What About Joseph? Brothers and Bitterness Who Cares? What s Up With Egypt? 1
What About Joseph? What we have learned so far in Genesis. Adam illustrates the nature of faith. Abel illustrates the basis of faith. Enoch illustrates the walk of faith. Noah illustrates the perseverance of faith. Abraham illustrates the obedience of faith. Isaac illustrates the power of faith. Jacob illustrates the discipline of faith. 2
What About Joseph? Joseph is a type of Christ. Joseph is a model for all Christians. Joseph illustrates the triumph of faith. Joseph was absolutely faithful to God under all circumstances. Joseph never complained! Joseph never compromised! Joseph always recognized the hand of God! 3
Brothers and Bitterness The birth of bitterness Joseph was the favorite son. A coat of many colors Joseph was one who did not have to work. A bad report John 4:5; Genesis 33:19 4
John 4:5 (NASB) 5 So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; Genesis 33:19 (NASB) 19 He bought the piece of land where he had pitched his tent from the hand of the sons of Hamor, Shechem s father, for one hundred pieces of money.
Brothers and Bitterness The root of bitterness We are warned of bitterness in Heb. 12:15. 5
Hebrews 12:15 (NASB) 15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
Brothers and Bitterness The root of bitterness We are warned of bitterness in Heb. 12:15. The brothers are envious of Joseph. Envy is ill will occasioned by another s good fortune. Envy is an angry resistance to God s decrees. Proverbs 14:30; James 3:16 5
Proverbs 14:30 (NIV) 30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. James 3:16 (NASB) 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
Brothers and Bitterness The shoot of bitterness Envy turns into hatred on the brothers part. Three times we are told Joseph s brothers hated him. The world will hate God s own John 15:16-19. 6
John 15:16-19 (NASB) 16 You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. 17 This I command you, that you love one another. 18 If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
Brothers and Bitterness The shoot of bitterness Envy turns into hatred on the brothers part. Three times we are told Joseph s brothers hated him. The world will hate God s own John 15:16-19. Hatred for being different Hatred for being God s 6
Brothers and Bitterness The fruit of bitterness The brothers plot to kill Joseph. Contrast of Galatians 5:19-23 7
Galatians 5:19-23 (NASB) 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Brothers and Bitterness The fruit of bitterness The brothers plot to kill Joseph. Contrast of Galatians 5:19-23 Joseph searches for his brothers. Reuben intervenes. The mind of men Philippians 1:15-17 7
Philippians 1:15-17 (NASB) 15 Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; 16 the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.
Brothers and Bitterness The fruit of bitterness The brothers plot to kill Joseph. Contrast of Galatians 5:19-23 Joseph searches for his brothers. Reuben intervenes. The mind of men Philippians 1:15-17 The mind of Christ Philippians 2:3-8 7
Philippians 2:3-8 (NASB) 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Not his brothers Possibly Reuben God always Who Cares? God cares for us in all things. God comforts us in sorrow. God preserves us and reaches out to us in His proper time. 8
What s Up With Egypt? God s Providence and Sovereignty in Egypt Egypt was an ancient world. Egypt was a pagan world. When in Egypt, do as the Egyptians? God, God, God 9
Application Are you aware of God s presence in your life? Are you aware of God s purpose in your life? Is God truly Sovereign in your life? 10