Many of us who are Christians are not very good at what we do, either because we are lazy, or we think that God is obliged to bless us only because we give testimony to our faith. We find ourselves in a hole that we have fashioned for ourselves. Anyone who jumps one must come back to complete the pace or he faces the consequence. That is when the Josephs are needed, in adversity. Both Joseph and Paul needed a rope of hope to climb out of the pit. Job 33:18 Verse Concepts He keeps back his soul from the pit, I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. While I do not wish to offer a new translation, this paraphrase may help to express the meaning which I think Joseph was trying to convey in the naming of Manasseh: For, he said, God has made me forget all my trouble with my fathers household. The bitterness was gone. The fact that she was the daughter of an Egyptian priest (verse 45) does not necessarily indicate otherwise. Both dreams were very real and most disturbing. But, again, Joseph had to wait -- because the cupbearer, chapter 40, verse 23, records, forgot all about Joseph, the man who had given him Gods interpretation of his dream. In Europe, "It was the beginning of one of the worst periods to be alive, if not the worst year," says McCormick, a historian and archeologist who chairs the Harvard University Initiative for the Science of the Human Past. 2 Samuel 4:4, 2 Samuel 9:1-13, Denomination: The issue is never the magnitude of Gods task, Gods issue is how useful is His woman or man in every place He plants us. We have, in this story, Gods deliverance, love and provision for one mans life in order to provide not only for his family, but two countries as well. Life is in stages. And like Joseph there are adversaries to your anointing, your dream, and your favor. Joseph was a young man with a dream. To save items to a SermonFolder, please sign in to your account. They expressed a certain amount of remorse at what they had done to Joseph 20 years earlier, and started to wonder if God was punishing them for the dirty deed done so long ago. If the Lord lays a strong desire or burden on our heart to serve Him in a particular way then that could be our vision and calling, and we need to do all we can to strive towards the fulfillment of that vision. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream. This was not just cleaning up, which surely was needed; it was a cultural concession. read more, Scripture: Her husband listened to his unfaithful wife and threw his faithful servant into Pharaohs dungeon. He may have been born a favored son, but his life was filled with disappointment, mistreatment, and rejection. Yet, despite his circumstances, Joseph chose to believe God's promise to him that he would one day rule over his brothers. The pattern will continue. We must, therefore, conclude that Joseph did not sin by taking this Egyptian woman to be his wife. Having trouble logging into your account? Paul's pit was in the form of a ship tossed in a raging storm. As spiritual as he was, I can well imagine that many in our own day would have approached Joseph with words similar to these: Joseph, as spiritual as you are, you should consider attending seminary and going into full-time ministry. How could a secular ministry ever be fulfilling to a man as spiritual as Joseph? And you have enemies that are conspiring against you. You might be asking God why Hes allowed such bad things to happen, and you might even doubt that He hears you. I think we can all see how God used adversity to prepare Joseph for the promotion and power he receives in chapter 41. Despair, depression, and discouragement and out of, Hopelessness, sadness, and weakness and out of, Rejection, frustration, emotional, financial, And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. Josephs release and the matter of making right the wrongs committed against him were of no interest to the cupbearer, at least as far as his own words inform us. Someone said Joseph makes a great illustration of Murphys Law: If anything can go wrong it will!!. And lo, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such as I had never seen for ugliness in all the land of Egypt; and the lean and ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows. (view more) It is not too much to say that at no period after the time of Moses could anything so true to Egyptian life have been written out of Egypt by a member of the community of Israel. W. H. Griffith Thomas, Genesis: A Devotional Commentary (Grand Rapids: Wm. The Lord was working behind the scenes, orchestrating events that would benefit and prosper them. Surely he awoke thinking that something he ate wasnt sitting too well on his stomach. Matthew 22:1-14, Denomination: God has a lot to teach us during our waiting periods. (view less). Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming in all the land of Egypt; and after them seven years of famine will come, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will ravage the land. Life is not easy but to a christian who is connected to the right source- God, he will reach his destination. Message 4 in our study of the life and ministry of Elijah. Sermon: Genesis 41:37-57 "From the Pit to the Palace" 3. Then Pharaoh woke up. I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. It is not wrong to have biblical goals, but it is foolish to devote our energies to future and glorious dreams when present duties are being neglected. THE TALE OF TWO SONS Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. So, catch the picture, mankind ushers sin into God's palace, so He ushered us out of the palace. "No, thank you," the man replied. accidents? * After a moments reflection, the applicant responded . Good and bad alike invited to the palace? Genesis 37:4-24, Genesis 39:11-20, Denomination: If you are in a pit you are next in line for a promotion. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. >Sometimes, the Lord delivers us directly but other times, He uses certain people. 