Season 4 Genesis 39:1-6 (Sue Wiberg)
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Genesis 39:1-6
Who are you, God, and what are you like? The God of all blessings who pours His favor on us, even when circumstances look the opposite!
Presupposing goodness of God
Seeing Jesus through the lens of Joseph
Read Genesis 39:1-6
Vs. 1 repeat of the end of Chapter 37. Back to Joseph, who had been sold to Potiphar, the captain of the guard for the King of Egypt. This is a high-ranking officer!
Potiphar=belonging to the Sun. Idol worshipping. Egypt had many gods. But I wonder if God flipped this name to “Son”!
Joseph sold like a piece of property. Went from favorite son to sold a piece of property overnight. Bam!!
Our lives can spin on a dime with one event. But our heart can stay anchored in Hope, abiding in Jesus.
Heb 6:19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.
Vs. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master because His true Master never left him.
God has him right where he wants him. He doesn’t usually share that detail or the total plan with us. Even Joseph’s dreams didn’t give the full plan.
The Lord is with us, and that changes EVERYTHING!!! No matter where we are and what we are doing!!!
Whew, I need this word right now. Even in the most difficult situation, dealing with the most difficult people.
Everyone has problems, suffering, trials, temptations. The difference is living believing the Lord is with me or not. Believing I have His favor or don’t!
1Pet 4:12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.
Jesus said John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Joseph takes heart to God! He never grumbles, or blames God for the hardness of his situation, and this changes the outcome. Some future Israelites grumbled against God in the Wilderness and wandered 40 years. This was 11 years until seeing God’s plan completed. Ancestors that began wilderness, never saw God’s plan completed.
Numbers 11:1-2 Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. 2 When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died down.
Numbers 14:1-2 That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness!
Grumbling and complaining are different. Joseph took his complaints directly to God.
Moses, Job, Ruth, David, and more took their complaints right to God, knowing He had all the answers, knew more than they did. He had all the resources. He was/is Sovreign, Good, Faithful.
God wants us to pour out our complaints to Him, not grumble, there is a difference.
Phil 2:14 we have often heard, do everything without complaining.
This is misunderstood often to mean we should never complain. That is not what this word means here.
The word there is Greek, gongysmos- murmuring, muttering, a secret debate, a secret displeasure not openly avowed. It’s the stuffing down that comes out sideways, under the breath, or at others. I think it is the beginning of a bitter root, which leads to anger, inciting anger, maybe an angry mob. Like the Israelites coming at Moses when times were hard. They had been murmuring among themselves. This murmuring is really against God. It only stirs up trouble.
Complaining- is heavenward, a pouring out to God all the groaning, pain and suffering. It’s bringing all the struggles to the source of help.
Complaining involves a spirit of submission/surrender, laying it at His feet.
Grumbling is based in pride and self-centeredness, a back-handed way to control something or someone.
Grumbling in my mind or to another or at another, affects everything I do! Affects being His vessel and carrying His Light!
Yes, God has brought this to me lately in dealing with difficult people in difficult situation. Grumbling in my heart or to another and it affects my being available to God and a healthy boundary, and what others see in me! Not Him!
Jesus-Servant of the Lord. Slave to the Father’s Will. This is a blessed position
Matt 12:18-21 read (fulfilled prophecy of Isaiah 42:1-4)
Gentle and humble in spirit. Matt 11:28-29
Joseph a slave, but truly free surrendered to God’s will.
The brothers at home, seemingly free, but slaves to sin, secrets, shame and guilt!
Vs 3 Potiphar noticed. And it says he notice the Lord was with Joseph and giving him success.
Vs 4 This pleased Potiphar and he gave him a higher position next to him. God’s plan to put Joseph right where he wanted him to have the most impact! To bring his plan.
Whoa!!! A heart humbled, vulnerable, pliable, teachable, surrendered, content in the Lord is a heart of great impact! Others notice!
Starting with the small things, testing our faith and bring us to the place He has, takes time.
Vs 5 Joseph presence in Potiphar’s house because of God’s presence with Joseph made all the difference.
Didn’t happen overnight, but little by little because Joseph was believing God, obeying God. Day by hard day, relying on God’s sufficiency. Bringing complaints to Him! He had no other believers around him!
Luke 16:10-11 If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. 11 And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?
Col 3:22-24 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. 23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.
Whew, I need this word!
And God blessed the house for Joseph’s sake. Whoa, slavery sounds horrible. But we are slaves of Christ, not man. God blessed him and those around him, for Joseph’s sake.
Believing that God’s heart is to bless us. Through the Priests!
Numbers 6:22-27 Then the Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing:
24 May the Lord bless you and protect you.
25 May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.
26 May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’
27 Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.”Genesis 1:27-28 First thing God did after creating humans in His Image, Blessed them!!!
Jesus prayed a similar priestly prayer of blessing for believers in John 17:6-26 homework
Blessed-is experiencing God’s Kindness, goodness, mercy. A deep joy-filled contentment that cannot be shaken by poverty, grief, famine, persecution, war or any other trial or tragedy we face in life.
Def of Blessing-God’s favor and protection. A prayer asking for God’s favor and protection.
Joseph was living in slavery to a human on the outside, but in joy of blessing of the Lord on the inside.
Relying on His Goodness, Kindness, Compassion and this blessing permeated all he did, touched and came in contact with. It overflowed his vessel!
Blessed regardless of circumstances.
And we receive this blessing through Jesus’ full love and obedience to the Father. Just as Joseph does for those around him. The Priest who Blesses us!
Phil 4:19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
James 1:12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Because this is a testing/proving of our faith! 1Pet 1:7
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
Vs 6 Potiphar gave Joseph full responsibility over his house and never worried about a thing.
Whoa, this only happens through a heart that knows God and knows what He is like. To be a vessel overflowing is to receive from God first as an empty vessel!!! The overflow blesses all around!
How are you doing in this? Why or why hasn’t blessing flowed through your vessel?
Are we worrying? Can we take a page out of Potiphar’s book who saw that God is enough through Joseph.
Jesus is enough, Joseph is showing.
Why do you worry? What are you worrying about?
Luke 12:22-34
Joseph found favor in Potiphar’s eyes.
Favor-graciousness, ie subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty)-favor, grace, pleasant, precious, favored.
Someone who is gracious is enjoyable to be around! They bring light and life to others! Also, forgiving, merciful, compassionate.
In God’s favor and blessing we are vessels of graciousness, of His Grace to others!
God is gracious means that He gives us His favor and is delighted to do so. We don’t earn but He gives. He delights in us being His favored. In treasuring us.
Someone of Higher Status looks with favor upon someone with lower status. Joseph found favor in the eyes of his master.
He strives to show us His favor. Our striving prevents us from receiving His favor. It’s in humbly resting in Him, that we live by His favor.
Joseph had favor of God before favor of Potiphar!!!
Jesus grew in stature and favor with God and men. Luke 2:52
James 4:6 NIV But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” God gives favor to the humbleJesus is the Humble servant, the favor of God!!!!
In Him, abiding in Him, we have the favor of God!!!
This is what His first proclamation was:
Luke 4:17-19 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Now is the time of the Lord’s favor. We have it and He is delighted to favor us.
2 Cor 6:1-2 NIV As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”[a]
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Living right now in the favor of God!!! We have it in Jesus!!!!