii. Perhaps even Joseph s love for his brothers.
1. Read Genesis 45:1-8. 2. Joseph is overcome with emotion because of his relationship with his family. iv. But even that love pales in comparison for the love of God toward Joseph. 1. The key part of the story is that God was with Joseph every step of the way. 2. God loved Joseph, and Joseph loved God. v. Joseph learned love from his relationship with God. He then applied what he had learned in his renewed relationship with his brethren. b. We have a special relationship with our brethren. i. 1 John 1 1. Vs. 3, our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. (near end of verse) 2. Vs. 7, But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. ii. The point is that when we have a relationship with God, we naturally also have a relationship with others who share this relationship with God. 1. God is the Father of each of us. 2. And therefore we are brethren. iii. As the KJV version reads regarding the relationship between Abraham and Lot: we be brethren (Genesis 13:8). 1. Therefore, because of this relationship, we need to remove strife from among us. 2. Exactly what Abraham was addressing. iv. Because of this special relationship, we ought to love as brothers. 1. 1 Peter 3:8 c. Love stops quarreling by reminding us that i. I need to put my brother s needs before my own. ii. The relationship is more important. iii. God loved me so I should love my brother. iv. If I want God to forgive me, I need to be willing to forgive my brother. IV. Forget the Past and Press toward the Goal (Philippians 3:13-14). a. Joseph s plea to his brethren. i. Genesis 45:5, 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. ii. After Jacob s death, Joseph had to reiterate the point. 1. Read Genesis 50:19-21. iii. I think the point is clear. 1. The past is in the past.
2. God has used the past to bring about the present. 3. Therefore, don t worry about the past. 4. Only be concerned with the here and now and what lies ahead. b. The past. i. Many brethren get hung up on the past. ii. If we ve lived long enough, we ve made our share of mistakes. iii. We haven t treated everyone like we should (and that includes brethren). iv. Brethren have mistreated brethren. v. So, what are we to do? 1. Are we to hold on to ill feelings? 2. To hold a grudge throughout the years? vi. The point is to leave the past in the past. 1. Once the situation has been addressed and dealt with, move on. vii. Philippians 3:13-14, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. c. We re on our way to Heaven. i. My future home in heaven is much more important than any misdeed which has been done to me in the past. ii. My brother s home in heaven is much more important than any misdeed which he might have done to me in the past. iii. Do we believe that? iv. If we do, our actions should be set: 1. Address any issues. 2. Forgive each other. 3. Leave it in the past. 4. Press forward together toward the goal. V. Conclusion. a. Why do brethren waste their time? i. With useless arguing/quarreling? ii. We seem to have a hard time getting along. b. How can we be at peace? i. Be clothed with humility. ii. Love as brothers. iii. Forget the past and press toward the goal. c. We re on the way. i. The way to heaven. ii. Don t quarrel with each other on the way.