Genesis 40-41 “Prison to the Palace” SERMON NOTES:
Here’s the audio.
Intro: CityAlight Lyrics “He Will be”:
“God is faithful to His Word, even when there seems no way. Though time may pass, his memory will not fade. His promises will never fail. Faithful He has been; faithful he will be. Time and time again, His Word returns complete. To His truth I cling, when the night is deep. Faithful He has been; Faithful He will be.”
–God is faithful, and beholding the faithfulness of God strengthens us to be a faithful people.
MI: Beholding the faithfulness of God, strengthens us to be faithful people!
- In the Prison—God is Faithful (40)
Context: 39:21-23àJoseph is in the prison (unjustly punished), but God is w/him and causing him to prosper
-“Some time after this” (40:1)—possibly years in prison.
-Cupbearer and Chief Baker Sent to Prison and Entrusted to Joseph’s Care (40:1-4)
-Notice God’s providence here. àJoseph is providentially placed to know them.
-Cupbearer and Baker have Dreams (40:5-19)
-Both have dreams and are disturbed by them (5-7)
-Joseph: “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.” (8)
–NOTICE Joseph’s theology: God gives the dream and interpretation.
-Joseph’s faithfulnessàhumble, giving God the credit
-Cupbearer’s Dream and Joseph’s Plea (9-15)
-After 3 days, Cupbearer will “have his head lifted”=be restored to his former position
–Joseph’s plea: “remember me; tell Pharoah about me… I’m unjustly placed here” (14-15)
–QUESTION: Will this be Joseph’s deliverance?
-Chief Baker’s Dream and Joseph’s Interpretation (16-19)
-After 3 days, Baker will “have his head lifted—from you!” =will be executed.
-God’s Word Comes to Pass (20-22)
-After 3 days, the Chief cupbearer is restored to his position, and the Chief Baker is executed
–NOTICE: God is faithful to His Word! He spoke the future and brought it to pass.
-We See this Also in the MESSIAH: Many predictions, and all came to pass.
-TRUE NOW: Christ will return; justice; new heavens and new earth; eternal life.
*APPLICATION: Because God is faithful with the future, we can trust him with our future.
-Trust God with your personal future; family; health; the church
-Joseph’s SUFFERINGS IN PRISON (23)
-The chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him (23)
-Joseph remained in the prison for another 2 whole years (41:1)!
NOTICE: Just because he did the right thing, doesn’t mean things will be easy and smooth
-APP: We often expect this, but it is not always the case. Still it is always right to obey God
GOD’S PURPOSE IN THE PAIN
JI PACKER: Look at the wisdom of God in Joseph’s life and this trial.
–Psalm 105:16-22. à Ps 105:19b “the word of the LORD tested him”
JI Packer QUOTE: “Joseph was being tested, refined and matured; he was being taught during his spell as a slave, and in prison, to stay himself upon God, to remain cheerful and charitable in frustrating circumstances, and to wait patiently for the lord. God uses sustained hardship to teach these lessons very frequently.”
-God’s Double Purpose (Packer): 1 Individual’s own personal sanctification; 2. Fulfilling of ministry
-Another Packer quote: “Perhaps he means to…” (97)
-Continued “We may be frankly bewildered… [to the end of the page]” (98)
BEHOLD: The faithfulness of God to sanctify Joseph and mold Joseph’s character!
CONSIDER: God is faithfully transforming his people now, to make us more like Jesus
-Beholding God’s faithfulness to transform us, helps us be faithful as we wait and endure hardships.
*Because God is faithful to make me more like Jesus, I can know He is actively brining things into my life for this end.
II. To the Palace—God is Faithful (41:1-57)
-Pharoah’s dreams (41:1-36)
-Dreams of Pharoah (1-13)
-7 healthy cows eaten by 7 ugly cows, and 7 healthy Sprouted Ears eaten by 7 ugly
-Pharoah is troubled, and no one can interpret them.
-Cupbearer remembers Joseph (9-13)
-Joseph is brought before Pharoah and interprets his Dreams (14-32)
-Brought out of the prison, shaved, new clothes (14-16)
–Don’t miss this: Joseph is before the king of Egypt!
-Joseph is clear: God gave the dreams and the interprations are from him! [16, 25, 32]
-Pharoah Recounts the dreams and adds some details (17-24)
-Ugliness of cows and grain, and latter condition is not any better
-Pharoah’s Dreams Interpreted: 7 years of harvest, then 7 years of famine (25-32)
-“thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about” (32)
–BEHOLD: Our God rules over harvest, famine, weather, life and death
-Joseph instructs Pharoah, that Egypt and the nations might be saved (33-36)
-Joseph has had years learning how to manage, now applying these to the nation
–NOTICE: Faithfulness of Joseph doing the good work God has prepared him for.
APP: Are you being faithful with the good works God has for you to do in this season?
-Joseph Exalted to Power and Prominence (37-57)
-Joseph made #2 in the land, given authority, given a wife and prominence (37-45)
-Pharoah recognized “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?”
“Since God has shown you all this…”
-Joseph’s Faithful Leadership During the Harvest (46-49)
-Joseph was 30 years old when he began
-Joseph was 17 when he left Canaan. 13 years of Potiphar’s house and prison!
-God’s timing is often slower than we anticipate or except, but perfect.
-Calvin Quote on God’s timing
-7 years of Harvest began
-NOTICE: God’s faithfulnessàforetold harvest and brought it about
-Joseph’s Children (50-52)
-NOTICE: Joseph gave God the glory “God made me forget…God made me fruitful”
-God is faithful to Joseph, to comfort and bless him. He is faithful to us.
-Famine Begins and Spreads (53-57)
-“as Joseph had said” (53) àGod’s faithful to His Word
-Everyone comes to Joseph, and it is Joseph who saves Egypt and other nations!!
-Here is beginning fulfillment of Promise to Abraham: Gen 12:1-3
-BEHOLD JESUS, the Greater Joseph: 1 Tim 1:15; 2:3-6
CONSIDER AGAIN: Beholding the faithfulness of God, strengthens us to be faithful people!
The Faithfulness of God:
1 Reveals the future and brings it about; 2 Saving his people; 3 Transforms his people through trials
Beholding the faithfulness of GODà STRENGTHENS us to be a faithful people.
1 Because God can be trusted with the future, I can trust God with my future. (self, family, job, church)
2 Because God has saved me, I can be faithful with the good works he has for me (he has good works for us!)
3 Because God is faithful to make me more like Jesus, I can know He is actively brining things into my life for this end.
-Keep trusting God as you endure the trial, look to Jesus who suffered for you and shows God’s heart of love.
CLOSE: We may we together behold the faithfulness of God, and may that strengthen us to be a faithful people!
