Family struggles – Joseph great-grandson of Abraham – his father Jacob desired to marry Rachel – Leah than Rachel – 7 sons by Leah/2 by her personal servant – 2 sons by Rachel/2 by her personal servant – Joseph first born of Rachel – favorite boy
Genesis 37:3-5(NLT) 3 Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe. 4 But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him. 5 One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever.
1. Intriguing snares
Genesis 39:2(NLT) The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.
Favor to succeed – the Lord was with Joseph
The traps of the good life
The danger of settling for less than the best
Recognizing the dream is bigger than the moment
2. The desolate pit
Genesis 39:21(NLT) But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden.
Favor with man – the Lord was with Joseph
Consolation in discomfort
Grace to endure
Unlikely connections – prison to the palace – butler restored/baker killed
3. A position of significance
Genesis 41:38-41(NLT) 38 So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. 40 You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.” 41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.”
Favor to lead – so obviously filled with the spirit of God
Opportunity to revenge
Choice to redeem – living from a redemptive perspective
Redemption for self – family – the world
Oswald J. Smith – When Oswald J. Smith died in his late 90’s, Billy Graham preached his funeral and told the large, assembled crowd, “We are here to honor the greatest missionary mind of the 20th century.” Yet, when Smith, in his early 20’s, applied to his denomination for missions appointment, that committee rejected him out-of-hand, reporting, “Sorry, you are not missions material!” – held missions convention for Pastor Betzer – changed his life for the world – changed my life – Life Bridge affected by Oswald Smith
Attempt great things for God, expect great things from God. – Why should anyone hear the Gospel twice before every- one has heard it once?
Oswald Smith – Redirection – did not become missionary in traditional sense – became pastor that affected the entire world