1. While it was necessary, in the purposes of God, to elevate Joseph from the pasture to the palace in order to save the seventy people of God (46:27), it was necessary for Moses to step down from the palace in order to lead the people of God out of bondage: By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter; choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin; considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. The life of Joseph. It didnt take long for his superiors to become aware of his actions and to determine to find the underlying cause. Furthermore, who could ever have conceived of a Hebrew slave being elevated to the second highest office in the land? And that God not only builds character, He tests it. 3 Tests Of Plagiarism: Do Your Sermons Pass Them? Now it came about in the morning that his spirit was troubled, so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all its wise men. Part two of period or comma? He is best known as the King who conquered Judah, destroyed Now Joseph said to Pharaoh, Pharaohs dreams are one and the same; God has told to Pharaoh what He is about to do. He longs for the land and the customs of his people. God is working on us during those times, and God is working out situations apart from our involvement. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. read more, Scripture: 4. God is now working His will and His plan among the peoples of the Earth. Enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password. That morning dawned like every other morning over the previous two years. Potiphars wife liked Joseph too -- she repeatedly propositioned him. The answer is that God was still at work in his life and was preparing him for a special assignment. Joseph began his life as a shepherd in the pastures of his father and was exalted to the palace of Pharaoh. The offenses of which he spoke (verse 9) do not seem to be related to his forgetting Joseph, but rather to his sins against Pharaoh for which he was cast into prison under Josephs custody. Scripture: He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. As we studied chapter one, we discovered a detailed picture of what life was like within the Persian Empire. 15 Outstanding Quotes To Recharge Your Preaching. 2. (view less). Ever been there? And the solution to the problem of sin is one that only God, through the death of His Son on the cross of Calvary, has the answer to. God is intent on -- and He is steadily engaged in -- growing and developing you. People Listen In Different Wayscan You Reach All Of Them? Usefulness to God, as weve already seen these weeks, always requires character development. read more, Scripture: Baptist. David hid from King Saul in the deep, dark cave of Adullam (1 Sm 22:1-2); Elijah fled and hid in a cave in order to escape Queen Jezebels wrath (1 Kgs 19:1-18); the prophet Jeremiah was thrown into a well that was full of thick, sloppy mud (Jer 38:6); Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into a fiery furnace when they refused to bow down to an idol (Dn 3:8-25); and Daniel was thrown into the lions den for praying to God (6:10-23). We find numerous similarities between Joseph and Jesus, although scripture never actually states (view less). If Jacob had been in his sons sandals, things would have gone very differently, I believe. He had experienced slavery, false accusations, and imprisonment. Now, after a gap of two full years, we pick up his story again. A parallel view of our personal lives to Josephs pit to the palace journey. A capable administrator was required. His interpretation closely followed the two dreams in many particulars, a fact which could hardly have been unnoticed by Pharaoh and which added credibility to Josephs explanation. No mention of his character or his religious faith was made. Second, it evidences the administrative astuteness of Joseph in handling the affairs of state in preparation for the famine to come. in 1971. Genesis 37:5, Genesis 37d. We may look at the dreams of Pharaoh and the mention of Joseph by the cupbearer as the lucky break of Josephs life, which broke the chain of frustrating turns of events which had previously plagued him. In the dream that God gave him, Joseph saw himself as a leader and his father and brothers were bowing down to him. disappointment. Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Genesis 50:20, From the Pits to the Palace Maybe his choice of counsel was unwise, but he still gained some good insight. Trust, Wait, Grow, Patience, Disappointment, 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, [NEW YEAR] 4-Week Series to kick off 2023, [PRODUCTIVITY] Fulfill your full potential, [FOUNDATIONS] Getting back to what matters most. >When we are in the pits of life we need the help of God to deliver us from 3 Tests Of Plagiarism: Do Your Sermons Pass Them. Wherever he went he would stoop to pick up any piece of paper which was on the ground. But there's something about a dream from God, it has a life in it, it starts boiling in your belly, and if you don't let it out you'll blow up. In this same line, Joseph was not promoted by Pharaoh (in human terms) because he was spiritual, but because he was skillful and knowledgeable. 2. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. The Promotion: From The Pit To The Palace. Now as for the repeating of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that the matter is determined by God, and God will quickly bring it about. I do not think that this should be understood in a negative way as though Joseph had no more interest or concern for them. So, once again, our man Joseph faithfully managed responsibility like he had under Potiphar. how A prominent king can fall into "a horrible pit". He sought to expand the kingdom, and nothing was off limits in his pursuit to do so, not February 24, 2008 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Before you depart the planet, He has two key objectives for you: One is your maturity. 2. Let Pharaoh take action to appoint overseers in charge of the land, and let him exact a fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance. Ritchie L Ables Life is not easy but to a christian who is connected to the right source- God, he will reach his destination. Keep me in mind when things go well with you, and when you get restored to your position.. Moses did not tell us that after Joseph was promoted by Pharaoh he lived happily ever after. Joseph has been promoted for a definite purpose, and we dare not overlook this in the joy of seeing him taken out of the pit and placed in a position of power and prestige in Pharaohs palace. In each instance seven was the time involvedseven years. 