FAITHFUL part 2

CHARACTER: Joseph son of Jacob
November 9, 2008
with Adam Waters

Introduction
· Write down the name of the person who has hurt you the most.
· What emotions do these words/phrases evoke in you? Slavery… selling someone… abuse… abuse by a family member… prison… someone lying about you…
· Recap the story of Job… perspective change
· Second character: Joseph son of Jacob from the Old Testament.

How do you remain faithful when family is out to get you?
Joseph was focused on forgiveness.

Family
Joseph was a tattle tale and a spoiled brat (37:2-4)
Joseph had prophetic dreams (37:5-11)… did he use them the right way?
His brothers mistreated and sold him (37).

Potiphar
Joseph was humbled to a slave, worked hard and the Lord blessed him (39:1-6).
Joseph resisted temptation and was wrongfully accused (39:6-18).

Prison
Joseph was humbled again and the Lord blessed him (39:19-23).
Joseph begins to give God credit for his prophetic dreams (40:1-22)
Joseph is left for 2 more years (40:23-41:1).

Pharaoh
· Joseph get his opportunity to glorify God (41:2-32).
· Joseph remains humble (41:33-36).
· The Lord blesses Joseph greatly (41:37-57).

REMEMBER: Father is in control and unhindered by our situation.
REMEMBER: Father is sometimes preparing us for something greater.

JOSEPH’S EXAMPLE
· Never retaliates on Potiphar or his wife…
· Never retaliates on the cup-bearer for forgetting him…
· Never sends an army during the seven years of plenty to wipe his brothers off the face of the earth.
· He does his JOB and never leaves Egypt (or sends someone to get his dad)…
· TELL OF THE BROTHERS’ VISIT à He forgives and forgets (read 45:3-8).
· AFTER JACOB’S DEATH à He forgives and blesses (read 50:14-21).

Wrap it up
Matthew 18:21-22 and following… To remain faithful to God, Joseph had to become preoccupied with forgiveness. To extend God’s kingdom, we have to do the same.