2. Pharaohs two servants, the cupbearer and the baker, came and went. 3. He became the manager over Potiphars entire estate. Life is in stages. Summary: The greatest prophecy of your life is hidden in your praise 1 2 3 4 Next Joseph was basically born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he was the son of his father's old age he was the apple of his father's eye. In every instance Joseph exercised his God-given ability to administrate. Would you have gone to Judah, who was willing to sleep with a Canaanite cult prostitute? Pharaoh would never have promoted Joseph unless he knew that there were trying days ahead and difficulties which were beyond him and his wisest advisors. From the Pit to the Palace Genesis 41 If you're a Christian, we know two things about what God has planned to happen in your life. He still believed he could do great things. It is a sad fact but the greatest adversaries to your favor, your dream, and your destiny. FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE by Steve Wagers Scripture: Isaiah 51:1 From the Pit to the Palace Pastor Steve N. Wagers Isaiah 51:1 May 23. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve; and afterward they will come out with many possessions (Genesis 15:13-14). The substance of the cupbearers words to his master was that this young Hebrew slave was highly skilled in interpreting dreams. >Remember that God wants to move you from the pits to praise with His mighty power, >There are several lessons we can learn from David in Psalm 40 to help us move from. After each, Pharaoh was awakened (41:4,7). One of Old Testament's most beloved characters is Joseph. By these means the effects of the famine could be minimized. And He seeks and employs useful people for that massive endeavor. Then, behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, ugly and gaunt, and they stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. Life is in stages. And he had him ride in his second chariot; and they proclaimed before him, Bow the knee! And he set him over all the land of Egypt. Egyptian-based interpretations have been offered as diverse as God has spoken and he lives (G. Steindortf), He who knows things (J. Vergote), and (Joseph), who is called Ip ankh (K. A. Paul wrote about moving from pit to prison physically but having dominance spiritually; they were hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; struck down but not destroyed. 2. Future, Purpose, Desire, Joseph, Wonder, Dreams And so a decisive plan of action was proposed to Pharaoh along with the predictions that were given. Joseph did not stop here; he had a message of hope, a message which provided a solution for the problems of that day. The people came to Pharaoh requesting bread, and he sent them to Joseph, telling them to do whatever he said (verse 55). Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. And every family has leaders. I. It's important to learn about his descent from the palace to the pit because we are pawns in this battle. Lessons from the Palace Part 2 SUN Worship. He should be instructed to take command of the situation and to gather up a double portion of the bumper crops that would be produced by the land in the years of prosperity. I saw also in my dream, and behold, seven ears, full and good, came up on a single stalk; and lo, seven ears, withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them; and the thin ears swallowed the seven good ears. Anyone who wants to be great may see part of Joseph's experience. The Bible says Joseph's brothers saw the favor of his father on him and they hated him for it. With this attitude Joseph could exercise sufficient self-control to keep from revealing his identity too quickly, and thus bring his brothers to genuine repentance by a careful program of instruction unimpeded by feelings of anger and vengeance. read more, Scripture: (Gen. 41:1-8). Two full years passed after that event thats a long time to be forgotten! (view more) I Corinthians 2:10-16). And every time he picked up a piece of paper, he would look at it, shake his head no, and then throw it away. You must remember four things about your dream of usefulness for God. Nothing seems to be happening, just wait, wait, and wait some more. Joseph was able, even now, to see that while his brothers were wrong in their actions, God had meant it for good (cf. God gives each of us a promise for our lives, but life has a way of taking us through pit experiences just as in Josephs life, however we must never take our eyes off the promise and the reward of the palace! Sermons by Bible: Sermons by Category: Sermons by Topic: Sermons by Speaker: Sermons by Language: Sermons by Date: Staff Picks: Comments, ALL -1 sec: Top Sermons: Online Bible: Hymnal: Daily Reading: About | 7 Days Left! Now comes another test: this time with the headiness of power and prosperity. Or shall you indeed have dominion over us? So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words (Genesis 37:5-8). 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Think that this young Hebrew slave being elevated to the Palace skillfully interpreted the dreams! My words, O Lord, thou knowest and like Joseph there some... A gap of two SONS copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., rights. His people a dream behind the scenes, orchestrating events that would benefit and prosper.... Character or his religious faith was made plan among the peoples of the sermoncentral sermon from the pit to the palace to.. Time to be his wife which was on the life of Joseph in handling affairs! 39:11-20, Denomination: God has a lot to teach us during times! As spiritual as Joseph Maybe his choice of counsel was unwise, but his life as leader... Superiors to become aware of his character or his religious faith was.! If anything can go wrong it will!! we can All see how God used adversity to prepare for...